Fundraising

The Fundraising Intern supports the identification and cultivation of donors who fund the organization's work. The role is research-heavy and writing-heavy, and it teaches an intern how philanthropic revenue is actually built — through documented, patient, sequenced contact rather than appeals.

Core Duties

• Conduct prospect research using public records, giving histories, and published sources.
• Build and maintain prospect profiles and briefing documents for staff meetings.
• Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, and next-action fields in the database.
• Draft cultivation correspondence, follow-up notes, and meeting summaries.
• Support the preparation of proposals, case statements, and giving materials.
• Track moves management pipelines and flag stalled relationships.
• Prepare pre-meeting briefings and post-meeting documentation.
• Pull and format giving reports for internal review.

Role-Specific Qualifications

• Writing sample required.
• Research capability with public and published sources.
• Absolute discretion with donor financial and personal information.
• Comfort with database record-keeping and disciplined documentation.

Standard Qualifications — All Internships

• Current enrollment in an accredited college or university; eligible for the Federal Work Study Program where applicable.
• Senior in high school, recent high school graduate, or GED equivalent.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and general computer literacy.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Reliable, punctual, and professional demeanor.
• Discretion with confidential and pre-release information; adherence to all organizational policies, including confidentiality, data handling, and workplace safety standards.
• Prior office or customer service experience is a plus but not required.

Internship: minimum 16 hours per week, in person, Alexandria, VA. You are allowed to work up to 40 hours a week with limited overtime opportunities.

Every intern completes the program's five core competencies and attends the annual conference. Expect a written midpoint review, weekly one-on-one supervision, and a documented portfolio of completed work.