International Business & Economic Development Intern

About the Organization

The Salvation Army is an international movement and an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its mission is to meet human needs without discrimination. National Headquarters (NHQ) supports the work of The Salvation Army across the United States and internationally by providing leadership, resources, and strategic support to territorial and local operations.

ABOUT SAWSO

The Salvation Army (TSA) operates in 134 countries around the globe serving vulnerable communities. The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO play a key role in this global effort, serving as the U.S.-based office for supporting high-impact international assistance tailored to meet local needs in communities around the world. Guided by our mission to meet human needs without discrimination, we work alongside local partners to provide food, shelter, healthcare, education, and emergency relief to individuals and families facing poverty, displacement, and crisis.

Internship Overview

The Internship program provides an opportunity for a student or recent graduate to gain hands‑on professional experience while supporting the work of The Salvation Army. This internship is designed to offer meaningful exposure to nonprofit operations, project‑based work, and professional development in a mission‑driven organization.

The intern will work closely with staff members and may contribute to research, analysis, administrative support, program development, and special projects, depending on departmental needs and the intern’s interests.

Key Responsibilities

The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO) is seeking an intern to provide focused support to its International Business and Economic Development (IBED) team in advancing its various initiatives. The internship will focus on gathering and synthesizing desk research on best practices and innovations in small business development and social entrepreneurship, including agricultural initiative and use these insights to strengthen the impact of ongoing programs. This work will include developing practical tools, guides, and training materials that can be used by local teams to improve the productivity, quality, and profitability of income-generating initiatives. This role is ideal for someone passionate about global economic development, social entrepreneurship, and empowering communities through sustainable business models.

1. 1. Establish their personal learning goals and set a plan to encounter and engage with the identified topics, areas of focus, conferences in DC, literature, and project types and tools which they would like to experience during the course of the internship.
   2. Output: written and agreed-upon learning plan.
   3. In conjunction with newly developed metrics for evaluating the relative financial stability of TSA territories around the world, and industry best practices, create a new set of project-specific data indicators to measure the immediate efficiency and long-term impact of IBED initiatives.
   4. Research and write case studies on recent IBED projects that can be used for promotional materials.
   5. Conduct desk research on climate-smart agriculture models, small business toolkits and templates, social entrepreneurship training and models. Conduct desk research on best practices and innovations in agricultural small business development (particularly in LMICs) and synthesize findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
   6. Research major social enterprise and entrepreneurship funding agencies and foundations, create an index list of possible matches, a list of their required qualifications for applying, and potential matches with IBED projects.
   7. Conduct literature review of new publications with synthesized review and actionable insights to be integrated into IBED work.
      1. 1-Page Marketing Plan
      2. Lean Product Playbook
   8. Create a Microbusiness Marketing toolkit that can be taught and delivered across a variety of enterprise types. It should include a list of understandable principles, common tactics, transferable templates, practical examples, and instigating questions that can be employed in any setting. Will require desk research, best practice analysis, and interviews with current partners.
   9. Support the integration of business development and livelihoods approaches into agriculture-focused projects to help field teams and technical advisors strengthen the economic impact of farming initiatives. Collaborate with technical advisors and field teams to design and document replicable, sustainable farm models suitable for smallholder and community-based settings. Help develop practical tools, guides, and training materials that local teams can use to improve productivity, quality, and profitability of agricultural initiatives. Contribute to market research and competitor analysis for agricultural products and enterprises.

Learning Opportunities

This internship is intended to be a learning experience. The intern will:

• Gain exposure to nonprofit and/or faith‑based organizational operations
• Develop professional skills such as communication, research, time management, and collaboration
• Work under the guidance of experienced professionals
• Establish learning goals at the start of the internship and receive feedback throughout the summer

Qualifications

• Current undergraduate student in international relations, political science, community development, economics, or a closely related field.
• Practiced research and analytical skills (hard copy and online) with the ability to synthesize technical information and raw learnings into clear and actionable insights.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively. Experience in writing promotional pieces or project reports.
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, and MS Office. Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to create user-friendly materials for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Self-motivated individual, capable of tackling an identified problem and testing and designing an optimal solution.
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively with global teams in a virtual environment.

Required:

• Current undergraduate or graduate student, or recent graduate
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage time effectively and work independently
• Interest in nonprofit, public service, or mission‑driven work

Preferred:

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Prior internship, volunteer, or relevant work experience

Time Commitment

• Internship Dates: May 18, 2026 – July 31, 2026
• Hours: Up to 25 hours per week
• Duration: Summer 2026

How to Apply

Please submit the following:

• Resume