WWF Overview

For 60 years, WWF has worked to help people and nature thrive. As one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, WWF works in nearly 100 countries, connecting cutting-edge conservation science with the collective power of our partners in the field – nearly one million supporters in the United States and five million globally, as well as partnerships with communities, companies, and governments.

At WWF, we are working to create an organization where the richness of all our unique views, experiences, and backgrounds combine to create the most sustainable and inclusive conservation outcomes possible, bringing the greatest benefit to the planet and every person who lives on it.

Across the many cultures and individuals that represent WWF, we are unified by one mission, one brand, and one common set of values: Courage, Respect, Integrity and Collaboration.

BRIDGE is WWF’s summer internship program. Launched in 2021, it is a paid internship opportunity aimed at a pool of talented undergraduate and graduate students who could bring fresh thinking and innovation to the environmental sector. In particular, WWF aims to employ interns who have not previously had a breadth of professional experience and have not previously considered conservation as a career pathway.

Position Summary

WWF seeks a BRIDGE Freshwater Programs Marketing Graduate Intern.

The Freshwater Programs Marketing Intern will work with WWF's Freshwater Corporate Water Stewardship team to develop compelling promotional materials and strategic messaging that bring WWF's water stewardship work to life, from the Rio Grande-Bravo (RGB) platform and corporate collective action platform to the Mekong basin programs and more. Using persuasive communication strategies and social marketing approaches, the intern will transform existing proposals and create targeted marketing assets that engage corporate partners and donors in WWF's portfolio of water stewardship initiatives. A primary focus will be developing polished promotional content specifically for the RGB platform, along with materials that showcase WWF’s full portfolio of water stewardship work. Key deliverables will include updated pitch decks and promotional materials that leverage social marketing and audience engagement approaches to influence potential donors and partners, refined messaging frameworks that highlight WWF’s approach and impact, and a toolkit of marketing assets that can be deployed across various water stewardship engagement opportunities. This role contributes directly to WWF's mission to protect freshwater resources and advance corporate water stewardship globally.

Internship Description:

The intern will conduct a comprehensive review and revision of WWF's existing water stewardship marketing and proposal materials, identifying gaps and opportunities to strengthen messaging. They will develop new promotional content for the RGB program and corporate collective action platform, and other water stewardship programs, including pitch decks, fact sheets, infographics, and partnership materials tailored to corporate donors and partners.

Using social marketing and persuasive communication strategies, the intern will craft refined messaging frameworks that clearly differentiate WWF's programs and articulate their unique value proposition. The intern will gather feedback from a small group of current and prospective partners to test the relevance and persuasiveness of draft materials, incorporating insights to ensure the final deliverables resonate with target audiences.

Throughout the internship, the intern will collaborate with the Freshwater and Corporate Water Stewardship teams, and others across the WWF network to understand program goals, gather success stories and impact data, and translate technical water stewardship concepts into accessible, compelling narratives, to organize and create a toolkit of reusable marketing assets that can be deployed across various partnership development opportunities.

Minimum Requirements:

• Pursuing a graduate program in Business/Marketing, Public Health, Environmental Science/Studies, Psychology, or Communications. Those studying outside these areas are still highly encouraged to apply. Must be an actively enrolled student and not received degree at time of internship start date (June 1, 2026).

• Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration.

• Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.

• Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.

• Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.

• Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.

• Communications, Content Development and Design: Demonstrated strong verbal communication and writing ability with experience creating visually compelling marketing materials using design tools such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator), or similar platforms, with ability to develop polished presentations, infographics, and promotional content for external audiences (academic or professional experience)

• Strategic Marketing or Behavior Change Experience: Prior coursework, research, or experience in marketing, social marketing, behavior change strategies, social impact, or audience engagement approaches

• Corporate Engagement or Partnership Development: Understanding of or exposure to corporate sustainability initiatives, CSR programs, public-private partnerships, or B2B marketing

Preferred Qualifications:

• Subject experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred, but not required:

• Water Stewardship or Environmental Science Knowledge: Familiarity with freshwater conservation issues, sustainable agriculture, regenerative practices, or corporate water stewardship frameworks.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and comfortable engaging with external partners to gather feedback and refine materials.

Learning Outcomes

• Strategic Marketing, Content Creation, and Fundraising Communications: Gain experience in developing donor-facing materials, crafting persuasive narratives, creating polished marketing assets (pitch decks, proposals, toolkits), and communicating program value to corporate stakeholders and philanthropic partners.

• Behavior Change Marketing Application: Build practical skills in applying behavior change and social marketing principles to influence corporate decision-makers and other audiences.

• Water Stewardship and Conservation: Develop comprehensive understanding of corporate water stewardship approaches, freshwater conservation challenges, collective action platforms, WWF's conservation priorities, and strategies for engaging the private sector in environmental sustainability initiatives.

• Professional Skills and Collaboration: Build competencies in cross-functional teamwork, presentation and communication skills, translating complex sustainability concepts for diverse audiences, and professional development through active participation in meetings, networking opportunities with industry experts, and access to WWF's learning resources.

WWF interns will be offered a set of professional development opportunities, aimed at increasing their exposure to conservation and sustainability careers. This includes:

• Development discussions with their manager;

• Up to two online courses through Cornell University’s eCornell program;

• Speed mentoring with different WWF teams;

• Opportunity to present their work to intern peers and WWF staff;

• Session on resume and interviewing best practices.

Interns will also have access to an array of networking opportunities. This includes meetings with WWF’s staff and leadership team.

Location:

This position is flexible on location. The intern may complete the internship either in Washington DC or other states, with the exception of: Hawaii, Kentucky, Nevada, Oklahoma, Wyoming.

Compensation:

Paid - $23 per hour (full-time, 35 hours per week)

Internship Dates:

Internship will run from June 1 to August 7, 2026

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume & cover letter through our Careers page. In your cover letter, please describe:

• Your relevant skills and interest for this position

• Your connection to nature and the environment

• How you could contribute to the field of conservation.

If selected for the role, you will need to provide 1 letter of recommendation as part of the WWF application process.

This job will be posted and open for applications until Monday, March 16 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.