Volunteer Recruitment and Stewardship (VRS) Intern

About Chicago Scholars

At Chicago Scholars we strive to prepare our Scholars for the world and the world for our Scholars. Our dual focus on Scholars and the world are both essential to our strategy. The first part of our work supports college acceptance, matriculation, persistence, and career access for our Scholars. The second part allows Scholars to go beyond surviving to thriving, from achieving to excelling, from attending and working to belonging and exceeding. The first part of our work allows entry, the second truly opens up opportunity and redistributes power. To achieve these goals we center diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and racial justice so that we can launch and lift our Scholars and enable them to lead and leverage their power wherever they are on their journeys.

Chicago Scholars is transforming the leadership landscape of our city by resolving the fundamental barriers to success for academically driven, first-generation college students from under-resourced communities. Through college counseling, mentoring, and by providing a supportive community to our Scholars through each phase of our program: College Access (Launch), College Persistence (Lift) and College to Careers (Lead), we ensure that they realize their full potential as students and leaders.

76% of Chicago Scholars graduate college within 6 years. Per the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research, only 49% of their peers earn a degree within 6 years. Upon graduation, our Scholars move into leadership positions across Chicago, helping to drive the economic future of their communities and our thriving city.

READI Commitment

At Chicago Scholars we strive to prepare our Scholars for the world and the world for our Scholars. Our dual focus on Scholars and the world are essential to our strategy. To achieve these goals, we center racial justice, equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion (READI) in all that we do.

Chicago Scholars’ commitment to READI encompasses all of our stakeholders—from our staff to our board, from our volunteers to our partnering organizations, and most importantly our Scholars. This holistic approach is necessary for the sustained, long-term, positive impact that we seek for our Scholars, our neighborhoods, our city, and our world.

To learn more about Chicago Scholars commitment to READI, please visit chicagoscholars.org/readi.

At Chicago Scholars, we believe that education is social justice. That's why we're empowering Chicago's best and brightest first-generation college students and students from low-income communities with the mentors, resources, and opportunities to go to our nation's best colleges and universities, graduate on time, and become Chicago's next generation of leaders. Since 1996, we've impacted the lives of more than 5,000 young leaders in Chicago.

Our Values

These are a set of guiding principles that apply to all stakeholders within the Chicago Scholars ecosystem. We select and retain stakeholders based on these stated expectations for how we achieve our mission and vision. Each are supported with core competencies and narrative for the sake of clarity.

We Dream Big. We speak up, innovate, push the boundaries and keep the creativity flowing. We don’t accept the status quo because the stakes are too high. We have an incredible belief that growth and change is possible. While we dream big, we are laser focused on our intended goals and outcomes for our Scholars, our city and the world.

We Show Up. We show up every day; not just physically, but with a positive attitude and willingness to work, connect, challenge, engage, solve problems and have fun. We don’t wait for someone to tell us what to do. We take action and get the job done. If we don’t know how, we figure it out through our knowledge, exploration or our network.

We Embrace Our Differences. We represent a multicultural nation and our collective backgrounds, experiences, styles, values, perspectives and beliefs are an asset to the world. We recognize that together we achieve better outcomes more quickly. Justice and equity starts with us using our collective voice.

We Model the Way. We exhibit the behavior that we want to see in others and in the world. Titles are granted, but our behavior is what earns us respect. In order to model the way, we must be clear about our guiding principles, celebrate our accomplishments and learn from our challenges and failures.

We Care For Each Other Along the Way. We adapt to the needs of the person in front of us. We pause, reflect and listen. We do our best work when we are in good relationship together. We care personally and challenge directly.

We Keep Our Word. When we commit, we are all in. Whether for events, a Scholar, a peer or ourselves. Our words are as powerful as our actions and are the building block of trust, respect, self-worth and integrity.

Position Summary:

The Volunteer Recruitment & Stewardship Intern has the primary responsibility of supporting our Chicago Scholars Mentors and Volunteers. This includes assisting with the daily operations of Year 1 (College Access) and Year 2 (College Success) of the Chicago Scholars Mentorship Program as well as facilitating volunteer outreach and engagement to enhance their overall experience. This includes regular collaboration with the College Access and College Success Teams who are integral to the Mentorship Program. 

The ideal candidate is creative, detail-oriented, and has strong writing and communication skills. They should feel confident in supporting outreach efforts, crafting content, and engaging with our Mentors and Volunteers, ultimately contributing to the success of the Mentorship Program and fostering meaningful relationships with our Volunteers.

This role is a remote part-time & hourly position without benefits. The rate per hour is $16/hour, and the number of hours that you will be permitted to work each week is 15-20 hours on average. The number of hours per week can be flexible to accommodate school schedules and heavy project periods. 

Key Responsibilities:

· Assist with creating content and posting in the Mentor Communities and Programs in the Chicago Scholars Mobile App

· Assist in the creation of Volunteer and Mentor recruitment newsletters

· Track Mentor and Volunteer attendance at optional and required events (trainings, workshops, socials, etc.)

· Track monthly Mentor note submissions

· Follow-up with Mentors and Volunteers via email, phone and text as necessary

· Assist with events and programming: ideas, implementation and execution

Additional Responsibilities:

· This role will occasionally work on nights and weekends for Mentorship and Volunteer events and programming.

· Other duties, as assigned.

Requirements:

· Collegiate Chicago Scholar

· Education: High school diploma, some college

· Excellent interpersonal, telephone, writing, and overall communication skills

· Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

· Proficient in time management with the ability to juggle multiple tasks efficiently 

· Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment

· Resourceful & proactive self-starter 

· Experience in video editing and cutting is a plus

· Can work between 15-20 hours per week

· Experience: 1-2 years of work experience (preferred)

Technical Knowledge 

· Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook

· Knowledge of Canva, Pardot, Salesforce, RingCentral, Microsoft Teams (preferred)

Core Competencies: 

· Communication: communicates in a manner that consistently demonstrates respect, concern, and responsiveness; ability to speak in public and engage with a variety of stakeholders (students, volunteers, families, college representatives) 

· Accountability/Project Management: effectively manages own work; plans and organizes tasks and work responsibilities to achieve objectives 

· Teamwork/Collaboration: works collaboratively in a team environment; listens to ideas from others, even when different from own; works with stakeholders respectfully and effectively 

· Problem Solving/Critical Thinking: breaks down tasks into manageable sections to make informed decisions and solve problems; able to perceive and resolve a gap and overcome obstacles between a present situation and desired goal; leverages the strengths of self and others to solve problems 

Hourly Salary: $16/hour

Best Offer First Policy: The data nationally show for every $1 paid to white men, women earn 83 cents, black men earn 88 cents, and black women earn 80 cents. Women and black and brown people are also less likely to negotiate than their white male peers. Chicago Scholars has decided to offer our best offer first rather than wait for a potential negotiation. This allows us to set salaries based on market data and internal equity and ensure fair and equal pay for every role.  

If you have questions regarding any of Chicago Scholars employment policies, please reach out to the Human Resources team at humanresources@chicagoscholars.org with the subject line: Policy Question. 

Work Environment 

Chicago Scholars has a hybrid workforce which may include permanent or temporary remote positions. Each member of staff may have additional specific required in-person responsibilities and engagements, including but not limited to in-person events, some all-staff meetings, all-staff retreats and Learning Weeks. A schedule of required events and appropriate exceptions will be posted annually for staff reference. 

Normal operating hours are Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm with occasional weekend and after-hours events to accommodate Scholar and stakeholders’ schedules. 

To Apply 

• Please visit the Careers page on the Chicago Scholars website and click 'Apply' to submit your application, which should include a resume and cover letter.   
• In your cover letter we encourage applicants to share why they are excited to learn about volunteer/mentor engagement and how this internship will help you grow professionally.