IN-26038 Oceans Blended and Innovative Finance Intern

World Wildlife Fund•Washington, DC

About The Position

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a Oceans Blended and Innovative Finance Intern. 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. The WWF-US Oceans – Ocean Markets and Finance team combines nature-positive business with innovative blue financing to deliver scalable, durable global oceans solutions, and supports WWF’s nature-positive seascape work. This internship is designed to support the Blended and Innovative Finance workstream within this broader body of work. This workstream focuses on mobilizing capital in WWF’s priority seascapes, directing investment toward place-based projects through innovative approaches that blend public and private capital. The 2026 Blended and Innovative Finance Summer Intern will support the team across two priority workstreams: (1) developing training resources on the fundamentals of conservation and nature finance, and (2) supporting an ongoing innovation process to identify and address the most critical challenges in influencing corporate action and mobilizing finance towards marine conservation in WWF’s priority geographies. 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.

Requirements

Pursuing a Graduate Degree program in Environmental Studies, Conservation Science, Finance, Economics, Sustainability, International Development, or a related field.
Strong analytical and research abilities, including comfort synthesizing complex information from multiple sources
Strong written communication skills, including the ability to translate technical or complex concepts for non-specialist audiences
High attention to detail and accuracy
Ability to stay organized and manage time effectively across multiple workstreams
Self-motivated with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team setting
Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills
Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: COURAGE – We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it’s needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home. INTEGRITY – We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability, and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve. RESPECT – We honor the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future. COLLABORATION – We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.
Only enrolled students are eligible for this internship as you must be able to receive academic credit from your current academic institution.
Able to work either part time or full time, depending on class schedule and availability.

Nice To Haves

Experience with or interest in conservation finance, blended finance, sustainable investment, or related fields is a plus

Responsibilities

Support the creation of a video-based training resource on the fundamentals of conservation and nature finance.
Working closely with the WWF US Blue Finance team, the Oceans Communications team, and the WWF Creative Solutions team, the intern will help design and develop content tailored for colleagues in WWF offices across our priority seascapes who have strong conservation backgrounds but limited exposure to finance concepts. This will involve conducting background research, drafting scripts and supporting materials, coordinating across teams, and providing review support throughout the production process.
Support an ongoing innovation process within the Ocean Markets and Finance team focused on identifying the most persistent and impactful challenges affecting WWF’s work on influencing corporate action and mobilizing finance towards marine conservation in our priority seascapes.
The intern will help map these “sticky problems,” synthesize insights from internal stakeholders and external research, and identify potential solutions and interventions where WWF can play a meaningful role. This may include facilitated workshops, desk research, stakeholder interviews, and synthesis of findings into actionable recommendations.