Build something that outlasts you.
Remote internships at Rock Forward
We are hiring 6 remote interns to help launch entrepreneurship pathways for African refugees in the US. We are entering our US expansion phase — you will shape systems, not just fill roles.
Six roles. One mission.
Each intern works directly with leadership, owns real deliverables, and helps build the infrastructure that will serve hundreds of displaced entrepreneurs.
Programs & Outreach Intern
Help build Rock Forward's 12-week bootcamp from the ground up. You will recruit participants, prepare curriculum materials, coordinate logistics, and engage refugee communities and resettlement agencies.
What you will do
- Research and build a database of refugee resettlement agencies, community organizations, and faith-based networks for participant recruitment
- Assist in developing bootcamp session materials, handouts, and participant guides
- Draft outreach emails and flyers for participant recruitment campaigns
- Help plan and coordinate virtual and in-person information sessions
- Support participant intake — review applications, schedule interviews, track pipeline
- Contribute to curriculum refinement based on research and feedback
Ideal fit
- Interest in refugee/immigrant services, social entrepreneurship, or community development
- Strong writing and organizational skills
- Comfortable with outreach — cold emails, community calls, partner meetings
- Bonus: second language (French, Swahili, Amharic, Arabic)
Development & Grants Intern
Help Rock Forward build its fundraising engine. You will research funders, draft grant proposals and LOIs, maintain the donor pipeline, and support corporate partnership outreach.
What you will do
- Research foundations, government grants (ORR, PRM), and corporate funders aligned with our mission
- Draft letters of inquiry (LOIs), grant narratives, and funder reports
- Maintain and update the funder pipeline tracker with deadlines, contacts, and status
- Support donor stewardship — thank-you letters, impact updates, follow-ups
- Research and compile data for grant proposals (refugee statistics, program outcomes)
- Assist with corporate partnership prospect research and outreach drafts
Ideal fit
- Strong research and writing skills — you can synthesize data into a compelling narrative
- Interest in nonprofit fundraising, philanthropy, or international development
- Detail-oriented with ability to manage multiple deadlines
- Bonus: experience with grant databases (Foundation Directory, Candid, Instrumentl)
Communications & Marketing Intern
Own Rock Forward's public voice. You will manage social media, write blog content, produce newsletters, and help build the brand awareness that drives participant enrollment and donor engagement.
What you will do
- Create and schedule social media content across LinkedIn, Instagram, and X
- Write blog posts on refugee entrepreneurship, program updates, and impact stories
- Draft and send monthly email newsletters
- Design simple graphics for social media and event promotion (Canva or similar)
- Monitor engagement metrics and report on content performance
- Help develop a content calendar and brand messaging playbook
Ideal fit
- Strong writing skills with an eye for tone — you can write with dignity, not pity
- Experience managing social media accounts (personal or organizational)
- Basic design skills (Canva, Figma, or similar)
- Bonus: video editing, photography, or podcast production experience
Operations & Data Intern
Build the systems that make Rock Forward run. You will set up databases, track impact data, document processes, and help configure the tools that power our programs — from the LMS to automation workflows.
What you will do
- Help set up and maintain program databases (participant records, mentor tracking, outcomes)
- Document standard operating procedures for key organizational processes
- Collect and organize impact data — enrollment, completion rates, business launches
- Assist with LMS (Moodle) configuration — courses, quizzes, user management
- Support volunteer coordination — scheduling, communication, hour tracking
- Help prepare data for funder reports and board presentations
Ideal fit
- Organized, systems-oriented thinker — you like making things run smoothly
- Comfortable with spreadsheets, databases, and learning new tools quickly
- Interest in nonprofit operations, data analytics, or project management
- Bonus: experience with Airtable, Baserow, Moodle, or any CRM/LMS platform
Data & AI Engineering Intern
Build the data and AI infrastructure that powers Rock Forward. You will develop dashboards, train and deploy AI agents, build data pipelines, and turn raw program data into insights that drive decisions and demonstrate impact to funders.
What you will do
- Build interactive dashboards and data visualizations for program outcomes, donor pipeline, and impact metrics
- Develop and maintain AI agent workflows (n8n + Claude API) for grant research, content generation, and mentor matching
- Design and implement data pipelines — ingesting, cleaning, and structuring data from Baserow, Tally, Moodle, and Givebutter
- Create automated reports and analytics for board presentations and funder reports
- Build and refine prompt engineering for AI-powered automation across the organization
- Develop predictive models for participant outcomes, donor engagement, and program optimization
- Document data architecture, API integrations, and AI system design
Ideal fit
- Experience with Python, SQL, or JavaScript for data work
- Familiarity with data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI, D3.js, or similar)
- Interest in AI/ML — prompt engineering, LLM APIs, or agent frameworks
- Comfortable working with APIs and integrating multiple data sources
- Bonus: experience with n8n, Supabase, dbt, or any workflow automation platform
Partnerships & Community Engagement Intern
Build the relationships that connect Rock Forward to the communities we serve. You will map and engage refugee resettlement agencies, faith communities, diaspora networks, and local business organizations to create the referral pipeline that drives participant enrollment and organizational credibility.
What you will do
- Research and map resettlement agencies, refugee-serving organizations, and faith communities in target cities
- Conduct outreach to potential partners — intro calls, partnership proposals, and MOUs
- Represent Rock Forward at community events, church visits, and agency meetings (virtual and in-person)
- Build and maintain a referral network that feeds prospective participants into the bootcamp pipeline
- Coordinate with Mazano Innovation Hub on Diaspora Bridge partner alignment
- Track partnership status, engagement notes, and outcomes in the CRM
- Draft partnership one-pagers, co-branded materials, and community presentation decks
Ideal fit
- Strong interpersonal skills — comfortable initiating conversations with strangers and building trust
- Interest in refugee/immigrant communities, community development, or social work
- Experience with outreach, community organizing, or volunteer coordination
- Culturally sensitive and comfortable working across diverse communities
- Bonus: connections to refugee communities, resettlement agencies, or faith-based organizations
This is not busywork.
Real ownership
You will own projects end-to-end — not shadow someone. Your work ships.
Portfolio-ready work
Grant proposals, published content, live systems, campaign analytics — tangible deliverables for your resume.
Letter of recommendation
Strong performers receive a detailed recommendation from the Executive Director.
Nonprofit leadership exposure
Work directly with founders on strategy, fundraising, and program design — not just administrative tasks.
Academic credit eligible
We will work with your university to fulfill internship credit requirements.
Global impact
Your work directly supports displaced entrepreneurs building businesses and reclaiming economic independence.
You do not need a perfect resume.
We hire for drive, writing ability, and alignment with our mission. College students and recent graduates from any discipline are welcome.
If you care about refugee communities, economic justice, or entrepreneurship — and you can write clearly, show up consistently, and take ownership — we want to hear from you.
- ✓ Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a college or university
- ✓ Available 9 AM – 4 PM Eastern, Monday through Friday
- ✓ Strong written communication skills
- ✓ Self-directed — you do not need to be told what to do next
- ✓ Reliable internet connection and a quiet workspace
- ✓ Passionate about refugee rights, social enterprise, or African development
Simple. Fast. No cover letter required.
Submit application
Fill out the form below. Takes about 10 minutes.
Writing sample review
We review your responses and writing sample within 5 business days.
Video interview
20-minute conversation with the team. Casual, mission-focused.
Offer & onboarding
Accepted interns begin with a structured 1-week onboarding.
Ready to get started?
Select the role you are applying for and complete the application. We review applications on a rolling basis.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Positions remain open until filled.