15 Nonprofit Internships for High School Students in Chicago
If you’re a high school student interested in business, there are many ways to start exploring careers in the field. Interning at a nonprofit gives you the chance to learn how organizations operate while contributing to important causes. You might help with fundraising, assist with communications, or support event planning and operations. These tasks build the same skills used in business, like leadership, teamwork, and project management, while giving you insight into how social impact organizations work.
Chicago is home to several nonprofit organizations that focus on education, health, sustainability, and community development. Choosing a local nonprofit internship can be a smart decision because you won’t need to spend on travel or housing.
To help you find options that fit, we have made a list of 15 nonprofit internships in Chicago that are open to high school students!
15 Nonprofit Internships for High School Students in Chicago
1. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies by the program. Financial aid is available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships connects you with high-growth start-ups where you can work on projects in fields such as health tech, marketing, consulting, AI/ML, and journalism. During the internship, you’ll work with a manager while receiving support from a dedicated Ladder Coach, giving you both industry exposure and mentorship. Past host companies have included Y Combinator–backed start-ups and founders with experience at Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. In addition to project work, you’ll participate in one-on-one training and cohort workshops on communication, time management, and leadership. By the end of the program, you’ll present your work to company executives.
2. Young Founders Lab
Cost: Varies by the program. Need-based financial aid available
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
The Young Founders Lab is a start-up boot camp designed to help you turn an idea into a revenue-generating venture with real-world impact. Over four weeks, you’ll learn business fundamentals and entrepreneurship skills while working toward launching your own project. Experienced mentors from Google, Microsoft, and X provide guidance, and you’ll also take part in interactive workshops, case studies, and panel discussions. In addition to building your start-up, you’ll strengthen your problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills in a collaborative, hands-on environment.
2. Chicago Summer Business Institute – CSBI
Cost: Paid internship
Location: Chicago, IL (in-person)
Dates: June–August
Application Deadline: February 1 – March 31
Eligibility: Chicago residents who are current high school sophomores or juniors, with a minimum 3.0 GPA and family household income below $80,000/year
The Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI) offers a six-week paid summer internship for high school students in Chicago. You’ll work four days a week at a partner organization, such as a bank, law firm, accounting office, or engineering company, where you’ll complete general office tasks and contribute to real projects under the guidance of a supervisor. On Fridays, you’ll attend seminars focused on financial literacy, professional development, and leadership, often featuring guest speakers from Chicago’s business community. The program ends with a graduation ceremony, often featuring remarks from the Mayor or City Treasurer.
3. After School Matters
Cost: Paid; stipends provided for participation
Location: Chicago, IL (program sites citywide)
Dates: Fall, September 23 – December 13 (programs also run in Spring and Summer)
Application Deadline: September 13 (for Fall session)
Eligibility: Chicago high school teens (ages 14–18)
After School Matters (ASM) is a Chicago nonprofit that offers paid programs for high school students in areas like arts, STEM, business, sports, and communications. You take part in workshops led by local instructors and professionals, working on projects such as coding, culinary arts, journalism, or marketing. ASM runs more than 1,600 programs each year with over 300 community partners, giving you mentorship, teamwork experience, and practical skills.
4. PAWS Chicago High School Internship Program
Cost: Unpaid
Location: Medical Center and Lincoln Park Adoption Center, Chicago, IL
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling; coordinated through school or community job-readiness programs
Eligibility: High school students ages 16+ enrolled in a formalized school or community career-readiness program
PAWS Chicago offers hands-on internships for high school students interested in animal welfare and nonprofit operations. As an intern, you will assist at the adoption center or medical facility with tasks such as feeding and walking dogs, cleaning, and supporting daily shelter operations. This program offers an opportunity to develop responsibility, teamwork skills, and gain direct experience in nonprofit service. You must commit to a recurring weekday schedule between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. and be part of a school or community-based career readiness program.
5. Field Museum Women in Science Internships
Cost: Unpaid
Location: Chicago, IL
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in February or March
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students with an Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, or Michigan address; must demonstrate a strong interest in the sciences.
The Field Museum’s Women in Science Internship program offers high school students the opportunity to contribute to research and collections projects in a world-renowned museum setting. You might digitize insect samples, train AI to identify beetle patterns, or study how cities affect mammal evolution. Along the way, you build skills in data handling, scientific writing, research methods, and how nonprofit organizations operate. At the end, you present your project and practice sharing your work with others.
6. Chicago Green Ambassadors Program – Roots & Routes Initiative & Youth Conservation Action
Cost: Paid internship
Location: Burnham Wildlife Corridor and surrounding neighborhoods, Chicago, IL
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Rolling/announced each spring
Eligibility: High school and college students ages 15–22 from communities including Chinatown, Bronzeville, Little Village, Pilsen, and surrounding areas
The Chicago Green Ambassadors Program is a paid summer internship that engages students in environmental stewardship and community renewal. As a participant, you’ll work on projects that connect neighborhoods to the Burnham Wildlife Corridor along the South Lakefront, helping strengthen green spaces while building bonds among community groups. You will take part in hands-on conservation activities, public engagement, and neighborhood revitalization efforts, gaining both environmental and leadership experience. Led by the Roots & Routes Initiative and Youth Conservation Action at the Field Museum’s Keller Science Action Center, the program emphasizes the intersection of ecology, civic engagement, and social impact.
7. High School Science and Digital Learning Program
Cost: Paid; $16.50/hour
Location: Chicago, IL
Dates: Late June – early August
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: High school students in the Chicagoland area graduating in the next three years; students from underrepresented and marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply
The Field Museum’s Science and Digital Learning Internship gives you the chance to act as a scientist for the summer. Over five weeks, you’ll work with researchers and museum experts on various projects, gaining experience in both scientific research and digital media. You’ll also learn professional technology skills to support your work while participating in workshops that focus on career readiness and leadership. You will be paid for your time and are expected to work on-site four days a week, immersing yourself in both the museum’s collections and its professional community.
8. Urban Alliance (Obama Youth Job Corps Partner) High School Internship Program
Cost: Paid internship
Location: Chicago, IL
Dates: September – May
Application Deadline: Based on position
Eligibility: High school seniors in Chicago Public Schools; additional training programs available for 10th–11th graders
Urban Alliance gives you paid internships, workforce training, and mentorship if you’re a high school student in Chicago. Since 2012, it has partnered with local schools and businesses to place students in fields like business, nonprofits, and community organizations. If you’re a senior, you can join a nine-month paid internship that mixes real workplace experience with weekly professional development workshops. Underclassmen can join through the Obama Youth Job Corps, which focuses on early career skills training. In this program, you build workplace skills, learn how to navigate professional settings, and gain mentorship from supervisors while exploring industries across the city.
9. Adler Planetarium Teen Internship & Leadership Programs
Cost: Paid; stipends provided
Location: Chicago, IL
Dates: Year-round opportunities; Summer Teen Internships run June–August
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: Chicago high school students interested in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math)
At the Adler Planetarium, you can join teen programs that mix science with leadership and community work. As a Summer Teen Intern or part of groups like the Youth Leadership Council, Far Horizons Teens, or the Youth Organization for Lights Out, you work on projects in astronomy, engineering, and science communication. You build skills in research, teamwork, and problem-solving while also addressing real issues like sustainability and light pollution. With guidance from museum staff and stipends available, you get hands-on experience and a clear path to explore STEAM careers while contributing to your community.
10. Lincoln Park Zoo Partners in Fieldwork
Cost: Free
Location: Chicago, IL
Dates: School year–long program (September–June)
Application Deadline: Rolling; coordinated through participating schools
Eligibility: High school students in Chicago participating through their school science programs
Lincoln Park Zoo’s Partners in Fieldwork is a free year-long research program for Chicago high school students. You work with the Urban Wildlife Institute to study local biodiversity using tools like camera traps, bird surveys, and bat monitors. Zoo educators come to your school to guide your projects, and you take field trips to collect data at the Nature Boardwalk and a nearby research site. You build skills in field research, data analysis, and science communication while collaborating with peers. At the end of the year, you present your findings at the Conservation Expo and share ideas for conservation solutions.
11. Discovery Program – Northwestern Medicine & GCM Grosvenor
Cost: Free
Location: Central Chapter at Northwestern Memorial Hospital; additional suburban sites available
Dates: November 15 – May
Application Deadline: September 29
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (seniors accepted on a limited basis in suburban chapters); minimum 3.0 GPA preferred; must be at least 15 years old and commit to program guidelines
The Discovery Program helps you explore healthcare careers through hospital tours, guest speakers, group discussions, and hands-on projects. In Chicago, you join the Central Chapter at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where you meet monthly with healthcare professionals and complete a community partner project. You build skills in professional communication, leadership, and community service while growing your network of mentors and peers. If you return for a second year in the Central Chapter, you get a deeper experience in healthcare and nonprofit work.
12. Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) One Summer Chicago High School Internship
Cost: Paid; $16.20/hour with free CTA, Pace, and Metra transportation
Location: Chicago, IL (hybrid: CTA offices + virtual sessions)
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: High school students ages 16–18 (rising sophomores through graduated seniors) with a 2.5 GPA or higher; must be eligible to work in the U.S. and submit a letter of recommendation
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) provides 250 high school students with a paid summer internship. You’ll gain hands-on work experience while participating in hybrid workshops on financial literacy, professional development, and career exploration. You will be mentored by CTA professionals, network with peers across the city, and even have the chance to earn college credit at Olive-Harvey College while getting paid. Technology is provided to support the hybrid model, ensuring you can succeed in both in-person and virtual settings.
13. Youth Internship Program (YIP)
Cost: Paid internship
Location: Chicago, IL
Dates: June 23 – July 31
Application Deadline: April 24
Eligibility: Chicago public high school students ages 16+; must be U.S. work eligible; priority for students from communities adjacent to the University (e.g., Hyde Park, Kenwood, Washington Park)
The University of Chicago Youth Internship Program (YIP) provides two summers of career exploration, skill development, and professional mentoring for Chicago high school students. In Year 1, you’ll participate in workshops, seminars, college tours, leadership lessons, and a guest speaker series featuring STEM professionals. Successful Year 1 interns may reapply for Year 2, which includes a six-week job placement in health sciences, computer science, or IT services within University departments. The program partners with One Summer Chicago to ensure access to paid opportunities, college prep, and workplace exposure.
14. Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) Teen Fellows
Cost: Free; stipend provided; college credits available
Location: Harold Washington College + CAC sites; in-person
Dates: 15-month program; includes two summers + school-year sessions
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Incoming sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Chicago-area high schools who are able to commit to the full program duration
The Teen Fellows program is a 15-month paid and credit-earning experience designed to immerse high school students in architecture, design, and urban planning. You’ll attend college-level courses at Harold Washington College, explore Chicago’s built environment, and gain technical skills with design software like AutoCAD, Rhino, and Illustrator. Fellows also visit architectural firms, build models, and create portfolio-ready projects. The program concludes with a paid internship at a local architecture or design firm (based on performance), giving you direct professional experience in a nonprofit-supported environment.