Spending an evening at a rooftop bar after work during an NGO internship in Spain

NGO Internships in Spain

Spain's national development agency coordinates cooperation programs across dozens of countries from a single Madrid headquarters, the majority of them Spanish-speaking nations where a shared language turns technical cooperation into something closer to an ongoing partnership than a one-off aid relationship.

That same dynamic runs through Madrid's wider non-profit sector. Spanish NGOs working in health, education and emergency response have built decades of operational experience across Latin America, giving the city's organizations a reach and cultural fluency that sets them apart from most other European capitals working in the region. For interns, that means exposure to development and humanitarian work built on real linguistic and historical connection rather than translated from a distance.

Whether you're a university student, recent graduate, gap year student or career changer, an NGO and non-profit internship in Madrid can help you build practical experience within a non-profit sector with unusually deep ties across the Spanish-speaking world.

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24Guaranteed Internship
Vetted roles in leading Madrid NGOs, charities and non-profit organizations.

14Complete Overseas Support
Visa assistance, Madrid 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 Spain

We've previously placed interns with organizations across Madrid's international development, humanitarian response, fundraising 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 Spain?

Spain's national development agency and a wide network of Spanish NGOs coordinate cooperation programs primarily across Latin America, where a shared language and long historical ties let organizations work in direct partnership with local communities rather than through translators and intermediaries. Interns working inside that structure see international development practiced with a level of cultural and linguistic fluency that's hard to replicate elsewhere in Europe.

Madrid's non-profit sector has also built real expertise in emergency and humanitarian response, drawing on decades of field experience across the Spanish-speaking world. Fundraising here tends to lean on strong local giving traditions alongside institutional funding from the EU and Spanish government bodies, giving interns exposure to a funding landscape that blends public money with grassroots support. Advocacy and public campaign work rounds out the sector, with organizations here pushing for social and policy change on issues ranging from migration to climate.

Madrid is particularly strong in areas such as international development, humanitarian response, fundraising and public advocacy, giving you exposure to a non-profit sector with deep reach across the Spanish-speaking world.

Experience the non-profit sector built on shared language

Latin American partnership
See how shared language and history let Spanish NGOs build lasting, long-term partnerships across Latin America.

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

Spanish-speaking networking
Build connections with professionals working on programs across Spain and the wider Spanish-speaking world.

Blended funding models
Learn how public development funding and grassroots giving combine to support Madrid's non-profit sector.

Meeting other interns in Madrid on the first day of an NGO internship in Spain

Explore NGO and non-profit internships in Spain

Madrid's non-profit landscape spans international development agencies, humanitarian organizations, grant-making foundations and advocacy groups. Your internship could give you the opportunity to see how organizations in the city design, fund and deliver programs reaching communities across Spain and Latin America.

International Development & Cooperation

Coordinating development programs across Spanish-speaking countries means working closely with partners who share language and, often, cultural context. Your internship could involve supporting program research, partner correspondence or reporting.

You could work on: Program research support · Partner correspondence support · Reporting support · 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 Madrid often means blending institutional grants with grassroots and individual giving. You could support donor research, appeal drafting or campaign coordination.

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

Grants & Program Management

Managing grant-funded programs means tracking outcomes against funding commitments 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

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

Example NGO internship roles in Spain

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 >

Spending a sunny day in Madrid getting to know other interns during an NGO internship in Spain

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

An NGO and non-profit internship in Madrid goes beyond a single line on your CV. It's a chance to see how a non-profit sector built on shared language and history actually works across borders, developing practical skills through work with real-world consequences.

  • Build Madrid non-profit experience

    International non-profit experience on your CV shows future employers you've worked within organizations whose reach spans the Spanish-speaking world. 

  • Work on real programs and campaigns

    Put your knowledge into practice through projects that could involve development, humanitarian response, fundraising or advocacy, depending on your placement. 

  • Grow your Spanish-speaking development network

    Connect with professionals working on programs across Spain and Latin America while building relationships with fellow interns from around the world. 

  • Understand development built on shared language

    See how a common language and history let Spanish NGOs build partnerships that go deeper than most international development work. 

  • Experience Madrid's non-profit culture

    Gain insight into how public funding, grassroots giving and Latin American partnership combine to shape how the city's charities operate. 

Getting into Spanish culture during an NGO internship in Madrid

What's included in the Spain 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 Madrid internship program >

Hear from our NGO interns in Spain

Elizabeth Bisa
Elizabeth Bisa
Watch their story
Roberta Cueva
Roberta Cueva
Watch their story
Fernanda Trujillo Ramirez
Fernanda Trujillo Ramirez
Watch their story

"It was amazing to see the kind of changes you can make over time. The role was very interesting because they gave me tasks to do for the week with a deadline, which gave me the opportunity to manage my time and make sure I got everything done within the time they gave me. It also helped me understand the importance of being on time for meetings and having clear communication with my manager and colleagues. I still got to experience Spain's culture and meet its people, even though I didn't speak fluent Spanish." - Elizabeth Bisa, NGO intern in Spain

"What I like most about Madrid is definitely the culture. Spanish culture is rich in traditions, gastronomy and the arts, and it's just an amazing place to live and experience the city from another point of view. After work, I typically take an hour or an hour-and-a-half nap, and then there are just so many things that Madrid has to offer. I've had the opportunity to make amazing new friends, so at night I typically go and get something to eat with them or just get lost in the city." - Roberta Cueva, NGO Spain intern

Having lunch with fellow interns during an NGO internship in Spain

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

A Madrid NGO and non-profit internship could be a great fit if you're drawn to development and humanitarian work built on real cultural and linguistic connection.

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 Madrid design, fund and deliver programs reaching communities across Spain and Latin America. 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 Spain?

Living as an NGO and non-profit intern in Madrid often means Lavapiés becomes your neighbourhood of choice, its mix of long-established immigrant communities and small, independent restaurants matching the international character of the work itself. Sunday mornings are well spent wandering El Rastro, the sprawling flea market that takes over the surrounding streets with stalls selling everything from vinyl records to second-hand furniture.

A language exchange meetup after work becomes a surprisingly useful habit, swapping English conversation for Spanish practice over a drink with people you'd never otherwise meet. Weekends sometimes stretch to a day trip out to Toledo, its walled old town a short train ride away and a world apart from Madrid's pace.

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Going for a walk around Retiro Park during an NGO internship in Spain

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