About INHF internships

Land stewardship interns work "in the field" throughout the state, while communications, graphic design and program support interns work in our Des Moines office.

The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation's long-standing internship program has received kudos from professors, parents, subsequent employers and the interns themselves. We hired our first intern in 1986 and now hire 12-20 college interns each year.

What we pay
INHF interns earn $9.00 per hour.

Our internships are sponsored by the Rose Mary Schwent Internship fund, the Richard “Sandy” Rhodes Internship Program, the Svare Family Internship fund, and the Robert R. Buckmaster Internship, funded by the R.J. McElroy Trust.

Types of internships
INHF offers four types of internships, each geared to different majors, interests and talents: land stewardship, program support, communications and graphic design. Land stewardship interns work summers only, as a team, working and camping outdoors throughout the state.  The other three internships are based in our Des Moines office, typically with one person in a given position per semester. Students can apply to stay for one semester or up to one year.

Real work for a good cause
As a non-profit, conservation group, INHF can't afford to waste your time on meaningless tasks. Our interns do professional projects -- from writing news releases and grant applications to designing our four-color wall calendar to restoring prairie --work to build your portfolio and your sense of accomplishment. INHF interns receive regular training in their job duties, get general training in how the Foundation and other nonprofits operate, attend staff and board meetings, visit Foundation projects and learn about Iowa's natural heritage.