Breakthrough Silicon Valley
- Internship
About Breakthrough Silicon Valley
Starting in middle school, Breakthrough Silicon Valley launches talented students who have been historically excluded from higher education on the path to college, and inspires high school and college students to become the next generation of leaders, advocates, and educators. While ambitious in our goals, BTSV works: a stunning 99% of BTSV graduates attend college immediately after high school, and 78% of BTSV Teaching Fellows are inspired to pursue a career related to education as a result of their BTSV experience.
BTSV’s tuition-free program provides year-round out-of-school time academic support, counseling, and advocacy for a diverse group of talented students, most of whom come from under-resourced communities and will be the first generation in their family to go to college. Through our students-teaching-students model, BTSV also provides a consummate professional development experience providing talented high school and college students the opportunity to understand the K-12 system and the drivers of educational inequities, and to design and teach classes under the direction of seasoned educators.
Located in San Jose, California, Breakthrough Silicon Valley is an affiliate of The Breakthrough Collaborative, a leading national service organization that acts as the national voice for 25 Breakthrough sites across the country.
The Position
BTSV’s internships prepare the next generation of leaders through a hands-on, impactful internship experience at a highly effective nonprofit organization. Throughout the internship, the Marketing and Communications Intern will be coached and supervised by our experienced BTSV staff. You’ll learn the ins and outs of nonprofit fundraising, get design and social media experience, and develop event planning and project management skills.
Each day will look different: You’ll support BTSV’s communications and marketing, including posting on social media, making updates to BTSV’s website, and taking photos and videos. You’ll also assist with the execution of multiple volunteer and donor events, including BTSV’s signature Resume and Mock Interview workshop; execute mailings, including appeals and acknowledgment letters; research prospective donors; and make sure our Salesforce data is up-to-date.
The Marketing and Communications Intern reports to BTSV’s Vice President of Development.
What background and skills do you have?:
You’re currently enrolled in a two- or four-year college.
Experience with design programs, such as Adobe Creative Suite and/or Canva.
Experience with social media platforms, especially TikTok and Instagram.
You love writing and are a stickler for grammar.
Proficiency with MS Office and Google Suite, including Excel/Sheets.
Ability to plan, organize, and implement projects with attention to detail.
Creative problem-solver with a can-do attitude; willing to support where needed.
Communicative and able to responsibly pose questions and ask for clarification whenever necessary.
“Breakthrough Spirit”: You’re a collaborative team player who is committed to excellence and open-minded, demonstrates a growth mindset, thinks creatively to solve problems, and works with a sense of humor and humility.
Commitment to Breakthrough Silicon Valley’s mission and goals as well as a passion for educational equity.
Bonus points if:
You’re majoring in marketing, communications, nonprofit management, or another related field.
You have experience with photo and video editing.
You have experience with Salesforce, Mailchimp, and/or SquareSpace.
You have experience with event planning.
You’re bilingual (Spanish or Vietnamese).
You have experience at a nonprofit youth development or educational organization, particularly one focused on college access for first-generation students and students of color.
We know that many strong candidates will not have all the skills we list. That’s OK. What else do you bring to the table? Please tell us!
Location, Commitment, and Compensation
This is a hybrid position; you will work both in person at BTSV’s main office at Herbert Hoover Middle School (1635 Park Ave, San Jose, CA 95126) at least one day per week, with the flexibility to work from a home office when in-person work is not required. Candidates must be local to the Bay Area during the internship in order to be considered.
This is a part-time (10-15 hours, scheduled over two or three days per week) position for the second semester of the 2024-25 school year (January-May 2025).
This is an hourly, non-exempt position. The compensation for this position is $17.95 per hour.
Application Process
Apply through this site and attach your resume and cover letter as PDFs. Please indicate where you heard about the position in your cover letter. We will review applications on a rolling basis.
BTSV engages with individuals of all backgrounds and we are committed to embracing diversity within our organization, including developing a team who represents the communities we serve.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, BTSV is committed to providing employment opportunities to all individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
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