Brightpoint (formerly known as Children’s Home & Aid) provides students with the opportunity to apply their theoretical learning within a practical setting. We aim to offer deeply meaningful and individualized learning experiences for those entering early childhood education and social service fields. Interns are required to be pursuing college credit towards a degree.

As a leading child and family service organization with more than 20 locations across Illinois, Brightpoint advances the well-being of children by investing in families to disrupt the systemic and multi-generational cycle of racial, social and economic inequality. 

As a Development Intern, you will gain experience learning the basics of working with volunteer leadership groups to increase engagement and fundraising results. You will shadow the Development Associate & the Gift Processing Associate during meetings to assist with the planning and execution on special project and fundraising events. This intern will respond to donor phone calls, emails and assist with implementing gift processing while helping to increase donor satisfaction and retention. The Development Internship is for students pursuing an internship for college credit towards a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Communications, Library Science or related field.

Learning opportunities include:

• Learning about development, engagement and fundraising.
• Gaining expertise in developing foundational administrative skills needed for career development.
• Gaining knowledge of practical steps of supporting colleagues and leadership groups.
• Supporting the development team by identifying and completing projects that align with the intern’s interests.
• Participating in regular supervision with assigned supervisor and shadow Development Associate & Gift Processing Associate during meetings.
• Learning about the history and services of Brightpoint (formerly Children’s Home & Aid) in an orientation to the agency, including introduction to policies & procedures and safety practices.
• Completing a capstone and/or on-going project.
• Completing the following required and recommended trainings: Mandated Reporter, HIPAA, Sexual Harassment Awareness and Prevention, LGBTQIA , Safety, Trauma 101, ARC 101

Internship Supervisor Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in communications

Student Qualifications:

• Currently pursuing an internship for college credit towards a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Communications, Library Science or related field.
• Currently pursuing credit through an academic or other formalized educational program.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Basic organizational and time management skills.
• Works well independently. 

Additional Details:

• Interns must pass a fingerprinting background check including CANTS and LEADS.
• Brightpoint does not provide compensation to interns.

Where you complete your internship matters.

We believe that by building diverse and inclusive teams of passionate advocates for youth and families, we can continue to show up for Illinois families, putting those families at the center of every decision, and strengthening the communities where we all work, play, and live together. (More about who we are here.)

We invite you to become an active member of a team that supports, inspires, and challenges each other, and grow your career in an organization that celebrates emerging leaders and provides development and learning opportunities aligned with your individual goals and aspirations. If you are looking for an opportunity to do meaningful work, including raising your unique and authentic voice to disrupt the systemic inequality impacting children and families, we encourage you to apply today.

Click here to review our agency’s Blueprint for Impact.