Save the Children offers year-round paid internships and fellowships for students and recent graduates, with remote opportunities and positions connected to offices in Fairfield, Lexington and Washington, D.C. Participants work 16–24 hours per week and receive mentoring, networking and professional development.
Save the Children offers a year-round paid internship and fellowship program for students, graduate learners and qualifying recent graduates who want practical experience in the nonprofit sector.
The program consists of semester-long paid positions across the organization. Participants work on strategic projects within an assigned department or program while gaining hands-on experience, mentoring, networking opportunities and professional development.
Opportunities may be remote or based in Save the Children offices in Fairfield, Connecticut; Lexington, Kentucky; and Washington, D.C.
For students interested in humanitarian work, international development, nonprofit careers and children’s rights, the program provides an opportunity to gain professional experience while contributing to projects connected to Save the Children’s mission.
Save the Children Internships and Fellowships at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Save the Children |
| Opportunity | Internships and Fellowships |
| Program Type | Paid, semester-long |
| Availability | Year-round through Spring, Summer and Fall cycles |
| Work Hours | 16–24 hours per week |
| Work Arrangement | Remote or office-based |
| U.S. Office Locations | Fairfield, CT; Lexington, KY; Washington, D.C. |
| Internship Eligibility | Associate, Bachelor’s or Graduate students; or graduates within 6 months of start date |
| Fellowship Eligibility | Graduate or postgraduate students; or graduates within 6 months of start date |
| Compensation | Paid hourly wage |
| Housing | Not provided |
| Relocation | Not provided |
| Work Authorization | Must be eligible to work in the United States |
| Foreign Nationals | Must be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate school and hold a valid student visa |
| Spring Program | January–April |
| Summer Program | June–August |
| Fall Program | September–December |
| Mentorship | Yes |
| Networking | Yes |
| Flexible Schedules | Yes |
What Are the Save the Children Internships and Fellowships?
Save the Children’s internship and fellowship program is designed to give participants practical exposure to the nonprofit sector while they contribute to actual organizational projects.
These are not simply observation placements.
According to Save the Children, interns and fellows work alongside staff members and focus on advancing important strategic projects within their assigned department or program.
The organization describes the opportunities as “learning while doing” positions that provide hands-on experience and broad exposure to nonprofit work.
This structure makes the program especially relevant to candidates who want to move from academic study into practical humanitarian, development or nonprofit work.
Are Save the Children Internships Paid?
Yes.
Save the Children explicitly states that interns and fellows are paid an hourly wage.
Participants generally work between:
16 and 24 hours per week
during the applicable semester period.
The source does not provide one universal hourly salary amount, so applicants should check individual vacancies for compensation information.
It would therefore be accurate to advertise these as paid internships and fellowships, but not to publish a specific salary unless it appears in the individual vacancy.
Remote Save the Children Internships
One of the most attractive aspects of the program is its flexibility.
Save the Children states that intern and fellow positions can be:
Remote OR based in its Fairfield, Lexington and Washington, D.C. offices.
This means some opportunities may not require participants to work from a Save the Children office.
However, applicants should not interpret “remote” as meaning that candidates can work from any country.
The program has separate U.S. work-eligibility requirements, including requirements for foreign nationals.
Save the Children Internship Locations
Office-based opportunities may be connected to:
- Fairfield, Connecticut
- Lexington, Kentucky
- Washington, D.C.
Candidates should check the individual listing to determine whether a particular position is remote or connected to one of these offices.
Who Can Apply for an Internship?
Save the Children provides relatively broad educational eligibility for its internship positions.
Interns may be:
- Pursuing an Associate degree
- Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree
- Pursuing graduate education
- Graduates who completed their studies within six months of the position’s start date
This means internship opportunities are not restricted exclusively to undergraduate university students.
The inclusion of Associate-level students can make the program accessible to candidates at different stages of higher education.
Who Can Apply for a Fellowship?
Fellowship eligibility is slightly different.
Save the Children states that fellows may be:
- Graduate students
- Postgraduate students
- Individuals who graduated within six months of the program’s start date
Candidates should pay careful attention to whether an advertised opportunity is classified as an internship or fellowship, because the educational eligibility differs.
Can Recent Graduates Apply?
Yes, but there is an important restriction.
Both internship and fellowship eligibility can extend to people who have already graduated, provided they graduated:
within six months of the position’s start date.
This means someone who completed university several years ago would not qualify under the recent-graduate provision described on the general program page.
Can International Students Apply?
The program is not presented as an unrestricted worldwide internship program.
Save the Children states that candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.
For foreign nationals, the organization specifically states that they must:
- Be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate school
- Possess a valid student visa
International candidates should therefore review their immigration and work authorization carefully before applying.
Does Save the Children Provide Visa Sponsorship?
The supplied program page does not state that Save the Children provides visa sponsorship for these internships or fellowships.
Instead, foreign nationals are told that they must be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate school and possess a valid student visa.
Candidates should not interpret the international-student eligibility provision as a promise of visa sponsorship.
Does Save the Children Pay for Relocation?
No.
Save the Children explicitly states that:
Housing and relocation are not provided.
This is particularly important for candidates considering office-based positions in Connecticut, Kentucky or Washington, D.C.
Applicants who need to relocate should consider accommodation and transportation costs before accepting an offer.
What Will Interns and Fellows Do?
Participants work on meaningful projects within an assigned department or program.
Save the Children says the work focuses on advancing important strategic projects while providing practical nonprofit-sector exposure.
Rather than simply observing staff members, interns and fellows work under the direct supervision of professional Save the Children employees.
Assignments are collaborative and involve working with teams across the organization.
The exact responsibilities will depend on the individual internship or fellowship vacancy.
Professional Development
The program is structured to support learning throughout the semester.
Save the Children highlights:
- Orientation
- Onboarding
- Weekly learning opportunities
- Direct professional supervision
- Mentoring
- Networking
- Flexible work schedules
- Academic development
- Career development
- Personal development
This makes the program more structured than an informal short-term work placement.
Mentorship and Networking
Participants have access to mentoring and networking opportunities throughout the semester.
For early-career candidates, this can be particularly useful because professional relationships are often important when building a career in the nonprofit and international development sectors.
Interns and fellows can work alongside experienced Save the Children employees while developing their own skills within their chosen field.
Spring Internships and Fellowships
Save the Children’s Spring internship period runs from:
January to April
Recruitment normally takes place from:
October to December
Candidates interested in a Spring placement should therefore begin checking opportunities during the final months of the preceding year.
Summer Internships and Fellowships
The Summer program runs from:
June to August
Recruitment normally occurs during:
February to March
Students seeking summer experience should therefore prepare well before the academic year ends.
Fall Internships and Fellowships
The Fall program runs from:
September to December
Recruitment generally occurs between:
June and July
These recurring recruitment periods make the program useful for candidates who miss one application cycle because another semester may provide additional opportunities.
Save the Children Internship Calendar
| Cycle | Program Period | Recruitment Period |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | January–April | October–December |
| Summer | June–August | February–March |
| Fall | September–December | June–July |
Because the organization recruits according to these semester cycles, applicants should not assume there is one universal annual deadline.
Individual vacancies may close according to their own recruitment timelines.
Is the Program Available Year-Round?
Yes, in the sense that Save the Children supports a year-round internship and fellowship program through recurring semester cycles.
That does not mean every position remains open for applications throughout the entire year.
Recruitment takes place during designated periods for Spring, Summer and Fall opportunities.
What Fields Are Available?
The supplied general internship page does not provide a complete list of departments currently recruiting.
It says participants work on strategic projects within an assigned department or program.
Candidates interested in areas such as humanitarian work, communications, research, policy, operations, fundraising, finance or program management should check current listings rather than assuming that a particular field is available in every recruitment cycle.
Why Consider a Save the Children Internship?
Save the Children describes itself as an organization working to improve children’s health, education and economic opportunities.
For candidates interested in mission-driven work, the internship can therefore combine professional development with exposure to projects designed to improve children’s lives.
The organization says it has more than 1,500 staff members working around the globe, giving interns exposure to the work of a significant international children’s organization.
Who Should Apply?
These opportunities may be particularly relevant to:
- Associate-degree students
- Undergraduate students
- Graduate students
- Postgraduate students
- Recent graduates within the six-month eligibility period
- Students interested in nonprofit careers
- Candidates interested in humanitarian work
- Students interested in international development
- Candidates seeking paid professional experience
- Students seeking remote internship opportunities
- Candidates interested in children’s rights and development
Eligibility still needs to be checked against each individual vacancy.
How Competitive Are Save the Children Internships?
Save the Children indicates that it receives a substantial volume of applications.
The organization specifically notes that because of the volume of applicants, it cannot contact every applicant individually.
Only candidates selected for further consideration may be contacted by the recruitment team.
This means applicants should put significant effort into tailoring their applications to the specific role.
How to Strengthen Your Application
Candidates should first confirm that they meet the educational and U.S. work-eligibility requirements.
A strong application should then clearly demonstrate how the applicant’s:
- Academic background
- Relevant coursework
- Volunteer experience
- Previous internships
- Research
- Technical abilities
- Communication skills
- Leadership experience
relate to the specific internship or fellowship.
Applicants should avoid submitting the same generic application for every opening.
Documents You May Need
The general program page does not provide one universal document checklist.
Applicants should therefore use the individual vacancy as the authoritative source for required materials.
Depending on the position, candidates may be asked to provide materials such as a resume or other application information, but these should not be described as universal requirements unless confirmed in the specific listing.
Application Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming remote means worldwide: Remote positions remain subject to the program’s stated U.S. work-eligibility requirements.
Ignoring the six-month graduation rule: Recent graduates must fall within the stated eligibility window.
Expecting relocation assistance: Save the Children explicitly says housing and relocation are not provided.
Assuming visa sponsorship: The general page does not promise sponsorship.
Applying outside the recruitment cycle without checking current vacancies: Spring, Summer and Fall programs have different recruitment periods.
Inventing a salary: Positions are paid hourly, but the general page does not provide one universal hourly rate.
Confusing internships and fellowships: Their educational eligibility requirements are different.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Save the Children internships paid?
Yes. Interns and fellows receive an hourly wage.
How many hours do participants work?
Approximately 16–24 hours per week during the applicable semester.
Can I work remotely?
Some intern and fellow positions can be remote.
Does remote mean I can work from anywhere in the world?
Not according to the supplied eligibility information. Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.
Where are office-based positions located?
The program identifies offices in Fairfield, Connecticut; Lexington, Kentucky; and Washington, D.C.
Can undergraduate students apply?
Yes. Internship applicants may be pursuing Associate, Bachelor’s or graduate education.
Can graduate students apply?
Yes. Graduate students can potentially qualify for internships and fellowships, depending on the position.
Can recent graduates apply?
Yes, if they graduated within six months of the position’s start date.
Can international students apply?
Foreign nationals must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate school and possess a valid student visa, according to the program eligibility information.
Does Save the Children provide accommodation?
No. Housing is not provided.
Is relocation covered?
No. Relocation is not provided.
When are Summer internships?
Summer placements run from June through August, with recruitment generally occurring during February and March.
When are Fall internships?
Fall placements run from September through December, with recruitment generally taking place during June and July.
When are Spring internships?
Spring placements run from January through April, with recruitment generally occurring from October through December.
Are internships available in 2026–2027?
The program operates year-round through recurring semester cycles. Candidates should check current listings during the relevant recruitment period because the general page does not provide a single list of guaranteed 2026–2027 openings.
Does completing an internship guarantee a permanent job?
The supplied source does not promise permanent employment after completing the program.
Final Thoughts
The Save the Children Internship and Fellowship Program is a strong early-career opportunity for eligible students and recent graduates who want paid experience in the nonprofit sector.
Participants receive an hourly wage and generally work 16–24 hours per week during a semester-long placement. The program also provides orientation, onboarding, weekly learning opportunities, professional supervision, mentoring, networking and flexible work schedules.
Positions may be remote or connected to Save the Children offices in Fairfield, Lexington and Washington, D.C., although candidates must satisfy the program’s U.S. work-eligibility requirements.
The recurring Spring, Summer and Fall recruitment cycles also give applicants multiple opportunities to search for placements throughout the year rather than relying on a single annual intake.
For Opportunities Feed, I would classify this primarily under Internships, with Fellowships, Early Career and NGO Opportunities as secondary categories.
SEO Keywords
Save the Children internships 2026, Save the Children internships 2027, Save the Children fellowship 2026, Save the Children fellowship 2027, Save the Children paid internships, Save the Children remote internships, paid NGO internships, NGO internships 2026, NGO internships 2027, remote nonprofit internships, humanitarian internships 2026, humanitarian internships 2027, international development internships, Save the Children careers, Save the Children student opportunities, paid internships for students, paid internships for recent graduates, nonprofit internships USA, Washington DC NGO internships, remote internships for students, Save the Children summer internship, Save the Children fall internship, Save the Children spring internship, NGO fellowships for graduate students, humanitarian fellowships, children’s rights internships, early career NGO opportunities, paid nonprofit fellowships, Save the Children internship eligibility, nonprofit career opportunities
