WWF BRIDGE Internship: Building a Diverse Future in Conservation

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is committed to science-based solutions that preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt environmental degradation, and combat the climate crisis. Recognizing the need for diverse voices and perspectives in conservation, WWF launched the BRIDGE summer internship program in 2021. BRIDGE, which stands for Building Relationships, Inclusivity, Diversity, Growth, and Excellence, aims to introduce students from underrepresented populations to the numerous career paths within the conservation field.

The Imperative of Diversity in Conservation

An array of unique experiences, voices, and perspectives are needed in conservation to generate the most innovative solutions to the planet’s most daunting challenges. WWF recognizes that a diverse workforce is crucial for achieving its conservation goals and ensuring that its efforts are equitable and inclusive.

BRIDGE: A Multifaceted Approach to Diversity

The BRIDGE program addresses the need for diversity in conservation through a three-pronged approach:

Reaching Underrepresented Groups

First, BRIDGE aims to reach historically underrepresented groups, including women, people of color, veterans, and people with disabilities. By focusing on these groups, WWF seeks to create a more inclusive and representative workforce in the conservation sector.

Providing Paid Internships

Second, BRIDGE recognizes the value in the work interns provide - and WWF pays them. In 2022, The Green 2.0 Transparency Report Card found that 1 in 5 organizations still did not offer paid internships. WWF’s commitment to paying its interns demonstrates its belief in the importance of their contributions and helps to remove financial barriers to participation.

Engaging Academic Programs

Third, in addition to paying interns, WWF engages academic programs reaching BRIDGE populations, in our effort to provide them with information about an inspiring and substantive internship. By partnering with these programs, WWF can reach a wider pool of talented students and encourage them to consider a career in conservation.

Professional Development and Networking Opportunities

BRIDGE interns are offered professional development opportunities, including Cornell University’s eCornell program, resume and interviewing training, and salary negotiation practice. Interns also have access to an array of networking opportunities. In 2022, BRIDGE interns were invited to many professional development and networking opportunities - gaining exposure to conservation career pathways and witnessing how diversity, equity, and inclusion was integrated into WWF. These opportunities help interns develop the skills and connections they need to succeed in their careers.

A Conversation with Leadership

Another session was devoted to WWF’s President and CEO, Carter Roberts, connecting with interns to offer reflections and ask them for their feedback. “Listening to Carter speak was very insightful, and the Q&A session allowed the interns to ask about things that they wanted to learn more about,” said Ashley Pratt-Gallo, a summer 2022 intern on the People and Culture team.

Impact on Interns

Internships are an opportunity for an early career individual to experience what a future career path in an industry could look like. The BRIDGE program has had a profound impact on its interns, providing them with valuable experiences and shaping their career paths.

Edralin, who noticed a big disparity with the climate crisis while visiting family in the Philippines, felt like a lot of people were in a bubble after returning to the US. The BRIDGE program provided Edralin with an opportunity to make a difference in the fight against climate change.

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The "Environmental and Disaster Management Graduate Intern" shared, "My time at WWF has been nothing but exceptional. My managers were always making sure I was getting everything I wanted from this internship experience, from networking opportunities to professional development. I feel that this internship allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and fully see the potential of all my abilities within the workforce. I was also so excited to be able to work on a variety of projects over the duration of my internship, which exposed me to all the meaningful work that WWF does."

The "Forest Communications Undergraduate Intern" stated, “My internship with WWF exceeded my expectations by a landslide. This was my first internship, and I was expecting to do work that wasn't particularly interesting and to have little to no creative freedom. However, at no point did I feel like I was any less valuable than any of the people I worked with, and always felt like I could be myself and voice my opinions. It was actually highly encouraged. My creativity and curiosity flourished here, and I am endlessly grateful to WWF, my supervisors, and coworkers for allowing me to take part in an internship that truly changed my life for the better."

The "Nature-Based Solutions Undergraduate Intern" said, “At the beginning of the internship, I didn't know what to expect. This was my first environmental-related experience. But not only did I learn more about what non-profit organizations do, but I got to learn more about office culture and Microsoft applications. Adding that together with the knowledge I gained on applied conservation, freshwater, and natural-based solutions. The internship gives a variety of useful skills and networking opportunities."

The "Institutional Partnerships Undergraduate Intern, Development" shared, "WWF has reassured me that top conservation leaders are working at issues involving conservation justice, climate displacement of communities, and political/business ideologies. I loved being able to work in a place that was so interdisciplinary."

Investing in the Future of Conservation

To sustain BRIDGE for future underrepresented students seeking to grow a conservation career, WWF is creating an endowment that will guarantee long-term support for interns by providing more than 40 undergraduate and graduate students annually with a fully paid 10-week internship. Income from the endowment will cover interns’ salaries and other essential costs.

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Application Criteria

Applicant must be a current, active student enrolled in an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral program. For doctoral students, applicants must not have completed more than two years of coursework. Students finishing a bachelor’s degree program in one term who plan to immediately enroll in a graduate program subsequent to receiving their degree are only qualified for graduate-level positions.

To apply, you must provide:

A cover letter
A resume

If selected as a final candidate, you will also be asked to provide a letter of recommendation.

WWF's Commitment to Diversity

Following BRIDGE, interns enter WWF’s pipeline for future hires, which helps the organization work toward our goal of at least 30 percent people of color among full-time employees - which we achieved this quarter. Jessica Leung is a program manager for Early Talent Diversity Programs at World Wildlife Fund (WWF). WWF's commitment extends beyond the BRIDGE program, with ongoing efforts to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace.

Conclusion

The WWF BRIDGE internship program is a vital initiative that promotes diversity and inclusion in the conservation field. By providing paid internships, professional development opportunities, and networking connections to students from underrepresented backgrounds, BRIDGE is helping to build a more equitable and effective conservation movement. The program not only benefits the interns themselves but also strengthens WWF's ability to address the complex environmental challenges facing our planet.

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