Community Relations, Public Relations and Media Outreach Intern

Better Business Bureau® of Michigan

Summer 2026 Marketing and Communications Internship Program

Internship Dates: June 1 through Aug. 7, 2026

Better Business Bureau® of Michigan is seeking four motivated, creative and organized interns to support major summer marketing initiatives, events, digital communications and operational projects. Interns will gain hands-on experience working alongside a collaborative marketing and communications team while contributing to high-visibility projects tied to business education, artificial intelligence programming, community outreach and brand growth.

These internships are designed to provide meaningful professional experience, portfolio-building opportunities and ownership of real projects that impact the organization.

Internship Details

• Schedule: Approximately 15 hours per week
• In-office days: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Compensation: $18.50 per hour
• Location: In person at the BBB® of Michigan office in Grand Rapids or Southfield

Interns may occasionally support events or projects outside standard office hours with advance notice.

Position Summary

The Community Relations, Public Relations and Media Outreach Intern supports BBB® of Michigan’s community engagement, partnership development and external communications efforts. This role helps strengthen relationships with business leaders, media contacts, community organizations and educational partners.

This internship is ideal for someone interested in public relations, communications, nonprofit outreach, media relations or stakeholder engagement.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assist with maintaining and organizing media and community partner contact lists
• Support outreach to community organizations, business groups and stakeholders
• Help coordinate sponsorship and partnership tracking
• Assist with media monitoring and research
• Draft basic outreach materials, talking points and follow-up communications
• Support post-event communication and recap distribution
• Help organize speaking opportunities, outreach requests and partnership materials
• Assist with compiling information for press releases, media pitches and public-facing communications
• Support community education initiatives and awareness campaigns
• Help document outreach activity and engagement tracking

Summer Project Focus

This intern will help strengthen BBB® of Michigan’s visibility and community engagement efforts.

Projects may include:

• Assisting with development of updated media lists and outreach databases
• Researching potential community partnerships and event opportunities
• Helping organize sponsor and partner communications for major events
• Supporting public relations efforts tied to AI education initiatives and business licensing education programs
• Assisting with the development of media kits and community outreach materials
• Helping improve follow-up systems for partners, sponsors and media contacts
• Supporting community storytelling and testimonial collection

Additional Opportunities

• Attend community events and networking opportunities with staff
• Gain exposure to nonprofit communications and public affairs strategy
• Learn how integrated communications campaigns are developed and executed
• Support outreach tied to educational programming and statewide initiatives

Preferred Qualifications

• Interest in public relations, communications, journalism or community engagement
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Comfortable interacting with external stakeholders professionally
• Organized and detail-oriented
• Strong research and follow-up skills
• Interest in event coordination or media relations is a plus

Why Intern With BBB® of Michigan?

Interns will gain:

• Real-world experience supporting statewide marketing and communications initiatives
• Exposure to nonprofit leadership, community engagement and brand strategy
• Opportunities to contribute ideas and take ownership of projects
• Portfolio-building work tied to digital marketing, events and communications
• Experience working on AI-related educational programming and emerging technology initiatives
• Mentorship from experienced marketing and communications professionals
• Collaborative experience within a fast-paced and mission-driven organization

BBB® of Michigan values creativity, initiative, professionalism and curiosity. Interns will leave the program with tangible experience, stronger professional skills and meaningful contributions they can showcase in future career opportunities.

ABOUT THE BBB:

Founded in 1912, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a non-profit agency focused on advancing marketplace trust. BBB collects and provides free business reviews on more than 4 million businesses to over 100 million requests from consumers, making BBB's website rank among the top 300 most visited websites in the United States. In addition, BBB acts as an intermediary between business and consumers and educates the public on scams & frauds and how to be a savvy consumer.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Pay: $18.50 per hour

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Southfield, MI 48076