Non-Profit Internship Guide

Internship opportunities in non-profits are plentiful. They can be found in large, national organizations and small,
local organizations; in arts, education, health, social services, political causes; in your backyard or across the
country.

Getting Started

• RESUME! Creating your resume is the first step of any internship search. Come to Career Services for examples, advice, and resume review.
• Brainstorm – what would you like to do, for what kind of organization?
  • Program Management, Volunteer Management, Fundraising and Development are just a few areas where non-profit internships are found.

Internship Postings

Many internship opportunities can be found online:

• The RU Career Account:
  This account must be set up by Career Services. It gives access to internship postings sent directly to Rockhurst from employers. Sign up for an account at weekly workshops on Tuesdays at 3:30 pm, Wednesdays at 10:00 am, and Thursdays at 1:00 pm in Career Services.
• Nonprofit Connect: www.npconnect.org
  Nonprofit Connect is a professional organization for non-profits in Kansas City. Their website provides internship postings from a variety of non-profit organizations.
• Nonprofit Leadership Alliance: www.nonprofitleadershipalliance.org
  Nonprofit Leadership Alliance partners with colleges and universities to prepare, certify and connect people to jobs and internships through national non-profit organizations such as Campfire USA, the YMCA of the USA and more.
• Organization Websites:
  Many organizations post internships on their own websites.
• Idealist.org: www.idealist.org
  This website posts a wide variety of opportunities in the non-profit sector.

Timeline

3-6 months prior to when you want to start an internship:

• Create your resume
• Begin to research companies and programs
• Begin applications
• Take resumes and cover letters to Career Services for review
• Practice interviewing with a mock interview in Career Services
• Interview and accept position

Kansas City Organizations

Resources for researching organizations in Kansas City:

• The Kansas City Business Journal Book of Lists, in the Career Services Office, or their online business directory http://businessdirectory.bizjournals.com/kansascity
• Professional Organizations
  • Nonprofit Leadership Alliance: www.nonprofitleadershipalliance.org
  • Nonprofit Connect: www.npconnect.org
  • Guidestar www.guidestar.org
• Chambers of Commerce
• RU Career Account Employer Directory, accessed through the Career Services website
• Google search
• U.S. Department of Labor Employer Locator: https://app-jobs.mo.gov/vosnet/JobBanks/JobSearchCriteriaQuick.aspx
• Network with professors, classmates, family and friends

Examples of non-profits in KC:

• Arthritis Foundation: www.arthritis.org
• Boys Hope, Girls Hope: www.bhghkc.org
• Greater Kansas City Community Foundation: www.gkccf.org
• Habitat for Humanity: www.habitatkc.org
• International Trade Council: www.itckc.org
• Kansas City Young Audiences: www.kcya.org
• Make-a-Wish Foundation: www.mokan.wish.org
• PKD Foundation: www.pkdcure.org
• United Way: www.kcunitedway.org
• YMCA: www.kansascityymca.org

Searching in Other Cities

Use the same resources; simply focus them on other cities. NACE Link, an internship/job database through the RU Career Account, is connected to 500 other colleges nationwide. Additionally, many Jesuit universities offer reciprocal career services. Contact RU Career Services to find out if you can receive services from another Jesuit university in the city you want to search in.