> What's the difference between an unpaid intern and a volunteer at a nonprofit? Broadly speaking, I see it like this: Your intern brings you coffee, whereas y

> What's the difference between an unpaid intern and a volunteer at a nonprofit? Broadly speaking, I see it like this: Your intern brings you coffee, whereas you bring your volunteers coffee. An intern may start out doing low-skill, labor-intensive, and/or menial tasks with the expectation that they begin to learn the industry, gain skills and responsibilities, and possibly be offered a full time position. A volunteer may also be doing low-skill, labor-intensive, and/or menial tasks, but without the explicit expectation of personal growth or career advancement. The volunteer is there because they want to help advance the cause of the organization (or because the judge let them off with community service...). Of course in reality I have no doubt that there are situations that blur these lines.