Public Relations Intern (Summer 2026)

Position Title: Intern

Location: Remote (U.S. only). Applicants must be current college students or recent graduates residing in the United States.

About the Active Minds Internship Program
Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization changing the culture around mental health. Through our presence at more than 800 high school and college campuses, in corporate settings, and with a wide-reaching public audience, Active Minds is creating communities of support and saving lives. Founded in 2003 by Alison Malmon after the tragic suicide of her brother Brian, Active Minds is dedicated to supporting a new generation in ending the silence, helping to make mental health as highly valued as physical health. Through our many programs – including the emotionally gripping Send Silence Packing® traveling exhibit and our compelling Active Minds Speakers – we are changing culture and behaviors related to mental health across the country. 

Our internships are geared towards current college students and recent college graduates. As a small nonprofit, Active Minds relies on the help of our interns tremendously. They work directly on important initiatives and projects and assist staff on a variety of administrative tasks. Interns have the opportunity to do substantive work, gain experience in the nonprofit sector, and help change the culture around mental health. 

All Summer 2026 internships will be remote, with an anticipated start date of June 1st, 2026, and an anticipated end date of July 24th, 2026. We expect interns to work a minimum of 20 hours a week, set a consistent work schedule between 9:00am and 5:00pm EST Monday through Friday, and commit to staying on board for the entire semester. 

Active Minds pays interns $18 per hour.

Public Relations Intern Position
As a Public Relations Intern on the Public Relations team, you’ll gain valuable experience in how effective messaging and media outreach can advance the mission of a nonprofit organization. You’ll get an inside look at how Active Minds' comprehensive communications and marketing strategies—such as digital media, earned media, and partnerships—play a key role in supporting our network of 800 campuses, workplaces, and communities across the country.

This internship will provide you with the opportunity to refine your communication skills as you assist in crafting messages that inspire people to engage with Active Minds and advocate for mental health. Your contributions will include creating, editing, and proofreading content like press releases and marketing materials. Additionally, you’ll support research efforts for key initiatives and media pitches, and help with student outreach and communications.

You’ll also have the chance to collaborate with the Development and Programs teams to work on projects that align with the organization’s broader goals. Your work will directly contribute to the success of our communication and marketing plans, ensuring that our mission of mental health advocacy continues to reach and resonate with diverse audiences.

As a Public Relations Intern, you’ll be an integral part of the team, supporting both large and small projects that help drive Active Minds' impact and mission forward.

Key Responsibilities

• Support media outreach and communication strategies, including drafting press releases, pitches, and media materials.
• Assist in managing media lists and tracking PR coverage across various platforms.
• Contribute to content creation for social media channels, newsletters, and the website.
• Research trends and identify media opportunities to position Active Minds as a thought leader in mental health advocacy.
• Help organize press events, conferences, and media briefings.
• Assist with day-to-day tasks of the PR department, including coordinating logistics for interviews and speaking engagements.
• Monitor and report on the effectiveness of media campaigns.

Eligibility Requirements: 

• All applicants must be currently enrolled in, or have previously attended, a U.S. based college or university
• All applicants must be able to complete a work authorization (I-9) during onboarding 
• All applicants must be able to complete the entirety of the internship program in the listed dates in the job description 

Application Process
The application cycle for the Summer 2026 Internship Program will be open on Wednesday, February 25th, 2026 at 9:00 AM EST through Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST. When completing the application, please thoughtfully answer each application question in complete and authentic sentences as we thoroughly review every application.

Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted directly by the end of April regarding scheduling the next steps. We truly value the time applicants put into completing their applications, but due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to phone calls or emails regarding application status.