Description

Reports to: Associate Director of Scholar Communications

About Chicago Scholars

Chicago Scholars is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit leadership development organization that empowers academically ambitious first-generation or low-income students to overcome systemic barriers to success in college and beyond while preparing the city’s businesses and organizations for the next generation of leaders.

Since 1996, Chicago Scholars has built a legacy of success by investing in our youth and amplifying their leadership. Our Scholars are high-achieving first-generation college students and students from low-income communities, and they have the talent, heart, and big dreams to become our next generation of leaders and transform our city.

At its core, our work is about economic mobility, leadership development, and belonging. It’s about making sure our Scholars have everything they need to journey from Chicago’s classrooms to Chicago’s boardrooms—or to wherever their dreams may lead.

Chicago Scholars is transforming the leadership landscape of our city by resolving the fundamental barriers to success for academically driven, first-generation college students from under-resourced communities. Through college counseling, mentoring, and by providing a supportive community to our Scholars through each phase of our program: College Readiness, College Success, and Career and Leadership Advancement, we ensure that they realize their full potential as students and leaders.

76% of Chicago Scholars graduate college within 6 years. Per the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research, only 49% of their peers earn a degree within 6 years. Upon graduation, our Scholars move into leadership positions across Chicago, helping to drive the economic future of their communities and our thriving city.

READI Commitment

At Chicago Scholars we strive to prepare our Scholars for the world and the world for our Scholars. Our dual focus on Scholars and the world is essential to our strategy. To achieve these goals, we center racial justice, equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion (READI) in all that we do.

Chicago Scholars’ commitment to READI encompasses all of our stakeholders—from our staff to our board, from our volunteers to our partnering organizations, and most importantly our Scholars. This holistic approach is necessary for the sustained, long-term, positive impact that we seek for our Scholars, our neighborhoods, our city, and our world.

To learn more about Chicago Scholars commitment to READI, please visit chicagoscholars.org/readi.

At Chicago Scholars, we believe that education is social justice. That's why we're empowering Chicago's best and brightest first-generation college students and students from low-income communities with the mentors, resources, and opportunities to go to our nation's best colleges and universities, graduate on time, and become Chicago's next generation of leaders. Since 1996, we've impacted the lives of more than 5,000 young leaders in Chicago.

Our Values

These are a set of guiding principles that apply to all stakeholders within the Chicago Scholars ecosystem. We select and retain stakeholders based on these stated expectations for how we achieve our mission and vision. Each is supported with core competencies and narrative for the sake of clarity.

We Dream Big. We speak up, innovate, push the boundaries and keep the creativity flowing. We don’t accept the status quo because the stakes are too high. We have an incredible belief that growth and change is possible. While we dream big, we are laser focused on our intended goals and outcomes for our Scholars, our city and the world.

We Show Up. We show up every day; not just physically, but with a positive attitude and willingness to work, connect, challenge, engage, solve problems and have fun. We don’t wait for someone to tell us what to do. We take action and get the job done. If we don’t know how, we figure it out through our knowledge, exploration or our network.

We Embrace Our Differences. We represent a multicultural nation and our collective backgrounds, experiences, styles, values, perspectives and beliefs are an asset to the world. We recognize that together we achieve better outcomes more quickly. Justice and equity starts with us using our collective voice.

We Model the Way. We exhibit the behavior that we want to see in others and in the world. Titles are granted, but our behavior is what earns us respect. In order to model the way, we must be clear about our guiding principles, celebrate our accomplishments and learn from our challenges and failures.

We Care For Each Other. We adapt to the needs of the person in front of us. We pause, reflect and listen. We do our best work when we are in good relationship together. We care personally and challenge directly.

We Keep Our Word. When we commit, we are all in. Whether for events, a Scholar, a peer or ourselves. Our words are as powerful as our actions and are the building block of trust, respect, self-worth and integrity.

Position Summary

The Scholar Communications Intern plays an important role in helping Chicago Scholars keep Scholars informed about opportunities, programs, and resources. This role reports to the Associate Director of Scholar Communications and supports the day-to-day execution of Scholar communications, assists with tracking Scholar opportunities, and contributes a Scholar-centered perspective to communication and marketing efforts across programs. The Scholar Communications Intern also works closely with the Career and Leadership Advancement team to support data management.

Key Responsibilities

Scholar Communications

Drafts Scholar newsletters, emails, and text messages using templates and provided graphics.
Monitors opportunities and requests shared by Chicago Scholars staff; elevates key requests to Associate Director of Scholar Communications; liaises with the REACH intern to ensure all opportunities are listed on the REACH opportunities board.
Serves as liaison between Chicago Scholars staff and Scholars for communication-related outreach, including newsletter highlights, event promotions, and coordinating filming for videos.
Contributes creative ideas for recurring newsletters and engagement content, such as Scholar spotlights, wellness features, and student-centered resources.
Participates in planning meetings with the Marketing and Communications team. Shadows the Associate Director of Scholar Communications as they develop strategies and analyze data.

Data Management

In collaboration with the Career and Leadership Advancement team, update Salesforce database with current and updated career partner and Scholar information (for example: primary contact, contact emails, institutional profile/demographic, partnership type, internship placement etc.)
Assist with database management related to marketing and communications campaigns (i.e., updating and removing email and mailing addresses)

Additional Responsibilities

Maintains archive of Scholar communications and materials
Collaborates with other Development and External Engagement interns on cross-team projects
This role will occasionally work on nights and weekends for career events and programming
Support administrative tasks and events as needed
Other duties, as assigned

Capstone

The Scholar Communications intern will compile a portfolio of their best work at the end of each internship term (typically an academic year) and participate in a presentation and conversation to discuss their learning and goals. This presentation and conversation will be attended by the Marketing and Communications team, alongside other select staff members and interns.

Learning Objectives

1. Develop and refine skills related to communications and creative work, including: receiving and implementing feedback; working collaboratively to achieve diverse goals; identifying and solving problems; and understanding and meeting the needs of an audience.

2. Gain an understanding of how marketing and communications strategy is developed and executed.

3. Learn how to interpret data from marketing and communications projects; learn how to use that data to adjust and improve future work.

4. Improve writing and communication skills.

Potential Learning Opportunities

Depending on the intern’s skills and interests, stretch projects may be assigned once a working relationship has been established. These projects might involve developing Scholar resources like handbooks and guides; conducting surveys or other research related to Scholar experiences; collaborating with other departments to develop projects and assets.

Requirements

? Education: Completed at least first year of college

? Experience: 0-2 years

? Must be located in the Chicagoland area and be able to regularly commute to the Chicago Scholars office at 141 W. Jackson Blvd.

? Excellent communication skills

Technical Knowledge

? Outlook

? Basic Knowledge of design software like Canva or Adobe products

? Flexibility and ability to take feedback professionally, not personally

Core Competencies

Accountability/Project Management: Effectively manages own work, and work of teams when relevant, ensuring delivery of high-quality work.
Teamwork/Collaboration: Demonstrates awareness and respect of cultural and individual values. Listens to ideas from others, even when different from own. Is careful to ensure all sides are heard reaching a conclusion. Shares time, energy and knowledge with others to ensure they can succeed.
Communication: Communication is the ability to read and interpret information effectively, clearly articulate a plan of action, and influence others by way of written and verbal mechanisms.
Adaptability: Ability to operate flexibly in changing contexts and operating environments. Ability to manage change effectively to support teams and reach intended goals.

AI Literacy & Engagement
Our team leverages AI to augment human creativity and enhance impact. In this role, you will be encouraged to experiment with AI tools to improve your work and drive efficiency. We seek individuals who demonstrate curiosity about emerging technologies and are comfortable integrating AI into everyday tasks. You will proactively identify areas of friction in workflows where AI can improve speed, quality, or insight, while maintaining a strong understanding of data security, privacy, and ethical considerations in AI use.

Starting Salary: $16 per hour, usually 15 hours per week (part-time hourly role without benefits)

Best Offer First Policy: The data nationally show for every $1 paid to white men, women earn 82 cents, black men earn 88 cents, and black women earn 76 cents. Women and black and brown people are also less likely to negotiate than their white male peers. Chicago Scholars has decided to offer our best offer first rather than wait for a potential negotiation. This allows us to set salaries based on market data and internal equity and ensure fair and equal pay for every role.

If you have questions regarding either of the above policies, or any of Chicago Scholars employment policies, please reach out to the Human Resources team at humanresources@chicagoscholars.org with the subject line: Policy Question.

To Apply

Please click 'Apply' to submit your application which should include a resume and cover letter. Please include a cover letter that explains your experience or interest in communications and marketing (i.e. content creation, writing, advertising, data analysis, etc.).