event staff

service assistant

program coordinator

production associate

manager of volunteer services

WATERFIRE PROVIDENCE

WaterFire is visually stunning—an inspiring mission powered by dedicated people. But behind the glowing river and smiling volunteers is a culture that quietly expects martyrdom. I worked through chemotherapy this year. Not only was there no reduction in workload, I was given more responsibilities. Let that sink in. While managing literal cancer treatment, I was expected to perform at full capacity—because “the show must go on.” Passion is weaponized here. Management is kind on the surface, but systemic support is nonexistent when it actually counts. The hardest part wasn’t the illness—it was realizing my value was tied to how much I could endure without complaint. The most rewarding part? Knowing I made an impact. The worst part? Knowing the organization didn’t seem to care what it cost me.

My experience with WaterFire was very positive in how their inclusive nature built a strong community for those interested in the mission of the organization. With my internship taking place in the midst of the pandemic, I found them to have a strong pivot from their traditional in-person events into a means to honor what has been lost due to COVID-19. I give a strong recommendation for people to work with WaterFire, whether now or when they can return to providing in-person experiences in the Providence-area.

It was a very lax and BORING work experience. I did hardly any work and when I wanted to do an extra project or give ideas for new projects, it was dismissed. 
The management is not good and they had poor work ethic. The workplace culture was dramatic and there was a lot of tension between the higher-ups. With that being said, most interactions I had with my coworkers were good. 
Eventually, other interns just stopped showing up...

WaterFire Providence is a wonderful place to work. As an intern, I learned so much in one semester; it is very 'all hands on deck' as many nonprofits are, but it enables you to learn so many different facets of a company. The event days are long and sometimes strenuous, but it's worth it and you have such an amazing team backing you up!

The small staff leads to a great family setting, and the fast-paced and ever-changing environment means everything is always exciting, however, Management isn't focused, pay is low for the amount of hours put in, and there is no room to grow.

Busy season (May-October) can be a bit hectic in the office and certainly for the event days themselves; heavy labor requirements, but with that said, the "work" is incredibly enjoyable because you are working alongside a wonderful group of creative and talented people.

I really enjoyed working at WaterFire. I gained a ton of experience in a very condensed time span. You do have to be tough because working on an event day is one of the hardest thing I have ever done. Event days can sometimes be difficult work for 22 hours straight but it's worth it.

Between spending time at the shop creating small lanterns to line walkways and becoming part of the performance as a boat-crew member, this was an unforgettable experience.

It was an amazing place to grow a sphere of influence in Rhode Island! I met so many wonderful people! Working environment was like one big family! I enjoyed it very much!

This was a volunteer opportunity I took every time we had a waterfire event on some Saturdays. I liked it and we just had to set help move wood into the boats and set up tables.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Event staff 1 salary reported	$22.00 per hour
Service assistant 1 salary reported	$37,750 per year
Program coordinator 1 salary reported	$46,000 per year
Production associate 1 salary reported	$24.50 per hour
Manager of volunteer services 2 salaries reported	$47,500 per year

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