‘Let’s Get an Intern’: Rethinking Internships in the Association World

Picture this: You’re in yet another staff meeting, and someone brings up a tedious but important task — maybe it’s organizing a chaotic shared drive, cleaning up an outdated mailing list, or sorting through years of poorly labeled event photos. The room falls silent. No one wants to take it on.

Then someone says it:
“Let’s get an intern.”

It sounds like a simple solution. Interns are eager, they need experience, and hey — who couldn’t use some free labor?

Internships Have Evolved, and That’s a Good Thing

When you tell a volunteer you don’t have time for their passion project and they suggest hiring an intern.

The days of interns making coffee runs or picking up dry cleaning are behind us for good reason. Across industries, there’s a growing recognition that internships should be meaningful, educational, and fair. In fact, courts have supported this shift: in a notable case, interns who worked on the film Black Swan sued and won because their unpaid roles violated labor laws.

This isn’t a cause for fear — it’s a call to do better. Associations are uniquely positioned to lead the way by offering high-quality internships that foster real learning, mutual benefit, and professional respect.

A Win-Win When Done Right

While it’s tempting to see an intern as an extra set of hands, the truth is: interns require guidance. They’re here to learn, and that means carving out time to provide context, mentorship, and feedback. If an intern is receiving credit through their college or university, their supervisor may need to complete evaluations or meet with a school representative. Plan ahead to ensure compliance and support the student’s academic goals.

If you’re looking for someone to jump in with minimal supervision, an experienced freelancer or contractor might be a better fit.

Before bringing on an intern, take a moment to ask:

• What do we want this internship to accomplish for our organization?
• What valuable experience can we offer in return?
• Who can mentor or guide this intern through their journey with us?

The Future Workforce is Worth Our Investment

Interns bring fresh ideas, energy, and perspective. They deserve to be compensated for their work — at minimum wage or higher — not only to comply with labor laws but to affirm their value.

Offering a paid internship also broadens access. Not every talented student or career-changer can afford to work for free. By paying interns, you help open the door for a more diverse, inclusive, and dynamic talent pipeline.

Let Internships Be a Legacy

When approached with care, interns don’t just help with to-do lists. They build relationships, shape careers, and strengthen the mission-driven work associations are known for. That intern you hire today could become a nonprofit leader or even your future colleague.