Summer Intern, XQ Institute: Campaigns & Engagement

Overview

Emerson Collective (EC) is a company of investors, changemakers, creative thinkers, and problem solvers working to make a lasting mark on the world. 

Emerson Collective’s summer internship program places rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors - and, for select opportunities, undergraduate students graduating in 2026 - in paid internship opportunities across Emerson Collective and our longstanding nonprofit partners XQ Institute, E Pluribus Unum, and Chicago CRED. 

We’re looking for college students who think big, embrace challenges, and thrive in collaboration.

The internship is onsite, 40 hours per week, from June 15 through August 7, 2026. A mandatory paid virtual onboarding and orientation will take place June 10–12. See below for more details.

Application Deadline: Friday, January 9, 2026, at 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted.

The Opportunity

XQ Institute is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to rethinking the high school experience so every student graduates ready to succeed in college, career, and real life. 

As the Campaigns & Engagement intern, you’ll support the development and rollout of XQ’s community engagement initiatives and webinar series. This internship is ideal for a creative, highly organized individual who is passionate about education, storytelling, and building meaningful connections with communities across the country. Reporting to the Community team, you’ll work cross-functionally with departments across XQ to coordinate campaign logistics, conduct community research, develop engaging content, and support outreach strategies that connect with students, educators, families, and partners. You’ll gain hands-on experience in campaign strategy, marketing communications, and community engagement within a dynamic, mission-driven organization.

• Support the XQ Community team and partner with cross-functional teams to plan and execute the community engagement initiatives.
• Develop campaign recommendations and develop a supporting presentation, including collateral needs, key messaging, and strategies to incorporate XQ products and tools into outreach.
• Contribute to content development and distribution efforts, and build tracking systems to measure campaign effectiveness.
• Create engagement beats for community partners to drive continuous involvement and momentum.
• Assist in planning and executing XQ’s webinar series.
• Collaborate with the Content team to build and maintain a content calendar that supports campaign goals.

• Rising undergraduate junior or senior, preferably pursuing a degree in marketing, communications, public relations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated interest in education, community engagement, or social impact communications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a talent for crafting clear, compelling messages.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities; capable of balancing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Creative thinker with an eye for design, storytelling, and audience engagement.
• Experience with social media platforms, event coordination, or campaign tracking tools (e.g., Canva, Asana, or similar) is a plus.
• Collaborative, proactive, and adaptable, with a willingness to take initiative in a fast-paced environment.
• Detail-oriented, resourceful, and motivated by curiosity and impact.
• Strong intuition and incredibly perceptive, with enthusiasm for helping ideas come to life through coordinated campaigns.

Internship Details

Compensation

- All interns are paid $25 per hour and can expect to work 40 hours per week from June 15 to August 7 (eight weeks).

- Interns will also be paid $25 per hour for onboarding and orientation sessions taking place June 10–12.

- All interns receive a lunch allowance and a commuter allowance, and may also receive travel and housing allowances as needed. 

Key Dates

- November 18 – January 9: Internship applications accepted; interviews begin on a rolling basis

Applications must be submitted by 2:00 PM PT/5:00 PM ET on Friday, January 9.

(Please note that not all applicants will be selected for interviews.)

- January 12 – March 7: Interviews continue and offers extended

- June 10–12: Mandatory virtual onboarding and orientation

- June 15: Internship program begins

- August 7: Internship program concludes