Economic Empowerment Intern - Fall 2025

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Job Title: Economic Empowerment Intern 
Location: Hybrid, IRC-LA office in Glendale  
State Date: September/October 2025
Duration: 4-6 months; Flexible (16-hour) work week.

***** NOTE: This is an unpaid internship. *******
 

ABOUT US: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in over 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity, and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home.

ABOUT THE JOB: The Economic Empowerment Intern is an intern position to support IRC-LA's financial education program. This program aims to increase participants' financial literacy, and provide them with financial coaching and access to low-interest loans. This program aims to empower participants and boost their confidence in handling their personal finances. Reporting to the Economic Empowerment Supervisor and/or Financial Coach, the economic empowerment intern will coordinate and provide financial counseling/coaching services for clients and assist with administrative work, data entry, and other program implementation work.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:  

• Intern will work with a range of clients, (e.g. recent refugee arrivals, asylum seekers, naturalized citizens, undocumented folks etc.)
• Intern will split time more or less evenly between admin work and client-facing work, in both a 1:1 and workshop setting. (This isn't boring computer work!)
• Intern will work in a program that allows them to easily network across other IRC teams.

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Provide 1:1 financial coaching and counseling, including creating a personal budget, establishing a bank account, taking out loans, and establishing credit, as well as advanced asset-building topics, including analyzing credit reports and co-creating effective debt management plans.
• Assess client needs and develop individual financial action plans with each client.
• Provide credit and car purchase workshops to potential loan applicants.
• Assist with client data entry, outreach for economic empowerment programs, resource management, and follow-up calls to collect quantitative data for clients. 

REQUIREMENTS:  

• Demonstrates ability to communicate well with people of varied backgrounds
• High level of comfort, functioning and effectiveness in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams
• Excellent organizational skills with a high level of attention to detail and computer literacy
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to make presentations
• Ability to work independently, be a self-starter and manage multiple tasks
• Fluency in English required.
• Proficiency in Spanish, and/or Farsi/Dari REQUIRED.

Our Hiring Process: 

• Attend an informational session. RSVP HERE.
• Submit your online application here.
• Interview with our team.
• A background check was done via HireRight (a donation of $49 to help cover the cost).
• Attend an Orientation. 

Don't hesitate to contact Volunteer.LA@Rescue.org if you have any questions.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Cookies: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/cookiesettings

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.