Chicago, Illinois, United States · Unpaid Internship

This internship provides hands-on experience in prospecting grant opportunities, researching foundations, stewarding donor relationships, and writing proposals. The Grant Writing Intern will learn how Make-A-Wish utilizes foundation grant opportunities to further our mission. This role will directly participate in the development of Make-A-Wish Illinois’s grants program, including the researching of grant opportunities, the solicitation of foundations, and the writing and submission of grant applications.

Daily Assignments Include: 

• Assisting in identifying new grant prospects
• Researching potential funders to determine best fit
• Writing and submitting proposals to prospective funders
• Other duties as needed

Time Commitment: 12-15 hours per week (hybrid work experience), including at least one weekly in-office working day on Thursdays. The cycle runs from June 4th, 2026, through August 6th, 2026. Official start date is on Thursday, June 4th, 2026, with mandatory in-person intern orientation at 9:30am.

Skills and Abilities: 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Desire to contribute to the mission of Make-A-Wish
• Comfortable talking on the phone with supporters of Make-A-Wish 

Preferred Qualifications: 

Coursework in Business, Non-Profit Management, Marketing, the Humanities (such as English or History), and/or Communications

Additional Requirements: 

• Must be currently enrolled in a college or university academic program
• Must be able to commute to our downtown Chicago office located at 200 W Monroe St, Suite 1801 Chicago, IL 60606 and be onsite weekly on Thursdays
• Minimum age for all internships is 18
• Selected candidates will be asked to participate in a criminal background check

Benefits

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 internship description, interns also have the opportunity to:

• Participate in connection sessions with each member of our executive leadership team
• Participate in skill-building workshops and check-ins lead by Human Resources
• Build working relationships cross-departmentally with staff and fellow interns 
• Contribute to our mission of granting wishes for children with critical illnesses
• Receive recognition from supervisor(s) and staff during cycle closeout celebration