Become a Community Connect Partner

Local nonprofit organizations and government agencies have the opportunity to employ Northwestern undergraduate students in community-based work opportunities through Northwestern’s Community Connect program.  

Community Connect jobs are subsidized through the Federal Work-Study program; they allow students the opportunity to work for organizations and agencies that contribute to the public good, while building professional experience and skills.

Northwestern students who are eligible for Federal Work-Study awards as part of their financial aid package can earn their wages through community-based jobs as part of Northwestern’s Community Connect program. All work-study students are officially employed by Northwestern University. The university pays students on a bi-weekly basis and bills Community Connect partners for their portion of wages periodically throughout the year. 

Community Connect partners commit to: 

• Employ a Northwestern student(s) during the academic year (length of employment can vary) 
• Pay 25% of the student’s hourly wage (the remainder of which is covered by Federal Work Study funds) 
• Provide training and supervision for students for the duration of their employment 

Becoming a Community Connect partner allows the opportunity to: 

• Connect with Northwestern student talent and increase your organization’s staff capacity 
• Participate in professional development opportunities offered by Northwestern’s Community Connect team 
• Network with other local nonprofit partners hosting Northwestern students 

Community Connect partner organizations must be U.S. federal, state or municipal public agencies or private nonprofit organization as certified by the IRS. The partners must do work that directly benefits the Evanston or Chicago communities. Examples of acceptable work areas include:

• Community and neighborhood development (e.g., housing and transportation access; neighborhood improvement; recreation services; workforce development) 
• Education (e.g., literacy training; tutoring; recreational activities)
• Health care (e.g., public health or mental health services)
• Social services 

Contact us with questions about whether your organization or work area would be eligible.

• To submit a proposal, complete this application form.
  • For tips on drafting your position description, review this guide.
  • Community Connect team members are available to review drafts and advise on position descriptions.
• Positions for the 25-26 academic year are posted for students to review on August 15, 2025. Organizations are encouraged to submit their proposals one week in advance of the desired posting date.
• The Community Connect team will review your proposal and contact you with questions. Once your proposal is accepted, it is posted to our job site for students to review.
  • If multiple students are interested in the position, you may choose among them using any selection process you wish, or contact our team for support.
  • While we cannot guarantee we will be able to fill each position, we will make every effort to recruit a student who is interested in and eligible for the role.
• We will share additional information about next steps once your proposal is submitted.

• Contact the Community Connect team (communityconnect@northwestern.edu) with questions or assistance related to job postings and connecting with Northwestern students. 
• Complete the Center for Civic Engagement’s community partner interest form to be added to our community partner email list for updates on hiring deadlines and additional University partnership opportunities.