If you love animals and want to make the world a more compassionate place for all living beings, consider applying for an internship at Catskill Animal Sanctuary.

We’re looking for passionate and talented people to intern in the areas of animal care, outreach and special events, fundraising, business, and educational programs.

Internships at the Sanctuary offer the unique opportunity of working at one of the country’s leading farmed animal sanctuaries. Other potential benefits of an internship include:

  • Learning from and interacting with our animal residents
  • Working with like-minded and committed animal activists
  • Gaining experience for future employment and life
  • Making professional contacts and references
  • Invitations to special events
  • Potential for academic credit

Important Notes

  • Internships are unpaid positions
  • Typical internships last a minimum of two months and require a minimum commitment of 10 hours per week (minimum hourly commitment varies by intern position)
  • Candidates should be opposed to animal cruelty in all forms, and support our overall mission
  • Vegans and vegetarians are encouraged to apply

Internships are available year round, and positions are filled on an ongoing basis as applications are received. Summer positions fill quickly, so if you’re interested in these months, please apply early.

Employment Policy

Catskill Animal Sanctuary is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace. People of color, people with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are encouraged to apply. We consider all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, socio-economic status, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy status, or sexual orientation.

Current Internship Positions

The Building and Grounds Intern will assist staff members with a range of tasks while learning fence installation and repair, grounds maintenance, small machine and tractor operation and maintenance, basic carpentry skills, and the day-to-day operations of a farm sanctuary. This position is fast paced, physically demanding, and requires someone willing to work in all weather conditions.

Note: This is an unpaid position.

  • Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Fence installation and repair
  • Grounds maintenance
  • Small machine operation and repair
  • Basic carpentry
  • Other tasks and duties as needed

Qualifications:

  • Dependable
  • Comfortable working around large farmed animals, including horses, cows, and pigs
  • Commit to a minimum of 1 month part time, 2 months full time
  • Understand the philosophy and mission of Catskill Animal Sanctuary
  • Ability to perform physical labor and repeated lifting, up to 50 pounds
  • Flexibility and openness to a multitude of tasks
  • Available to work between 16 and 40 hours per week
  • Ability to work in all weather conditions, including hot, cold, rain, and snow

Benefits:

  • Learn from and interact with our animal residents
  • Invitations to special events
  • Work with like-minded and committed animal activists
  • Gain experience beneficial for future employment and life
  • Make professional contacts and references
  • Potential for academic credit

To Apply:

Please email jobs@casanctuary.org with the following:

  • Position title in email subject line
  • Resume, attached
  • Cover letter, either in the email body or attached, describing what you hope to get out of this internship
  • Three professional references, with email addresses and phone numbers

The Development department at Catskill Animal Sanctuary is responsible for advancing revenue, deepening relationships with existing supporters, and engaging, exciting and empowering individuals, businesses and community members in support of the Sanctuary mission. Interns in this department interact with donors and potential donors, and must be enthusiastic and helpful. They also prepare communications in support of our campaigns and community engagement activities, help organize special events, provide general administrative support, and complete data entry. This internship provides a unique opportunity to learn the day-to-day business operations of a farm sanctuary and prepares the intern for a career in nonprofit and advocacy organizations. Note: This is an unpaid position.
Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Assist in organizing and managing fundraising campaigns
  • Interact with donors and potential donors
  • Create special events materials and communications
  • Facilitate a development and/or fundraising project
  • Assist with campaign data analysis and database management
  • Manage relevant correspondence with funders, coordinating with appropriate staff members as necessary
  • Aid our Donor Engagement Specialist with distributing Sanctuary animal photos and updates to sponsors
  • Provide general administrative support, as needed

Qualifications:

  • Understand and able to effectively communicate the philosophy and mission of Catskill Animal Sanctuary
  • Ability to follow detailed instructions and meet deadlines
  • Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with other interns, volunteers and staff
  • Flexibility and openness to a multitude of tasks
  • Available to work a minimum of 8 hours per week for a minimum of 2 months
  • Ability to work non-standard office hours on weekends or evenings for special events
    Prior experience in fundraising a plus but not required

Benefits:

  • Hone your skills in nonprofit fundraising and advocacy
  • Learn from and interact with our animal residents
  • Work with like-minded and committed animal activists
  • Gain experience beneficial for future employment and life
  • Make professional contacts and references
  • Potential for academic credit

To Apply:

  • Please email jobs@casanctuary.org with the following:
  • Position title in email subject line
  • Resume, attached
  • Cover letter, either in the email body or attached, describing what you hope to get out of this internship
  • Three professional references, with email addresses and phone numbers

The Development & Community Engagement department at Catskill Animal Sanctuary is responsible for advancing revenue, deepening relationships with existing supporters, and engaging, exciting and empowering individuals, businesses and community members in support of the Sanctuary mission. The Grants & Analysis Intern primarily assists the Sanctuary’s Grants Specialist & Analyst with researching and identifying grant opportunities, preparing grant applications and reports, entering and reviewing program data, and preparing data reports. Interns will also play a role in community engagement (e.g., special events), as needed. This part-time internship enables individuals to develop valuable skills and experience in several aspects of the grant procurement process, program evaluation, and the day-to-day business operations of farm sanctuaries and nonprofit organizations.Note: This is an unpaid position.
Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Review and summarize grant opportunities using specified criteria
  • Review and contribute to grant applications, proposals and reports
  • Assist with donor acknowledgement communications
  • Enter program evaluation data
  • Assist with data management and analysis
  • Assist with preparation of reports on program outcomes
  • Assist with community and/or fundraising events

Other tasks, as needed

Qualifications:

  • Understand and able to effectively communicate the philosophy and mission of Catskill Animal Sanctuary
  • Ability to follow detailed instructions
  • Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with other interns, volunteers, and staff
  • Comfortable with online research, standard computer applications (e.g., word processing, spreadsheets, etc.), and working in multiple applications simultaneously
  • Ability to accurately and concisely summarize key findings from a large amount of information
  • Conscientious and dependable, with strong attention to detail
  • Strong proofreading and writing skills
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information
  • Available a minimum of 8 hours per week for a minimum of 2 months

Benefits:

  • Hone your skills in grant writing and analysis
  • Learn from and interact with our animal residents
  • Invitations to special events
  • Work with like-minded and committed animal activists
  • Gain experience beneficial for future employment and life
  • Make professional contacts and references
  • Potential for academic credit

To Apply:

  • Please email Lesley Johnson, Grants Specialist & Analyst, at lesley@casanctuary.org with the following:
  • Position title in email subject line
  • Resume, attached
  • Writing samples, attached (welcomed, but not required)
  • Cover letter, either in the email body or attached, describing what you hope to get out of this internship
  • Three professional references, with email addresses and phone numbers