BRIDGE | Pages

Mission

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.

BRIDGE's mission is to:

Increase exposure of students to careers in conservation and sustainability.

Provide professional development that will enhance marketability for future conservation jobs.

Reduce the barriers to attracting internship candidates.

Develop a pipeline for future hires from early career professionals.

BRIDGE program at-a-glance

Application Criteria

General Information

Undergraduate and graduate positions available
Paid: $20.50/hour for undergraduates, $22.50/hour for graduates
Virtual and hybrid options available
10-week summer from program June through August
Full-time schedule (35/hours week) – including every other Friday off (see “Other Program Amenities”)

Applicant must be a current, active student enrolled in an associate's, bachelor's, master’s, or doctoral program. For doctoral students, applicant must not have completed any more than two years of coursework.

Students finishing a bachelor's degree program in one term who plan to immediately enroll in a graduate program subsequent to receiving their degree are only qualified for graduate level positions. Students finishing an associate's degree program who plan to immediately enroll in a bachelor's degree program in a subsequent school term are permitted to apply to BRIDGE.

We will evaluate applicants on the following key competencies:

Attention to Detail – Whether helping to create presentations, drafting reports, or analyzing data, strong attention to detail is needed.
Initiative – We seek interns who will ask questions and identify opportunities to make valuable, unexpected contributions.
Organization skills – This fast-paced program requires a high level of organization and follow-through to manage competing priorities.
Adaptability – The evolving nature of our work requires a tolerance for ambiguity and the ability to occasionally change direction on tasks with little notice.
Teamwork – Helping each other succeed, collaborating across teams, and volunteering to help wherever needed is how we achieve extraordinary results.
Core Values – Courage, Integrity, Respect, & Collaboration
Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and video-conferencing platforms (i.e., Zoom, Teams, etc.)
Interest in conservation and environmental sector, especially as a career development pathway.
Solid research skills (graduate internships only) are also needed.

Past BRIDGE intern projects that have contributed to WWF’s mission include:

People & Culture

A job description repository for all WWF employees

Private Sector Engagement

A study on the nexus between the oil and gas sector and virgin plastic production

Marketing and Communications

A communications strategy for environmentally themed recognition days

Development

A review of grant proposals and reports

Forests

A synthesis on Amazonian land infrastructure, watersheds, indigenous territories, and laws and their impact on deforestation

Impact Investing

Research on emerging markets and technological opportunities in the global aquaculture sector

Program Operations

Developing an institutional procurement plan for WWF focused on sustainability and efficiency

Professional Development and Networking Opportunities

BRIDGE interns will be offered professional development opportunities. This includes Cornell University’s eCornell program, resume and interviewing training, and salary negotiation practice. Interns will also have access to an array of networking opportunities. This includes meetings with WWF’s staff and leadership team.

Other program amenities

Although interns aren't eligible for full benefits, BRIDGE interns can take advantage of several program amenities, including:

Compressed work week, with every other Friday off
5 days of paid sick leave for DC-based interns
Ability to contribute to WWF retirement account, 403(b) (without employer match)
Access to Employee Assistance Program
Access to Calm app
Employee discounts to Patagonia, local restaurants, and more

Testimonials

Hennessy Martinez, Columbia University

Environmental and Disaster Management Graduate Intern

"My time at WWF has been nothing but exceptional. My managers were always making sure I was getting everything I wanted from this internship experience, from networking opportunities to professional development. I feel that this internship allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and fully see the potential of all my abilities within the workforce. I was also so excited to be able to work on a variety of projects over the duration of my internship, which exposed me to all the meaningful work that WWF does. The BRIDGE program was phenomenal and provided all the interns opportunities to connect with one another and learn more about WWF outside of our designated teams."
Sophie Rust, Virginia Tech

Forest Communications Undergraduate Intern

“My internship with WWF exceeded my expectations by a landslide. This was my first internship, and I was expecting to do work that wasn't particularly interesting and to have little to no creative freedom. However, at no point did I feel like I was any less valuable than any of the people I worked with, and always felt like I could be myself and voice my opinions. It was actually highly encouraged. My creativity and curiosity flourished here, and I am endlessly grateful to WWF, my supervisors, and coworkers for allowing me to take part in an internship that truly changed my life for the better. Now, at the conclusion of my internship, I feel better equipped to take on my future endeavors than I could have imagined when I started here.”
Ben Conroy, Seattle University

Nature-Based Solutions Undergraduate Intern

“At the beginning of the internship, I didn't know what to expect. This was my first environmental-related experience. But not only did I learn more about what non-profit organizations do, but I got to learn more about office culture and Microsoft applications. Adding that together with the knowledge I gained on applied conservation, freshwater, and natural-based solutions. The internship gives a variety of useful skills and networking opportunities. I would highly recommend it.”
Victoria Jenkins, Christopher Newport University

Institutional Partnerships Undergraduate Intern, Development

"WWF has reassured me that top conservation leaders are working at issues involving conservation justice, climate displacement of communities, and political/business ideologies. I loved being able to work in a place that was so interdisciplinary. I felt that I could explore all aspects of conservation, and all WWF employees, including Senior Vice Presidents, were open to teaching and guiding me into this amazing field of work."