Tacoma Urban League

COMING SOON — EXTERNSHIP APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN SOON

CAREER PATHWAYS

EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Structured, short-term exposure to nonprofit leadership, program operations, and community impact work at the Tacoma Urban League.

How to applyContact us

Career exploration should feel connected to the work itself. You will learn alongside the people and departments making community impact happen.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PLACEMENT

WHY AN EXTERNSHIP (NOT AN INTERNSHIP)

Externship placements are shorter and centered on job shadowing, project immersion, and applied learning rather than long-term, deliverable-heavy assignments. You get a focused view into how nonprofit leadership, program operations, and community impact work connect.

The program strengthens TUL's pipeline for future staff, volunteers, and community partners. It also connects your learning to our five community priorities: Education and Youth Development, Jobs and Economic Empowerment, Health and Quality of Life, Housing and Community Development, and Justice and Civic Engagement.

CHOOSE YOUR PATH

OUR TWO TRACKS

01 / College students

College Student Externship

Who it is for: Undergraduate students (sophomore standing and above; freshmen are not eligible) and graduate students. Priority is given to students studying social work, nonprofit management, public administration, HR, education, or public health.

Duration: 2–4 weeks, part time (10–15 hours per week) to fit class schedules.

Format: Rotational shadowing across TUL departments plus a capstone project. Graduate students co-create a deliverable tied to one of our five community priorities.

Timing: Fall, spring, and summer cohort cycles.

02 / Military community

Military Externship

Who it is for: Transitioning service members (via DoD SkillBridge or similar programs), veterans, and military spouses.

Duration: TUL's structured placement runs 2–6 weeks inside an approved SkillBridge window.

Format: Emphasis on transferable leadership and operations skills, with placement priority in workforce development or operations and administration.

Pay: SkillBridge participants remain paid by the Department of Defense during placement.

A SHARED RHYTHM

HOW A COHORT WORKS

  1. Week 1

    Shared orientation and rotation/placement begins.

  2. Week 2

    Rotation continues with a mentor check-in.

  3. Week 3

    Second rotation begins; capstone or deliverable is assigned.

  4. Week 4

    Capstone completion and a shared closing showcase.

Both tracks run as co-occurring cohorts, sharing one orientation and one closing showcase while each track keeps its own pacing.

MAKE IT MEANINGFUL

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN

01

Real, meaningful work

Work tied to department needs and the community impact TUL is building every day.

02

A dedicated mentor

Meet twice each week with a mentor who helps you make sense of the work and your next step.

03

A place in the work

Contribute to actual department work products alongside the people carrying the mission forward.

04

A shared closing showcase

Present what you learned and the work you contributed at the end of the cohort.

Externs are treated as part of the TUL team for the duration of their placement and are protected by the same workplace standards in our employee handbook.

A GOOD FIT

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

  • Current enrollment and sophomore standing or above for the college track
  • Confirmed or in-progress SkillBridge eligibility and command approval for the military track
  • Alignment with our department capacity
  • A thoughtful statement of interest
  • Availability for the full cycle
  • Feasibility of getting to our Tacoma office

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

HOW TO APPLY

Shared application components:

  • A short application form covering contact information, areas of interest, and availability
  • A resume
  • A brief statement of interest
  • One reference or recommender contact

College applicants

Submit proof of current enrollment, plus supervisor or hour verification if you are seeking academic credit.

Military applicants

Submit SkillBridge command approval documentation and a signed training plan agreement.

Applications are reviewed in a batch after each fixed, non-rolling window closes. Recruitment for the military track opens 60–90 days ahead of the college track to allow for command approval timelines. Three cycles run per year aligned to the fall, spring, and summer terms.

Questions about the externship?

Start a conversation.

Tasha West-Baker, Chief Operations Officer

tasha@thetacomaurbanleague.org

(253) 383-2007