About the Opportunity
The Communications & Development Intern will work alongside the Communications and Development Coordinator to support the planning and implementation of fundraising events, creating written and visual mission-centered content, and assisting with donor acknowledgment.
This is an opportunity to learn about the day-to-day operations of a non-profit, improve your communication skills, and build connections with 826 Boston members, school communities, and students. In addition, interns will participate in specialized training sessions and conversations with the rest of their cohort each semester (i.e. a discussion on how to support neurodivergent learners, a workshop on self-publishing, etc.)
Applicants must be over the age of 18 but need not be currently enrolled in an academic program. The internship has a flexible commitment of 8–20 hours per week for a minimum of four months. Interns traditionally serve in the fall (September through December), spring (February through May), or summer (May through August). Interns who are not otherwise receiving financial compensation will receive a $500 stipend after completing their internship. This position may be eligible for a Federal Work-Study partnership at some schools. If you are eligible for Federal Work-Study, please let us know and we will try to work with your school to see if we are an eligible community partner.
All team members reporting in-person must establish that they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Mission: 826 Boston is a nonprofit writing, tutoring, and publishing organization where students in grades K-12 and beyond can share their stories, amplify their voices, and develop as leaders in school and in life.
What you’ll do:
- Assist with the planning and execution of fundraising events, with a particular focus on our signature spring event, the Half Half Half Half Half Marathon.
- Create compelling and mission-based content across 826 Boston platforms, including (but not limited to) the website and bi-weekly bulletins.
- Assist in social media content creation and strategy, focusing on innovative ways to share the 826 Boston brand and story. Additionally, contribute to the development of a comprehensive social media crisis communication plan.
- Provide support to the Development team with donor acknowledgment, data entry, and other tasks as needed.
- Provide support to the Publications team in planning and executing book release parties.
Skills and experiences:
826 Boston recognizes that impostor syndrome and the confidence gap might prevent some applicants from applying. Few candidates will have all of the relevant experience listed below, but 826 Boston is committed to assessing candidates with transferable skills and a willingness to be trained for this role.
- Enthusiastic belief in the mission of 826 Boston as evidenced by a passion for writing and working with youth.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to multitask.
- Experience in event planning is preferred, but not required.
- The ability to take direction, seek counsel when needed, proactively identify needs and opportunities, and propose evaluation innovations.
- Proficiency in a second language in addition to English is preferred, but not required.
Application Instructions:
Please complete the 826 Boston Internship Application and upload your résumé and a writing sample. Your writing sample should not go over 500 words and can be any genre — a piece of fiction, an academic essay, a long-form poem, etc. You are welcome to submit a cover letter as your writing sample if you prefer. Please only submit what you feel comfortable sharing with a future supervisor.
Applications will be reviewed by 826 Boston on a rolling basis. If you have questions or would like to check on the status of your application, please contact intern@826boston.org.
About Us
826 Boston is part of a national network of youth writing centers, co-founded by the award-winning author Dave Eggers and educator Nínive Calegari, that were named in GOOD Magazine’s “30 Places We Want to Work.” Since opening in 2007, 826 Boston has delivered its free youth writing and tutoring programs to more than 29,000 students and has been recognized by The Boston Globe as one of the best places in the city to volunteer. 826 Boston’s youth writers have published their work in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and in numerous award-winning 826 Boston books, including A Place for Me in the World, which was hailed as a “triumph of middle school education” by The Boston Globe. In 2013, the 826 National network garnered the prestigious American Literacy Prize awarded by the Library of Congress.
826 Boston Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement
At 826 Boston, we honor and actively work toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across our organization. We are committed to centering the voices of the students who we serve, to creating inclusive spaces, and to incorporating feedback from our community into our decision-making processes. Our DEI lens is always evolving through the courageous conversations in which we participate and the relationships that we build through our work and service. We strengthen our cultural competency through experience, training, and feedback, which informs the development of all new organizational practices and goals and the evaluation of all existing procedures. 826 Boston is dedicated to providing a platform for student advocacy through writing and publishing opportunities. In our work and mission, we are committed to dismantling white supremacy culture by recognizing that we are complicit in systems of racism and oppression. We will work to hold ourselves accountable in addressing these harmful structures and behaviors.