8 Paid Nonprofit Internships for High School Students
If you’re a high school student who wants to combine skill-building with meaningful community impact, nonprofit internships are a strong option you can consider. Unlike traditional part-time jobs, these internships expose you to mission-driven work environments where you can learn how organisations address social, environmental, and economic challenges. Some of these opportunities are structured to fit around school schedules, allowing you to gain professional experience without compromising your academics.
Through paid nonprofit internships, you can develop skills such as project management, research, event planning, communications, and fundraising. You can also gain valuable industry exposure by working with nonprofit staff and observing how they collaborate with stakeholders. Another benefit is that nonprofit internships often include hands-on projects or site visits, allowing you to contribute directly to causes that matter to you.
To help you find the right fit, we’ve compiled a list of 8 paid nonprofit internships for high school students that provide stipends, mentorship, and practical responsibilities:
1. NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) High School Automotive Internship Program
Location: New York City, NY
Cost: Paid internship; students earn hourly wages
Dates: Early July – mid-August (six weeks)
Application Deadline: Spring (typically March–April; coordinated through DOE)
Eligibility: Open to NYC public high school students enrolled in Career & Technical Education (CTE) automotive programs
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited placements; varies by year and school
This internship connects CTE automotive students with practical experience maintaining the largest municipal vehicle fleet in the country. Over six weeks, you will work at agencies such as the NYPD, FDNY, Department of Transportation, and Sanitation Department. You will assist with diagnostics, routine servicing, and repair projects while gaining familiarity with automotive shop tools and safety procedures. The program also offers insight into fleet management, public service logistics, and claims processing. As a paid nonprofit internship, it provides both technical skill development and exposure to city government operations. Mentorship from experienced fleet technicians ensures structured training and professional guidance throughout the program.
2. Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI)
Location: Chicago, IL (in-person)
Cost: Paid internship
Dates: June – August (six weeks)
Application Deadline: February 1 – March 31
Eligibility: Open to Chicago high school sophomores and juniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA and family household income under $80,000/year
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; varies by placement availability
CSBI provides structured, paid nonprofit internships with placements across banks, law firms, accounting offices, and engineering companies in Chicago. You will spend four days per week at their assigned workplace, completing administrative tasks, shadowing professionals, and contributing to projects. Fridays are reserved for seminars on financial literacy, workplace readiness, and leadership, often featuring prominent guest speakers from the city’s business community. You will also gain networking opportunities through mentorship and exposure to diverse industries. The program concludes with a formal graduation ceremony, frequently including remarks from civic leaders, underscoring the program’s ties to public service and local development.
3. After School Matters (ASM)
Location: Chicago, IL (citywide program sites)
Cost: Paid; stipends provided
Dates: Fall session: September 23 – December 13, also available in Spring and Summer
Application Deadline: September 13 (for Fall session)
Eligibility: Chicago high school students ages 14–18
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Large-scale program; 1,600+ programs offered annually in partnership with 300+ community organizations
After School Matters is a nonprofit that offers stipended programs for Chicago teens across fields such as arts, STEM, business, sports, and communications. You will participate in structured workshops led by community-based instructors and professionals, gaining exposure to both creative and technical projects. Examples of past tracks include coding, culinary arts, journalism, and marketing. The program emphasizes mentorship, teamwork, and applied skill-building, with opportunities to present your work or collaborate with peers throughout the city. By joining ASM, you gain both professional experience and financial support while exploring potential career paths in a nonprofit learning environment.
4. Student Historian Internship Program – New-York Historical Society
Location: Manhattan, NY (in-person at the New-York Historical Society)
Cost: Free; $700 stipend upon successful completion
Dates: Academic Year: October 29 – June 24; Summer: Early July – mid-August
Application Deadline: Academic Year: August 24; Summer: Opens in February, closes late spring
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12 who live in and attend school in the NYC metro area (five boroughs, parts of NY State, NJ, and CT)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; group interviews required; cohort size varies
The Student Historian Internship immerses teens in history, museum studies, and digital humanities through a stipend-supported program at the New-York Historical Society. You will research a yearly theme, such as Our Composite Nation: Frederick Douglass’ America, and create digital projects that serve as educational resources for the public. You will gain training in archival research, historical writing, digital media tools, and collaborative project development. Weekly sessions include seminars with museum staff, peer collaboration, and mentorship from professionals in the field. The program emphasizes both scholarly rigor and applied public history, preparing students for future academic and civic engagement.
5. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Local nonprofit organizations across the U.S. + one-week summit in Washington, DC
Cost: Paid; students earn wages for their nonprofit internships
Dates: Eight weeks (summer), inclusive of the DC leadership summit (July 21 – 26)
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors; must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.; must reside in eligible locations; not open to Bank of America employees’ immediate family
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~300 students selected annually from nearly 100 U.S. communities
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program connects high school students with eight-week, paid internships at local nonprofit organizations, paired with leadership development. You will work 35 hours per week on nonprofit projects while gaining direct mentorship and experience in community service. A highlight of the program is the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, DC, where you will engage with peers nationwide and meet with policymakers, nonprofit leaders, and community advocates. Training sessions emphasize nonprofit management, civic engagement, and practical workplace skills. The program is highly selective and provides both professional development and financial support while fostering civic leadership in young people.
6. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Facilities Internship Program – DCAS
Location: New York City, NY
Cost: Paid internship; students earn hourly wages
Dates: Early July – mid-August (summer program)
Application Deadline: Announced through participating CTE high schools; students must apply via their school or DCAS CTE Coordinator
Eligibility: NYC public high school students enrolled in CTE programs such as building operations, facilities management, electrical, HVAC, or carpentry
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited placements; varies by year
This DCAS internship connects high school students in Career & Technical Education (CTE) tracks with professionals in building operations and facilities management. You will assist with preventive maintenance, work-order tracking, safety walkthroughs, and energy efficiency projects at city-run buildings. You will shadow site teams, learn the fundamentals of multiple trades, and build practical skills in scheduling, documentation, and communication. The program also includes opportunities for site tours and tool demonstrations, where interns interact with city staff and contractors. As a paid nonprofit internship, it offers both technical training and exposure to future apprenticeship or entry-level career pathways in building and facilities management.
7. Chicago Green Ambassadors Program – Roots & Routes Initiative & Youth Conservation Action
Location: Chicago, IL (Burnham Wildlife Corridor and surrounding neighborhoods)
Cost: Paid internship
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Rolling; typically announced each spring
Eligibility: High school and college students ages 15–22 from communities including Chinatown, Bronzeville, Little Village, Pilsen, and nearby neighborhoods
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size varies by funding and partnerships
The Chicago Green Ambassadors Program engages students in environmental stewardship and urban renewal through a nonprofit-led summer internship. You will contribute to projects connecting diverse neighborhoods to the Burnham Wildlife Corridor along Chicago’s South Lakefront. You will take part in conservation work, community engagement, and neighborhood revitalization activities, learning how ecology intersects with civic action. The program emphasizes teamwork and leadership, and you will get to collaborate with community organizations and Field Museum staff. As a paid nonprofit internship, it provides both professional development and direct impact in local green space management and social equity initiatives.
8. High School Science and Digital Learning Program – Field Museum
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost: Paid; $16.50/hour
Dates: Late June – early August (five weeks)
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: High school students in the Chicagoland area graduating within the next three years; students from underrepresented or marginalized communities strongly encouraged to apply
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; small cohort admitted annually
This Field Museum internship allows high school students to experience life as a scientist while developing digital and professional skills. Over five weeks, you will work alongside researchers and museum professionals on projects that may involve scientific research, collections work, or digital media production. You will also attend workshops on leadership, workplace readiness, and technology, ensuring that the experience balances academic content with career preparation. You are expected to work on-site four days a week, engaging directly with the museum’s collections and professional community. The program emphasizes applied science, media literacy, and workforce training in a nonprofit cultural institution.
Young Founders Lab
If you’re looking for an incubator program that helps you build a startup or nonprofit in high school, consider the Young Founders Lab!
The Young Founders 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 real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
You can access the application link here!
Image source - Bank of America