In the bustling world of non-profit organizations, where every voice strives to be heard, Steven Jackson ’24, marketing, found himself at the epicenter of change during his internship with The Borgen Project.
“To graduate from Capital as a marketing major, you need to have an internship. I started with The Borgen Project in mid-February and it’s a 12-week program. It’s taught me a lot,” said Jackson. “Each week has been a different topic. The first week we learned about the organization, what they do and how they do it.”
The Borgen Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing global poverty and advocating for the world's most-vulnerable populations. Founded in 2003 by Clint Borgen, the organization aims to raise awareness about poverty-related issues and mobilize support for policies that can alleviate poverty on a global scale. One of the distinctive features of The Borgen Project is its focus on political advocacy.
“One of the first things I did was to create fundraising letters. Part of the internship is to create your own fundraising campaign, which I didn’t have any experience in,” said Jackson. “I’ve also written letters to the editor and emailed and called Congress weekly.”
Additional projects included designing infographics to share on social media, participating in a tabling event at Capital, conducting a survey, and creating YouTube shorts.
“The Borgen Project interns gain real-world leadership experience by actively engaging in advocacy campaigns, mobilizing their friends and family members to get involved in the cause. They have the opportunity to directly impact global poverty reduction through their collaborative efforts thanks to support from the organization's dedicated staff,” said Lynsey Alexander, chief of staff, The Borgen Project. “The Borgen Project's internship is often seen as a steppingstone to future successful careers in public policy, law, journalism, and more.”
During his time with the organization, Jackson was able to witness the progress The Borgen Project has made as they continue to advocate for increased foreign aid, funding for international development programs, and policies that address the root causes of poverty.
“On The Borgen Project’s website, they have a success tracker. Two of The Borgen Project’s supported legislation initiatives that have recently passed include the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act and the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act,” said Jackson. “It’s been a fun learning opportunity. Before this internship, I didn’t really know a lot about global poverty.”
Embracing the dynamic fusion of marketing and humanitarian advocacy, Jackson’s journey unfolded as a testament to the power of new passions, innovation, and purpose-driven initiatives.
“Advocacy has never really been my avenue, but it’s been cool to be a part of it and see how an organization like this operates. It’s interesting. I don’t know if the nonprofit route is necessarily for me, but it feels good that it was something that I was a part of,” said Jackson.
Students looking for an internship or job can reach out to Career Development. The office supports students and alumni with the process of identifying and implementing career goals that complement their learning, development, and success.