Community Links Summer Internship Program
Erie County Community Foundation’s Community Links Summer Internship Program offers undergraduates, recent graduates, and graduate students the opportunity to intern for 10 weeks, May/June through August each year, in an Erie County nonprofit organization or governmental agency. Organizations that have received Community Foundation grants host the interns, who are paid $15.00 per hour for 40 hours per week.
Program Objectives
first-hand knowledge
Offer undergraduates, graduate students, or recent graduates first-hand knowledge of the Erie County nonprofit community, its leadership, and organizations
Experience
Provide meaningful, career-related work experience
Help Local Organizations
Increase local organizations’ capacity to conduct important short-term projects
Career Focused
Stimulate interest in a career in the nonprofit or public sector
Broaden Horizons
Expose interns to a broad range of public sector endeavors
Our 2026 Internship Host Organizations
City of Sandusky Parks and Recreation
2026 Duties: Our Parks & Recreation division is within the Community Development Department of the city and we work hand-in-hand with our planning staff. The intern will learn marketing skills from previewing an event to live coverage during an event to post-event gratitude to sponsors and attendees. The intern will see and experience the inner workings of a mid-sized municipality while collaborating with various service organizations, businesses, and non-profits throughout the summer.
Erie County Community Foundation
2026 Duties: Work alongside the Foundation's Development and Marketing personnel to strengthen philanthropy and community impact throughout Erie County. The intern will assist with creating and scheduling social media content, preparing materials and merchandise for Foundation events, updating website content, designing marketing materials, and helping produce newsletters and annual publications. The intern will also gain experience in grantmaking, donor relations, scholarship administration, philanthropy, and event planning by attending meetings, assisting with community outreach initiatives, and supporting special projects that promote the Foundation's mission. This position offers a behind-the-scenes look at how a community foundation connects donors, nonprofits, and community leaders to create lasting change.
Parkvue Community
2026 Duties: Work under direction of The Parkvue Community executive director and other staff to assist with either marketing or social work services, or a combination of the two. Plan/execute community summer event, participate in leadership’s outreach meetings, participate in plan of care meetings, shadow director to understand role, work with corporate office, create social media content, build library for prospects, learn sales lead software program, create sales analysis reports, conduct competitive market analysis, assemble collateral packets, plan community marketing events, assist with move-in check lists, learn sales processes, assist with open houses/prospect tours, and attend sales calls.
Perkins Township
2026 Duties: Compiling a comprehensive inventory of current housing and available land within township utilizing existing housing studies; update existing Zoning Code with all approved amendments; cross reference Comprehensive Plan to existing Zoning Map and make recommendations on zoning amendments; update current township-wide business inventory, to help with the Township economic development efforts; Assist with community events, including movie nights and the summer park program for children; assist with zone inspections throughout township; attend Board of Zoning Appeals, Zoning Commission and Board of Trustee meetings as needed; assist with various mapping tasks using GIS.
How Interns Are Chosen
A selection committee comprised of several members of various Erie County organizations and private foundation members reviews applications and matches interns and sites according to qualifications and interests of the interns and needs of the organizations.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet the following qualifications:
Be a college sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student, or a recent college graduate
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Have a declared major
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Exhibit interest in the nonprofit or public sectors
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Applicant must be a resident of Erie County, Ohio
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Must be able to pass a BCI background check
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Must have own transportation
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Be available to complete the full term of the continuous 10-week internship with no vacation or time off.
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Other highly desirable qualifications include:
A strong academic record (a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above is recommended) and strong verbal and written communications skills
Applying to be an Intern
To apply for Erie County Community Foundation’s Community Links Internship Program, please download and complete the attached application form and include:
Current Internship Program is ongoing, please check back in 2027.
Send the application form and required information to:
Summer Internship Program
Erie County Community Foundation
135 East Washington Row – Suite A
Sandusky, OH 44870
Email your application to randyw@eriefoundation.org. Please do not fax application materials.
2027 Internship applications will be due February 8, 2027. Finalists will be selected by the end of February and interns will be announced shortly thereafter. Individuals will be notified by phone if selected for an interview.
Our 2026 Summer Interns
Avviana, Ohio State University
Perkins Township Intern
"This summer at Perkins Township, I work in the Community Development Department, where my main area of focus is Code Enforcement. I help ensure that every resident within the township limits complies with the Perkins Township Zoning Resolution and the Ohio Revised Code. My coworkers and I drive specific routes at least twice a week to survey the township, and if a code is violated, we will either tag their door or send them a notice letter of violation. Recently, I have been logging information about every residence in Perkins Township to create a neighborhood survey that will map the areas requiring the most attention. Besides Code Enforcement, I have worked alongside other coworkers in the Township when volunteering at Safety Town, patrolling with the Perkins Police Department, and with individuals who require additional help maintaining a healthy living environment. I have learned so much about local government and how it functions here in Perkins Township, and I am extremely grateful for this opportunity."
Elise, Spring Arbor University
Parkvue Community Intern
"This summer I am interning at The Parkvue Community, where I have been able to gain a broad understanding of what careers and skills go into working for a community-based, nonprofit organization. I have been able to help the activities department with some of their events, such as an ice cream social. I also will be taking over their “Boardwalk Bulletin," which is a newsletter and journal for residents of Parkvue Apartments. I have completed medical charting and data entry. I have also given cognitive assessments to residents and uploaded that data. I have helped the marketing director take photos of events so that she can post them on Facebook. I attended a marketing networking meeting and got to hear what other marketing directors at various healthcare and assisted living facilities are doing to reach their community and destigmatize aging. I also got to attend a banquet recognizing Parkvue Community and hear that they are a five-star facility! This enabled me to network with donors and see everyone's heart for service and caring for the aging. I have got to see the admissions process and what the process is for a resident to be placed. Overall, I have gained a wider understanding of different senior living fields, such as activity directors, social workers, healthcare professionals, and marketing directors."
Emily, Ohio University '26
Sandusky Parks and Recreation Intern
"This summer I am interning at Sandusky Parks and Recreation, where I am helping out with the Kids Summer Camp, Movies by the Bay, and showing the Mylander Pavilion to individuals who are looking to rent it. At the beginning of the internship, I helped out with the Out-Of-School program for the kids as they wrapped up their school year, and planned for the new location of the Sandusky Rec Center that will open next year. I look forward to helping out during the business of planning for the Ironman."
Mackenzie, Ohio University
Erie County Community Foundation Intern
"This summer I am interning at Erie County Community Foundation and have had the opportunity to learn more about community engagement, philanthropy, and marketing for a community foundation. I’ve met with different local nonprofits to learn more about their services, needs, and how those needs can be met. I helped set up for ECCF’s Scholarship Recognition Event as well as The Ideal Team Player Retreat and Philanthropy Ohio’s CEO Retreat. I spend a lot of time updating the website and working to create social media posts for past and future events. I have enjoyed making new connections and learning how Erie County Community Foundation works alongside local organizations to address community needs and create a lasting impact. This experience has not only strengthened my interest in the nonprofit sector but has also furthered my appreciation for service, collaboration and community focused leadership. I look forward to applying what I have learned as I continue my education and future career."