At Coney Island during an NGO internship in New York

NGO Internships in New York

More philanthropic foundation assets are managed out of New York than from any other city in the world, and the United Nations' headquarters means international humanitarian organizations cluster here specifically to stay close to the agencies and missions coordinating global response efforts.

That combination has built a non-profit sector with real financial scale, where major foundations deploy billions of dollars in grants each year and international humanitarian organizations run global operations from offices a short walk from the UN itself. Add New York's dense network of human rights organizations and a philanthropic community that treats grant-making as its own serious discipline, and interns get exposure to a non-profit sector operating with the resources and reach of the city's biggest industries.

Whether you're a university student, recent graduate, gap year student or career changer, our NGO and non-profit internship program in New York can help you build practical experience within the city that manages more philanthropic capital than anywhere else on earth.

 Apply now

24Guaranteed Internship
Vetted roles in leading New York NGOs, foundations and non-profit organizations.

14Complete Overseas Support
Visa assistance, New York housing, social & cultural events and 24/7 staff support included.

22Global Career Network
Join 15,000+ alumni with dynamic workshops, networking events, and employer references. 

Example NGO and non-profit host organizations in New York

We've previously placed interns with organizations across New York's international development, human rights, foundation and philanthropic 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 New York?

New York's concentration of major philanthropic foundations means grant-making has become a serious profession in its own right here, with teams dedicated to evaluating proposals, tracking outcomes and deciding how billions of dollars get allocated each year. Interns working inside that world see philanthropy practiced with institutional rigor rather than informal generosity.

The United Nations' presence has also pulled a dense cluster of international humanitarian and human rights organizations into the city, many choosing New York specifically to stay close to UN agencies, missions and the diplomatic community that surrounds them. That proximity shapes how these organizations operate, informal coordination with UN staff and foreign missions becomes part of daily work in a way it simply can't elsewhere. New York's fundraising sector has professionalized to match, with major galas, benefit auctions and institutional donor relationships run at a scale few other cities can support.

New York is particularly strong in areas such as foundation and grant-making, international development, human rights and fundraising, giving you exposure to a non-profit sector operating at real financial scale.

Experience the non-profit sector at its most resourced

Foundation capital
See how New York's concentration of major foundations has turned grant-making into a serious profession.

Deep specialization
Explore the sector across foundations, international development, human rights and fundraising.

UN-adjacent networking
Build connections with professionals working in close proximity to the United Nations and its missions.

Institutional fundraising
Learn how major galas, benefit events and donor relationships operate at a scale most cities can't match.

At Top of the Rock with other interns during an NGO internship in New York

Explore NGO and non-profit internships in New York

New York's non-profit landscape spans major grant-making foundations, international humanitarian organizations, human rights groups and development agencies. Your internship could give you the opportunity to see how organizations in the city fund and deliver programs reaching communities around the world.

Human Rights & Global Justice

Supporting human rights casework means working alongside researchers and advocates documenting issues that affect people's daily lives across many countries. You could support case research, documentation or correspondence support.

You could work on: Case research support · Documentation support · Correspondence support · Briefing preparation support

Fundraising & Donor Relations

Running a gala or major donor campaign in New York means coordinating event logistics alongside serious institutional fundraising strategy. You could support donor research, event coordination or appeal drafting.

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

Grants & Program Management

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

You could work on: Grant reporting support · Budget tracking support · Program documentation · Compliance monitoring

Social Enterprise & Sustainable Development

Organizations blending commercial models with social missions need support spanning both business thinking and development practice. You could support market research, partnership coordination or impact reporting.

You could work on: Market research support · Partnership coordination · Impact reporting · Business planning support

Looking for NGO and non-profit internships beyond New York? Explore our international NGO internships to discover opportunities across a range of destinations.

Example NGO internship roles in New York

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 >

Exploring the streets of New York during an NGO internship

What can you gain from our NGO and non-profit internship in New York?

An NGO and non-profit internship in New York goes beyond a single line on your CV. It's a chance to see how philanthropy and humanitarian work operate at serious institutional scale, developing practical skills through work with real-world consequences.

  • Build New York non-profit experience

    International non-profit experience on your CV shows future employers you've worked within the city that manages more philanthropic capital than anywhere else in the world.

  • Work on real programs and campaigns

    Put your knowledge into practice through projects that could involve foundations, international development, human rights or fundraising, depending on your placement.

  • Grow your global philanthropic network

    Connect with professionals working in close proximity to the United Nations and major foundations while building relationships with fellow interns from around the world.

  • Understand philanthropy at institutional scale

    See how major foundations evaluate, fund and track grants across a wide range of causes and countries.

  • Experience New York's non-profit culture

    Gain insight into how foundation capital, UN proximity and institutional fundraising combine to shape how the city's non-profits operate. 

Going to a museum at the weekend during an NGO internship in New York

What's included in the New York 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 New York internship program >

Hear from our New York interns

Agostina Laboratto
Agostina Laboratto
Watch their story
Gwilym Horlock
Gwilym Horlock
Watch their story
Yande Chali
Yande Chali
Watch their story

"For anyone thinking about doing this program, my advice would be not to be afraid to ask questions. Always ask your supervisors and make sure you’re getting the most out of the experience. And know that The Intern Group will always be there when you need support. I’d definitely recommend the program to anyone who wants to step outside their comfort zone and have an unforgettable experience abroad." - Agostina Laboratto, intern in New York

"I’ve always travelled with my family, so this was my first time doing something I’d always wanted to do completely on my own. I was excited, but I definitely had cold feet before I came because it was something I’d never done before. My biggest challenge was coming to a new place where I didn’t know anyone and having to make new friends and connections. But being here has given me a completely different perspective. You realise you can do things you never thought you could. I didn’t think I could do this by myself because I’d always relied on my friends, but now I realise you don’t have to. You just have to pursue what you want and not let other people hold you back." - Yande Chali, New York intern

Exploring New York with other interns during a NGO internship

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

A New York NGO and non-profit internship could be a great fit if you're drawn to philanthropy and humanitarian work operating at real institutional scale.

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 New York 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 New York?

Living as an NGO and non-profit intern in New York often means Turtle Bay's quiet, UN-adjacent streets become a familiar part of your commute, flags from dozens of countries visible outside the mission buildings tucked between ordinary apartment blocks. A volunteer shift at a Lower East Side food pantry on a Saturday morning offers a direct, hands-on contrast to a week spent on reports and spreadsheets.

Black-tie benefit galas come up more often than you'd expect, and helping check in guests or manage a silent auction table gives you a strange, close-up view of how fundraising's glossiest moments actually get assembled. Weekends sometimes mean a train up into the Hudson Valley, a quieter landscape of small towns and orchards a world away from the city's pace.

Apply now

Visiting the Guggenheim museum during an NGO internship in New York

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