LEARN. CONTRIBUTE. MAKE AN IMPACT.

Internships

Explore internships at Anderson Humane and gain practical experience in animal welfare, wildlife rehabilitation and nonprofit work alongside professionals who care.

Wildlife rehabilitation

Wildlife Care Technician

Support injured and orphaned wildlife through daily care, patient intake and supervised medical tasks. Learn from licensed wildlife rehabilitators as animals recover and prepare for release.

Location: Elburn rehabilitation center

Commitment: 3 months; at least 280 hours per season, approximately 24 hours/week

Requirements: Age 18+; at least one weekend day available

Apply for Wildlife →

Responsibilities, requirements & learning

What you’ll do

Feed wildlife of different species and ages; clean and sanitize care areas, dishes and laundry.
Assist with wildlife intake, hands-on care and cases involving illness or trauma.
Perform supervised medical tasks such as fluid therapy, wound care and injections.
Assist with rescues, update patient records and communicate concerns to rehabilitation and veterinary staff.

What you’ll bring

Attendance at online orientation and multiple in-person training sessions.
Comfort learning software, entering accurate data and handling animals of varied species and temperaments.
Time management, adaptability, clear communication and a willingness to ask questions.

What you’ll learn

Wildlife rehabilitation fundamentals, Illinois native species, animal husbandry, intake exams, common supervised treatments, patient databases and communication with the public.

Reports to: Wildlife Rehabilitation Manager.

Wildlife education

Wildlife Education

Connect the community with nature through educational programs, ambassador animal care and conservation outreach. Build practical experience in environmental education and science communication.

Locations: South Elgin shelter and Elburn rehabilitation center

Commitment: At least 150 hours per season, approximately 15–30 hours/week

Requirements: Age 16+; at least one weekend day available

Apply for Wildlife Education →

Responsibilities, requirements & learning

What you’ll do

Help plan and deliver educational programs for schools, camps and community groups.
Care for ambassador animals, including feeding, enrichment and enclosure maintenance.
Represent Anderson Humane at community events and create interactive educational materials.
Assist with special events, ambassador animal training, wildlife intake and program administration.

What you’ll bring

Attendance at online orientation and multiple in-person training sessions.
Comfort learning software and handling wildlife and domestic animals of varied temperaments.
Time management, clear communication, professional behavior and comfort working in a busy animal-care environment.

What you’ll learn

Environmental education, conservation outreach, program development, public presentations, ambassador animal care and collaboration with wildlife rehabilitation staff.

Reports to: Wildlife Program Manager.

Shelter animal care

Animal Pathways

Follow an animal’s journey from intake to adoption while working with our Intake, Animal Care and Foster teams. Help plan one animal’s path to a healthy, safe future.

Location: South Elgin shelter

Schedule: 12–20 hours/week over 3–6 months

Listed minimum: 100 hours; confirm your total commitment when applying

Requirements: Age 18+ and a valid driver’s license

Apply for Animal Pathways →

Responsibilities, requirements & learning

What you’ll do

Earn Fear Free Shelters certification.
Screen prospective transport animals and participate in dog and cat transports.
Assist with intake assessments, vaccinations, medical histories and foster coordination.
Support daily animal care, enrichment and socialization.

What you’ll bring

Interest in animal welfare and understanding of dog and cat behavior and body language.
A valid driver’s license, comfort handling animals with health or behavior concerns, and clear communication.

What you’ll learn

Animal intake, balancing shelter and foster populations, and the care that prepares animals for adoption.

Reports to: Intake and Foster Manager.

People & community

Volunteer Engagement

Help the people who make our mission possible. Support volunteer onboarding, training, scheduling and communication across Anderson Humane’s programs.

Location: South Elgin, with occasional visits to Bloomingdale and Elburn

Schedule: 15–30 hours/week over 3 months

Listed minimum: 100 hours; confirm your total commitment when applying

Apply for Volunteer Engagement →

Responsibilities, requirements & learning

What you’ll do

Assist with training sessions, events and volunteer onboarding.
Guide volunteers, maintain schedules and engage prospective and current volunteers.
Update the volunteer database, respond to inquiries and assist in caring for animals.

What you’ll bring

Interest in animal welfare and comfort having animals in the workplace.
Time management, adaptability, data entry skills and confidence learning new software.

What you’ll learn

Volunteer motivation and management, recruitment and retention, identifying opportunities and developing volunteer leaders.

Reports to: Volunteer Engagement Manager.

Creative communications

Social Media & Marketing

Create digital stories that inspire people to connect with and support animals. Gain hands-on experience in photography, video, editing, content scheduling and nonprofit marketing.

Location: South Elgin shelter

Schedule: 12–20 hours/week over a 3–6 month semester

Minimum: 100 hours

Equipment: Access to a phone, camera or GoPro

Apply for Social Media & Marketing →

Responsibilities, requirements & learning

What you’ll do

Gather stories through research and interviews with employees, volunteers and adopters.
Create and schedule social content for review and approval.
Photograph and film animals and events, edit videos and support promotional projects.
Collaborate across departments while following Anderson Humane’s brand and editorial standards.

What you’ll bring

Experience with Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Strong organization, grammar, communication and attention to deadlines.
Ability to work independently while taking direction; content, analytics, CRM or web experience is a plus.

What you’ll learn

Nonprofit content strategy, digital storytelling, photography and videography, scheduling, analytics, brand awareness and cross-functional teamwork.

Reports to: Social Media & Marketing Manager.

Nonprofit development

Donor Development & Fundraising

Gain experience in the work that funds animal care. Support donor research, communications, fundraising events and the relationships that help our organization grow.

Location: To be confirmed

Schedule: 12–20 hours/week over 3–6 months

Listed minimum: 100 hours; confirm your total commitment when applying

Education: Enrolled in, or recently graduated from, a related program

Apply for Development →

Responsibilities, requirements & learning

What you’ll do

Research potential donors, sponsors, grants and fundraising trends.
Maintain donor records and support administrative tasks.
Help plan fundraising events and campaigns, create materials and support donor cultivation.

What you’ll bring

Passion for animal welfare and enrollment in, or recent graduation from, a related educational program.
Strong communication, research and organizational skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite.

What you’ll learn

Fundraising, donor stewardship, databases, grant writing, market research, communications, event logistics and team collaboration.

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer and Director of Corporate Partnerships.

PLAN YOUR EXPERIENCE

Internship seasons & timing

Applications are accepted year-round. Our usual seasons are below, and we can consider different timelines.

SpringFebruary–AprilSummerMay–JulyFallAugust–OctoberWinterNovember–January

How to apply

1. Choose a programReview the responsibilities, requirements and commitment for the role that interests you.2. Prepare your detailsInclude your availability, preferred timeline and academic credit requirements, if applicable.3. Submit your applicationUse the application button for your chosen internship above.

Frequently asked questions

When can I apply?

Applications are accepted throughout the year. Although we have standard internship seasons, different timelines may be considered.

Will I work directly with animals?

Animal interaction is part of several internships. Review your chosen program’s responsibilities for details.

Can I receive college credit?

Anderson Humane can comply with most academic reporting requirements, including service-hour logs, signed summaries and progress check-ins. Include your program’s requirements in your application.

Do I need to be a college student?

College enrollment is not a general requirement. Priority consideration is given to students and recent graduates in relevant fields. The Donor Development & Fundraising internship has education-specific requirements.