Queer Refugee Intern Applications- Community Giving Intern

Queer Refugee Internship Program (QRI) 

About Rainbow Railroad 

Rainbow Railroad is an international human rights organization that creates pathways to safety for at-risk LGBTQI+ people and strengthens policies and systems that support their protection and integration. 

Headquartered in Toronto and New York, Rainbow Railroad is one of the few organizations that work as direct service providers, advocates, thought leaders, and movement strategists to address global queer forced displacement. Since its founding in 2006, the organization has received over 75,000 requests for help from individuals facing persecution due to their diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or sex characteristics (SOGIESC). 

In collaboration with a global network of grassroots organizations and human rights defenders in crisis-affected contexts, Rainbow Railroad has supported more than 40,000 LGBTQI+ individuals, including facilitating international relocation for more than 2,300 people since its inception.

Rainbow Railroad is a registered Canadian charity and a USA 501(c)(3) organization with its headquarters in Toronto, Canada and an office in New York City, USA 

Overview of the Queer Refugee Internship 

In keeping with our strategic objective to strengthen and optimize the foundation of the organization while we queer the system and get more LGBTQI+ people to safety, Rainbow Railroad will be piloting an internship program for refugees who have benefitted from our work. This program aims to support refugees in rebuilding their lives and integrating into their new communities by enhancing their professional capacity in the social sector. Our internship program offers a unique opportunity for refugees to gain valuable work experience, develop new skills, and access professional networks, as we facilitate their empowerment on their journey to self-sufficiency and successful integration. The QRI will be targeted to refugees who have an interest in contributing their lived and professional expertise to the global forced displacement response and elevating the voices of queer refugees in the sector. QRI is also a part of Rainbow Railroad’s commitment to a refugee-inclusive and refugee-informed engagement praxis.


Program Objectives 

• Provide practical work experience and skill development opportunities for LGBTQI+ refugees. 
• Foster a supportive and inclusive environment that values diversity and cultural exchange. 
• Equip interns with tools and resources to enhance their employability in the social sector and improve integration prospects. 
• Create a refugee-informed culture of engagement and program implementation at Rainbow Railroad. 

Program Structure 

• Duration: 36 hours/week x 8 weeks (288 hours total)
• Internship Positions: One available position within the Development Department: Community Giving Intern. 
• Training and Mentorship: Interns will receive orientation, training, and ongoing mentorship from an assigned member of staff to support their professional development and integration into the workplace. 
• Projects and Responsibilities: Assigned staff will outline tasks and scope of work relevant to each intern’s expertise and interest as well as the community mobilization needs of the organization allowing them to meaningfully contribute to our mission. 
• Regular Check-ins: Assigned staff will schedule 1:1 weekly or bi-weekly meetings to provide feedback, address concerns, and ensure interns' well-being and progress. 
• Networking Opportunities: Interns will participate in virtual and/or in-person meetings, workshops, events, and other activities hosted by Rainbow Railroad and/or its partners to facilitate connections with professionals and peers within the social sector. 
• Evaluation and Feedback: Assigned staff will complete a summative evaluation of interns’ performance and interns will complete a feedback survey regarding their internship experience within one month of completing the program. Interns will also be asked to write a public-facing blog post about their experience.

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Queer or Trans Asylum claimants, refugees, or permanent residents residing in Toronto.
• Applicants must be newcomers to Canada. This means they must have been residing in Canada for less than 5 years at the time of application.
• Willingness to commit to the full 8-week duration of the internship program
• Proficiency in English; additional language is an asset 
• Interest in gaining practical work experience and learning new skills 
• Respect for the organization's values and commitment to its mission 

Benefits for Interns: 

• Hands-on work experience in a professional environment 
• Mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals 
• Networking opportunities and exposure to different facets of the organization
• Certificate of completion at the end of the program 
• Potential referrals or recommendations based on performance 
• Honorarium provided - $28/hour CAD

Application Process: 

1. Application Submission: Candidates can submit their résumés and cover letters expressing their interest in the internship program through our application portal 
2. Interviews: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews to assess their skills, interests, and suitability for available positions. 
3. Selection: Successful candidates will be notified of their acceptance into the internship program. 
4. Orientation: Interns will undergo an orientation session to familiarize themselves with their scope of work, the organization's culture, policies, and expectations. 

Scope of Work: Community Giving Intern 

The Role

Rainbow Railroad is seeking a Community Giving Intern to support the growth of our third-party and peer-to-peer fundraising programs. This role will focus on prospect research to identify influencers, creators, and community organizers who align with Rainbow Railroad’s mission to support LGBTQI+ people facing persecution around the world.

The intern will help build a pipeline of potential partners who may be interested in fundraising for Rainbow Railroad. This includes researching and identifying aligned influencers, drag performers, Twitch streamers, celebrities, authors, athletes, content creators, and queer-focused events or community initiatives.

Working closely with the Community Giving team, the intern will help develop outreach materials and systems that support relationship-building and partnership development. There may also be opportunities to represent Rainbow Railroad at community-led fundraising events in Toronto, helping to strengthen relationships with grassroots supporters and partners.

In addition to external-facing work, the intern will support internal community-building initiatives during Pride and contribute to broader annual giving activities. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys research, organizing information, and contributing to creative outreach strategies that engage communities in meaningful ways.

Candidates with strong research skills, attention to detail, and an interest in LGBTQI+ advocacy are encouraged to apply. Experience or interest in copywriting, digital communications, or graphic design is considered an asset.

Key Duties

Prospect Research & Database Development

• Research and identify potential third-party and peer-to-peer fundraising partners aligned with Rainbow Railroad’s mission.
• Identify prospective partners across multiple communities, including influencers, drag performers, Twitch streamers, celebrities, authors, athletes, and content creators.
• Research queer-focused events, community initiatives, and grassroots organizers that may be interested in hosting fundraising activities.
• Compile and maintain prospect lists, including contact information, social media presence, audience demographics, and potential partnership opportunities.
• Support the creation and organization of prospect tracking systems and databases.

Outreach & Partnership Development

• Assist in developing outreach strategies to engage prospective partners and supporters.
• Draft email templates, outreach messages, and engagement materials for influencer and community partnerships.
• Support the development of partnership one-pagers, information documents, and outreach resources.
• Help track outreach activity and maintain records of communications and partnership opportunities.

Content & Resource Development

• Assist with the creation of partnership materials such as informational documents, one-pagers, and fundraising toolkits.
• Support the development of messaging that clearly communicates the impact of fundraising for Rainbow Railroad.
• Contribute to copywriting for outreach materials and partnership communications.
• Support light graphic design work for outreach resources where applicable.

Community Engagement & Event Support

• Support the Community Giving team in identifying community-led fundraising events and partnership opportunities.
• Assist with preparing materials for community partners and supporters.
• Represent Rainbow Railroad at select community-led fundraising events in Toronto when opportunities arise.

Administrative & Project Support

• Provide data entry and project management support to ensure prospect research and outreach activities remain organized and up to date.
• Support the coordination of internal documents related to community fundraising initiatives.
• Assist the Community Giving team with other research and engagement projects as needed.

Performance & Reporting 

• Participate in an onboarding process to understand Rainbow Railroad’s mission and work. 
• Submit weekly progress reports to the Director, Community Giving, detailing work completed and upcoming priorities. 
• Prepare a final internship report and blog summarizing experiences, contributions, and key learnings. 

Compensation & Work Schedule 

• This internship requires a commitment of 28.5 hours per week. 
• Compensation will be $28/hour, paid on a bi-weekly basis.
• The internship period will run from Monday, April 13th, 2026 to Friday, June 19th 2026.

Professional Development & Learning Opportunities 

• Exposure to nonprofit fundraising and community engagement strategies.
• Hands-on experience in prospect research and developing fundraising campaigns, contributing to an annual fundraising budget of $13M.
• Opportunities to network with LGBTQI+ advocates, community leaders, and nonprofit professionals. 
• • Opportunities for cross-departmental learning and a deepened understanding of RR's mission. 
  • Mentorship and peer learning opportunities 

Deadline to Apply: April 3

Supervision & Contact 

The Intern will report directly to the Director, Community Giving and work closely with the Development Department. 

For any inquiries regarding this role, please contact: 

Brittany Skerritt (she/they)

bskerritt@rainbowrailroad.org