NSU Special Projects Intern: Fall 2026-Spring 2027

Innocence Project•New York, NY

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Innocence Project is a not-for-profit organization that works to exonerate innocent people through post-conviction DNA testing and develop and implement policy changes to prevent wrongful convictions and otherwise reform the criminal justice system. The Innocence Network is an affiliation of over 70 independent nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and public defender’s offices that is dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people and reforming the criminal justice system to avoid future injustice. The Innocence Network member organizations vary in the size, budget, and number of cases they can investigate, and most primarily represent clients in the state in which they work. The Innocence Network Support Unit is seeking an intern to support the operational activities of the Innocence Network. The Network Special Projects Intern will report to the Innocence Network Coordinator and will work with other members of the Network Support Unit. The intern can expect to gain direct exposure to various areas of non-profit management, event planning, and exposure to a national coalition of criminal legal reform organizations. The internship is based in the Innocence Project office in lower Manhattan and requires a minimum commitment of at least 16 hours a week beginning in September 2026; however, the time frame and schedule are flexible. The intern will also be required to attend and help staff the 2027 Innocence Network Conference in Anaheim, CA, a gathering of innocence attorneys and staff members, freed and exonerated people and their family members, and many other members of the innocence movement. The intern will travel to Anaheim on Tuesday, April 6th and return the following Sunday, April 12th. All expenses, including travel, hotel, and meals during the conference, will be paid by the Innocence Project. Please note that this is not a legal internship and is better suited for individuals looking to pursue careers in the non-profit management sector.

Requirements

A passion for the Network’s work and an interest in organizational development and nonprofit management.
Strong organizational and writing skills and attention to detail.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint and Excel.
Ability to travel to Anaheim, CA, on Tuesday, April 7th and return the following Sunday, April 12th for the Innocence Network Conference.
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Ability to manage multiple projects, set priorities, and adhere to timelines with meticulous attention to detail.
Ability to handle a broad range of stakeholders with grace and diplomacy.
Keen eye for systems and operational management.
Strong sense of personal responsibility and accountability for delivering high-quality work.

Nice To Haves

Experience in event management a plus but not required.
Database management skills a plus but not required.
Knowledge of MailChimp a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

Gain valuable event planning experience by assisting with the preparation and organization of documents and materials for the 2026 Innocence Network Conference, liaising with speakers, assisting with social media efforts and registration, and handling inquiries from attendees.
Help to print, assemble, pack, and ship all relevant materials to the conference venue in Anaheim.
Serve as front-line conference staff on the ground in Anaheim, managing a variety of priorities and troubleshooting any issues as they arise.
Learn the basics of various platforms, programs, and databases such as Google Groups listservs, Monday.com project management software, and MailChimp by assisting with the daily maintenance of those programs to facilitate resource sharing and communication among Network member organizations.
Learn how membership coalitions operate and assist with the processing of the Network’s annual membership dues.
Gain valuable analytic and research experience in a range of different areas through assistance with projects, such as tracking Network exonerations and completing the tabulation and analysis of the conference session evaluation surveys, as well as supporting the analysis of the Network’s annual report survey completed by Network Member Organizations and other Network surveys as needed.
Assist with other special projects as needed and relevant, including updating the Network Support Unit’s resources.