Unpaid Internship Statewide Polar Plunge

Position Summary: Special Olympics Illinois is currently seeking a Polar Plunge Intern. This internship is a part-time, unpaid position for school credit. Primarily responsible for providing support to the Director of Plunge Development and Senior Director of Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) to help ensure the proper operational controls, leadership, management and vision necessary for the development and enhancement of our Polar Plunge campaign. 

Duration: October – April 2027 (Fall & Spring Semester) 

Hours: 15-20 hours per week, depending on school requirements 

Compensation: Unpaid, school credit 

Location: State Headquarters Office in Normal 

Experience Level: Working towards a bachelor’s degree  

Primary Responsibilities

• Actively work with Director of Plunge Development and Senior Director of LETR to develop, monitor, drive and achieve strategic budget, revenue, outreach, event-quality goals  
• Assists all fundraising and resource development efforts in the Polar Plunge campaign, including but not limited to special events and fundraisers, volunteer recruitment and management, public relations and awareness, sponsorships, in-kind resource development, state-level event and campaign support  
• Track and organize revenue from donations, merchandise, and registrations as well as tracking expenses 
• Actively works with the Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) Team to support local LETR events and fundraising efforts 
• Assists Director of Plunge Development and Senior Director of LETR to establish viable partnerships with outside entities to help support Special Olympics Illinois 
• Serve as a liaison with participants, sponsors, and community partners 
• Represent Special Olympics Illinois at promotional events and help raise awareness of the Polar Plunge campaign 
• Maintain inventory of merchandise and prepare items for events 
• Assist with website updates and respond to participant inquiries 

Qualifications

• Junior or Senior pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, nonprofit management, or a related field. 
• Passion for the mission of Special Olympics Illinois and enthusiasm for community engagement. 
• Comfortable handling cash and credit card transactions responsibly. 
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and comfortable learning new digital tools. 

Requirements

• Must be actively enrolled in an educational program seeking school credit for internship  
• Internship offer contingent upon successful completion of a background check  
• Valid driver’s license and proof of insurance is required 

Pay Range: Unpaid internship opportunity (school credit)

Special Olympics Illinois is committed to building a diverse, creative, engaged, collaborative, and hard-working team that is dedicated to our athletes, our communities, and each other. Our employees are our most valuable asset, and we aim to create a positive atmosphere where employees feel valued and fulfilled. We truly want people to love working here, and we strive to create a culture that allows for growth, opportunity, and fun.

Special Olympics Illinois is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction, and all other protected classes under federal or state laws.

We will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.