Intern, Rotational Non-Profit Management, Operations

WRI Overview 

World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. We are working to address critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. 

WRI’s global agenda requires a staff that is diverse – with respect to race, gender, cultural, and international background. Diverse perspectives and experience enhance the way WRI selects and approaches issues, as well as the creativity and applicability of WRI’s policy research and analysis. WRI is committed to advancing gender, racial and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices.   

Internships at WRI  

In the US and across the world, communities of color are disproportionally affected by issues related to climate change and environmental degradation. Yet, action and support are not happening at the pace required and the environmental space addressing these issues remains dominated by white voices. WRI is creating access and opportunity to harness the power, creativity, and innovation of diversity by increasing representation of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in the environmental space. We need a diverse set of voices to solve climate change and that begins with you.  

Internships at WRI are learning experiences designed for current students, recent graduates, and other candidates who wish to gain knowledge about a specific area of our work. We strive to attract diverse, intellectually driven candidates who have a passion for sustainability and development. WRI provides many internship opportunities throughout the year in all our programs.  

Internship Summary 

Through this internship, you will receive robust training in a diverse range of WRI operations duties, including project financial management, grant and sub-agreement management, development and fundraising, finance and accounting, and human resources. Core functions create the infrastructure that facilitates the success of WRI’s mission and are foundational to WRI being able to achieve impact. 

During the first three weeks, you will participate in a rotational training curriculum involving in-depth seminars, guided learning modules, and assignments that will provide in-depth insight into the topics and responsibilities encompassing non-profit management.  

For the remaining duration of your internship, you will work directly with a WRI program or center, in alignment with your interests, to shadow experienced operations staff and support the completion of typical Project Coordinator assignments that will allow you to apply your knowledge of WRI’s systems and processes in real-life scenarios. During your direct placement with a team, you will work on programmatic deliverables, provide ongoing operations support and manage other special projects. Examples of potential projects include completing a Project Management for Development Professionals (PMD Pro) training & certification, compiling funder financial reports, designing a strategy to integrate project operations and communications, and forecasting your team’s quarterly budget. By the end of the internship, you will be equipped with diverse skills and applied knowledge in non-profit management, financial management, development, and operations.  

The application deadline for this internship is April 25, 2021.

Learning Outcomes 

The intern will gain experience in the following areas:  

• Develop foundational knowledge of financial management including budgeting, expense review, financial reporting, revenue analysis, and WRI cost structure.  
• Learn full cycle grant and subagreement management including initiating new prime awards, drafting new subagreements, reviewing partner reports, and processing invoices.  
• Gain fundraising exposure in areas of proposal development and opportunity tracking in Salesforce. 
• Become familiar with critical systems including Salesforce, Cognos, Deltek and Office 365 Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)  
• Exposure to general non-profit operations including Human Resources, Information Technology, and organizational sustainability standards  
• Complete a budget forecast through the following activities:  
  • participating in budget review meetings and quarterly fiscal reviews 
  • Supporting budget development and entry into WRI’s financial systems for coming fiscal year 
  • Updating revenue forecasts and funding opportunity records in Salesforce 
  • Registering potential deliverable or operational risks the team is facing 
  • Brainstorming potential mitigation strategies 

Internship Qualifications 

• Interest in non-profit management and operations  
• Excellent oral and written communications skills  
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team  

General Internship Requirements 

• Applicants must have personal health insurance coverage.  
• U.S. work authorization is required for this opportunity. WRI does not sponsor interns for visas. 

Compensation 

• The pay range for this internship opportunity is between $15-18/hour, commensurate with qualifications. 

Duration and Location 

• This is a summer internship with a June 1, 2021 start date.   
• This is a remote-based internship with the option to work out of the Washington D.C. office once it reopens.  
• WRI will provide a laptop for the duration of your internship.  

How to Apply 

The application deadline for this internship is April 25, 2021. Please submit a cover letter and resume with your application. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. 

The World Resources Institute (http://www.wri.org) is an environmental and development research and policy organization that creates solutions to protect the Earth and improve people’s lives. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, it is WRI’s policy to recruit, hire, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, parental status, protected veteran status, or disability. WRI’s global agenda requires a staff that is diverse – with respect to race, gender, cultural, and international background. Diverse perspectives and experience enhance the way WRI selects and approaches issues, as well as the creativity and applicability of WRI’s policy research and analysis. WRI, therefore, encourages applications from U.S. minorities, persons from other countries (especially developing nations), and from women of all backgrounds.