Development and Communications Intern
CARPLS
This job at a glance
- Who can apply
- New grads and up to 1 year · Bachelor's degree
- Must know
- Social mediaContent writingSalesforceCRMIllustratorInDesign
- Work
- On-site in Chicago · internship
- Pay
- Not stated by the employer.
- Listed
- Nov 1, 2026 · still open
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About CARPLS
CARPLS Legal Aid is Cook County’s largest provider of free legal services, having provided over one million legal consultations to low- and moderate-income residents. CARPLS operates a legal aid hotline and three court-based advice desks. We also partner on statewide projects including New Leaf Illinois, the Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network, COVID HELP Illinois, and Eviction Help Illinois.
About the Internship
The Development and Communications Intern will support CARPLS in fundraising efforts and in communicating the organization's mission and impact. This role involves splitting time between the development team (grants, donors, events) and the communications team (social media, website, brand). This is a hands-on role for a college student or recent graduate seeking portfolio-building experience and insight into nonprofit funding and communication strategies.
Key Responsibilities
Communications (70%)
- Help plan, write, and design posts for Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
- Maintain the content calendar.
- Gather client stories, photos, and event coverage.
- Track engagement and assist with reporting.
- Update pages, news posts, and event listings on WordPress.
- Check for broken links and outdated information.
- Write and format blog posts and client success stories.
- Apply CARPLS brand guidelines across various materials.
- Help build and organize a library of photos, logos, and templates.
Development (30%)
- Research foundations, corporate giving programs, and government funding opportunities.
- Maintain a grant calendar of deadlines, reports, and funder requirements.
- Draft prospect profiles and gather data/attachments for grant applications and reports.
- Enter gifts, update donor records in Salesforce, and prepare acknowledgment letters.
- Assist with event planning for the Golden Gavel Gala and Professionals Board events.
Requirements & Tech Stack
- WordPress
- Salesforce or another CRM
- Canva, Adobe InDesign, and/or Illustrator
- Photography or short-form video skills
- Prior fundraising, events, or nonprofit experience
- Interest in nonprofits, legal aid, or social justice
Qualifications
- Currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from, a bachelor's or graduate program in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
- Strong writing, editing, and research skills.
- Comfortable with social media platforms and their organizational use.
- Organized and reliable, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
- Ability to handle confidential donor and client information with discretion.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a small team.
- Available for occasional evening events with advance notice.
Internship Details:
- Reports to: Marketing and Communications Manager
- Location: Chicago, IL; Hybrid
- Schedule: 16 hours per week
- Duration: January to August 2027
- Compensation: $17.50 per hour