15 Nonprofit Internships for High School Students in Seattle
Internships can help high school students explore possible career paths and develop skills they’ll need for their future careers. By participating in nonprofit internships, you can connect classroom learning with practical issues, whether that involves community outreach, environmental sustainability, healthcare, or social justice. These experiences allow you to understand how nonprofit organizations operate, the challenges they face, and the impact they create in local communities.
Seattle, with its nonprofit headquarters and community-based organizations, is a great place for high schoolers to do service-oriented work while building practical skills. If you’re considering a future in social work, public health, education, or advocacy, such internships offer valuable early exposure. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 15 nonprofit internships for high school students in Seattle.
1. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
The Ladder Internship Program connects motivated high school students with start-ups across a wide range of industries, including technology, healthcare, journalism, and consulting. While most placements are in high-growth companies, you also have the option to be matched with a nonprofit organisation, allowing you to contribute to mission-driven projects while gaining workplace skills. As an intern, you will work under the guidance of a manager and a Ladder Coach, developing projects that are later presented to the host company. Alongside this hands-on experience, you participate in one-on-one training sessions focused on communication, time management, and professional skills, as well as group workshops with peers in your cohort.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies depending on program type. There is need-based financial aid
Dates: Varies depending on cohort
Application deadline: There are 3 application deadlines that you can choose between: Early Decision Deadline: March | Regular Admission Deadline 1: April | Regular Admission Deadline 2: May.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founders Lab is designed for students who want to experience what it takes to build a start-up, from research and product design to pitching a final idea. The program is focused on teamwork, as you collaborate with peers and mentors to create a product or service that addresses a pressing problem. While many students focus on tech or business, there is room to shape your project around nonprofit or socially responsible ventures, giving you a chance to develop ideas that combine entrepreneurship with community impact. Mentorship comes from entrepreneurs connected to institutions like Harvard and professionals from top companies. Sessions are virtual and include structured feedback, workshops, and case discussions. By the end, you will have built a minimum viable product and refined it through testing.
3. Food Lifeline – Summer Teen Leadership Program
Location: Seattle (Food Lifeline warehouse and partner sites)
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Dates: July 7 – August 29
Application deadline: Typically spring
Eligibility: Teenagers aged 14-18
Food Lifeline’s Summer Teen Leadership Program brings high school students into the center of nonprofit work against hunger. Over eight weeks, you complete at least 18 service hours through food sorting, distribution, and direct involvement in partner-agency outreach. The program goes beyond volunteer shifts by offering workshops on advocacy, food sustainability, fundraising, and community engagement, helping you connect daily service to larger systemic issues of hunger and equity. You’ll also have opportunities to join activities such as a food justice book club or to serve as a Teen Production Corp supporting warehouse operations. A youth-led project or presentation caps the program, giving you the chance to share your perspective on solutions to hunger. You also receive a letter of recommendation and official documentation of service hours.
4. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle
Cost/Stipend: Free | Paid
Dates: March 31
Application Deadline: June 23–August 15
Eligibility: Open to high school students entering their senior year or final term after the summer with a strong science background
Through the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre’s Summer High School Internship Program, you’ll spend eight weeks immersed in the environment of a leading biomedical research facility. The program starts with two weeks of structured lab training, where you’ll practice core techniques such as DNA isolation, PCR, and tissue culture while learning lab safety protocols. After this training, you’re placed in a research group and paired with a mentor, giving you direct involvement in ongoing scientific work. Beyond lab practice, the internship incorporates seminars on ethics, health disparities, and biostatistics, helping you connect your hands-on experience to broader issues in science. You’ll also attend college preparation and career development workshops. At the end of the summer, interns present their findings to peers, mentors, and families.
5. Mary’s Place – Youth Action Program
Location: Shelters and community sites across Seattle; virtual and hybrid options available
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Dates: Year-round
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Youth ages 9–18
The Youth Action Program at Mary’s Place engages teens in understanding and addressing family homelessness. If you join, you’ll earn points for participating in activities such as volunteering at shelters, organising donation drives, building care kits at home, or joining book clubs on homelessness-related topics. The program is flexible, allowing you to choose between in-person volunteering and virtual engagement, and requires a minimum of 20 points annually, typically achieved through a handful of activities each quarter. YAP emphasizes learning as well as service, so participants regularly read research or articles on homelessness and discuss them in peer groups. Beyond direct service, you’ll also strengthen advocacy skills and connect with a community of peers committed to tackling housing insecurity.
6. Seattle Children’s Research Training for High School Students
Location: B. Wayne Hughes Building
Cost/Stipend: Free | $2,000
Dates: July 14 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors residing within commuting distance of downtown Seattle
The Research Training Program at Seattle Children’s Research Institute gives you the chance to learn what working in a biomedical research lab is really like. The program covers a wide range of lab techniques, from using microscopes and running PCR tests to bacterial transformation and gene editing. Alongside hands-on lab sessions, you’ll take part in lectures on topics like biochemistry, immunology, and infectious diseases, expanding your understanding of how scientific research connects to human health. You’ll also participate in college readiness workshops and career exploration sessions, which prepare you for future steps in STEM. A major component of the program is the independent project, where you design and carry out your own research, then present it at the end.
7. Northwest Harvest Volunteers
Location: Seattle
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Dates: Year-round
Application deadline: Open enrolment via self-registration
Eligibility: Area teens; some roles may have age requirements
Northwest Harvest relies heavily on volunteers, with young participants playing an important role in advancing its mission of food justice across Washington State. As a volunteer or intern, you might help repack donations in distribution centres, support the SODO Community Market in Seattle, or assist with mobile food banks serving communities directly. The work is varied, ranging from logistics and client support to outreach and education about systemic hunger issues. In addition to service shifts, you will often engage in advocacy efforts to promote policy change around food equity. The program gives you a close look at how large nonprofits organise resources and mobilise volunteers, while also teaching practical skills like inventory tracking, safe food handling, and client service.
8. Clean Water Ambassadors Internship
Location: Downtown Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Free | Paid
Dates: June 23–August 15
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Open to high school students entering their senior year or final term after the summer with a strong science background
The Clean Water Ambassadors Internship is a five-week paid program focused on introducing high school students to environmental sustainability and water management issues in the Seattle area. As part of a cohort, you’ll participate in field trips, interactive workshops, and community engagement activities that highlight the importance of clean water and environmental justice. Along the way, you’ll have opportunities to meet professionals in environmental fields and learn about possible career pathways. A central part of the program is developing your communication skills, since you’ll share what you’ve learned with younger students and present your findings at the end of the session.
9. Seattle Good Business Network Internship
Location: Seattle Good Business Network
Cost/Stipend: Free; interns are paid an hourly rate based on local living wage standards (for last year, it was $22.77/hr)
Dates: June 7 - August 23
Application deadline: May
Eligibility: Open to students ages 18–24
The Seattle Good Business Network Internship links high school students to paid work experiences with local nonprofits, small businesses, and public agencies. As an intern, you’ll complete at least 240 hours of work, which may involve tasks like assisting with customer service, helping manage social media, or supporting day-to-day operations, depending on your placement. The program is tied closely to Seattle’s green economy, so many roles connect to sustainability and community impact. Because the program is run in partnership with the Seattle Office of Economic Development and the Workforce Development Council, you’ll also gain access to networking opportunities and job training resources.
10. The Rainier Beach Youth Steward Program
Location: Rainier Beach Urban Farm & Wetlands
Cost/Stipend: Free | $300/week
Dates: June 24 – August 29
Application deadline: May 18
Eligibility: Students aged 14-18
The Rainier Beach Youth Steward Program is a paid opportunity for students to gain work experience while supporting environmental restoration and urban farming in Seattle. Much of your time will be spent at Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands, where you’ll engage in activities like planting, harvesting, and preparing produce, as well as maintaining fields and operating the farm stand. The program also emphasises wetland restoration, giving you hands-on practice in habitat care and environmental stewardship. Since tasks often involve physical labor outdoors, you’ll learn to adapt to different working conditions while developing teamwork and responsibility. Further, the program also includes skill-building workshops and group activities that strengthen leadership and communication.
11. ISB’s High School Summer Internship
Location: ISB facilities in Seattle
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend of $5,000 is awarded in 3 splits
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application deadline: March 14
Eligibility: U.S. residents currently enrolled in 11th grade
The Institute for Systems Biology runs an eight-week paid internship that allows high school juniors to explore research in systems biology. As part of the program, you’ll work directly with a mentor on projects tied to real ISB research, which may involve areas like cancer biology, microbial evolution, or bioengineering with algae. This internship combines biology with coding, math, and engineering, making it distinct from many traditional lab placements. In addition to lab and computational work, you’ll interview ISB staff across both scientific and administrative roles, giving you exposure to a range of career paths. You will document your project on a website and, in some cases, contribute to curriculum development efforts for schools. The program also includes a STEM leadership component, where you’ll build skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and professional communication.
12. TeenTix – Teens in Public Service (TIPS)
Location: Non-profit organizations in the Greater Seattle Area
Cost/Stipend: Free | Seattle’s minimum wage
Dates: 6-8 weeks in June - August, averaging 25-35 hours/week
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Youth ages 15–19 with work authorization in the U.S.
Through the Teens in Public Service program, high school students are placed in paid summer internships at local nonprofit organisations across the Puget Sound area. The roles vary depending on the placement and can include assisting with community programs, communications, or administrative support, but all are designed to give you hands-on experience in the nonprofit sector. Over the summer, you can expect to work up to 160 hours, while also participating in professional development events that prepare you for future jobs. The program also focuses on ethical leadership and encourages you to put values into action through community work. After completing the internship, there are opportunities to stay involved through the Youth Action Committee and alumni network.
13. Teaching Tomorrow Internship Program
Location: Seattle area partner facilities
Cost/Stipend: Free | $20 per hour
Dates: School Year: January–August | Summer Schedule July–August
Application deadline: November 22
Eligibility: Students who apply must be at least 16 years old by January 1 and attend a City of Seattle public high school
Teaching Tomorrow is an eight-month paid internship for Seattle high school students who are interested in education and youth development. The program is organized by the University of Washington’s Early Childhood and Family Studies department and pairs interns with local early learning classrooms. As an intern, you’ll gain classroom experience while also attending weekly mentorship sessions led by UW faculty and students, focusing on identity, educational justice, and career exploration. The program includes professional development workshops, paid orientation and training, and opportunities to earn both service-learning hours and high school credit. Field trips to affiliated centers like the Haring Center and Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences provide additional exposure to education-related careers. Beyond the internship, the program also connects you with pathways to higher education, including scholarships and academic advising.
14. Youth Action Team Internship
Location: Seattle
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Dates: Year-round
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Female-identifying Catholic high school juniors and seniors
The Youth Action Team Internship is a year-long program for Catholic high school juniors and seniors who identify as female and want to use faith-based approaches to social change. During the fall semester, you’ll participate in weekly workshops covering identity development, storytelling, and organizing strategies, all aimed at preparing you to become a community organizer. In the spring, the focus shifts to developing a movement for social change, where you collectively identify an issue and plan direct actions to address it. The program uses both workshops and spiritual practices to help you understand your leadership potential while working within a community framework.
15. Seattle Humane – High School Service Shifts
Location: Seattle Humane, Bellevue
Cost/Stipend: $28 registration fee | Unpaid
Dates: Year-round opportunities available
Application deadline: Advance registration required
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12
Seattle Humane’s High School Service Shifts invite students in grades 9–12 to take part in structured volunteer opportunities that support animal welfare. The program allows you to contribute directly to shelter operations by performing tasks such as cleaning kennels, preparing food and supplies, or helping with adoption events. While the activities focus on routine shelter needs, they also give you a chance to earn community service hours that count toward graduation requirements. Participation requires advance registration, as shifts are scheduled for times when volunteer support is most needed. The program is centered around responsibility, teamwork, and learning about the nonprofit sector’s role in animal care.
Image Source - Ladder Internships