National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization based in Washington, DC, seeks an an energetic, creative, and passionate Marketing and Social Media Student Intern to assist the Marketing and Communications team in executing the 2027 Festival.
Who We Are
The National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. is dedicated to promoting the beauty of nature and international friendship through year-round programs, events, and educational initiatives that enhance our environment, showcase arts, culture, and build community spirit.
Internship Description
The Marketing & Social Media Intern will contribute to the communications, marketing, digital content creation, and branding strategies of various National Cherry Blossom Festival programs and events for the 2027 Festival. Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Drafting and scheduling content (written, graphic, and video) for social media
- Assisting with creation of photo/video content for social media
- Tracking post-performance/ engagement metrics, pulling analytics reports, and clipping for social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube)and website (Google Analytics)
- Updating and managing content calendars across all communication touchpoints (website, emails, social media, and on-site)
- Assisting the Festival content creator in capturing live content from Festival events through phone and digital camera
- Assisting with execution of Festival events via on-site support from March 20 – April 11, 2027
The Festival welcomes Marketing and Communications interns who wish to focus on a particular specialty (e.g., photography, design, video, social media, website, media monitoring, campaign tracking). Depending on the area(s) of interest and level of expertise, the work can be structured to offer a valuable hands-on learning experience tailored to the intern’s skills and focus.
Time Requirements: The Festival seeks interns who are available for both Fall AND Spring semesters to get the most value and experience during this internship. Interns who can commit to only one semester, either Fall or Spring, are also welcome to apply. Event execution support is subject to the intern’s availability and discretion. Interns are asked to commit to at least one full semester supporting the Festival.
Schedule:
Fall Semester targeted start date: Monday, September 14, 2026
Fall Semester end date: December 2026, depending upon the intern’s schedule
Spring Semester targeted start date: Monday, January 11, 2027
Spring Semester end date: May 2027, depending upon the intern’s schedule.
The 2027 National Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 20 – April 11, 2027.
September - December 2026:
- 10 to 15 hours per week between the hours of 10 AM and 5:30 PM - Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday (Tuesday and Friday remote as needed).
- Evening availability to execute the Festival Launch event (late October 2026).
- Start and end dates are flexible to align with semester schedules and internship academic credit requirements.
- Hours, schedule, and work format (must be primarily onsite with minimal remote option) are determined in consultation with the Marketing and Communications team and based on student availability.
January – May 2027:
- 10 to 15 hours per week between the hours of 10 AM and 5:30 PM - Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday (Tuesday and Friday remote as needed).
- Start and end dates are flexible to align with semester schedules and internship academic credit requirements.
- Hours, schedule, and work format (must be primarily onsite with minimal remote options) are determined in consultation with the Marketing and Communications team and based on student availability.
- Evening and weekend availability to execute key Festival weekly programs and events during peak months (March 2027 – April 2027).
Qualifications
- Currently enrolled in an accredited university or college as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student, ideally with a Social Media/Digital Marketing focus
- Passion for strategy, brand storytelling, content creation, and events
- Detail oriented and organized with the ability to multi-task
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills (knowledge of AP Style preferred)
- Able to work independently and complete projects in a timely manner
- Ability to collaborate with a variety of people in an exciting, fast-paced environment
- Canva, Monday.com, social media monitoring software knowledge preferred (e.g. Brandwatch), but not required
- Photography and videography skills are a plus
Compensation
National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. internships are unpaid, but college credit may be offered depending upon the educational institution’s guidelines and requirements. A monthly stipend is available for interns to defray the cost of commuting to the office.
Please include a PDF file of your portfolio using the application form and/or include a link to your website portfolio on your CV/resume.
Skills Required
- Currently enrolled full-time undergraduate or graduate student
- Available at least one full semester (Fall and/or Spring) and able to commit 10-15 hours/week, primarily onsite with some remote flexibility
- Availability for on-site event support during the Festival (March 20 - April 11, 2027) including evenings/weekends
- Experience drafting and scheduling social media content and managing content calendars
- Ability to track post-performance/engagement metrics and use Google Analytics
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Detail-oriented, organized, able to multi-task and work independently
- Provide a PDF portfolio or link to a website portfolio with application
- Knowledge of AP Style
- Familiarity with Canva, Monday.com, or social media monitoring software (e.g., Brandwatch)
- Photography and videography skills
What We Do
The National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the beauty of nature and international friendship through year-round programs, events, and educational initiatives. The festival celebrates spring in Washington, DC, and the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan, producing a wide array of events that promote traditional and contemporary arts, culture, and community spirit.
