Community Events Intern

Every year, nearly 1,200 children in Illinois are newly diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Make-A-Wish Illinois believes that wishes are an important part of the overall care and treatment of these children, and each wish offers the opportunity for a joyous, life-changing experience. This belief guides us in everything we do at Make-A-Wish Illinois, as we are fueled and guided by our values — values that are represented in the inspired people we work with and the life-changing work we do, every day. 

Since being founded locally in 1985, Make-A-Wish Illinois has granted more than 17,000 wishes and continues its mission to share the power of a wish with children in all 102 counties across the state. This is made possible with the support over 1,000 WishMakers and numerous donors and other supporters. A dynamic, professional staff is also essential to delivering high-quality wishes to children.

The Make-A-Wish Illinois Internship Program is a structured 10-week program (June-August) that will provide you with a unique opportunity to see how a renowned nonprofit organization runs from the inside by developing business acumen. The Community Events Intern is responsible for assisting with the administration of Make-A-Wish external fundraising events, including the annual Make-A-Wish Walk for Wishes.

This is an unpaid internship opportunity.

Qualified candidates will be contacted by hiring team to schedule interviews.

Time Commitment: 12-15 hours per week (hybrid work experience), in-office Tuesdays and Thursdays, from early June through early August. It is required to attend our in-office orientation on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025.

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be able to work in a hybrid environment and commute to our downtown Chicago office (we are located in the Central Loop)
• Selected candidates will be asked to participate in a criminal background check
• Must reside in the state of Illinois during the duration of the internship cycle
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a team environment
• Desire to contribute to the mission of Make-A-Wish
  

Key Responsibilities:

• Events include Walk for Wishes, Kids for Wish Kids®, Wish Makers on Campus®, and all other external events
• Assisting with community outreach and research
• Coordinating event logistics including processing license agreements, conducting outreach calls, event setup and event debriefs
• Creating marketing and stewardship collateral for corporate donor programs, authoring wish stories for fundraising collateral and stewardship frames, and performing other duties as assigned

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 
• Solid organizational abilities

An internship at Make-A-Wish Illinois provides a unique opportunity to see how a renowned nonprofit organization runs from the inside. In addition to the learning opportunities outlined in the job description, all interns also:

• Sit down with the senior leaders of our organization
• Build working relationships with interns throughout other departments
• Skill-based workshops and projects
• Participate in creating impactful lifelong memories for children with critical illnesses and families
• Opportunity to assist in the creation and execution of wishes