Fall 2026 - Research Internship for the Director of Programs - Fully Remote

Program: General CS Programs

Focus: Provide administrative and research support to the Indigenous self-government researcher on the capacity-building needs of Indigenous communities. 

Manager / Mentor: Avexnim Cojti, Director of Programs

Season: Fall 2026

The application period closes on July 18th, 2026. Early applications are encouraged.

Number of internships available: 1

Start of internship: September 21st, 2026

Internship duration: 3 months, 15 hours per week.

Internship Type: Remote, unpaid volunteer opportunity, Non-Profit.

Intern's expenses: This is a remote internship. For the three-month internship, the selected intern will receive a one-time stipend of $500.00 to assist with expenses such as phone, internet, office supplies, and other internship-related costs.

Overview

Cultural Survival's internship program offers mentorship, learning, and development opportunities for individuals interested in the non-profit sector, particularly in the vital work Cultural Survival performs to advance and defend Indigenous Peoples’ rights, lands, languages, and cultures. This initiative is one of the ways we demonstrate our social commitment to academic development and to providing meaningful growth opportunities.

Our internship opportunities welcome individuals from diverse nations, geographies, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, genders, religions, spiritualities, ages, experiences, viewpoints, and cosmovisions.

About the Internship

Program:  General

Provide administrative and research support to the Indigenous self-government researcher on the capacity-building needs of Indigenous communities. 

We are accepting applications for a remote internship opportunity in Fall 2026 within a research project involving Cultural Survival partners. The selected intern will report to the Director of Programs, and the internship will last 3 months.

The goal of this research project is to understand partner organizations' needs regarding self-government or governance.  Cultural Survival will play a key role in addressing specific needs as an international organization that accompanies local communities towards self-determination.

Interns applying to this program must have outstanding writing and communication skills. They should be adept at internet research and creative with Excel template formats. Pay particular attention to detail and to the ability to write concise summaries from the provided resources. Additionally, the intern is expected to assist with video editing materials.

Fluency in English and Spanish is highly desired. Portuguese and other languages might also be considered. 

We prefer someone independent, self-motivated, creative, and reliable, with a strong interest in learning about Indigenous Peoples’ rights, their activism, traditions, conditions, and cultures.

Key Learning Objectives:

• Gain experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative research for a global nonprofit organization.
• Enhance abilities in database management and administration.
• Engage with different Indigenous organizations online and learn about current needs.
• Learn to work and interact in a multicultural, remote, and diverse environment with global impact.

 Key tasks: 

• Administrative support, including document translation, meeting arrangements, scheduling, and minute-taking.
• Research involves collecting data, analyzing, and producing executive summaries of findings.
• Assist with basic video editing and multimedia support for project-related materials and presentations.

Weekly time commitment 

We will welcome a candidate interested in our work who can dedicate at least 15 hours per week to the internship.

Cultural Survival will accommodate the intern’s academic commitments and provide opportunities for a monthly mentorship session within this department. 

Upon successful completion of the internship, the intern will receive an internship certificate of completion. 

How to apply?

To be considered for this internship opportunity, the candidate’s application must include: 

1. A cover letter addressed to Avexnim Cojti, Director of Programs.
   1. Detail your interest in this internship, how you specifically meet the criteria we are looking for, and why you connect with our mission.  We want to understand your unique voice and writing style. Therefore, please refrain from using AI-generated content in your cover letter. The letter will be evaluated as your writing sample.
2. Resume

If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply, please send an email to: hr@culturalsurvival.org