idealist.org

ABOUT INTERNS AT PARTNERS
We believe that internships provide the best way to become educated about future careers in our fields of interest. Learning by doing and being exposed to professionals working in the field provides valuable experience, a professional reference and access to a network of outstanding experts promoting quality of life across the country. Experience counts in a competitive job market, and there is no better place to gain valuable job skills in the nonprofit arena than the fast-paced city of Washington, D.C.

Internships with Partners for Livable Communities (Partners) can provide current students and recent graduates with valuable experience in the non-profit sector. Our emphasis in the fields of community and economic development; arts, culture and entertainment; education; the environment; regionalism; and overall quality of life impart skills transferable to many post-graduate positions in these areas. Along with continuing to develop their research and writing skills, internships provide an opportunity to experience and improve skills in event planning, staff management, fundraising, and media work.

BENEFITS OF INTERNSHIP
Partners offers the ideal environment to learn about the structure of a small nonprofit organization that operates within a national network. Interns assist the President, Vice President, and program officers with communications, publications, fundraising, program support and the overall organization of a small non-profit organization on the cutting edge of the quality of life movement. Partners tries to design an internship experience to meet the needs of our organization, while providing interns an opportunity to use their strengths and explore their interests. Basically we work with you to explore what you want to get out of an internship program.

Through internships, students and post-graduates integrate classroom knowledge with practical, on-the-job experience. Education is enriched through the interaction with Partners’ staff and leadership. In tackling the daily challenges and complexities of a nonprofit professional work environment, interns discover how to apply what they have learned in the classroom with maturity and competence. Students accumulate practical experience - a precious commodity in today’s job market. Additional benefits to our interns include:

-Developing knowledge, competencies, and experience related to career goals
–Learning how you can do it and how to do it better;
-Gaining practical employment experience that employers look for when hiring college graduates;
-Taking responsibility for your own learning, working independently and as a team member to create a more rewarding educational/professional experience;
-Establishing a network of professional contacts, mentors, and references to use after the internship.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Our organization vitally depends on the support of interns and volunteers. We offer excellent opportunities for people of all ages to contribute to the planning and implementing of Partners’ core projects. Interns also work with Partners staff and board members to produce valuable research and writing projects.

The intern’s responsibilities include the following, but are not limited to:
-identifying and establishing relationships with organizations;
-creating and updating contact lists;
-working with staff to maintain correspondence with trustees and foundations;
-event planning;
-research assistance and investigating of core issues to Partners programs;
-developing position papers, conference proposals and other research resources.

PAST INTERN PROJECTS
Past interns at Partners have completed, developed and supported many projects of the organization. Below are examples of what some Interns have done:
-Assisted in writing a planning grant to a foundation to hold a Leadership conference on Asian Pacific Americans as a result the conference has been funded
-Developed blueprints for an Aging in Place Initiative as a result the Initiative has become one of Partner 3 main national programs
-Continued the writing and research of a policy piece for a future publication on “How to Build the Creative City”
-Provided organization, administration and research support for an annual awards ceremony called Bridge Builders
-Updated a Best Practice Database which will eventually become an on-line tool for visitors to the Partners website
-Helped Partners to build a successful partnership with a national Foundation for a multi-year re-granting program for neighborhood based arts and cultural organizations

SKILLS NEEDED
Applicants should have experience with Microsoft Office and an interest in community-building strategy using cultural, environmental and economic resources. Excellent writing and editing skills required.

DETAILS OF POSITION
Length of commitment is negotiable. There is an opportunity for compensation depending on length of commitment and interests of applicant. As with any city, there is a cost of living associated with spending a semester or summer in Washington, DC. Partners can be flexible with the intern’s schedule in order to accommodate a second job that he/she may have (or need). We will accept up to four interns per semester.

Send cover letter of interest, resume, and brief writing sample to Irene Garnett at igarnett@livable.com. Please state when you are interested in interning at Partners and what your availability is during that time.

Position open until filled.