About the role
StrongSteps Behavioral Health Foundation is seeking a Community Partnerships & Events Intern to build relationships and develop community events throughout New York’s Southern Tier.
You will work with StrongSteps leadership to visit local agencies, introduce our programs, explore collaboration opportunities, and build a network of community partners. You will also help turn event ideas—such as a 5K, wellness walk, fundraiser, or resource fair—into organized proposals and plans.
This is a hands-on internship with structured assignments, regular supervision, and opportunities to develop skills in nonprofit partnerships, professional communication, and event coordination.
What you’ll do
- Research local agencies, nonprofits, businesses, schools, libraries, and other potential partners.
- Schedule and participate in agency visits and introductory meetings.
- Explain StrongSteps’ programs using approved materials and talking points.
- Identify opportunities for referrals, shared events, sponsorships, and other collaborations.
- Follow up with contacts and maintain organized records of conversations, interests, and next steps.
- Develop community event proposals, including potential 5Ks, wellness walks, fundraisers, and resource fairs.
- Research venues, routes, vendors, supplies, accessibility needs, and event requirements.
- Prepare draft budgets, planning timelines, and event checklists for leadership review.
- Contact potential event sponsors, exhibitors, presenters, and collaborators using approved outreach.
- Recruit event volunteers and coordinate assignments and communications.
- Help organize event promotion, registration, setup, event-day activities, and cleanup.
- Prepare partner thank-you messages and summarize event participation, feedback, and results.
- Participate in supervision meetings and provide updates on assigned projects.
StrongSteps leadership approves partnerships, agreements, spending, and financial commitments. This role focuses on partnerships and events; support-group facilitation and participant support belong to the Community Support Intern.
Qualifications
- Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a college, university, community college, or relevant educational or workforce-development program.
- Interest in nonprofit work, community partnerships, communications, public health, business, human services, or event management.
- Comfortable introducing yourself, meeting community professionals, and explaining an organization’s work.
- Strong verbal communication and professional email-writing skills.
- Organized, dependable, and able to follow up on commitments.
- Able to work independently on assigned tasks and collaborate with a team.
- Basic proficiency with email, spreadsheets, and Microsoft Office or Google Workspace.
- Willingness to participate in scheduled local agency visits and occasional evening or weekend events.
- Respect for confidentiality, professional boundaries, and people from diverse backgrounds.
- Willingness to complete orientation and accept supervision and feedback.
Previous volunteer, customer-service, partnership, fundraising, or event experience is helpful but not required. Familiarity with Canva, Salesforce, or online registration tools is a plus. Local travel arrangements and scheduling expectations will be discussed before placement; owning a vehicle is not required.