Eco-Internships tackles nonprofit staffing shortages while empowering youth with skills, mentorship, and opportunities for careers in the environmental sector.
The Need
The Ontario Nonprofit Network’s 2022 survey revealed a troubling trend: 86% of organizations scaled back programs and services due to limited capacity. Despite a 74% increase in demand for their services, 64% of these organizations faced challenges with recruitment and retention. Adding to these challenges, the unemployment rate for youth in Canada has reached an all-time high of 10.7%.
Solution
Eco-Internships is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing these challenges by helping environmental nonprofits with human resources and staffing needs. We bridge the gap in capacity by placing youth in nonprofit organizations that require staffing and connecting these organizations with funding opportunities to hire interns through wage subsidies and other funding sources. Since 2017, we have secured over 180 internships and supported over 70 organizations. This experience is invaluable for youth aspiring to join the environmental sector, with 54% of our interns securing full-time employment in the sector within three months of completing their placements.
Intern Support Program
We support organizations and youth throughout the internship to ensure their success through our Intern Support Program. The goal of this program is to provide skills development and practical experience to help youth advance their careers. All Interns are enrolled in a nonprofit training program that teaches them nonprofit basics such as communication, governance, fundraising, grant writing and more. We also match each of the interns with a mentor to help support and guide them. Our experience has shown that the strength of the Intern Support Program is a major factor in fostering success for both the intern and the employer.
Success Stories
We have received amazing feedback from previous interns and the nonprofits we have worked with. We have worked with Nova Scotia Environmental Network for 3 years and have gotten the following feedback: “The Eco-Internships team has been helping NSEN meet its staffing needs since summer 2021, and in that time NSEN has experienced the most growth it has seen in over a decade. The increased capacity of NSEN has in turn benefited the environmental movement across Nova Scotia”
The Eco-Internships team has been helping NSEN meet its staffing needs since summer 2021, and in that time NSEN has experienced the most growth it has seen in over a decade. The increased capacity of NSEN has in turn benefited the environmental movement across Nova Scotia
Chris White, 2022 Nova Scotia
Environmental Network
Another testament to our program’s success is Victoria Woodhouse, who interned at Tucker House Renewal Centre and is now the Habitat Program Manager at the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Similarly, Talal El Ayoubi, after interning at Sustainable Eastern Ontario, has secured a role as a Residential Energy Auditor, working on the Greener Homes program at CLEAResult.
Capacity Building Webinars
Our commitment to supporting youth and early career professionals extends beyond the start of their career journeys. Through the Capacity Building Institute, we offer free monthly webinars as part of our Capacity Building Webinar Series. These webinars cover a wide range of topics, from fundraising to thriving in various board member positions. By continuing to provide these learning opportunities, we help nonprofit leaders and staff members enhance their skills and contribute more effectively to their organizations.
By working with Capacity Building Institute, we not only address the immediate staffing needs of environmental nonprofits but also ensure a sustainable future for the sector by empowering the next generation of leaders.
We are always looking for more youth and nonprofit organization to work with, please visit ecointernships.ca/apply to participate in the 2025 Winter Program.
