Development Team Intern

The Innocence Project (IP), founded in 1992 at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, is a national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.

Interns work with four full-time members of the IP’s very busy Development team which is responsible for raising millions of dollars each year for the organization.  This is a great opportunity to learn about the nonprofit fundraising process, including prospect research, donor cultivation & stewardship, foundation grants, and event planning & management.  Interns are encouraged to spearhead a project within the objectives of the Development department, depending on one’s experience, interests, and hours of availability.

Within three main categories, duties may include at least some of the following:

1) Foundations and Law Firms:

•    Research and gather data on foundations and firms that could support the IP;
•    Conduct research on the IP’s priority issues to use in writing grant proposals;
•    Assist with writing, copy-editing, and submitting proposals and reports.

2) Individual Donors:

•    Research prospective donors and new fundraising opportunities;
•    Cultivate, thank and steward donors by phone and in writing;
•    Update donor records, both material and electronic.

3) Events:

•    Research and develop events for targeted constituencies or markets;
•    Depending on experience, help with invitation design and event promotion;
•    Provide assistance at events, depending on availability and location.

As with most staff positions at the IP, the internship also entails a limited share of administrative duties such as data entry, filing, photocopying, and envelope stuffing.  Other duties may be assigned by the Director of Development.

Hours are flexible but generally 15-35 hours per week at the Innocence Project’s office in Manhattan.  The office is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

This is an unpaid internship, though transit vouchers may be provided in some circumstances.  We encourage using the internship to gain course credit and to seek “work-study” grants with your educational institution, if that is an option.

Qualifications:

The internship is an opportunity for college students (junior or senior), graduate students, or young professionals looking to gain experience working with a nonprofit organization.  Successful applicants should possess the following qualities and skills:

•    Ability to present information concisely and effectively, both verbally and in writing;
•    Proficiency in computer operations, especially Word, Excel, and database programs;
•    Experience with web-based research tools and applications;
•    Very well organized with consistent attention to detail;
•    Capacity to prioritize, work under pressure, and follow through on complex projects;
•    Comfortable working both independently and with a team and a supervisor;
•    Strong interpersonal skills and eagerness to engage with staff and donors;
•    Sensitivity to donor relations and confidentiality;
•    Motivated, energetic, enthusiastic, flexible, versatile, and very willing to learn;
•    Interest in issues of human rights and justice, especially as they relate to the IP’s mission to free the wrongfully convicted and bring reform to the criminal justice system.

Application Guidelines:

All applications submitted electronically must be in Microsoft Word (.doc), Corel Word Perfect (.wpd), or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format.  Do not send any zipped or other compressed files; such files will be deleted without being read.

Send your resume and cover letter to HR3@innocenceproject.org.  Please indicate “Development Internship” in the subject line of your email.

In the cover letter, identify the areas of fundraising and responsibilities that interest you most, in terms of the above list of duties, and explain why.  For example: “I am interested in conducting research on prospective donors…” or “I welcome the opportunity to strengthen my skills in grant writing…”

Please also provide your proposed time-frame for an internship, including approximate start- and end-dates, and estimated days and times you will be available to work each week.  We accept applications year-round for either summer internships or semester internships.

The Innocence Project is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity.