This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to serve as a Social Impact Strategy & Operations Intern with the Maternal World Health Organization (MWHO) through a partnership with the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact. This unique experience allowed me to witness the early stages of a nonprofit’s development and to see initial visions begin to take shape.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this internship was the level of trust and ownership entrusted to me by the founder, Britt. She encouraged me to take full responsibility for projects and to exercise creativity in designing operational processes and initiatives. It was both empowering and inspiring to see my contributions directly influence the organization’s foundation and direction. This experience also encouraged me to think more entrepreneurially about my own future.
My work throughout the summer encompassed a variety of projects, including building dashboards and tracking tools in Notion, developing creative strategies for communicating the nonprofit’s mission to potential stakeholders, exploring fundraising opportunities, and identifying ways to engage with the community. I conducted in-depth research, drawing on both my own findings and Britt’s stories and experiences, to help shape my recommendations and approaches.
This internship deepened my understanding of the immense need for impactful nonprofit work, particularly in supporting mothers as they navigate the challenges of motherhood. It also gave me valuable insight into the pain points and considerations that come with launching and operating a nonprofit organization.
The hands-on, collaborative nature of the work was deeply fulfilling, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a mission larger than myself. I highly recommend this program to anyone seeking to make a meaningful impact, both within the community and in their own personal growth.