In Los Angeles, CA:

Looking to start a career in education, youth development, policy, PR or nonprofit fundraising and management? Want to help change the world?

Break the Cycle is seeking interns to join our team of energetic professionals in Los Angeles and the District of Columbia! This is not a filing job. Gain hands-on experience that is practical and looks great on your résumé.

Break the Cycle interns build skills that can be applied to careers in the education, legislative, nonprofit and corporate sectors. We offer a casual, friendly work environment where interns are encouraged to contribute and learn. Internships are available for 3 – 12 months. Please refer to the listings below (by city.)

Los Angeles

Programs Intern

Program Interns help deliver Break the Cycle services to youth. Interns receive training on domestic and dating violence, Break the Cycle’s services and other relevant areas. Responsibilities may include:

  • Drafting and updating educational materials
  • Responding to requests for help, including maintaining our nationwide referral system
  • Developing web content for loveisrespect.org
  • Assisting with research projects, community outreach and other support as needed

Social/Digital Media Intern

The Creative Media Internship develops and manages Break the Cycle’s extensive online/social/digital media presence in real time. Supporting the Director of Youth Programs and the Digital Strategies Coordinator, Creative Media Interns have the opportunity to directly impact a leading national nonprofit’s efforts to engage young people in innovative and creative ways.Responsibilities may include:

  • Managing and expanding Break the Cycle’s social media presence
  • Creating teen friendly web content, blogs and help resources
  • Crafting digital media content for YouTube and online advertising
  • Assist Communications staff with various PR projects
  • Supporting other graphic design projects as needed (depending on experience)
  • Assisting staff in developing new marketing strategies to grow our audience and donor base
  • Experience using Adobe Suite and Drupal web platforms is desired.

Note: Break the Cycle is willing to consider applicants outside of the Los Angeles area IF they are United States citizens and are able to commit to “remote” work requirements.

Development Intern: Donor Relations

Donor Relations Interns will learn what it takes for a nonprofit organization to maintain sustaining support from individual donors as well as gain experience in promotion and fundraising for Break the Cycle.  Responsibilities may include:

  • Helping to maintain and cultivate Break the Cycle’s HOPE campaign
  • Assisting with Break the Cycle events, including logistics, silent auction coordination and PR
  • Individual donor research and outreach
  • Assisting with other fundraising and community relations efforts including our volunteer program, press kits, data entry, social media outlets and other duties as needed

Development Intern: Grants and Research

Development: Grants and Research interns learn what it takes to fundraise, write grants and conduct research for a national nonprofit organization.  Responsibilities may include:

  • Researching foundation and corporation funding opportunities that fit with Break the Cycle’s mission and work to end dating abuse
  • Filtering funding opportunities
  • Working with the Foundation & Government Relations Specialist in developing and submitting grant applications
  • Performing literal and statistical research on dating and domestic violence trends, prevalence rates and percentages
  • Researching various forums for  factual and statistical information

Special Events/Arts Management Intern

Break the Cycle has a unique opportunity in their Los Angeles office for those interested in theatrical and special event production. This internship, to take place between October 15 and February 10, will play a direct role in helping produce our annual “Louder than Words” musical theatre event on February 6 at the Avalon Night Club. The intern will work directly with BTC’s Youth Programs Director (who serves as Music Director for the event), Development Manager and production staff. Responsibilities will include:

  • Solicting artists, production staff and sponsors for the event
  • Assist BTC Programs Director in coordination of rehearsals and other performance needs
  • Collect and prepare written copy and media for Gala print and digital materials
  • Assist in marketing, press relations and social media promotion
  • Providing general support to the Event Coordinator as needed

Non-Profit Management Intern

Management Interns participate in all facets of nonprofit management, working side-by-side with Break the Cycle’s Executive Director. Responsibilities may include:

  • Conducting research on organizational best practices and policies
  • Preparing reports and communications for management team
  • Assisting with logistics and planning for board, staff, donor and community meetings
  • Providing general administrative support as needed

District of Columbia

Research and Policy Intern

The Research and Policy Interns will gain hands-on experience working with policy and technical assistance staff. Responsibilities include

  • Research and analyze state and local laws related to dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
  • Contribute to the development of written products to assist schools and community-based organizations improve their response to young survivors of abuse.
  • Examine and categorize relevant studies to support the work of the Training and Policy Departments.
  • Applicants must be currently enrolled or have completed graduate school.

Training and Library Intern

Training Library Interns work directly with the training and technical assistance staff to develop a comprehensive organized training resources library. Responsibilities include:

  • Collaborate with Training Department staff to design an effective and efficient training resources library.
  • Identify, interpret, and catalogue articles, studies, PowerPoint presentations, and other resources that we use in our training programs.
  • Assist in developing bank of research-based statistics for use by Break the Cycle staff in presentations and trainings.
  • Assist in interpreting relevant studies and developing bibliographies and resource lists to support the work of the Training Department.

Legal Intern

Legal Interns gain hands-on legal and public policy experience with a law-based, domestic violence organization. Responsibilities may include

  • Supporting staff attorneys in the delivery of free legal services to young victims of dating abuse, including client intake, safety planning, case preparation, court accompaniment and drafting legal documents
  • Conducting legal, legislative and policy research with the aim to write on various domestic violence, family, criminal and general public interest law issues
  • Assisting with the creation of advocacy and educational materials
  • Responding to requests for help and maintaining our nationwide referral system

Policy Intern

Policy Interns gain hands-on public policy experience working with policy and technical assistance staff. Responsibilities may include:

  • Conducting legislative and policy research,
  • Draft legislative and administrative policies, and
  • Creating advocacy and educational materials for policy-makers, service providers, schools, and community members.
  • May participate in lobby visits with the DC City Council and the US Congress.

How to Get Started

This is an unpaid internship program. Undergraduate, graduate and law students, as well as recent graduates, are welcome to apply. Generally-speaking, we ask interns to commit a minimum of 10 weeks, 8-10 hours per week for part-time status and 20-40 hours a week for full-time status.

We accept applications on a rolling basis. Interested candidates should email or mail a cover letter and résumé to:

In Los Angeles, CA:

Break the Cycle Internship Program
5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 1150
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Email: la.intern@breakthecycle.org

In Washington, DC:

Break the Cycle Internship Program
P.O. Box 21034
Washington, DC 20009
Email: dc.intern@breakthecycle.org