Do I need a visa to do an NGO and non-profit internship in Dublin?

Yes. Exact visa requirements for an NGO and non-profit internship in Ireland depend on your nationality and length of stay. See full visa requirements >

What kind of organizations host NGO and non-profit interns in Dublin?

NGO and non-profit interns are placed with a mix of international humanitarian organizations, global health organizations, grant-making foundations and advocacy groups, depending on your interests and experience. Discover example host organizations >

How long are NGO and non-profit internships in Dublin?

Programs typically run from 4 to 24 weeks, with start dates available year-round.

What qualifications do I need for an NGO and non-profit internship in Dublin?

You don't necessarily need a development studies degree or previous non-profit experience to apply for an NGO and non-profit internship in Dublin. The right qualifications will depend on the internship placement, but relevant studies in international relations, social sciences, development studies or a related subject can be useful. Transferable skills such as research, written communication, cultural awareness and project organization can also help you succeed in a non-profit role. Your placement is matched to your experience, interests and career goals.

How can I get an NGO and non-profit internship in Dublin?

To get an NGO and non-profit internship in Dublin, start by identifying which side of the field interests you most, whether that's development, humanitarian response, global health or advocacy, and consider how your education, skills and experience line up with it. You can then apply for an internship program and discuss your career goals, interests and placement preferences during the application process. At The Intern Group, you'll complete an online application and interview before working with the team to secure an internship that matches your profile and goals.

Visiting the Guinness Storehouse during a NGO internship in Dublin

NGO Internships in Dublin

Ireland sends aid workers overseas, per capita, at one of the highest rates of any country in the world, a pattern many trace back to the country's own history of famine and mass emigration, experiences that left a lasting instinct toward international solidarity rather than a purely academic interest in it.

That instinct built two of the world's best-known independent humanitarian organizations right here in Dublin, both founded by Irish aid workers responding to crises abroad and both still headquartered in the city today. Add Ireland's official overseas aid program, also based in Dublin, and a wider non-profit sector shaped by decades of hands-on field experience, and interns get exposure to humanitarian work built on lived history rather than imported theory.

Whether you're a university student, recent graduate, gap year student or career changer, an NGO and non-profit internship in Dublin can help you build practical experience within a non-profit sector with an unusually personal connection to the work it does.

Guaranteed Internship
Vetted roles in leading Dublin NGOs, charities and non-profit organizations.

Complete Overseas Support
Visa assistance, Dublin housing, social & cultural events and 24/7 staff support included.

Global Career Network
Join 15,000+ alumni with dynamic workshops, networking events, and employer references.

Example NGO and non-profit host organizations in Dublin

We've previously placed interns with organizations across Dublin's international development, humanitarian response, global health and advocacy sectors. The organizations featured represent examples of the types of professional environments where participants have gained experience.

Why do an NGO and non-profit internship in Dublin?

Ireland's history of famine and large-scale emigration left the country with a particular sensitivity to crises abroad, and that sensitivity gave rise to some of the world's best-regarded independent humanitarian organizations, founded by Irish aid workers who'd seen suffering firsthand and built lasting institutions in response. Interns working inside that world see humanitarian work shaped by people who built their organizations from direct field experience rather than policy papers.

Dublin is also home to Ireland's official development aid program, which funds and coordinates cooperation work across partner countries, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. The city's wider non-profit sector has built real expertise in global health programs too, with decades of missionary and humanitarian medical work informing how Irish organizations approach healthcare delivery in under-resourced settings. Fundraising here benefits from a strong culture of community giving, where sponsored events and local campaigns routinely raise sums that would surprise anyone unfamiliar with how seriously Irish communities take this kind of giving.

Dublin is particularly strong in areas such as international development, humanitarian response, global health programs and fundraising, giving you exposure to a non-profit sector shaped by lived historical experience.

Experience the non-profit sector built on lived history

Humanitarian roots
See how Ireland's own history of famine and emigration shaped some of the world's best-known independent aid organizations.

Deep specialization
Explore the sector across international development, humanitarian response, global health and fundraising.

Global networking
Build connections with professionals coordinating programs across Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and beyond.

Community-driven giving
Learn how Ireland's strong culture of local fundraising supports organizations with real international reach.

Going for a walk with other interns during an NGO internship in Dublin

Explore NGO and non-profit internships in Dublin

Dublin's non-profit landscape spans international humanitarian organizations, Ireland's official aid program, global health organizations and grant-making foundations. Your internship could give you the opportunity to see how organizations in the city design, fund and deliver programs reaching communities around the world.

International Development & Humanitarian Response

Coordinating a humanitarian response or a long-term development program requires careful planning across logistics, funding and local partnerships. Your internship could involve supporting program research, situation reports or partner coordination.

You could work on: Program research support · Situation report drafting · Partner coordination · Needs assessment support

Volunteer & Community Engagement

Coordinating volunteers and community partners means matching people's time and skills to the work that actually needs doing. You could support volunteer recruitment, scheduling or community outreach.

You could work on: Volunteer recruitment support · Scheduling · Community outreach · Event coordination support

Fundraising & Donor Relations

Raising funds in Dublin often means coordinating sponsored events and community campaigns alongside major donor relationships. You could support donor research, campaign coordination or appeal drafting.

You could work on: Donor research support · Campaign coordination · Appeal drafting support · Database management

Grants & Program Management

Managing a grant-funded program means tracking funding against outcomes across multiple projects and countries. You could support grant application research, reporting or budget tracking.

You could work on: Grant application research · Reporting support · Budget tracking support · Program documentation

Advocacy & Policy Campaigns

Pushing for policy change on global issues requires research-backed campaigns pitched to both the public and policymakers. You could support campaign research, content drafting or stakeholder mapping.

You could work on: Campaign research support · Content drafting support · Stakeholder mapping · Media monitoring

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

Proving a program's impact requires honest, rigorous data collection, often across difficult field conditions. You could support data collection, impact research or survey analysis.

You could work on: Data collection support · Impact research · Survey analysis support · Reporting support

Example NGO internship roles in Dublin

Depending on your skills and interests, you could take on a role such as:

Legal Impact Intern
Community Development Intern
Cultural Exchange Coordinator
Grant Writing & Development Intern
Education & Youth Development Intern
Operations & Impact Coordinator
Marketing & Events Intern
Research & Innovation Intern

Your exact role will depend on your host organization and placement.

Explore more example NGO roles >

Going to an art gallery and museum with The Intern Group while on a NGO internship in Dublin

What can you gain from an NGO and non-profit internship in Dublin?

An NGO and non-profit internship in Dublin goes beyond a single line on your CV. It's a chance to see how a non-profit sector built on lived historical experience actually runs programs across the world, developing practical skills through work with real-world consequences.

Build Dublin non-profit experience

International non-profit experience on your CV shows future employers you've worked within organizations known globally for their humanitarian and development expertise.
Work on real programs and campaigns

Put your knowledge into practice through projects that could involve development, humanitarian response, global health or advocacy, depending on your placement.
Grow your international development network

Connect with professionals coordinating programs across Africa, Asia and beyond while building relationships with fellow interns from around the world.
Understand aid work built on personal history

See how Ireland's own experience of famine and emigration shaped some of the world's most respected independent aid organizations.
Experience Dublin's non-profit culture

Gain insight into how historical experience, global health expertise and community fundraising combine to shape how the city's charities operate.

Exploring Dublin during an NGO internship in Ireland

What's included in the Dublin internship program?

Your program includes support designed to help you get the most from your international internship, from placement and accommodation to visa support, career coaching and 24/7 in-country support.

Explore the full Dublin internship program >

Hear from our interns in Dublin

"It was a really practical experience. I didn’t expect to get so involved in the company’s overall processes or take on so much responsibility. They always made me feel capable of achieving things, while still challenging me to push myself, which was the perfect balance. The internship and the personal growth I experienced completely changed my perspective. I even found myself really enjoying the routine of going to the office, working 9 to 5, going to the gym, preparing dinner and lunch for the next day, chatting with the other interns, and going to bed. That everyday routine made me realise just how valuable an experience like this can be." - Gaia Scarazzini, intern in Dublin

"I'm hanging out with the other interns as well as the local friends I've made here, which has been incredible. The Intern Group also offers several events, so there's always something going on. The most important thing I've learned from my international internship is how much the people here have helped me grow and develop into the person I want to be, with the mindset that I can go after my dreams." - Jerry-Wayne Wharton, Dublin intern

Having a night out in Dublin with other interns during an NGO internship in Ireland

Is a Dublin NGO and non-profit internship right for you?

A Dublin NGO and non-profit internship could be a great fit if you're drawn to humanitarian work shaped by lived historical experience rather than distant theory.

Whether you're a university student, recent graduate, gap year student or career changer, you can build practical non-profit skills while experiencing how organizations in Dublin design, fund and deliver programs reaching communities around the world. It's an opportunity to build your CV, expand your professional network and discover where a career in the non-profit sector could take you.

What is it like to live as an NGO and non-profit intern in Dublin?

Living as an NGO and non-profit intern in Dublin often means Iveagh Gardens becomes your go-to lunchtime escape, a quieter, less-visited green space tucked away from the busier parks most tourists head for first. A Saturday browse through the Liberties' small charity shops and vintage stalls can turn up a real find if you're patient enough to dig.

A trad music session in a back-room pub, fiddles and a bodhrán going late into the evening, makes for a surprisingly easy way to spend a Tuesday night once a colleague finally talks you into going. Weekends sometimes stretch to the long drive out to the Cliffs of Moher, a dramatic payoff for the early start it demands.

Going for a walk around the cliffs of Moher during an NGO internship in Dublin

FAQs

: Yes. Exact visa requirements for an NGO and non-profit internship in Ireland depend on your nationality and length of stay.

See full visa requirements >
: NGO and non-profit interns are placed with a mix of international humanitarian organizations, global health organizations, grant-making foundations and advocacy groups, depending on your interests and experience.

Discover example host organizations >
: Programs typically run from 4 to 24 weeks, with start dates available year-round.
: You don't necessarily need a development studies degree or previous non-profit experience to apply for an NGO and non-profit internship in Dublin. The right qualifications will depend on the internship placement, but relevant studies in international relations, social sciences, development studies or a related subject can be useful.

Transferable skills such as research, written communication, cultural awareness and project organization can also help you succeed in a non-profit role. Your placement is matched to your experience, interests and career goals.
: To get an NGO and non-profit internship in Dublin, start by identifying which side of the field interests you most, whether that's development, humanitarian response, global health or advocacy, and consider how your education, skills and experience line up with it.

You can then apply for an internship program and discuss your career goals, interests and placement preferences during the application process. At The Intern Group, you'll complete an online application and interview before working with the team to secure an internship that matches your profile and goals.

Realize your potential with an international internship

1

Apply online

Complete our simple application form and tell us about your passions, qualifications, and experiential requirements.
2

Interview

If your interview is successful, confirm your enrollment with a tuition deposit.
3

Secure your internship

Collaborate in the internship placement process & accelerate your career.