About NORD
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is the leading independent nonprofit organization representing individuals and families affected by rare diseases. At NORD, membership is about more than benefits — it is about building a connected, informed, and engaged community of patient organizations working together to create impact.
This internship is designed for someone who is interested in community engagement, digital communications, and how thoughtful content can strengthen connections across a national network.
The Opportunity
The Membership Communications & Engagement Intern will play a key role in supporting and enhancing how NORD connects with its member organizations, with a primary focus on the Member Leaders Facebook group and the member newsletter.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys understanding what engages an audience, creating meaningful content, and using data to improve communication strategies. You will work closely with the Membership team to strengthen engagement, elevate member voices, and ensure communications are relevant, timely, and valuable.
The skills you develop — from content creation and audience engagement to performance analysis and communication strategy — are highly transferable across nonprofit, marketing, and communications careers.
This is an unpaid internship with a flexible schedule, lasting from May-December 2026. Though there is flexibility in the start and end date, a weekly 16-20 hour commitment is required during the summer. Availability during the fall semester is possible based on academic schedule and program needs.
What You Will Do
- Monitor and analyze engagement within the NORD Member Leaders Facebook group, identifying trends in participation, content performance, and member interaction
- Recommend and implement strategies to increase engagement, including post timing, content themes, discussion prompts, and member-driven conversations
- Draft and schedule Facebook group content that encourages peer-to-peer sharing, collaboration, and knowledge exchange
- Support the development and refinement of the bi-monthly member newsletter, including drafting content, organizing sections, and ensuring clarity and consistency in messaging
- Analyze newsletter performance (open rates, click-through rates, engagement trends) and recommend improvements to content and structure
- Help identify and elevate member stories, insights, and resources that can be featured in communications
- Ensure alignment between Facebook group content, newsletter, and portal messaging to create a cohesive member experience
- Assist in preparing select member-facing content that may be shared with other internal teams for broader visibility
- Track and report on engagement metrics, building skills in data-informed communication strategy
- Participate in special projects and initiatives, with opportunities to take ownership of specific communications efforts
Who This Is For
- Students currently enrolled in or recently graduated from an undergraduate program
- Students interested in communications, marketing, nonprofit work, or community engagement
- Someone who enjoys social media, writing, and understanding what resonates with an audience
- A strong communicator who is organized, thoughtful, and detail-oriented
- Someone who enjoys building community and fostering meaningful connections
- A self-starter comfortable working remotely and managing ongoing projects
What You Will Gain
- Hands-on experience managing and growing a professional online community
- Experience developing and refining a member-focused newsletter
- Transferable skills in writing, editing, audience engagement, and content strategy
- Exposure to engagement metrics and how data informs communication decisions
- Real-world examples of communications work to include in a portfolio
- Experience working within a national nonprofit organization
- Mentorship from membership professionals
- A deeper understanding of how organizations build and sustain member engagement
Working Conditions
This is a U.S.-based, fully remote, unpaid internship with a flexible structure and meaningful responsibility. Requires reliable internet access. Interns will participate in virtual meetings and collaborative work during standard business hours and will be supported through mentorship and regular check-ins.
We expect the internship to last from June-December 2026 with flexibility to adjust start and end date. Of note, a minimum of 16-20 hours per week are required during the summer. Availability during the fall semester is based on academic schedule and program needs.
NORD is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
