Non-profit & NGO internships in Asia and beyond
Research, fundraising and community projects with NGOs.
Overview
What the internship is about
Non-profit hosts range from small grassroots NGOs to established foundations working on education, health, women's rights, the environment and refugee support. Interns research the issues, draft grant applications and donor updates, plan fundraising campaigns, organize community events and collect data for impact reports. Teams are small, so you often handle several of these in one week and see your work used quickly.
Some days are spent at a desk, others out in the community at workshops, school visits or distribution days. Thailand, Singapore and South Korea have the most non-profit hosts, with India and Nepal close behind.
Why do it
What you'll get out of it
Help with projects that support local communities, and learn how NGOs work with the people they serve. You see what keeps a project going after the funding ends.
Support conservation and sustainability projects, from fieldwork to awareness campaigns. You learn how small organizations protect forests, coasts and wildlife on limited resources.
Help plan and run campaigns for social change. You learn how NGOs raise awareness, build coalitions and turn public support into donations and policy change.
Your role
Help plan, run and evaluate non-profit projects, from research to reporting.
Help write grant applications, plan fundraising events and keep donors updated.
Write messages, reports and social posts that work for audiences from different cultures.
Where to go
This is where we have the most host companies in this field, but you can do it in any of our destinations. See all destinations
Where you can do this
Prices
How much it costs
FAQ
Your questions, answered
What will I do on a non-profit and NGO internship?
You'll support projects that help communities, in areas like education, health, the environment or human rights. Tasks can include research, fundraising, events, social media and reporting.
Do I need experience to get a non-profit and NGO internship?
No. Any degree can fit, but a real interest in the cause matters most. You don't need to speak the local language; local staff work alongside you on community projects.
What skills and tools will I use?
You'll learn project planning, fundraising, writing reports for donors and measuring a project's impact.
Where can I do a non-profit and NGO internship?
Popular destinations for non-profit and NGO internships include Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, India and Nepal. Tell us where you'd like to go and we'll check what's possible.
Can I get university credit for my internship?
Yes, if your university accepts it: we provide the documents it needs (internship agreement, placement confirmation, supervisor evaluation and a host certificate of completion). Your university decides whether to give credit, and how much.
How much does it cost, and is it paid?
Programs start from $2,050 for 6 weeks on Explorer, depending on where you go. Most internships are unpaid.
In depth
- Research the issues the organization works on and write short briefs.
- Help plan fundraising campaigns and donor emails.
- Help organize community events and workshops.
- Run the organization's social media and newsletters.
- Collect data on a project and help report its impact.
- Write updates and reports for donors and partners.
- Project planning, from goals and budget to the final report.
- Fundraising and writing to donors.
- Measuring a project's impact honestly.
- Working respectfully with communities from another culture.
- Doing a lot with a small team and a small budget.
- A clearer idea of where you fit: programs, fundraising, research or communications.
- Thailand: our team is based in Bangkok.
- Singapore: regional offices, banks and startups in the CBD, Marina Bay and one-north.
- South Korea: placements are mainly in Seoul, and we have our own office in Korea.
- India: non-profit and NGO work is one of our main fields there.
- Nepal: non-profit and NGO work is one of our main fields, with most placements in Kathmandu.
Intern stories
Hear it from our interns
Applications open all year
Your field, somewhere new.
It's free to apply, and you only pay a deposit once you're accepted.