Leading EDGE | The Student Perspective: 2026 Internships
Want to learn more about the younger generation and prepare for future employees? Leading EDGE presents The Student Perspective blog series! In this installment, hear from two of our Cohort 5 interns on their summer internship experiences at Shatterproof and Mal Warwick Donordigital.
Tianna Schneider – Shatterproof Intern
This summer I had the opportunity through the Leading EDGE program to intern at Shatterproof, a national nonprofit working to end addiction. I was the Volunteer Engagement Intern, which involved sending over 400 cold outreach emails to schools and organizations and engaging with interested volunteers to support Shatterproof Walks and national engagement initiatives. Through this blog post I am going to share some of the things I learned through this incredible experience.
Networking
I am so grateful to have had extensive opportunities to network during my internship, especially in a fully remote role.
My amazing supervisor Gab set me up in meetings with each department during my first few weeks, which at first felt quite intimidating. However, this ended up being one of the most beneficial parts of my internship. Each department was happy to meet with me and I did my best to take advantage of each opportunity, even if I wasn’t always sure what to talk about. I found that even those who may work in very different roles from my position or my future goals still had a lot that I could learn from.
I also learned that while it was helpful to have some questions prepared in advance, it also worked best when I let the conversation flow naturally. I got great practice in finding this balance and I know this will help me throughout my future. I also took initiative to stay connected to coworkers whether through LinkedIn, sending follow up emails, or making plans to meet in person. I did my best to take each opportunity that came my way.
Cold Outreach
As a volunteer engagement intern, a large portion of my role was interacting with volunteers. However, I have always had a hard time with cold outreach, especially over the phone. Although this was a challenge, I took this internship as an opportunity to practice these skills. While I still get anxious before each phone call, it feels a lot easier. A couple of things that helped me were creating a script for what to say in each possible situation, whether they answered the phone or it went to voicemail. It helped to practice this out loud a few times to make sure nothing felt too awkward when spoken out loud. I also set smaller goals for myself to get through a certain amount of calls before taking a break, or trying to have one good conversation in a day. What I learned is that most of the time the calls would go to voicemail anyway, but that voicemails still served as a helpful reminder for volunteers to sign up.
It was really encouraging to see so many people I had called or emailed sign up for volunteer positions with us. I also got to build connections with different schools and organizations in our main Walk cities. Even if I won’t be at this organization long enough to see that come to fruition, I feel proud that I got to contribute to these projects.
Working Remotely
This was my first time working a daily job and it was definitely an adjustment. Working remotely also required a lot of trial and error to figure out what worked best for me. Some people like having one set location to work, whereas I realized that I work better when I mix up where I am working; whether at my desk, my couch, outside, or in a cafe. I had to pay close attention to my schedule to ensure that I would be at home during important meetings so I could be fully attentive and professional. I also structured my schedule to allow myself time for breaks, while not getting too distracted.
I had a lot of flexibility in this internship, which I am really grateful for, but I also recognized that it could be easy to get distracted or off track unless I created my own structure. I also learned that I prefer working remotely than working in person. Therefore it is really important for each person to figure out what works for them, and to ask for support when needed. Most organizations should be able to accommodate reasonable requests to ensure one can work in the most productive way for them.
Taking Initiative
Lastly, this role taught me how to balance taking initiative and asking for help. Sometimes I made assumptions about how to handle a certain situation, even though I should have asked for help. And other times I felt like I was incapable of doing something even though I probably could have figured it out on my own. Every role is different, and each supervisor will have different expectations around this subject. Therefore it took me a bit of time to figure out the best way to communicate in this specific role.
I am grateful that I got a lot of flexibility and opportunities to take ownership in this position. I contacted hundreds of school groups and interacted with many interested volunteers. I worked with a college student who was interested in creating a student youth council to expand the organization’s connection with youth volunteers. I also brainstormed ideas for new volunteer opportunities, for example, a proclamation project that the organization is very excited to take on.
Overall, this internship has been one of the best experiences of my education and career so far. I learned so many skills that I know will support me professionally and personally. I also got to see how rewarding it can be to be part of an organization that has great momentum and making a difference in a field that I really care about. That definitely motivated me to continue giving the internship my best effort, even when things felt challenging.
Ashley Aguilar – Mal Warwick Donordigital Intern
When I started my internship at Mal Warwick Donordigital, I was honestly pretty nervous. As a Public Health and Psychology student, I had very little experience with marketing, especially digital marketing. I had no idea what to expect, and I assumed I would mostly be doing administrative tasks behind the scenes.
During my first few weeks, I spent a lot of time on trainings and meetings where I felt completely lost. People were talking about fundraising strategies, campaign performance, and industry terms I had never heard of before. At times, it felt like everyone else knew exactly what was going on while I was scrambling to keep up.
As the internship progressed, things slowly started to make sense. I began applying what I was learning to actual projects and seeing how even small tasks fit into larger goals. What initially looked like spreadsheets, reports, and presentations became something more meaningful. I started to understand how those tools help nonprofit organizations connect with supporters and advance causes they care about.
One thing I did not expect was how much time I would spend working with data. If you had asked me before this internship, I probably would have told you that spreadsheets were not exactly my thing. But after helping with reporting projects and reviewing campaign metrics, I started to see those numbers differently.
Behind every donation, email open, or action taken was a real person choosing to engage with a cause. The data was not just measuring performance. It was helping organizations understand the people who support them and make more informed decisions about how to serve their communities. That realization made me appreciate the importance of the work happening behind the scenes.
Another thing that stood out to me was how much thought goes into communication. Before this internship, I assumed fundraising communication was mostly about asking people to give money. What I learned is that it is really about building relationships.
Through different projects and conversations, I saw how nonprofits use communication to share stories, express gratitude, and keep supporters connected to the causes they care about. I also saw the importance of approaching that work with empathy and respect for the different communities organizations serve. As a Psychology student, that perspective resonated with me. Good communication is not about convincing people to care. It is about helping people feel seen, valued, and connected to something meaningful.
More importantly, the projects I worked on introduced me to the people behind the work. One of the best parts of this internship was getting to learn from colleagues who were genuinely passionate about what they do. I enjoyed hearing about the different paths people took to get to where they are today. Even though our backgrounds were different, I found that many of us shared similar values and a desire to support the causes we care about.
Looking back, the biggest thing I am taking away from this experience is confidence. I started this internship feeling intimidated and unsure of whether I belonged in a space so different from my academic background. By the end, I realized that I did not need to know everything on day one. Growth comes from asking questions, being open to learning, and giving yourself permission to be a beginner.
This internship pushed me outside of my comfort zone in the best way. I learned a lot about nonprofit communications and fundraising, but I also learned something about myself.
I learned that meaningful work can take many forms. Sometimes it looks like a campaign, a presentation, or a report. Sometimes it is simply supporting a team that helps organizations make a difference in their communities. I am grateful for everything I learned at Mal Warwick Donordigital, and I know I will carry those lessons with me long after this internship is over.
For Employers: Read more about how to work with Leading EDGE students.
For Students: Writers needed! Contact Shelby Truxon, Vice President of Internship Experience, at struxon@tnpa.org to write for the “Student Perspective” blog series. Read more about Leading EDGE internships and other programming.
Author: Shelby Truxon
Shelby Truxon is Vice President of Internship Experience at The Nonprofit Alliance (TNPA).
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