Intern Jobs at International Rescue Committee with Visa Sponsorship
International Rescue Committee hires Interns across humanitarian response, policy, research, and operations functions. The organization works with candidates on a range of visa types, making it a realistic target for international students and early-career professionals seeking hands-on experience in the nonprofit sector.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
SCOPE OF WORK
The Financial Capability Program (FinCap) as part of the Economic Empowerment Program supports clients to become financially independent through financial education, credit building, coaching and providing low-interest loan products. FinCap services include financial education and counseling that help clients understand banking, budgeting, savings, debt management, building credit, auto and home purchase and investing and asset building. FinCap products include different various-purpose small-dollar consumer loans. This program aims to empower participants and boost their confidence to manage their personal finances effectively. The Financial Capability Intern will support the program by providing financial coaching and counseling services to program participants.
Responsibilities:
- Reach out to potential clients explaining the IRC financial program services and products
- Assess client needs, develop short-term and long-term financial goals and enroll clients in relevant programming
- Assist financial coaches with scheduling, client meetings and financial workshops
- Facilitate financial literacy workshops for clients
- Lead our women’s financial empowerment program by providing gender-focused workshops aimed at increasing women’s financial participation
- Collaborate, build and maintain effective relationships with colleagues
- Adhere to IRC policies, particularly those related to confidentiality and client privacy
- Other duties as identified by IRC staff
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Intern will learn about personal finance topics and managing personal finance methods
- Intern will gain insights into IRC casework and financial literacy programs and the process of refugee and asylee integration within the United States
- Intern will learn to communicate effectively with clients across cultures and with interpreters
- Intern will learn individual coaching techniques to engage and empower adults
- Intern will learn about financial literacy topics, financial systems and how to navigate them effectively
- Intern will learn presentation and inter-personal skills
QUALIFICATIONS
- Self-motivated; able to work independently
- Ability to collaborate with fellow interns and staff - this is a team-focused internship
- Excellent communication and writing skills, including cross-cultural communicative skills
- Works well in a fast-paced environment and adapts quickly to change
- Confident in public speaking or interest to develop these skills
- Strong interest in refugee and asylee issues
- Language skills in Amharic, Arabic, Dari, Farsi, French, Kinyarwanda, Spanish, or Swahili are a plus
- Three months minimum. Required 20+ hours/week. Preferred 35+ hours/week
- Preference to current students and recent graduates*
TO APPLY
Click Apply Now at the top of this page. Please attach a resume, cover letter, and a list of (at least) three references to your application. The deadline to apply is May 22, 2026.
This position is for the Summer 2026 semester and requires a minimum commitment of 3 months and 20 hours per week. 37.5 hours per week preferred.
Summer 2026 interns are expected to begin their internship term by attending an in-person intern orientation on June 1st, 2026, from 9:15AM-3:30PM.
We currently offer internships during the following semesters:
Spring: January – May
Summer: May – August
Fall: September – December
Internships are typically posted 2-3 months prior to the anticipated start date.
Note: Internships with the IRC in Silver Spring are unpaid. Summer 2026 interns may be eligible for per diem reimbursement at the rate of $15/day to offset the costs of food and travel. For information on scholarship opportunities, contact your university or the IRC Silver Spring Community Engagement Coordinator Michalina Kulesza at michalina.kulesza@rescue.org.
*Candidates applying not enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program and outside of 12 months from graduation are welcome to apply. These candidates will be processed as volunteers.
To protect our clients, the IRC requires all selected applicants to complete background checks. We ask that you make a $30 donation to help us cover the associated costs. Currently, 87% of our funding goes directly to programming to support our clients, and your help to cover this cost will ensure that no funding is directed away from serving our clients. Instructions will be provided after you have been selected to intern or volunteer.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.
INTRODUCTION
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
SCOPE OF WORK
The Financial Capability Program (FinCap) as part of the Economic Empowerment Program supports clients to become financially independent through financial education, credit building, coaching and providing low-interest loan products. FinCap services include financial education and counseling that help clients understand banking, budgeting, savings, debt management, building credit, auto and home purchase and investing and asset building. FinCap products include different various-purpose small-dollar consumer loans. This program aims to empower participants and boost their confidence to manage their personal finances effectively. The Financial Capability Intern will support the program by providing financial coaching and counseling services to program participants.
Responsibilities:
- Reach out to potential clients explaining the IRC financial program services and products
- Assess client needs, develop short-term and long-term financial goals and enroll clients in relevant programming
- Assist financial coaches with scheduling, client meetings and financial workshops
- Facilitate financial literacy workshops for clients
- Lead our women’s financial empowerment program by providing gender-focused workshops aimed at increasing women’s financial participation
- Collaborate, build and maintain effective relationships with colleagues
- Adhere to IRC policies, particularly those related to confidentiality and client privacy
- Other duties as identified by IRC staff
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Intern will learn about personal finance topics and managing personal finance methods
- Intern will gain insights into IRC casework and financial literacy programs and the process of refugee and asylee integration within the United States
- Intern will learn to communicate effectively with clients across cultures and with interpreters
- Intern will learn individual coaching techniques to engage and empower adults
- Intern will learn about financial literacy topics, financial systems and how to navigate them effectively
- Intern will learn presentation and inter-personal skills
QUALIFICATIONS
- Self-motivated; able to work independently
- Ability to collaborate with fellow interns and staff - this is a team-focused internship
- Excellent communication and writing skills, including cross-cultural communicative skills
- Works well in a fast-paced environment and adapts quickly to change
- Confident in public speaking or interest to develop these skills
- Strong interest in refugee and asylee issues
- Language skills in Amharic, Arabic, Dari, Farsi, French, Kinyarwanda, Spanish, or Swahili are a plus
- Three months minimum. Required 20+ hours/week. Preferred 35+ hours/week
- Preference to current students and recent graduates*
TO APPLY
Click Apply Now at the top of this page. Please attach a resume, cover letter, and a list of (at least) three references to your application. The deadline to apply is May 22, 2026.
This position is for the Summer 2026 semester and requires a minimum commitment of 3 months and 20 hours per week. 37.5 hours per week preferred.
Summer 2026 interns are expected to begin their internship term by attending an in-person intern orientation on June 1st, 2026, from 9:15AM-3:30PM.
We currently offer internships during the following semesters:
Spring: January – May
Summer: May – August
Fall: September – December
Internships are typically posted 2-3 months prior to the anticipated start date.
Note: Internships with the IRC in Silver Spring are unpaid. Summer 2026 interns may be eligible for per diem reimbursement at the rate of $15/day to offset the costs of food and travel. For information on scholarship opportunities, contact your university or the IRC Silver Spring Community Engagement Coordinator Michalina Kulesza at michalina.kulesza@rescue.org.
*Candidates applying not enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program and outside of 12 months from graduation are welcome to apply. These candidates will be processed as volunteers.
To protect our clients, the IRC requires all selected applicants to complete background checks. We ask that you make a $30 donation to help us cover the associated costs. Currently, 87% of our funding goes directly to programming to support our clients, and your help to cover this cost will ensure that no funding is directed away from serving our clients. Instructions will be provided after you have been selected to intern or volunteer.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.
See all 181+ Intern at International Rescue Committee jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Intern at International Rescue Committee roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Intern Jobs at International Rescue Committee Jobs
Align your credentials with IRC's mission
IRC internships favor candidates with demonstrated experience in humanitarian aid, refugee services, or international development. Frame your academic work, volunteer history, or fieldwork in terms of the populations IRC serves, not just your technical skills.
Target IRC's program-specific internship tracks
IRC posts internships tied to specific programs, such as economic empowerment, health, or legal protection. Applying to a program aligned with your background strengthens your case and signals to hiring managers that you understand the operational context.
Ask about J-1 designation during the offer stage
IRC sponsors J-1 visas for qualifying internships. If you're pursuing this route, ask your recruiter early whether the role qualifies under an approved Exchange Visitor Program and which sponsor organization administers it, since this affects your DS-2019 timeline.
Search verified IRC Intern openings on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter International Rescue Committee's active Intern postings by visa type and location. This surfaces roles where sponsorship has been confirmed, saving you time on applications where your visa situation may not be supported.
Prepare your work authorization documents before an offer
IRC is an E-Verify employer, so your work authorization must be verifiable from day one. Have your EAD card, I-20 with CPT authorization, or DS-2019 ready before your start date. Gaps in documentation can delay onboarding even after an offer is extended.
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Find Intern at International Rescue Committee JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does International Rescue Committee sponsor H-1B visas for Interns?
IRC does sponsor H-1B visas, but this pathway is uncommon for Intern-level roles. H-1B sponsorship is typically reserved for professional or specialty occupation positions requiring a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Most Interns at IRC work under F-1 OPT, F-1 CPT, or J-1 Exchange Visitor status rather than through an H-1B petition.
How do I apply for Intern jobs at International Rescue Committee?
Applications go through IRC's careers portal, where internships are listed by program area and location. Read each posting carefully for visa eligibility notes before applying. You can also browse verified IRC Intern openings on Migrate Mate, which filters roles by sponsorship type so you can focus on positions that match your visa situation from the start.
Which visa types are commonly used for Intern roles at International Rescue Committee?
F-1 CPT and F-1 OPT are the most common pathways for Interns at IRC, particularly for students completing academic programs in social work, public policy, international relations, or public health. J-1 Exchange Visitor status is also supported for qualifying internship roles. TN status may apply for Canadian or Mexican nationals in eligible occupational categories.
What qualifications or experience does International Rescue Committee expect from Intern applicants?
IRC looks for candidates enrolled in or recently graduated from programs in international development, humanitarian affairs, public health, law, social work, or related fields. Language skills, particularly in French, Arabic, or Spanish, strengthen applications for field-facing roles. Experience with vulnerable populations, research, or program coordination is frequently listed as preferred across internship postings.
How do I time my internship application around my visa authorization?
If you're on F-1 status, your DSO must authorize CPT before your internship start date, which can take one to four weeks depending on your school. For OPT, your EAD must be valid on day one since IRC participates in E-Verify. Apply to IRC internships at least six to eight weeks before your intended start date to leave room for both hiring and authorization processing.
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