LEAD Impact Intern

Location: Chicago, IL	Duration: 10 weeks (June 2 – August 8)
Compensation: $20/hr

The CAFE Group is a trailblazing organization committed to advancing educational equity and redefining philanthropy. Under the visionary leadership of CEO and founder Liz Thompson, we embrace a love-centered approach that invests in visionary leaders and cultivates next-generation talent to drive systemic change.

The LEAD Internship Program is a cornerstone of The CAFE Group’s commitment to reimagining philanthropy. This transformative 10-week summer experience provides college students with hands-on, meaningful exposure to nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. Interns across Chicagoland gain insight into philanthropy as both a mindset and a vocation, develop essential transferable skills, expand their networks, and deepen their understanding of the sector. Through community-building, professional development sessions, and real-world work at organizations in the LEAD Network, the program equips participants with the tools and perspectives needed to shape the future of philanthropy.

About This Role

As a LEAD Impact Intern supporting the program itself, you will join The CAFE Group’s Impact Team, collaborating closely with the LEAD Program Manager and Impact Associate to evaluate and enhance the program. In this role, you will contribute to content development, alumni engagement strategies, and program improvements, including refining support for the LEAD alumni network. Additionally, you will play a key role in this year’s pilot capstone project, which features hands-on grantmaking. By engaging in program evaluation, content creation, and real-world philanthropy initiatives, the LEAD Impact Intern placement offers a unique opportunity to meaningfully contribute to the program’s growth and evolution while gaining valuable exposure to the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.

Responsibilities

This isn’t an exhaustive list of tasks but gives you an idea of the key responsibilities you’ll hold during the internship.

Bring the LEAD Alumni Network to Life: Help dream up and execute strategies to keep our growing community of LEAD alumni connected, engaged, and thriving.

Dive into Data with Purpose: Work with us to leverage qualitative and quantitative data to make LEAD even better. You’ll gather insights from the experts—LEAD interns and managers—and ensure our data is accurately recorded, securely stored, and easy to access.

Execute Special Projects for LEAD: Whether you’re working solo or teaming up with others across The CAFE Group, you’ll tackle special projects this summer that will have a real-time impact on the LEAD Internship experience across the cohort.

Immerse Yourself in the LEAD Experience: Fully participate in all LEAD program offerings, including professional development workshops, cohort activities, and special events. You’ll learn alongside your peers who are working with The CAFE Group and dozens of other LEAD partner organizations, building professional skills, network connections, and memories that will last well beyond the summer.

Qualifications

Currently enrolled in an accredited 2- or 4-year Institution.
Available to work 40 hours per week in Chicago June 2 – August 8, 2025 (no relocation expenses are provided)
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong attention to detail and excellent time-management skills
Proficient research skills
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite

Comms/Events intern

The Communications & Engagement Internship at The CAFE Group is perfect for someone excited to explore the intersection of storytelling, events, and social impact. Communications and events are at the heart of how we build community, share our mission, and inspire people to take action in transforming philanthropy and advancing educational equity.

As an intern, you’ll play a key role in shaping communication strategies and events that align with The CAFE Group’s mission. You’ll gain hands-on experience in content creation, social media strategy, event planning, and community engagement—developing the skills needed to inspire action, foster collaboration, and drive meaningful impact.

As part of the LEAD Internship Program, you’ll also join weekly professional development sessions, cohort activities, and special events—and even help plan and execute some of the summer’s programming. This internship prepares you to thrive in dynamic environments and equips you with the tools to elevate missions that matter. If you’re passionate about storytelling, event design, and collaborating on teams, we’d love to have you join us!

1954 intern

The 1954 Project, a flagship initiative of The CAFE Group, invests in visionary leaders transforming education for Black students and communities. Since its launch, the initiative has catalyzed nearly $16 million in funding to advance bold solutions and drive systemic change.

As an intern, you’ll work alongside The 1954 Project team to support key initiatives, including program development, research and evaluation, and storytelling. You’ll gain hands-on experience while contributing directly to the network of Luminaries leading transformational work in education. This role offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of philanthropy, education equity, and the strategies that drive lasting impact.

As part of the LEAD Internship Program, you’ll also participate in weekly professional development sessions, cohort activities, and special events. This internship prepares you to thrive in collaborative environments while building the skills and connections needed to create meaningful change. If you’re passionate about education equity, learning about philanthropy, and working across teams, we’d love to have you join us!

The CAFE Group is a safe space for all, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, country of origin, religion, or ability. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. The CAFE Group is a 501(c)3 and an Equal Opportunity Employer that strives to have a diverse team representative of the community it serves.