Downtown Neighbors Alliance (DNA) is Hiring Interns!
Written by Arlo Grey MacFarland
Are you looking for experience in a professional media & outreach environment, focused on collaborating with local businesses? The Pittsburgh Downtown Neighbors Alliance (DNA) is looking for interns for Spring 2026. DNA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making downtown Pittsburgh a safer, healthier, and more vibrant place to live. With major projects such as the Liberty Ave. project and the Living Well Initiative, we’re embracing fresh new ideas to breathe life into the area.
We have five different opportunity fields for you to pursue, all of which are collaborative and value your ideas and input. These are unpaid internships, but can be taken for college credit through local universities. These internships offer a unique opportunity to contribute to projects that shape downtown Pittsburgh, providing hands-on experience in nonprofit communications, working with industry professionals, and progressing collaborative projects.
Copywriting: We’re looking for someone pursuing Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, etc., to write for our weekly newsletter The Downtowner. You’ll be tasked with writing about industry trends, local culture, current events, and industry professionals. Alongside this, you will gain experience in graphic design and interviewing.
“My writing is being published weekly and I enjoy my day-to-day tasks. The opportunity to learn more about Downtown Pittsburgh by interviewing community members and telling their stories is one of my favorite parts of my job and makes me feel more connected to the city I live in,” said copywriting intern Amanda Buchman.
Event Planning: Assist with various event planning initiatives and gain hands-on experience to develop marketing event planning, and management skills. You’ll be in charge of reaching out to our collaborators for events and organizing various details such as catering, transportation, creating guest lists, and being a public face of DNA.
Urban Planning: Urban Planning includes getting our most important initiatives off the ground. You will oversee, plan, and execute complex projects while maintaining timelines and budget. We are looking for someone currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program in Urban Planning, Business Administration, Environmental Studies, or a related field.
“This was my first internship experience, and it was a great place to start. A welcoming environment that offers many different opportunities,” said Maggie Study, who started here as an Urban Planning intern, and is now the Special Assistant to the Executive Director.
Marketing: DNA is looking for someone pursuing a degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field to assist with various marketing initiatives and gain hands-on experience in marketing strategy, content creation, and social media management. You will aid with campaign management, community outreach, and research and analysis.
Fundraising & Research: DNA’s newest internship program, funding and research entails researching grant opportunities, assisting with foundation applications, and helping prepare and submit funding materials to advance downtown Pittsburgh initiatives. We are looking for someone pursuing a degree in Nonprofit Management, Arts Management, Public Administration, Business, or a related field.
“We aim to give our interns the most freedom and hands-on experience. We always have the most friendly and open-minded environment,” said Kiki Yan, head of Business Development at DNA.
If you’re interested in working with us, you can find more information on our internships here. Please submit your resume, a cover letter, and other required materials to info@pittsburghdna.org, and applications are due by December 12, 2025.
