Avista Foundation Employee Engagement Intern (Winter/Spring 2027)

Closes: November 29, 2026

The Avista Foundation is seeking a motivated and collaborative intern to support the development and implementation of a new employee giving campaign. This semester-long internship will provide hands-on experience in philanthropy, employee engagement, communications, project management, campaign execution, and committee leadership. The intern will work with the Executive Director of the Avista Foundation and internal stakeholders to research, design, launch, and evaluate an employee giving program, including serving as the lead facilitator for an employee campaign committee that helps guide engagement and implementation efforts.

This role will help strengthen employee connection to community investment and support the Foundation's goals.

Internship Details

• The Avista Foundation Employee Engagement Intern will get a chance to:
• Research and recommend employee giving and workplace philanthropy practices to inform the design and implementation of Avista's employee giving campaign.
• Gather and summarize employee and stakeholder feedback to help shape campaign goals, messaging, engagement strategies, and participation opportunities.
• Assist in the development of the employee giving campaign strategy, including campaign objectives, timelines, communication plans, and employee engagement activities.
• Create campaign communications and educational materials that help employees understand the Avista Foundation's mission, community impact, and opportunities to participate.
• Coordinate and support campaign implementation activities, including chairing the employee campaign committee, employee outreach, presentations, events, ambassador engagement, and other campaign-related efforts.
• Collaborate with internal partners to support campaign logistics, employee participation processes, communications, and reporting needs.
• Track campaign participation, engagement, and feedback, and assist in developing recommendations for future campaign improvements.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and final recommendations summarizing campaign results, lessons learned, and opportunities for future growth that will help to inform future internships.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Undergraduate student enrolled full time in college earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in one of the following: Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or another related area. Student must remain enrolled full-time during the internship.
• Must be able to work a minimum of 10 hours per week, with flexibility to work up to 20 hours as needed; scheduling flexibility is available around spring break and other academic commitments.

Preferred coursework or experience in

• Writing and public speaking
• Digital marketing
• Market research
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and analytical skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a professional team environment
• Other combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• This internship requires an on-site presence at our Scott Morris Center in Spokane, Washington.
• Student General Tech-1 (Freshman), Starting Salary: $19.51 per hour
• Student General Tech-2 (Sophomore), Starting Salary: $19.90 per hour
• Student General Tech-3 (Junior), Starting Salary: $20.29 per hour
• Student General Tech-4 (Senior), Starting Salary: $20.70 per hour
• Student General Graduate Student (Master's or PhD), Starting Salary: $27.12 per hour

To Apply

We encourage you to apply as many of our positions have multiple levels to account for an incoming employee’s various knowledge, skills, and experience.

Complete an online application and attach your resume and cover letter to your profile. All documents must be attached to your application at the time of submitting your application for review. No documents can be attached after you click "Submit".

Total Rewards

At Avista, our employees are the foundation of our success. Their dedication drives the value we deliver to our customers and communities. That’s why we prioritize the physical, mental, and financial well-being of our team members and their families.

We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards program designed to support every stage of life and career. Our offerings include:

Affordable healthcare options including medical, dental, and vision coverage

Retirement benefits with an enhanced 401(k) match

Incentive programs rewarding performance and contributions

Competitive paid time off including holidays, personal days, and vacation

Life and disability insurance for added peace of mind

Wellness resources supporting mental and physical health

Education and development support including tuition assistance

Community giving programs encouraging employee engagement and impact

Other optional benefits from Legal insurance, Pet insurance, and more (Eligibility subject to Bargaining Unit affiliation)

To learn more, please visit our benefits website at https://avistabenefits.com/.

We are committed to maintaining a competitive and equitable total rewards package that attracts and retains a diverse, skilled, and engaged workforce.

In compliance with state laws, we provide the full salary range for each position, along with the typical hiring range based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity. The full salary range for this position is $19.51 to $27.12 per hour. Questions regarding compliance with this requirement can be directed to [email protected].

Pre-employment screening requirements

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a drug test, background check and motor vehicle records review.

Avista’s Commitment to Equal Opportunity

Avista is a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds, and we are committed to Equal Opportunity Employment. All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, sensory, mental or physical disability (unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification), Veteran status or any other classification protected by nondiscrimination laws.

Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you require any special accommodations to participate fully in our recruitment process. Avista will make reasonable accommodation to assist a qualified person with a disability in the job application, interview process, and to perform the essential functions of the job whenever possible, where undue hardship would not be created for Avista. Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like assistance.