15 Nonprofit Internships for High School Students in New Jersey
If you’re a high school student in New Jersey interested in making an impact, nonprofit internships are one of the most valuable ways to understand how mission-driven organizations actually work.
What do nonprofit internships for high school students in New Jersey involve?
These opportunities give you early exposure to community issues, public service, research, education, environmental work, social justice, arts and culture, and healthcare. You get to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom while discovering the kind of work that genuinely motivates you.
Why pursue nonprofit internships for high school students in New Jersey?
These programs connect you with mentors who can guide you, open doors to future opportunities, and help you understand the career paths available in the nonprofit world. Many New Jersey nonprofits partner with universities, research centers, and community organizations, giving you a front-row seat to how social impact is created at a local and national level.
If you’re also interested in free nonprofit summer programs, go here, or check here for nonprofit leadership programs.
To help you navigate the options, here’s a list of 15 nonprofit internships for high school students in New Jersey.
Disclaimer: Some items below are nonprofit programs that will be helpful for you to develop the necessary skills for pursuing nonprofit work in the future.
15 Nonprofit Internships for High School Students in New Jersey
1. Bank of America Student Leaders® Program
Cost: Free to participate; students receive a stipend
Location: Partner nonprofits across New Jersey (e.g., Boys & Girls Clubs, Habitat for Humanity).
Program Dates: Eight-week internship; June–August (schedule varies by placement).
Application Deadline: Typically early January (applications closed for the current cycle).
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; must demonstrate community involvement and meet residency requirements.
The Bank of America Student Leaders® Program places you in an eight-week paid internship at a New Jersey nonprofit, where you may support community outreach, program delivery, fundraising logistics, communications, digital content updates, or local service initiatives. You’ll work closely with nonprofit staff and gain exposure to organizational operations, stakeholder engagement, and community impact strategies. You will also participate in the National Student Leaders Summit, where you will examine how nonprofits partner with businesses and government, attend workshops, and engage in leadership simulations. You will develop skills in public speaking, project coordination, teamwork, and civic leadership through daily responsibilities. Because placements vary, your experience may include hands-on service, administrative support, or event-based assignments that mirror real nonprofit workflows.
2. Young Founders Lab
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort.
The Young Founder’s Lab is a start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a complex problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops, and skill-building sessions. The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. Elevate+ Nonprofit Internships
Cost: Paid internship; wages funded by Elevate+ and/or partner nonprofits.
Location: Partner nonprofit organizations across New Jersey (coordinated by Elevate+, Summit, NJ).
Program Dates: Varies by internship cycle; typically offered during the summer.
Application Deadline: Listed on the Elevate+ internship application portal each cycle.
Eligibility: High school and college students from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds; must demonstrate interest in career development and community impact.
Elevate+ funds and places you in a paid internship at a New Jersey nonprofit, where your work may involve community outreach, data organization, event support, digital communications, or program operations, depending on the host organization. You often get to work directly with nonprofit teams, giving you hands-on exposure to how mission-driven organizations deliver community services and manage day-to-day operations. You will likely use tools such as CRM platforms, content planning software, spreadsheets, or internal communication systems to contribute to organizational goals. The program incorporates mentorship and workforce-readiness training, emphasizing equity, leadership development, and professional confidence.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies as per program; financial aid available
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
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 is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech, and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, you work closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. You are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills, and you will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in your cohort.
5. Rutgers New Jersey Medical School – High School Intern Program
Cost: Free to participate; no stipend provided
Location: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
Program Dates: Flexible start dates; forms must be submitted 4 weeks prior to start.
Application Deadline: Rolling; all documents due 4 weeks before the intended start date.
Eligibility: Students must be at least 16 years old, secure a faculty sponsor, and complete Rutgers NJMS consent and safety forms.
The Rutgers NJMS High School Intern Program places you directly in a faculty-supervised research or academic setting within a major nonprofit medical school. You may assist with basic lab tasks, observational research, document preparation, or data-oriented support, depending on your mentor’s project. Interns often work alongside research staff, giving you insight into the day-to-day operations of academic medical research. You’ll also develop professional documentation skills as you complete proposal, sponsorship, and consent paperwork required for minors in university labs. This experience is valuable for students exploring early pathways in biomedical research or academic medicine, as it emphasizes structure, mentorship, and technical skill development.
6. Liberty Science Center – Partners in Science (H3)
Cost: Stipend provided upon successful completion
Location: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ
Program Dates: June 30 – August 22, 2026
Application Deadline: January 18 (application); February 1 (recommendations)
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-graders who are at least 16 years old by July 1 and fully available for the 8-week schedule.
Partners in Science places you in an eight-week mentored research internship at a nonprofit science center, where you work alongside professional scientists in university or industry-linked labs. Your responsibilities may include running experiments, handling research equipment, collecting and analyzing data, and participating in lab meetings that mirror professional research environments. You will also develop technical writing and oral communication skills through structured presentations and scientific reporting. The program emphasizes inquiry-driven projects and one-on-one mentorship, giving you an early introduction to the workflow of scientific research. By the end of the internship interpreted real datasets and built a network of scientific advisors who can support your academic and career goals.
7. The Newark Museum of Art – Explorers Teen Program
Cost: Paid museum internship
Location: The Newark Museum of Art, Newark, NJ
Program Dates: Year-round program with a 25-hour/week summer internship component.
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Rising 9th–11th graders who reside in or attend school in Newark; minimum GPA of 2.7; one teacher recommendation; resume, grades, and essays required.
The Explorers Program places you in paid internships across different museum departments, where you take on responsibilities such as assisting with exhibitions, facilitating visitor engagement, and contributing to research. You will participate in structured workshops in leadership, public speaking, STEM learning, financial literacy, art interpretation, and career readiness. Over the year, you will also complete 60 hours of community service, attend field trips, and collaborate on museum-based art and science projects that build practical and creative skills. The program offers unique experiences, including access to museum professionals, college tours, free SAT preparation, and invitations to museum events and galas. These projects and weekly commitments offer deep exposure to how nonprofit cultural institutions operate.
8. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Cost: Paid; $3,000 stipend
Location: Local nonprofit environmental and fisheries organizations (placements arranged within 45 minutes of the student’s NJ residence)
Program Dates: June–August (8 weeks; exact dates set between student and mentor)
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (Classes of 2026 or 2027)
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program places you with a professional mentor working in fisheries science, aquatic conservation, or environmental biology, giving you a structured research-and-field internship hosted by nonprofit and public-sector partners. Over eight weeks, you may support habitat assessments, species monitoring, water sampling, database entry, and conservation-driven fieldwork, depending on your mentor’s projects. You’ll also learn technical tools used in fisheries, such as population sampling methods, environmental data collection protocols, basic GIS workflows, and field-report drafting. The program emphasizes expanding access for underrepresented students, and mentors often introduce you to broader networks in conservation, state agencies, and environmental nonprofits.
9. New-York Historical Society – Student Historian Internship Program
Cost: Paid; $700 stipend
Location: The New-York Historical Society, New York, NY
Program Dates: October 29, 2025 – June 24, 2026
Application Deadline: August 24
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 who live in and attend school in the New York City metro area, including New Jersey, must obtain working papers if accepted
The Student Historian Internship Program places you in a nonprofit museum setting where you research American history topics and produce digital humanities projects for public audiences. You will collaborate with museum professionals across departments, gaining exposure to historical research, digital media production, educational design, and museum work. Throughout the program, you will explore primary sources, develop writing and communication skills, and work closely with peers to build a cohesive public-facing project tied to the program’s annual theme. You’ll also attend workshops led by curators, archivists, and historians, which will help you build academic skills and understand how nonprofits operate behind the scenes.
10. The Met High School Internship Program
Cost: $1,100 stipend upon completion
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY (open to NJ residents)
Program Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–11 who live in and attend school in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut; must have working papers and an SSN or ITIN; must not have previously completed a Met internship.
The Met High School Internship Program places you directly inside a major nonprofit arts institution, where you work alongside museum professionals. You’ll assist staff on departmental projects, conduct research on artworks or museum initiatives, and participate in structured workshops that help build communication, project management, and creative problem-solving skills. You will collaborate in small cohorts, which provides you with an opportunity to explore museum careers while developing digital content and public-facing resources. Professional development sessions introduce you to the broader nonprofit arts ecosystem, and guest interactions help you understand how museums operate behind the scenes.
11. Partners in Science – Liberty Science Center
Cost: Yes (amount not publicly specified)
Location: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ
Program Dates: June 30 – August 22, 2026
Application Deadline: January 18, 2-26 (recommendations due February 1, 2026)
Eligibility: Rising 11th–12th graders; must be 16 by July 1; must use a personal (not school) email to apply; must be fully available for all dates
Partners in Science is an eight-week, full-time research internship hosted by Liberty Science Center, a nonprofit institution, where you work directly with mentors in university and industry research labs across New Jersey. You’ll spend the summer embedded in real scientific inquiry, collecting and analyzing data, and practicing scientific communication through written and oral presentations. Through this internship, you’ll build technical competency, develop independence in problem-solving, and strengthen your ability to communicate complex scientific ideas to diverse audiences. This nonprofit-run program is highly selective and designed for students ready to engage in professional-level STEM work while building a strong advisory network.
12. Army Research and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (REAP) – Stockton University
Cost: Provided (amount varies by site; usually ~$2,000–$4,000 for 6–8 weeks)
Location: Stockton University, Galloway, NJ
Program Dates: June–August (6–8 weeks; dates vary by research mentor)
Application Deadline: Rolling (applications reviewed until local slots fill)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; rising 10th–12th graders; priority for students from underserved or underrepresented backgrounds in STEM
REAP is a selective summer research apprenticeship funded by the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP). At Stockton University, participants work directly with chemistry and environmental science faculty in research areas such as organometallic synthesis, analytical chemistry, environmental testing, or sustainability studies. You’ll train in university labs, learn proper safety procedures, conduct experiments, and assist with analyzing real research data. The program also includes AEOP-led webinars featuring scientists and engineers discussing STEM career pathways. You’ll need to complete a final research presentation summarizing your work for faculty and peers.
13. Coriell Summer Experience for High School Students
Stipend: Unpaid
Location: Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, NJ
Program Dates: Mid-July – Mid-August (4 weeks)
Application Deadline: May 15, 2026
Eligibility: U.S. residents; must be 17+ by July 1, have a strong interest in science (advanced coursework preferred), and be able to commute to Camden
The Coriell Summer Experience is a four-week immersive biotechnology internship where high school students work alongside professional scientists in Coriell’s production, molecular biology, and stem cell laboratories. You will learn techniques such as DNA extraction, biobanking workflows, and sample processing, and may observe advanced methods like karyotyping and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) preparation. You will also attend weekly scientific seminars led by Coriell researchers and guest scientists from top universities, gaining exposure to current discoveries in biomedical science. The experience includes HR-led sessions on career planning, resume building, and public speaking. The program culminates in a formal scientific presentation where you will summarize your work to Coriell staff and peers.
14. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) – Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Lakehurst
Cost: Free; $4,000 stipend for new participants; $4,500 for returning participants
Location: NAWCAD Lakehurst, Lakehurst, NJ
Program Dates: Eight weeks, typically June–August
Application Deadline: August 1 – November 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens in grades 9–12 (including graduating seniors); must be 16+ by program start
SEAP places you directly inside a Department of the Navy research laboratory, where you’ll support ongoing engineering and scientific projects under the mentorship of Navy scientists and engineers. At NAWCAD Lakehurst, you may assist in areas such as avionics support systems, air launch and recovery equipment, electronics testing, materials science, or computational modeling. You’ll learn technical workflows, collect and analyze experimental data, and take part in lab meetings and research discussions that show how large-scale defense engineering projects are structured.. You’ll also engage in technical seminars, lab tours, and group mentorship sessions, gaining a strong foundation in applied engineering and professional communication.
15. Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) – U.S. Forest Service
Cost/Stipend: Paid (federal or state minimum wage)
Location: Sites across the U.S., including East Coast placements accessible to NJ residents
Program Dates: 1–3 months during the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by site
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents ages 15–18; must obtain a work permit if required
The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) offers a paid, team-based summer experience where you’ll work on conservation projects that support America’s national forests and public lands. Your day-to-day tasks may include trail construction, restoring habitats, removing invasive species, assisting wildlife biologists, repairing historic structures, or supporting environmental education programs. This is a hands-on, outdoors-focused internship perfect for students curious about environmental science, ecology, sustainability, or public service.
Throughout the program, you’ll build teamwork skills, learn environmental stewardship, and explore green career pathways through mentorship and job-shadowing with Forest Service staff. Many sites also introduce you to long-term opportunities like the Public Lands Corps, Resource Assistant internships, and pathways into environmental careers.
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