Careers in Nonprofits
![Hayley](https://www1.wellesley.edu/careereducation/sites/careereducation/files/styles/medium/public/hayley_square.jpg?itok=JqqGmDk3)
While all nonprofits share a commitment to bettering society in some capacity, they are incredibly diverse in terms of size, focus, and type. In the United States alone there are millions of nonprofits ranging from small, community-based organizations, to cultural and educational institutions such as museums, universities and colleges (like Wellesley!) to large foundations supporting causes around the globe.
Getting Started in Politics, Advocacy, Government at the Local & National Levels
![Nicole](https://www1.wellesley.edu/careereducation/sites/careereducation/files/styles/medium/public/Nicole.jpg?itok=b-CohqCd)
Local and state government offers students a great opportunity to see how agencies and legislation work on a smaller scale. For students passionate about their state or a particular issue, state politics is a wonderful place to get started! Below, I highlight a few ways to get involved in politics at the local (including at Wellesley!) and state level. In terms of gaining experience at the national level in US politics and policy, DC is the place to go. This document will address finding a range of internships in DC as well tips for networking. We’ll start with the three branches of government, briefly address other government agencies, move to international organizations, and finish with think tanks and nonprofits. For students interested in international affairs and government, intern and/or study abroad to demonstrate your regional expertise and intercultural communication and adaptability skills.
Arts Education
As a field, art education spans traditional K-12 art classrooms to university/college teaching and even to more community-oriented spaces, like museums, arts centers, and educational non-profits. This field even crosses over into healthcare in the form of vocational rehabilitation and art therapy programs.
Teaching Fellowships
![Caitlin Roberts-Donovan](https://www1.wellesley.edu/careereducation/sites/careereducation/files/styles/medium/public/Caitlin.jpg?itok=sXpMuCn4)
One of the common “purposeful activities” that fellowships can fund is teaching: in the U.S. or abroad; opportunities with or without previous teaching experience; and at all levels of instruction, from elementary school to university level and beyond. This resource is by no means exhaustive, but instead aims to provide seniors and graduates with an introduction to the biggest and most common teaching fellowships
Media
Careers in media production vary from working behind the camera to editing, storyboarding, planning, producing, and managing client relationships. Most media production takes place in the realm of advertising, entertainment, or journalism, but some production companies are hired by corporations or non-profits to produce content for websites, training, or print.
Creative Writing
As a practice, creative writing refers to a wide variety of disciplines. Writers who want to publish novels, poetry, short fiction, and creative non-fiction often earn an MFA and support their creative practice by teaching in higher education.
“We have authored research documents on a wide range of labor issues, from exploitative employment contracts in textile factories to sexual harassment on tea estates.”
Lumpkin Summer Institute for Service Learning
![Lorraine Lorraine](https://www1.wellesley.edu/careereducation/sites/careereducation/files/styles/medium/public/Lorraine_square_0.jpg?itok=lcgYMsCp)
The Lumpkin Summer Institute for Service Learning offers students the opportunity to work in Boston-based non-profits geared toward social change and community engagement.
Wellesley Career Education Summer Internship Grants (Stipends for Student-Identified Placements)
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Through the ongoing and generous support of our donors, the College is able to offer funding to support unpaid internships which students identify on their own. Many award recipients pursue internships in nonprofit organizations focused on education and other community development areas, but funding is available for opportunities in other sectors both within the United States and internationally, as well. In addition to the stipends, Wellesley Career Education staff provide ongoing professional development and career education training throughout their summer experiences.
Careers in Fundraising and Development
![Hayley](https://www1.wellesley.edu/careereducation/sites/careereducation/files/styles/medium/public/hayley_square.jpg?itok=JqqGmDk3)
A field that often goes unexplored by many students is a career in fundraising and development. These professionals secure the resources and foundations needed to fuel mission-driven nonprofits
Projects for Peace Alumni Award (graduates)
![Kate Dailinger Kate Dailinger](https://www1.wellesley.edu/careereducation/sites/careereducation/files/styles/medium/public/KatherineDailinger-optimized.jpg?itok=n5weF18P)
Projects for Peace is a global program that partners with educational institutions to identify and support young peacebuilders and changemakers. Each year, the Projects for Peace Alumni Award will award up to $50,000 to support the continuing peacebuilding efforts of a past Projects for Peace grantee. The Award is made possible through the Kathryn Wasserman Davis Collaborative in Conflict Transformation at Middlebury. Campus application deadline typically in January.
Library Science
![Hayley](https://www1.wellesley.edu/careereducation/sites/careereducation/files/styles/medium/public/hayley_square.jpg?itok=JqqGmDk3)
Wherever there’s a need for information, there’s a need for a librarian. Libraries have been empowering people by offering resources, services and training to expand their knowledge for thousands of years. According to the American Library Association career resource page there are approximately 400,000 librarians and library workers who bring opportunity every day to the communities they serve.
“I am so thrilled that I will be able to learn directly from women leaders in crucial environmental projects in a diverse array of Latin American countries that I otherwise could not have ever imagined visiting.”
“Detroit has opened my eyes to the role of the built environment in creating a sense of place for its inhabitants.”
“In a given week, I might be working with our program staff who are based around the US, Canada and the UK to design learning experiences for teachers; meeting with partner organizations to plan collaborative projects; consulting with filmmakers or scholars who want to reach students; or researching and writing about challenging issues for educators.... It’s probably unusual to stay at one place for so long, but I’ve always been able to answer ‘yes’ to a few key questions: Am I learning? Is my world getting bigger? Is my work making a difference?”
“From the beginning, my career mentor was there to brainstorm, encourage, and motivate me to pursue an internship that aligned with my interests.”
On-Campus Recruiting Program Policies (Students)
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Career Education expects all students to abide by the following rules in order to maintain the success and integrity of Wellesley’s recruiting program.
Projects for Peace (students)
![Kate Dailinger Kate Dailinger](https://www1.wellesley.edu/careereducation/sites/careereducation/files/styles/medium/public/KatherineDailinger-optimized.jpg?itok=n5weF18P)
Created in 2007 by Kathryn Wasserman Davis (Wellesley College '28), the Projects for Peace program offers undergraduates and graduating seniors funding to design a grassroots project for the summer of 2024—anywhere in the world — that promotes peace and addresses the root causes of conflict among parties. Projects may employ innovative techniques for engaging project participants in ways that focus on conflict resolution, reconciliation, building understanding and breaking down barriers that cause conflict, and finding ways to resolve conflict and maintain peace. Any current Wellesley student is eligible to apply. Campus application deadline typically in January.