Engaged Summer Students

Project Description:

Front Office HR Intern

The HR Intern will play an essential role in helping The Arc of Loudoun's HR shop go completely digital as well as assisting with creating/revamping powerpoint presentation trainings on Leadership, Insurance, Retirement, etc. The HR Intern will also be responsible for onboarding new hires and making modifications and streamlining HR processes in our UKG Ready modules. This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in shadowing HR leadership as well as getting a good understanding of the inner workings of nonprofit management in our efforts to support people with disabilities. 

Website: www.thearcofloudoun.org

Modality: Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site.

Required Hours: Once a month Senior Leadership Meeting @04:00PM (TBD) - Can be flexible with fellow's schedule.

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Passionate about Human Resources and technology!
Strong written and verbal communication skills. Experience (or willingness to learn) UKG Ready software platform and content creation/modification.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Background Check Required? Yes

Project Description:

SNAP Gap Pantry and Book Nook Intern

Britepaths is a Fairfax based non-profit that serves Northern Virginia families facing financial crisis. We provide safety-net services such as rent, utility, car repair, grocery gift cards & toiletries, and longer-term empowerment services to help them prepare for and find jobs and coaches to work with them on managing finances and becoming self-sufficient. We also have programs for children – school supplies, supplemental food for students, and a book nook. 

The Engaged Summer intern would primarily work on our SNAP Gap Pantry and our book nook. 

The intern would: accept and put away pantry donations; assist with organization and maintenance of our SNAP Gap Pantry; assist with data entry in our client management database: Food Program and pantry supplies grants, client data, pantry donations and contributions; assist with contacting clients who will receive items from the pantry: intake surveys, coordinating pick up dates; assist with engaging volunteers in pantry packing events, pantry inventory, donation drives, etc. As well as: accept and put away book donations; assist with organization and maintenance of our Secret Garden book nook; assist with data entry in our client management database – basic inventory; assist with book events, inventory, donation drives, etc.

Website: www.Britepaths.org

Modality: Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site.

Required Hours: Monthly staff meeting: June 4th, July 2nd, August 6th. Other events TBD

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: 
Required: Attention to detail, experience with Microsoft Suite and Google Suite, willingness to communicate on the phone or in-person with Britepaths' clients, strong organizational skills.
Preferred: experience with Client Management databases, bilingual in Spanish and English, experience with Excel, comfortable working in a busy and changing working environment.

Background Check Required? Yes

Project Description:

1. Intensive Case Management & Refugee Services Intern

Gain hands-on experience supporting newly arrived refugee families as they navigate healthcare, public benefits, and community integration. Assist with client consultations, referrals, health enrollment, workshops, data entry, and file management under supervision. Ideal for students interested in social work, public health, nonprofit leadership, or community engagement.

2. Youth Services Internship:

Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) works to help newly arrived families find community and support to thrive in the US. We strive to provide quality social services centered around social justice and help people understand US systems through ongoing support. The Youth Services Volunteer Intern plays a critical role in expanding the reach and impact of MRS by building and maintaining partnerships, engaging the community, and helping our families thrive within the school systems. We aim to enroll students following the state requirements and find resources to help. We also aim to match MYVA mentors and VRSAP tutors to advocate for our student clients and families within the school systems. Clients seek additional support as they identify and work towards their visions of future success. As a mentor, tutor, in-house volunteer, or intern, you can form an impactful (and mutually fulfilling) relationship with your mentee as you help them achieve their goals!

Website: www.ccda.net

Modality: In-person only. Students will be required to be on-site to complete their hours.
The Community Outreach position is Hybrid - Monday thru Thursday with Fridays usually out of office. 9-5 pm.

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Must complete agency required training, having transportation is always helpful

Background Check Required? Yes

Project Description:

Wright to Read Intern

The Wright to Read (WTR) program, operated by the Campagna Center (CC), is seeking a Student Fellow Volunteer from CECIL to complete a multifaceted summer project to help us launch the 2026-2027 program year. The three key components of this project include supporting the fall launch of our afterschool literacy program at three elementary schools, helping deliver summer programming to current Wright to Read families and volunteers, and developing our program supports for middle and high school students. These three components work together to help Wright to Read deliver exceptional literacy tutoring and mentoring services to new and existing families, even during the school breaks.

First, the Fellow will support the Wright to Read team in efforts to prepare for the upcoming school year. These preparation projects will include creating volunteer resource bags, solidifying a portfolio of materials for our literacy curricula, and building welcome bags for new students. Additionally, to help prepare for the launch of our new program year the Fellow will support staff in the recruitment and onboarding of new approximately 20 new volunteers. To help recruit new volunteers, we would ask the Fellow to support the Program Assistant in planning, advertising, and executing a volunteer recruitment event over the summer to help share our volunteer opportunities to the community.

Wright to Read also strives to continue our programming throughout the summer months. This programming serves to engage our community, give opportunities to students to continue learning during the summer, and support caregivers in creating literacy-rich environments at home. The fellow would complete this component of the project primarily through event planning and execution, and resource gathering, maintenance, and distribution. Our summer events include an annual End of Year Picnic on June 6th, a back to school event, and volunteer-focused and family-focused book clubs. All of these gatherings give the Fellow the opportunity to hone event execution skills and interact directly with our program community. Additionally, the Fellow will support our efforts to send each Wright to Read student an individualized summer reading package and our efforts to maintain a lending library for all of our families and volunteers.

Finally, the summer fellow will complete a summer-long research project around mentorship activities, guidelines, and resources for middle and high school students. While most Wright to Read students start their involvement in the program in elementary school, many pairs continue to meet well into middle and high school, even when initial literacy targets have been met. Wright to Read is eager to launch a set of activities and guidelines for the mentors of our older students in the 26-27 program year. These materials would be focused on developing the students’ social and emotional skills and preparing them for life after high school graduation. The summer fellow will be responsible for researching and compiling middle and high school mentoring guides, conducting informational interviews with other middle and high school mentoring programs in the area, presenting their findings to Wright to Read staff, and preparing materials to be implemented by volunteers in the fall.

Website: https://www.campagnacenter.org/program/wright-to-read/

Modality: Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site.

Required Hours: 2 full in-office days are required. Which days of the week will be determined by the student and supervisor.

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: familiarity with Excel, experience working community events, strong organizational skills

Background Check Required? Yes

Project Description:

Two students are needed to assist the CAPAC STEAM Team with planning and participating in CAPAC's 5th, Full STEAM Ahead: A Theater Robotics Summer Day Camp. 

In the afternoons, the Theater Director will collaborate with the CAPAC STEAM Team to design, plan, and implement a three-week intensive theatrical production for middle school campers. This role is responsible for fostering a creative, inclusive, and educational environment where students are empowered to take on leadership roles both on stage and behind the scenes. The director will guide campers through all aspects of production, culminating in a high-quality end-of-camp performance.

In the mornings, the Co-Lead Summer Camp Educator is responsible for planning and delivering engaging activities for secondary students in a dynamic camp environment. This role requires strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills, as well as a background in education or youth development. The educator will ensure the safety and well-being of all participants, manage group activitiesóincluding outdoor field tripsóand foster a positive, inclusive atmosphere.

Website: 

Modality: In-person only. Students will be required to be on-site to complete their hours.

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Summer Camp Educator - Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills.        Excellent verbal and written communication abilities. Experience in education, youth development, or a related field. Ability to manage groups of students in various settings, including outdoors. Commitment to creating a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment. Preferred: Previous experience working in summer camps or similar youth programs. CAPAC will provide CPR/First Aid certification. Theater Director: Theater Major, Performing Arts, Education, or related field (preferred). Experience directing youth theater productions, especially with middle school students

Background Check Required? Yes

Project Description:

Project 1: Internship Professional Clothes Closet Support

Working as a fellow in the professional clothing closet would be a multi-faceted position. Our primary focus in wanting to partner with the CECiL Center is to facilitate the sustainability of the closet. The professional clothing closet is supported by the special education undergraduate organization, the EDSE Council, and a faculty advisor. So, the fellowship positions would be focused on supporting the EDSE Council and their faculty advisor in manning the closet, so there can be open closet hours for walk-in student clients. Additionally, we take individual student appointments, so it would also mean covering scheduled half hour appointment times in the closet. On walk-in days and during appointments, fellows would be interfacing with student clients - helping them select clothing items and checking out these free items so we can track inventory. Part of the positions would be in helping us develop flyers and corresponding with clients and college & community stakeholders sharing flyers and information about closet events. Another large piece of the fellowship is to help us sort and log-in new clothing to our inventory, because we have donations coming into the closet on a regular basis. Lastly, fellows would assist us in planning our big Summer semester events. Our goal is to have a beginning of summer and end of summer Open House

Website: none

Modality: Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site.

Required Hours: Students would need to be in person at least 2 days each week, 10AM-5PM.

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: We would prefer applicants have experience making flyers in Canva, because we rely heavily on advertising. Additionally, it would be beneficial if applicants are familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as feel comfortable using email communication regularly. Someone with a customer service focus would also do well in this position because they would be interfacing with closet clients. A detail oriented individual would also be preferred because many tasks involve sorting and displaying clothing items, and these tasks have many detailed components to them.

Background Check Required? No

Project Description:

Project 1

Help to refine and execute current Fundraising Plan (grants, annual campaign, sponsorships)

• Research potential funding prospects
• Assist with grants submissions and contribution applications to potential funders
• Track communications with all potential funders
• Send Thank You letters to donors 
• Assist with all sponsorship fulfillment
• Assist with plans for Annual winter fundraiser (A Winter Wonderland). developing marketing materials, marketing schedule and plans
• Develop event invitations, reminders and other campaign information and designs in Constant Contact 
• Prepare fundraising materials for all events as needed 
• Assist with updating our website related to all fundraising campaigns and information
• Explore and research future fundraising event ideas ñ preparing event overview/plans for these
• Attend community outreach events as needed
• Assist with State registrations for MD and DC 

Project 2

Job Responsibilities:

• Research affordable senior housing development projects in the Washington DC area; prepare summary and review of each project.
• Assist with preparing materials, scheduling meetings, and providing follow-up information to development contacts
• Assist staff with managing current renovation and development projects by attending meetings, conducting research, reviewing financial reports and gathering information for public relations and advocacy purposes.
• Create summary reports of development projects that help to identify challenges and risks
• Review financial reports and current contracts of existing Fellowship Square properties; provide summary analysis to improve operations, control costs, increase revenue and deliver a better housing experience for current residents.

Website: https://www.fellowshipsquare.org/

Modality: In-person only. Students will be required to be on-site to complete their hours.  

Required Hours: Monday through Friday, Office Hours are 8:30 - 4:30pm but 15 hours a week in that timeframe.

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Microsoft Office

Background Check Required? No

Project Description:

Volunteer Engagement Intern
About the Role:
The Volunteer Engagement Intern supports Food for Others’ volunteer program by assisting with volunteer feedback, training, scheduling, and creative projects to improve the volunteer experience. This internship offers hands-on experience in nonprofit operations, volunteer management, and program development.

Responsibilities:
- Engage with volunteers, staff, and clients from diverse backgrounds in a professional and respectful manner
- Assist with volunteer onboarding, training facilitation, and handbook creation
- Collect and analyze volunteer feedback and program statistics
- Support scheduling, volunteer appreciation initiatives, and other creative projects to strengthen engagement
- Rotate into Food for Others programs as needed to learn operations and assist with shifts or other tasks
- Assist with additional tasks as assigned to support the Volunteer Program

Website: https://foodforothers.org/ 

Modality: In-person only. Students will be required to be on-site to complete their hours.  

Required Hours: We are open Monday-Friday, 9:00AM-5:00PM. Our schedules for hosting students can flex with their needs.

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Comfortable interacting with a diverse population and committed to treating all clients, volunteers, and staff with respect and dignity - Preferred: degree aligns with the responsibilities of the role - Preferred: bilingual in Spanish or other language - Preferred: experience with Volunteer Matters VMS, volunteering, or volunteer management

Background Check Required? No

Project Description:

Join our team of 5 staff to grow food and address food insecurity on campus while receiving all necessary training and developing your leadership skills. Tasks may include: 

Horticulture: 

• Maintaining greenhouse hydroponic systems and outdoor gardens 
• Growing plants from seed to harvest 
• Identifying plants and removing invasive species 
• Pruning, harvesting & packaging produce for donation 
• Managing pests with organic techniques 
• Maintaining proper water chemistry 
• Composting indoors with worm bins & outdoors with aerobic piles 

Food Justice: 

• Hosting or attending in-person tabling events on campus 
• Setting up the event table; signage, produce displays, etc. 
• Talking to people and educating them about plant-based eating 
• Typing harvest records online
• Planning workshops and events
• Meeting with the team to plan and coordinate 
• Creating flyers & digital content for social media & printing 
• Researching recipes & organizing information 
• Helping with day-of logistics for events 

Website: https://green.gmu.edu/campus-sustainability/campus-gardens/

Modality: In-person only. Students will be required to be on-site to complete their hours.  

Required Hours: Flexible hours Mondays through Fridays 8 am to 6 pm

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Must be able to handle outdoor environments, including high heat, bugs, dirt, and physical labor.

Background Check Required? No

Project Description:

Front Office Intern

Just Neighbors depends on volunteers to do case work and complete the daily operations of the office. Spanish speakers encouraged! Volunteers will answer phones and complete client phone intakes in English and Spanish, work with clients and staff in preparing documents for immigration applications, perform basic office administrative duties and when applicable help with oral and written translations. Volunteers will also help with tasks such as data entry, grant writing, social media, scanning and archiving. 

Website: www.justneighbors.org

Modality: In-person only. Students will be required to be on-site to complete their hours.

Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday; 9am-5pm

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Spanish speaking students (Native or High Fluency level highly preferred)

Background Check Required? Yes

Project Description:

Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) accompanies those in need to foster resiliency, self-sufficiency, and access to opportunities by creating, connecting with, and engaging welcoming communities.?The LSSNCA Resource Center is a unique community hub that brings together program participants and community members. It hosts educational courses, professional development and networking opportunities, legal clinics, wellness workshops, celebrations, and cultural events. Program participants also experience dignity and choice when selecting essential items like nonperishable food, clothing, bedding, and personal and infant hygiene products. Volunteers and Interns at the LSSNCA Resource Center assist in the essential center tasking to ensure that quality access to resources continues. 

Tasking can include but is not limited to: 

• overseeing on-site client shopping experiences
• intaking and inventorying donations
• assist with receptionist duties
• sorting donations and restocking shopping areas
• maintaining a clean environment for clients
• research on community resources
• event planning and support
• assisting with community group volunteer events
• community outreach
• and more!

Website: https://lssnca.org/programs/resource-center.html

Modality: Completely In-Person

Required Hours: Hours will need to be completed between 11am-7pm Wednesday-Saturdays

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: 

Background Check Required? Yes

Project Description:

Project 1: Economic and Social Justice Program Research

This program allows us to analyze business and industry data to develop research output in the form of Op-Ed, short essays and longer research papers focused on rising income and wealth gap in USA and around the world.  This program is also good training ground for aspiring students to develop good skills for impactful and relevant research ideas and methods. 

Project 2: Social Media Intern

This project revolves around our fundraising and community outreach program.  The student will work with our current team and increase our capacity as well as bring new ideas to make our social media effort and fund raising more impactful.

Project 3: MyLLife Scholars Program

Every summer MyLLIfe supports 10-20 MyLLife Scholars from across the country to do 10-12 weeks of internship at various federal, state, and local as well as non-profit organizations related to public policy. This position will support our activities in support of the 2025 summer Internship program for these Scholars. 

Website: www.myllife.org

Modality: Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site.

Required Hours: one day a week on site that we can agree with the student.  We are flexible which day of the week

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Passionate about our work and our purpsoe, committment to timely delivery of assigned tasks, good team spirit and proactive communication

Background Check Required? No

Project Description:

The student will help run and monitor our Northern Virginia Food Rescue Hero app. Manage communications with food donors, food recipients, and volunteers. As well as help out with expanding our food donor base, and onboarding new donors! Might need help with grant work as well. 

Website: https://nova-fr.org/

Modality: Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site.

Required Hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10am-2pm in person is required.

Is the site accessible to public transportation? No

Volunteer Requirements:  Required: Excellent communication and time management skills. Preferred: Tech Savviness.

Background Check Required? No

Project Description:

One year ago, Northern Virginia Family Services?(NVFS) announced its merger with Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia to add child welfare services to further support families throughout Northern Virginia. Through this merger, NVFS expanded its robust spectrum of family programs, with the addition of the Alexandria/Arlington CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Programs and Family Programs. 

The Engage Summer Fellow will support the CASA program in overhauling and updating the training for new CASA volunteers.  The restructured training manual needs to be finalized for the new training class by late-August.  The student will have the opportunity to learn about the child welfare system and trauma informed care.   

When children are removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect, they often face overwhelming uncertainty. Amid the turmoil of foster care and court proceedings, what they need most is a steady, supportive presence, someone who is firmly on their side. A CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer becomes that unwavering advocate in a child's life. These dedicated individuals are not just voices in the courtroom; they are champions for the child's best interests and are a source of stability during a time of upheaval.? We provide thorough training to volunteers from diverse backgrounds, many of whom balance their advocacy work with full-time jobs. No matter their path, each volunteer shares a common goal: to ensure that every child feels seen, heard, and supported when they need it the most. 

The Virginia State CASA organization has rolled out a new state-wide CASA training curriculum. The new structure, lessons, and activities are based on adult learning and reflect the increasingly complex cases we are seeing. The Engage Summer Fellow will help restructure, reformat, re-organize and update our CASA training materials to reflect the new state training curriculum.   This includes updating forms, materials, policies, and procedures, including updating training materials, policies, and procedures, and revising the training schedule.  Finally, we are interested in developing a survey to hear what our CASAs want and need in continuing education.  This directly contributes to our mission to ensure that every child feels seen, heard, and supported when they need it the most.?By standing with a child in their most vulnerable moments, CASA volunteers make an invaluable difference, not just in the court system, but in the child's life.

Website: https://www.nvfs.org/

Modality: Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site.

Required Hours: No. the student should coordinate their hours with the supervisor.

Is the site accessible to public transportation? No

Volunteer Requirements: Required Qualifications: Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, SharePoint, and other relevant platforms such as Canva.  Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.   Preferred Qualifications:   Interest in advocacy, child welfare, or related social services.  Experience or interest in adult education, volunteer training, or curriculum development.   Strong organizational and communication skills. 

Background Check Required? Yes

Patriot Packout (PPO) hosts its largest on-campus donation collection event at the end of each spring semester, collecting, transporting, and organizing thousands of pounds of clothing, household, furniture, and non-perishable food/hygiene donations from our university community. Donations are collected across the Fairfax Campus, Science and Technology Campus, and Smithsonian School of Conservation Site. Following the spring semester donation collection, PPO provides university community members with free access to goods and supplies to address basic needs insecurity by hosting a pop-up Summer Free Store event. 

The Engaged Summer Fellow with Patriot Packout will collaborate with University Sustainability team, volunteers, and members of the PPO Planning Committee, to support PPOís Summer Free Store design, planning, and execution. This position will work to advance Patriot Packout and the Zero Waste Mason Programís efforts to educate and engage the university community about waste, waste systems, and zero waste behaviors.

Patriot Packout Project Tasks:

- Support donation transfer, inventorying, and free redistribution activities

- Lead in-person volunteer trainings and supervise volunteers to support Free Store implementation

- Record donation data as part of donation inventorying to support Patriot Packout's impact assessment and communications

- Assist with planning for PPO's Summer Free Store event by contributing to the development and improvement of the program's event planning documents such as volunteer training resources, engagement resources, logistics plans, and event plans

- Co-host PPO's Summer Free Store event, engaging with visitors, answering questions, and providing operational support

Physical Demands:   

- Lift, carry, and otherwise transport items weighing between 40-50 lbs. 

- Organize, move, and otherwise manipulate wheeled donation bins, boxes, and similar objects/items   

- Walk, move, travel, and otherwise navigate the universityís campuses   

- Walk, stand, sit, stoop, kneel, and crouch   

- Make repetitive motions   

- Type and write by hand 

- Use hands to touch, grasp, hold, or handle 

- Physical ability to work in varied conditions, including heat, humidity, rain, wind, etc.   

- Physical ability to work in climate-controlled and non-climate-controlled spaces and locations 

Website: https://green.gmu.edu/patriot-pack-out-ppo/ 

Modality: Completely In-Person

Required Hours: Availability between Monday - Friday is preferred

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Required Qualifications: Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, SharePoint, and other relevant platforms such as Canva.  Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.   Preferred Qualifications:   Interest in advocacy, child welfare, or related social services.  Experience or interest in adult education, volunteer training, or curriculum development.   Strong organizational and communication skills. 

Background Check Required? No