Overview
WWF Overview
For 60 years, WWF has worked to help people and nature thrive. As one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, WWF works in more than 100 countries, connecting cutting-edge conservation science with the collective power of our partners in the field – more than one million supporters in the United States and five million globally, as well as partnerships with communities, companies, and governments.
At WWF, we are working to create an organization where the richness of all our unique views, experiences, and backgrounds combine to create the most sustainable and inclusive conservation outcomes possible, bringing the greatest benefit to the planet and every person who lives on it.
Across the many cultures and individuals that represent WWF, we are unified by one mission, one brand, and one common set of values: Courage, Respect, Integrity and Collaboration.
BRIDGE is WWF’s summer internship program. Launched in 2021, it is a paid internship opportunity aimed at a pool of talented undergraduate and graduate students who could bring fresh thinking and innovation to the environmental sector. WWF aims to employ interns who have not previously had a breadth of professional experience and have not previously considered conservation as a career pathway.
Position Summary
The Advertising and Acquisition Intern will assist in two critical components of WWF’s top-of-funnel marketing efforts: acquiring new-to-file leads and developing online ads that resonate with audiences. From a lead generation perspective, the intern will understand WWF’s acquisition strategy, implement at least one new vendor test over the course of the summer, and analyze the existing housefile for trends and performance. The intern will focus on reaching new audiences while maintaining data quality. From the online advertising perspective, the intern will assist in developing creative assets that can be used across paid digital media placements including paid social media and programmatic display placements. The emphasis will be on streamlining creative development and suggesting new concepts for holiday gift giving. The internship will culminate in a presentation of the summer’s overall findings and recommendations for future implementation.
Responsibilities
Internship Description:
- Research best practices for lead generation as it relates to non-profits.
- Using research, analyze WWF’s current lead generation strategy and offer suggestions for optimization.
- Review leads acquired throughout 2024 and 2025 to identify trends in data.
- Help onboard a new lead generation vendor and implement a test campaign.
- Review WWF’s current portfolio of available online ads as they compare to other non-profits.
- Using Canva or Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator), develop digital asset templates for use across digital advertising channels including social media and display placements.
- Ideate, present, and build new holiday campaign concepts including copy and creative assets for use in WWF’s end of year fundraising campaign.
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- Pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s program in business, marketing, advertising, communications, or a related field. Those studying outside these areas are still highly encouraged to apply. Must be an actively enrolled student and not received degree at time of internship start date (June 16, 2025).
- Strong project management skills.
- Basic familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, or similar tools.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of a team.
- Able to meet deadlines and prioritize work as needed.
- Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration.
- Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.
- Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.
- Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.
- Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Subject expertise in one or more of the following areas is preferred, but not required:
- Strong Microsoft office skills with an emphasis on Excel and PowerPoint
- Experience implementing lead generation or online advertising tactics for clubs, organizations, or businesses
Learning Outcomes
- Understanding of lead generation as a tool for non-profits, why it is important, and how it fits into an organization’s overall marketing strategy.
- Understanding of how to gather and interpret data for use by multiple stakeholders.
- Comprehending the competitive marketplace for online advertising and learning basic key metrics to measure creative performance.
- Building presentation skills and confidence with “selling in” a new idea and being able to take constructive feedback to iterate on direction.
WWF interns will be offered a set of professional development opportunities, aimed at increasing their exposure to conservation and sustainability careers. This includes:
- Development discussions with their manager;
- Up to two online courses through Cornell University’s eCornell program;
- Speed mentoring with different WWF teams;
- Opportunity to present their work to intern peers and WWF staff;
- Session on resume and interviewing best practices.
Interns will also have access to an array of networking opportunities. This includes meetings with WWF’s staff and leadership team.
Location:
This position is flexible on location. The intern may complete the internship either in Washington DC or other states, with the exception of: Hawaii, Kentucky, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Wyoming.
Compensation:
Paid - $20.50 per hour (full-time, 35 hours per week)
Internship Dates:
Internship will run from June 16, 2025 to August 22, 2025
How to Apply:
Please submit a resume & cover letter through our Careers page. In your cover letter, please describe:
- Your relevant skills and interest for this position
- Your connection to nature and the environment
- What obstacles have you experienced trying to break into the field of environmental conservation?
- How you could contribute to the field of conservation.
If selected for the role, you will need to provide 1 letter of recommendation as part of the WWF application process.
Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
