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Extracurriculars for a Career in Nonprofit Program Manager

101 high school activities and programs that build real experience toward a career in nonprofit program manager.

Student Leaders
Bank of America · Multiple · In-Person

Students work directly in nonprofit organizations managing civic engagement projects and community service initiatives.

Key Club International
Key Club · Multiple · In-Person

Key Club members design and execute volunteer projects and initiatives addressing community needs, core nonprofit program management work.

Habitat for Humanity Youth Programs
Habitat for Humanity · Multiple · In-Person

Students organize and coordinate service projects, fundraising, and community engagement—core nonprofit program management responsibilities.

AFS High School Study Abroad
AFS Intercultural Programs · Multiple · In-Person

Active Global Citizenship focus and intercultural competency are core to managing community-centered nonprofit initiatives.

Youth Social Media Ambassador
Jersey Cares · Livingston, NJ · Virtual

Students help increase volunteer engagement and recruitment, core functions of nonprofit program management.

Jewish Student Union (JSU)
Jewish Student Union · Multiple · In-Person

JSU students plan and lead club activities, manage membership, and organize community-building events similar to nonprofit program management.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) · Multiple · In-Person

FCA students develop leadership and community organizing skills by running ministry programs and discipleship initiatives.

National Beta Club
National Beta · Multiple · In-Person

Students organize and lead community service initiatives and programs within their Beta clubs.

Tri-M Music Honor Society
National Association for Music Education (NAfME) · Multiple · In-Person

Leadership and community service roles build skills for managing mission-driven programs and initiatives.

Teen Age Republicans (TARS)
National Teen Age Republicans / Republican Party · Arlington, VA · Hybrid

Leadership development and community service projects prepare students for nonprofit management roles.

Young Democrats of America
Young Democrats of America · Multiple · Hybrid

Volunteer-led organizational structure and community mobilization directly mirror nonprofit program management responsibilities.

VolunteerMatch
Idealist · Multiple · Hybrid

Students connect with and support nonprofit organizations through volunteer opportunities aligned with program management work.

High School Democrats of America
High School Democrats of America · Multiple · Hybrid

Students build and lead local chapters, coordinate events, and manage volunteer participation across organizational networks.

National Organization for Women (NOW)
National Organization for Women · Multiple · Hybrid

Direct involvement with NOW's organizational structure, campaigns, and conference participation builds nonprofit leadership experience.

Amnesty International USA
Amnesty International USA · Multiple · Hybrid

Students lead research, advocacy, and mobilization efforts within a major nonprofit organization structure.

Girls Learn International
Girls Learn International · Multiple · In-Person

Students lead clubs, organize meetings, and manage programs with guidance from staff and advisors.

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
Students Against Destructive Decisions · Multiple

SADD students lead chapters that mobilize communities around health and safety initiatives similar to nonprofit program management.

Cru
Cru · Multiple · In-Person

Cru students organize community service initiatives and lead volunteer programs mirroring nonprofit operations.

DoSomething
DoSomething · Multiple · Hybrid

Students design and execute community service campaigns, managing volunteer initiatives and tracking impact across causes.

Ocean Awareness Contest
Bow Seat · Multiple · Virtual

Activity develops community organizing, advocacy, and environmental stewardship skills through creative activism.

Posse Foundation Scholarship
The Posse Foundation · Multiple · Hybrid

Posse scholars develop leadership and community transformation skills directly applicable to nonprofit program management.

Diamond Challenge
University of Delaware · Newark, DE

The competition emphasizes social innovation tracks and community service, preparing students for social venture leadership.

Putney Pre-College Summer Programs
Putney Student Travel · Multiple · In-Person

Community service and leadership components directly align with managing global service-learning initiatives and community engagement.

Westcoast Connection Teen Programs
Westcoast Connection · Multiple · In-Person

Community service volunteer programs build experience in organizing, managing, and evaluating social impact initiatives.

The Experiment in International Living
World Learning · Multiple · In-Person

Community service components and leadership development align with managing programs serving diverse populations.

Rustic Pathways Teen Travel Programs
Rustic Pathways · Multiple · In-Person

Students lead and participate in community service projects with verified service hours and direct community impact.

Putney Student Travel
Putney Student Travel · Multiple · In-Person

Service-learning programs combine community engagement, leadership development, and collaborative project work with local organizations.

Student Conservation Association National Crews
Student Conservation Association · Multiple · In-Person

Students develop leadership and social responsibility while managing team-based conservation projects with structured crews.

Yunasa West
Institute for Educational Advancement · Deckers, CO · In-Person

Leadership track develops project leadership and peer mentoring skills for managing youth-focused programs.

The Lorenzo de Zavala (LDZ) Youth Legislative Session
National Hispanic Institute · Fort Collins, CO · In-Person

Students conduct meetings, make decisions, and develop leadership and organizational management capabilities.

Black Issues Forum
Colorado State University · Fort Collins, CO · In-Person

Program emphasizes leadership development and community engagement through structured workshops and mentorship.

Sadie Nash Summer Institute
Sadie Nash Leadership Project · Multiple · In-Person

Students develop leadership skills and community engagement directly applicable to running nonprofit programs and initiatives.

Youth Opportunity – Teen Corps
Riverside Park Conservancy · New York, NY · In-Person

Teens assist with organizing community volunteer groups, event staffing, and coordination of group activities in parks.

The Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI) Journey to Leadership Program
Bella Abzug Leadership Institute · New York, NY · In-Person

Program builds leadership and community organizing skills essential for managing nonprofit initiatives and programs.

Apollo Theater Academy Arts & Entertainment Production Internship
Apollo Theater · New York City, NY · In-Person

Students gain experience in program development, community outreach, donor cultivation, and arts administration.

Museum of Arts and Design Artslife
Museum of Arts and Design · New York City, NY · In-Person

Program emphasizes museum studies, community engagement, and professional development in arts institutions.

Relay For Life
American Cancer Society · Multiple · In-Person

Students organize and execute a major fundraising and community service event supporting a mission-driven organization.

Best Buddies
Best Buddies International · Multiple · In-Person

Students develop leadership and advocacy skills directly applicable to managing inclusive community programs.

Operation Smile Student Programs
Operation Smile · Virginia Beach, Virginia · In-Person

Students join Operation Smile's student programs to organize and expand community service initiatives globally.

IDEATE Engineering Competition
SourceAmerica · Multiple · Hybrid

Competition fosters disability inclusion advocacy and community partnerships aligned with nonprofit mission work.

Pomona College Academy for Youth Success (PAYS)
Pomona College · Claremont, CA · In-Person

PAYS is a college access program serving underrepresented students; students learn community-focused mission work through workshops and projects.

Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Telluride Association · In-Person

Students plan community service projects and make democratic decisions about community needs and resources.

Davidson Young Scholars Program
Davidson Institute · Reno, NV · Hybrid

Students develop and manage community service projects with organizational guidance through the Ambassador Program.

Brown Leadership Institute
Brown University · Providence, Rhode Island · Hybrid

Students develop action plans to advance social justice and community change, core to nonprofit program implementation.

NextGen Leadership Institute
Barnard College · New York, NY · In-Person

Leadership in Action series teaches practical tools for working with others, strategic thinking, and identifying community impact actions.

Young Founders Lab
Young Founders Lab · Virtual · Hybrid

Dedicated nonprofit track guides students through needs assessment, organizational development, and fundraising.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation Bootcamp
Tufts University · Medford/Somerville, MA · In-Person

Students can create and launch nonprofit ventures as part of the bootcamp's new venture options.

Athena Summer Innovation Institute
Barnard College · New York, NY · In-Person

The program explicitly mentions creating non-profit organizations as one of the venture types students can develop.

Caminos al Futuro
Cisneros Institute at George Washington University · Washington, DC · In-Person

Community Action Projects teach students to design and implement service initiatives for their communities.

Kitty Bungalow Volunteer Program
Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats · Los Angeles, CA · In-Person

Volunteer experience at a nonprofit organization builds understanding of program operations and community impact.

Youth Service America
Youth Service America · Multiple · Hybrid

Youth plan and execute service campaigns, apply for grants, and lead community-based projects with ASAP strategies.

Shatterproof Walk to End Addiction
Shatterproof · Multiple · In-Person

Students organize and execute a major fundraising walk event to support addiction treatment and prevention programs.

P.A.T.H. — People Assisting the Homeless Volunteer Program
PATH · Multiple · In-Person

Volunteering with a major nonprofit organization builds experience in program coordination and community impact work.

Wags and Walks Volunteer Program
Wags and Walks · Multiple · In-Person

Students manage volunteer logistics, coordinate programs across locations, and oversee operations similar to nonprofit program management.

L.A. Works
L.A. Works · Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid

L.A. Works directly connects volunteers to nonprofit organizations needing program support and volunteer leadership.

Big Sunday
Big Sunday · Los Angeles, CA · In-Person

Students coordinate volunteer events, manage projects, and organize community service activities similar to program management work.

Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens Volunteer Program
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens · Los Angeles, CA · In-Person

Volunteers engage in community service and mission-driven work similar to nonprofit program operations.

The Midnight Mission Volunteer Program
The Midnight Mission · Los Angeles, CA 90014 · In-Person

Direct experience managing volunteer groups and coordinating meal services and giveaway programs.

Heal the Bay Beach Cleanups
Heal the Bay · Los Angeles County, CA · In-Person

Students participate in organizing and running large-scale community volunteer cleanup programs and events.

FoodCycle LA Volunteer Program
FoodCycle · Los Angeles, CA · In-Person

Students coordinate food recovery logistics and partner with donors and recipients, core nonprofit program management responsibilities.

Meaningful Gardens
Meaningful Engagement · Multiple · In-Person

Students organize and build community gardens in underserved areas to tackle food insecurity.

My Friend's House Foundation
My Friend's House Foundation LA · Los Angeles, CA 90021 · In-Person

Students directly engage in running community service programs like food distribution and donation coordination.

Friends of Ballona Wetlands Volunteer Program
Friends of Ballona Wetlands · Los Angeles, CA · In-Person

Volunteers coordinate restoration events, handle logistics, and support all stages of program planning and execution.

Volunteer at Los Angeles Public Library
Los Angeles Public Library · Los Angeles, CA · In-Person

Volunteers gain direct experience in community service operations and program support at a major nonprofit institution.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Volunteer Programs
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium · San Pedro, CA 90731 · In-Person

Volunteers support a mission-driven organization's education, conservation, and community engagement initiatives.

Baby2Baby Volunteer Opportunities
Baby2Baby · Los Angeles, CA 90016 · In-Person

Volunteers directly support nonprofit operations and learn program execution through hands-on service work.

Alexandria House Volunteer Programs
Alexandria House · Los Angeles, CA 90020 · In-Person

Students coordinate volunteer programs, manage meal logistics, and support community initiatives directly aligned with nonprofit operations.

Volunteer Collective
Volunteer Collective · Los Angeles, CA · In-Person

Students design and lead volunteer campaigns addressing community needs like hunger and housing.

Voice of Calling
Voice of Calling · Bend, OR · Hybrid

Organization delivers large-scale education programs reaching thousands, demonstrating program management at scale.

Meaningful Teens
Meaningful Teens · Multiple · Virtual

Volunteers help expand community education programs for underserved immigrant and refugee populations.

Coca-Cola Scholars Program
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation

Scholars develop leadership and community service skills directly applicable to managing nonprofit initiatives and missions.

Center Theatre Group Student Ambassadors
Center Theatre Group

Students develop leadership and community engagement skills in an arts nonprofit setting.

Dr. Phillips Center Teen Ambassadors
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts · Orlando, FL 32801 · In-Person

Students learn nonprofit operations, develop programs, and engage with industry professionals in arts organization management.

Musical Theatre West Youth Ambassador Council
Musical Theatre West · Long Beach, CA · In-Person

Council members work directly with MTW to cultivate theatre enthusiasts and manage youth programming.

Student Ambassadors for the Arsht
Adrienne Arsht Center · Miami, FL · In-Person

Program involves behind-the-scenes insight into performing arts center operations and community engagement work.

Youth Ambassador Program (YAP)
Broadway Theatre League of Utica · Utica, NY · In-Person

Students complete community service hours and learn organizational operations through direct involvement with a cultural nonprofit.

Synchronicity Theatre
Synchronicity Theatre · Atlanta, GA · In-Person

Community engagement programs and education outreach demonstrate nonprofit program design and community impact work.

Brave New Voices Youth Poetry Festival
Youth Speaks · CA and Oakland, CA · In-Person

The festival models community organizing, youth empowerment, and advocacy rooted in social justice themes.

Albany Park Theater Project
Albany Park Theater Project · Chicago, IL · In-Person

Students engage in community service and youth justice work through arts-based social impact.

Startup UCLA Summer Institute
Startup UCLA · Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid

SESI track teaches students to design mission-driven organizations and social enterprises from conception to pitch.

ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence
ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence, LLC · Multiple · Hybrid

Activity involves organizing readings, coordinating with schools and theatres, and mobilizing communities around a cause.

UK Youth Parliament
National Youth Agency · Multiple · Hybrid

Students organize campaigns, mobilize peers, and manage multi-level advocacy initiatives for social change.

RISE Summer Leadership Institute
Arizona State University · Tempe, AZ · In-Person

Students engage in community impact projects and develop leadership skills applicable to nonprofit management.

Special Olympics
Special Olympics · Multiple · In-Person

Special Olympics runs extensive year-round programs serving millions globally; students develop program coordination and organizational skills.

USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future and Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability High School Summer Internship Program
USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future · Virtual · Virtual

Students learn policy advocacy and legislative analysis skills central to nonprofit environmental and sustainability organizations.

Lincoln Park Zoo Malott Family Zoo Intern Program
Lincoln Park Zoo · Chicago, IL · In-Person

Interns gain experience in a major educational nonprofit's operations and community outreach.

King Conservation Science Scholars Program
Brookfield Zoo Chicago · Brookfield, IL · Hybrid

Students develop leadership, community engagement, and project management skills running educational programs at the zoo.

Carnegie Mellon Summer Opportunities for Access and Inclusion
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · In-Person

Students develop leadership and community organizing skills through diversity-focused programming and student engagement initiatives.

Project Belonging
Teachers College, Columbia University · New York, NY

Students develop and lead community prevention campaigns and present outcomes, mirroring nonprofit program implementation and evaluation.

USC Bovard Scholars Program
University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid

Program combines leadership training with community service values and year-round mentorship and support.

NYU Democracy Scholars
New York University · New York, NY · Hybrid

The academic-year civic leadership project involves learning to affect change on social issues and gaining real-world community activism experience.

Global Glimpse
Global Glimpse · In-Person

Community service focus and leadership development directly align with nonprofit management responsibilities.

Human Rights Campaign Youth Ambassadors Program
Human Rights Campaign · Multiple · Hybrid

Program focuses on leadership development and community capacity-building within LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities.

Global Youth Impact Summit 2026
CGAD · Porto, Portugal · In-Person

Activity welcomes NGO representatives and emphasizes creating meaningful global impact through community initiatives.

Environmental Leadership Program (ELP)
Environmental Leadership Program, Inc. · Washington, D.C.

ELP directly trains emerging leaders through fellowship programs and community networks focused on social change.

Nexus Youth Exchange 2026
Nexus Public Policy Institute · Madrid, Spain · In-Person

Program emphasizes collaborative learning and social impact projects aligned with SDG initiatives.

UPG Sustainability Leadership Program
United People Global · Geneva, Switzerland

Program directly trains sustainability leaders to organize and manage community-focused initiatives addressing global challenges.

Hansen Leadership Institute
Hansen Leadership Institute · In-Person

Fellows engage in community building, restorative justice training, and long-term international advocacy projects.

States' 4-H International Exchange Program - Japan
States' 4-H International Exchange Programs · Multiple · In-Person

Program involves community service and 4-H youth development partnerships, exposing students to nonprofit program coordination and international partnerships.

Youth for Understanding: Exchange Programs
Youth for Understanding · Multiple · In-Person

Students gain experience with global networks, community integration, and managing complex support systems.

ICES High School Exchange Programs for American Students
ICES - International Cultural Exchange Services · Multiple · In-Person

Global Ambassador volunteer role involves coordinating peer support and cultural integration for exchange students in host communities.