Marketing and Communications Intern

Position: Marketing & Communications Intern 

Term: Fall 2026 semester (approximately September 14th through December 11th)

Schedule: Part-time (hourly); hours and weekly schedule to be confirmed 

Location: Bangor-area / hybrid details to be confirmed 

Reports to Supervisor: Connor Archer, Founder & Chairman/CEO 

Hourly Pay: $20/hour (max of 15 hours per week)

The Courageous Steps Project supports children, families, and communities through programs and partnerships focused on inclusion, opportunity, and meaningful engagement. Our work depends on clear communication with families, employees, community partners, donors, volunteers, and the broader public.

The Courageous Steps Project is seeking a creative and organized Marketing & Communications Intern for the fall 2026 semester. The intern will help tell the organization’s story, promote programs and events, strengthen digital communications, and prepare content for community and partner outreach. This position is a good fit for a student interested in nonprofit communications, marketing, public relations, digital media, journalism, graphic design, social media, or community engagement. The intern will gain practical experience working on real communications projects and will receive guidance from the organization’s staff.

The intern may support the following activities, based on organizational priorities and the intern’s skills:

• Draft and edit social media posts, newsletters, website updates, event announcements, and program stories. 
• Create a simple content calendar and help keep communications timely and consistent.
• Collect stories, quotes, photos, and program information from staff and approved sources while following privacy and consent requirements. 
• Help promote programs, events, fundraisers, volunteer opportunities, and community initiatives. 
• Assist with email communications to families, partners, donors, volunteers, and community members. 
• Support the creation of flyers, digital graphics, presentations, and other outreach materials using tools such as Canva or similar platforms. 
• Update or organize communications files, photo libraries, contact lists, and content templates.
• Research local media, community calendars, partner organizations, and outreach opportunities. 
• Help track basic communications measures, such as email engagement, social media activity, website traffic, event promotion, and outreach results.
• Participate in communications planning meetings and recommend practical ways to improve the organization’s public presence.
• Complete other marketing and communications projects that support The Courageous Steps Project’s mission.

Depending on timing and organizational needs, the intern may contribute to projects such as:

• Building a communications calendar for programs, events, and community outreach.
• Creating promotional materials for the Step Forward Center and related programs.
• Developing a short story or feature about the impact of The Courageous Steps Project’s programs.
• Preparing donor, partner, or volunteer communications.
• Organizing reusable templates for social media, email, flyers, and event promotion.
• Reviewing current communications and suggesting improvements to clarity, accessibility, and consistency.

The intern will work with the supervisor to choose a manageable project portfolio and identify deliverables for the semester.

• Current enrollment in a college, university, community college, or career-focused program in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, digital media, graphic design, business, nonprofit management, or a related field; equivalent experience may also be considered.
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and organizational skills.
• Comfort learning new digital tools and communication platforms.
• Ability to manage deadlines, respond to feedback, and keep track of multiple assignments.
• Professional judgment when working with confidential information, children, families, and community partners.
• Interest in The Courageous Steps Project’s mission and the communities we serve.

• Experience with social media, email marketing, website content, Canva, photography, video, or basic graphic design.
• Experience creating content for a school, nonprofit, student organization, community group, or small business.
• Familiarity with accessibility-minded communication, plain-language writing, or inclusive storytelling.
• Ability to work independently while also communicating clearly with a supervisor and team members.
• A portfolio, class project, writing sample, design sample, or social media example that demonstrates relevant skills.

By the end of the semester, the intern should have experience with:

• Planning and producing communications for a nonprofit organization.
• Writing for different audiences, including families, donors, partners, and the public.
• Creating a repeatable content calendar and organizing communications assets.
• Developing digital and print materials that support program goals.
• Gathering stories and information responsibly and respectfully.
• Reviewing basic engagement data and using it to improve future communications.
• Building a portfolio of completed work, subject to organizational approval and privacy requirements.

This is a part-time fall-semester internship. The final weekly schedule, number of hours, meeting rhythm, and balance of remote and in-person work will be determined with the selected intern, the intern’s school requirements, and the organization’s program needs.

The intern must be able to attend scheduled meetings, meet agreed-upon deadlines, and communicate promptly about questions or schedule changes. Some events or activities may take place outside standard weekday hours with advance notice.

Compensation: $20/hour 

Academic credit: The organization is willing to coordinate with the intern’s school when academic credit is available and appropriate. Any credit arrangement must be approved by the school and completed in accordance with school requirements.

Please submit the following materials:

1. A resume or brief overview of relevant experience.
2. A short cover letter or email explaining your interest in the internship and what you hope to learn.
3. One to three relevant work samples, if available. Samples may include writing, social media, graphic design, photography, video, a class project, or a communications portfolio.

Send application materials to Connor Archer: connor@thecourageousstepsproject.org with the subject line Marketing & Communications Intern — Fall 2026.

Anticipated start date: September 14th, 2026

Questions: Contact Connor Archer, connor@thecourageousstepsproject.org, (207) 827-7270 x 104

The Courageous Steps Project welcomes applicants with varied backgrounds, experiences, identities, abilities, and perspectives. We encourage students who are interested in our mission and meet many of the qualifications to apply, even if they do not meet every preferred qualification. Reasonable accommodations and accessibility supports will be considered throughout the application and internship process.