Please check back for available positions.

To apply, please email jobs@ocie.wish.org

Be sure to connect with us on LinkedIn

Interns for Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire give of their time and talents to help create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. All of our internships are unpaid; however, in return for their hard work and dedication, our interns receive valuable training, knowledge, hands-on non-profit work experience, a chance to meet others, and the gratification of making a difference in the life of a child.

Academic credit can also be provided for students (specific criteria/requirements of the student’s educational institution apply). All interns must be a current undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a course within their internship semester (over the age of 18) with excellent written and oral communications skills, organizational skills, attention to detail, the ability to multitask and maintain confidentiality, computer proficiency, and a passion for the work of Make-A-Wish.

COVID-19 Update: Our offices are open to the public once again. All internships are planned to be in-person either at our Irvine or Riverside offices. We are no-longer offering a remote format for the internship program.

Our interns assist in various areas of Make-A-Wish alongside staff and other volunteers. The following are the current internship opportunities that are available for Summer 2025:

IRVINE OFFICE

The Marketing and Communications Intern will assist with marketing and communications as well as creating and developing content and social management efforts of Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire. The Intern will also further develop skills in marketing, brand management, and written and oral communications. 

Responsibilities:  

• Creating promotional materials for both internal and external use 
• Support marketing department operations by assisting with the monthly newsletter and event marketing 
• Provide updates to the Make-A-Wish OCIE website as needed 
• Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications team and other departments to ensure cohesive branding and messaging across all platforms 
• Stay up-to-date with the latest social media trends, tools, and best practices to continuously improve our social media strategy 
• Assist with developing content, including text, images and videos, to showcase wish stories, events, and fundraising initiatives 
• Attend and support the Pickleball for Wishes event 

The Public Relations Intern will assist with public relations efforts of Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire while further developing skills in public relations, brand management, and written and oral communications. We are looking for someone who can commit to 8-10 hours/week. 

Responsibilities: 

• Craft wish stories to use for storytelling partnership pitches and grants 
• Assist with creating content for press releases and developing media alerts for upcoming events and wishes 
• Support marketing pitches to local news outlets 
• Support the Marketing & Communications Manager in cultivating and maintaining media relations 
• Attend and support the Pickleball for Wishes event 

The Social Media Intern will assist with managing strategic social media content for Make-A-Wish OCIE’s various platform accounts such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

Responsibilities: 

• Participate in content creation including text, images, and videos to showcase wish kid stories, events, and fundraising initiatives 
• Work with the Sr. Marketing & Communications Manager to plan strategic social media campaigns 
• Assist with promoting Pickleball For Wishes and The Make-A-Wish Gala while capturing content to highlight this and other events 
• Draft media to highlight and celebrate Make-A-Wish community partners
• Attend and support the Pickleball for Wishes event  

The Wish Programs Intern will assist with various facets of the wish-granting process in its day-to-day operation. This will involve duties such as data tracking, conducting research, and supporting staff by facilitating communication. 

Responsibilities: 

• Facilitate the wish process by working to update wish itineraries with finalized logistics 
• Support communication efforts between wish team and wish families 
• Collaborate with chapter wish granters (volunteers) by providing resources to enhance the wish-granting process 
• Design and implement wish family surveys to assess wish process efficacy 
• Conduct research into local vendors that may assist with wish-granting efforts 
• Assist with tracking in-kind donations via Excel 

The Development Intern will be assisting with event preparation and logistics of events, supporting donor communication efforts, fundraising, and maintaining databases. 

Responsibilities: 

• Assist in event and project management functions such as auction coordination 
• Strategically create assets for auctions for optimal marketing 
• Learn development and fundraising aspects within and relative to a non-profit setting 
• Conduct research on potential donors, foundations, and corporations in the local community 
• Perform community outreach to promote Make-A-Wish's mission 
• Preparing informational collateral to promote the organization, events, etc. 
• Conduct research and outreach related to major projects, campaigns, and events 

The Event Marketing Intern will assist with event logistics and marketing communications for the chapter’s gala and Pickleball for Wishes. This intern position will also assist with third party/external event coordination and communication. 

Responsibilities: 

• Assist in event and project management functions such as auction coordination 
• Strategically create assets for auctions for optimal marketing 
• Learn development and fundraising aspects within and relative to a non-profit setting 
• Conduct research and outreach related to major projects, campaigns, and fundraising events 
• Assist in the execution of marketing and communications plans for events 
• Participate in the creative process of event coordination by designing elements to elevate guest experience 
• Adhere to Make-A-Wish brand guidelines for all marketing assets 

The Youth Programs Intern will assist with Kids for Wish Kids (KFWK) and Wish Makers on Campus (WMOC) programs, creating and updating toolkits and resources for KFWK and WMOC. This intern position will also assist with recruitment of schools within MAWOCIE’s territory to participate in the chapter’s youth programs. 

Responsibilities:  

• Assist with Youth Programs recruitment and onboarding 
• Create/design materials for Kids for Wish Kids (KFWK) and Wish Makers on Campus (WMOC) programs 
• Assist with general office duties, conducting research, event planning, and marketing/public relations 
• Build and strengthen relationships with local schools 
• Coordinate event logistics related to youth engagement programs 
• Assist with developing fundraising campaigns for Youth Programs 
• Adhere to Make-A-Wish brand guidelines for all marketing assets 

To apply for an internship position, you must submit:  

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Intern Application Form

E-mail: internships@ocie.wish.org 

Please note that the dates below are subject to change. Based on a student's availability and school schedule, internships can begin or end before or after the dates indicated below. 

2025 ACADEMIC YEAR 

SPRING 2025
Dates of program: January 20 - May 23
Applications Accepted: November 18 - December 2

 
SUMMER 2025
Dates of program: June 9 - August 15
Applications Accepted: April 14 - April 25

  
FALL 2025
Dates of program: September 8 - December 19
Applications Accepted: July 28 - August 8

Interns generally work between 8-10 hours per week. While these time frames work best for most students, all scheduling, including start/end dates and hours per week, is flexible and negotiated between the candidate and their supervisor during the interview stage of the selection process.

All hired interns must successfully complete a background check and attend an orientation session prior to beginning their internship.  

Should you have any questions during the application process, please email internships@ocie.wish.org.