Internship Program

The Simmons Center for Global Chicago, is a nonprofit center based in the heart of Chicago, providing a nexus for
globally active nonprofits to build community and collaborate to create a healthier and more equitable world. Our
members are locally-based, globally engaged nonprofits; and we partner with Chicago-based educational
institutions, donors, companies, consultants, and others.

The Simmons Center recruits, hires, pays and manages college-level interns interested in global issues. We
prioritize recruitment of students from first gen/under-represented backgrounds in an intentional effort to help
diversify the pipeline of candidates into the sector. Interns are paired with Simmons Center member nonprofits to
work on projects where the cohort gains exposure to the world of global nonprofit work and real job experiences.
Interns are expected to commit to a minimum of one shift/week in the office, located in downtown Chicago.

Key responsibilities:
● With guidance from Simmons Center staff, take on and complete a variety of requests from the Center and
multiple nonprofit member organizations including, but not limited to:
○ Designing social media content
○ Researching potential funding sources
○ Helping plan, coordinate and source vendors for fundraising events
○ Designing, updating and organizing monitoring, evaluation and impact data systems
○ Writing responsibilities such as e-newsletter, social media write-ups, grant requests/reports
○ research projects on current events and best practices in international development sector
● Participate in a weekly staff meeting, manage and track time on project by project basis
● Problem solve as needed

Qualifications:
● Current college student with flexibility to commit to approximately 5-10 hours per week, with some set
availability during standard business hours for assignments and meetings
● Curiosity about global issues and community impact
● Strong organizational skills and independent work ethic
● Communications skills - ability to engage through speaking and writing, including asking clarifying
questions about assignments, social media marketing experience a plus
● Familiarity with technology platforms including Google Drive
● Adherence to Core Values of the Simmons Center for Global Chicago (stated below)
● Ability to commit to position for a semester (and possibly extend longer)

Compensation:
Interns will be paid $15/hour for actual hours worked.
Applicants should submit cover letter and resume to: jobs@simmonsglobal.org
 Core Values

We embrace the power of community.

Chicago hosts a vast community of international development professionals engaged in critical work
across the globe. At the Simmons Center, we value this essential work and support positive change
around the world. We connect nonprofit global activists with each other and with other stakeholders
across Chicago. The Simmons Center shines a spotlight on the accomplishments of these talented and
dedicated development experts, providing a forum to showcase Chicago’s richness, diversity and
reach in the field of international development.

We aspire for greater impact.

At the Simmons Center, we increase the impact of individual efforts by uniting a community of
global professionals. We value grassroots and indigenous solutions and encourage paradigm shifts
within the Chicago global development community to increase reach and effectiveness. Through
collective action and sharing of best practices, we inspire creativity and innovation, create
opportunities and relationships, build capacity and expertise and strengthen individual entities.
The Simmons Center’s offerings unleash resources for programmatic impact, inspiring effective
work to reach more people and prioritize the most vulnerable.

We confront the challenges of our time.

We acknowledge that the field of international development reflects a complicated past. Historically,
it has caused harm and exacerbated inequality. By challenging ourselves to examine the history of
ethnocentric practices and neocolonial biases, we strive to dismantle this painful legacy. The
Simmons Center provides unique opportunities for development experts to unite with urgency
around this work, in alignment with the ambitious UN Sustainable Development Goals.

We promote the protection of human rights.

We believe all people are entitled to respect, opportunity, equity and dignity. At the Simmons
Center, we seek to create an environment that engages in anti-racism practices and fosters
transparency, inclusion, diversity, accountability and equal participation. We reject discrimination
based on religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, race, age or ability. The
Simmons Center welcomes members and partners on an equal footing, thus inspiring collaboration
and relationship building, and embracing cultural diversity so we can become our most authentic
and engaged selves.

The Simmons Center for Global Chicago is a project of Global Philanthropy Partnership. GPP is an equal opportunity
employer. We value and embrace diversity on our team.