Internships

Forest Preserve Foundation Internships

To help further our program goals, we offer internship opportunities for enthusiastic and talented college-level students. These internships will give students an opportunity to learn about the Forest Preserves of Cook County, the importance of philanthropy in the community, and the significance of protecting our public lands. Along with supporting the Foundation’s ongoing fundraising activities, interns will also visit different conservation sites where they can interact with Conservation Corps crews and professional staff of the Preserves.

Training experiences available to interns

  • CRM database training
  • Fundraising training, phone and mail solicitations
  • Grantee site visits, proposal review
  • Writing blog posts, profiles of grantees' programs
  • GIS mapping

Assignments and responsibilities

  • Research potential donors, strategic partners, markets, and industries for Corporate Giving opportunities
  • Create donor profiles for important prospects and prepare proposals for solicitations
  • Contribute to social networking strategy that will increase the Foundation's  profile and raise its visibility
  • Assist with data entry in CRM fundraising software
  • GIS mapping

Qualifications

  • Undergraduate or graduate student with interest in fundraising/development
  • An interest in the outdoors and stewardship of public lands
  • General knowledge of MS Office suite
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Keen organizational skills
  • Ability to follow through on projects and worki ndependently in a deadline-oriented team environment
  • CRM Database knowledge is a plus

To apply, send resume and cover letter to:

careers@forestpreservefoundation.org

Please use "Foundation Intern - Your Name" as the subject line.

Interns head out of the office for a day in the field to learn about the work we support.

2018 Foundation interns Sam and Liam
Forest Preserve Foundation interns Sam (left) and Liam in Wentworth Woods.

About the Foundation

Our mission

The Foundation’s mission is to engage in protecting and restoring the treasured natural habitats within the Forest Preserves of Cook County and to enhance the outdoor experiences of all communities. We do this by encouraging and administering private gifts to further the Forest Preserve’s mission and goals.

Programs we support

Our programmatic goal is to increase access to the Preserves for a greater diversity of visitors and to deepen their awareness, appreciation and commitment to the health of the Preserves. Our ongoing initiatives include:

Restoration: Pollution, invasive plants, and the changing climate continue to posesignificant risks to the health of our natural areas. Ongoing restoration is essential in reversing these damaging effects.

Funding supports restoration in areas of the highest need, where invasice species threaten sensitive ecosystems and where habitats have been damaged. Resotration supports wildlife, heatlhy communities, and climate resiliency.

Conservation Corps: Summer and year-round internships for teenagers and young adults to gain paid work experience and exposure to careers in conservation, while advancing restoration goals in the preserves.

Accessibility and Cultural Engagement: We fund programs that nourish cultural engagement and eliminate cultural barriers to equitable access.

Ways to Give

Tree and Bench Dedications: Opportunities of those who wish to honor a special person or occasion in the preserves.

Planned Giving

Mission Critical Programs

Donation in Someone's Name

Conservation Cup Annual Fundraiser

More information can be found in our 2024 Year in Review

 

Anti‐Discrimination Policy

Forest Preserve Foundation is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or job applicant based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or marital status. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, termination, promotion, transfer, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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