Intern, Nonprofit Strategy & Growth

National Council Internships

Internships at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing provide recent college graduates or current college students with a limited-term remote experience to grow within a professional area of interest. This opportunity is open to a full-time (40 hours/week) or part-time (20 hours/week) Intern projected to start with a cohort at the National Council on Wednesday, October 1st and end on Wednesday, December 10th, 2025. While this position can be done remotely from anywhere in the U.S., you must primarily work our Washington, D.C. business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. Submitting a sample of your writing (academic or otherwise) with your application is strongly preferred.

Internship Responsibilities

As the Intern, Nonprofit Strategy & Growth, you would sit within the Strategy & Growth Office, which is responsible for driving the development, execution, and evaluation of the National Council's strategic direction and supporting the mid- and long-term growth and development of the organization's plan, goals, and financial objectives. Within the Office, you will specifically support the National Council Medical Director Institute and the Business and Strategy Department. The Medical Director Institute advises National Council members on best clinical practices and develops policy and initiatives that serve member behavioral health organizations, their constituent clinicians, and the governmental agencies and payers that support them. The Business & Strategy team guide the strategic direction, develop long-term strategic partnerships, secure new and strategic funding, and manage a variety of special projects.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Gathering data and market research on a range of topics.
• Researching funding opportunities and contributing to proposal efforts and submissions.
• Supporting internal innovation activities related to idea identification, qualification, and prioritization.
• Researching philanthropic organizations and supporting outreach to these organizations.
• Synthesizing complex information in concise and appealing ways.
• Participating in qualitative research projects (e.g., conducting surveys).
• Assisting with quality improvement projects that advance internal operations.
• Providing coordination and administrative support where necessary.
• Supporting the operations of the Medical Director Institute.
• Participating in professional development opportunities organized for interns.
• Attending staff engagement activities, including but not limited to, department meetings and all-staff meetings.

Required Qualifications

• Current student (completed at least two full-time years of undergraduate study) or a recent graduate (in the last six months) in an undergraduate or graduate degree program in related field
• Education in business, health administration, public administration, social work, public health, clinical specificalities or related field.
• General interest in mental illness, substance use treatment, and healthcare delivery.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States

Pay & Internship Program Benefits

• All interns are paid $20/hour.
• Remote work: We welcome applicants from all US time zones, with your knowledge that some required meetings and trainings are likely to occur in US Eastern Time.
• Relias Trainings: Free access to job-relevant trainings
• Mental Health First Aid: Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course that teaches participants how to respond to the signs of mental illness and substance use.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): An employee program that focuses on wellbeing by providing resources and solutions to help you through difficult times.
• Focus Time: Regularly scheduled on our calendars to reduce meeting burnout and give staff the time to focus on work
• College Credit: This internship may fulfill college credit requirements in your college program.

About Us

The vision of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is to make mental wellbeing, including recovery from substance use challenges, a reality for everyone. Despite overwhelming need, nearly 30 million people across the U.S. do not have access to comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment.

Founded in 1969, the National Council is a 501(c)(3) membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of more than 3,200 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 15 million children, adults and families they serve. We advocate for policies to ensure equitable access to high-quality services. We build the capacity of mental health and substance use treatment organizations. And we promote greater understanding of mental wellbeing as a core component of comprehensive health and health care. Through our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program, we have trained more than 3 million people in the U.S. to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.

The National Council is growing to meet this moment. With an annual budget of $80 million, we've more than doubled our dedicated team to 240+ employees since 2020. Although we have office space in Washington, D.C., we operate as a remote-first organization, with employees working from their various locations across the United States.

The National Council is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We embrace individuals from all backgrounds and perspectives, welcoming people of all races, ethnicities, religions, genders, sexual orientations, and ages, as well as veterans, people with disabilities, and those with lived experiences in mental health and substance use challenges to apply. We are committed to fostering a welcoming environment and recruitment process for everyone. If you require accommodation during the application process, please contact us at Recruiter@thenationalcouncil.org.