Cultural Survival’s internship program is a meaningful part of our organizational life and our commitment to learning, accompaniment, and shared growth. Interns engage closely with the programs or departments to which they are assigned, contributing to day-to-day work while advancing toward clearly defined learning objectives.

The program offers opportunities for mentorship, learning, and professional development within the nonprofit sector. It is designed for individuals who are interested in Cultural Survival’s work to promote and defend the rights, lands, languages, and cultures of Indigenous Peoples around the world.

Through this program, we create learning experiences across a range of areas, including research, communications, capacity building, community media, Indigenous Rights Radio, International Bazaars, administration and operations, and advocacy and rights-based work. Internships are designed to support both skill development and a deeper understanding of Indigenous rights and movements.

Our internships are open to people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences and are intended to foster a respectful, inclusive, and enriching learning environment. We welcome applicants from different nations, geographies, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, religions, spiritualities, ages, experiences, perspectives, and worldviews.

Cultural Survival’s main office is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and internships are conducted remotely. While internships are unpaid, selected positions include a modest stipend intended to help offset expenses related to participation, such as internet access, phone use, electricity, or office supplies. Details regarding stipends are included in each individual internship posting.

We value interns who bring curiosity, initiative, commitment, and a collaborative spirit, as well as the ability to work independently when appropriate. While proficiency in Spanish can be beneficial given our presence in Latin America, language requirements vary by internship. All interns receive guidance and mentorship from Cultural Survival staff within their assigned area and are invited to participate in regular virtual team meetings. A mid-internship check-in with the Human Resources team is also held to support learning, reflection, and accompaniment throughout the experience.
 

General information

Each year, Cultural Survival offers internship opportunities during three seasons: spring, summer, and fall.

Each internship:

• Has a defined application period

• Includes specific learning objectives

• Is connected to a particular program or department

• Provides mentorship from a manager, senior manager, or member of Cultural Survival’s leadership

Internships are typically three months in duration. In some cases, internships may be extended for up to six months by mutual agreement, allowing for deeper engagement with the organization’s work. Weekly hours and schedules are discussed at the program level, with flexibility considered when appropriate.
 

Internship calendar 2026–2027

• Spring 2026 internship (3 months)
  Posting date: September 30, 2025
  Application deadline: November 28, 2025
  Start date: February 2, 2026
  End date: May 1, 2026
   
• Summer 2026 internship (3 months)
  Posting date: February 2, 2026
  Application deadline: March 27, 2026
  Start date: June 1, 2026
  End date: September 1, 2026
   
• Fall 2026 internship (3 months)
  Posting date: May 19, 2026
  Application deadline: July 18, 2026
  Start date: September 21, 2026
  End date: December 18, 2026

Current Openings

Available internship opportunities are posted on our careers page in accordance with the calendar above. We invite interested applicants to review current openings and apply to the position that best aligns with their interests, skills, and learning goals.

We look forward to receiving your application.

For questions, please contact: hr@cs.org

Volunteer

We are always looking for volunteers to help with our events, especially the Cultural Survival Bazaars. 
Please see more information here.