Development Intern (Chicago/Hybrid)

Work. Serve. Thrive.

Imagine a place where your talent can make a meaningful difference in peoples' lives. Working at Feeding America is a uniquely rewarding experience in which our employees work together as vital parts of a much larger mission. We are innovative, mission-focused, diverse, collaborative, values-driven and focused on results.

Feeding America is the nation’s largest charity and the leading domestic hunger-relief charity in the United States. Our mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger. Learn more about Feeding America here.

This position is based out of Feeding America’s Chicago office location in the heart of downtown Chicago. At Feeding America, we believe in offering a flexible work environment. Interns can be in the office an average of 2 days a week (Tuesday through Thursday) and work from home on other days

The internship program is designed to give you an opportunity to complement your formal education with career-related experience and is open to current undergraduates, individuals starting their graduate degree in the fall and current graduate students. The internship will provide a stimulating and substantive work experience, coupled with an experience to expand your knowledge and understanding of Feeding America.

The Opportunity

This internship will support the Development team at Feeding America. The intern will work primarily with the Director of Foundation Relations and Strategic Partnerships team to advance efforts to engage new donors and partners in Feeding America’s mission. The role will provide an opportunity to engage in the execution of the Development team’s strategy that is responsible for raising philanthropic support for the organization, as well as building strategic partnerships with external organizations (i.e., Red Cross, United Way, etc.). For example, on the Foundation Relations team, the intern will be exposed to Project Management, Research, Grant Writing, and Submission processes within Feeding America. Time permitting, the intern may also be assigned projects from the broader Development team (Major/Principal Gifts, Corporate Partnerships, Corporate Engagement, New Business, and Network Fundraising Services).

• Work closely with team members to support relationship cultivation with prospective foundation and external partners through communication with both internal and external stakeholders
• Support prospect research with online tools to assist in searching for details on program/research area(s) of interest, examining the potential touch points, explore areas on entry/engagements such as board composition and past grantees, and gain an understanding of the LOI, submission, and key milestone process of donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Support special projects related to the Foundations function including prospect analysis and research, foundation landscape analysis and operational support to Foundation Relations team members.
• Support partner cultivation, outreach, and communication needs for prospective partnerships
• Assist with core departmental operations such as donor stewardship, network food bank engagement, database entry and data collection and analysis
• Provide operational and administrative support to the Development team
• Participate in departmental meetings and trainings
• Other duties as assigned

Specific Projects will also include:

• Support team as project manager for current and prospective partnerships, working closely with subject matter experts across the organization
• Work with subject matter experts to strengthen a pipeline prioritization plan for strategic partnerships
• Help to build evaluation matrix around external partnerships and their impact on our organizational goals

• Conduct landscape analysis for pass through grant opportunities for food bank and agency network partners
• Work in partnership with the Innovation and Research teams to explore impact investing models

Internship Duration

• 06/4/24 through 08/23//24 (12 weeks total - 40 hours per week)

Hourly Salary

• $16 – Undergraduate Students

• $17 – Students between Undergrad and Graduate school (starting Grad school in the Fall)

• $18 – Graduate Students

Requirements

• Undergraduate or graduate student with interest in fundraising/project management/development/partnership development
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with a variety of audiences including Feeding America staff, network food bank staff and donors
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to prioritize assignments, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and work in a fast-paced environment
• Detail orientation, strong organizational and project management skills
• Proactive mindset with ability to work independently on assigned projects
• Proficient in Microsoft Office tools and some experience with database entry/management
• Committed to the organizational mission of Feeding America

Feeding America recognizes and values diversity.  Our goal is to attract, develop, retain, and promote a talented diverse workforce where all employees feel a sense of belonging and contribute to a culture that values differences, ideas, and experiences. We intentionally seek out diverse perspectives and skills on our teams, knowing that it makes us stronger as an organization and better equipped to serve our neighbors in need. We encourage individuals from historically under-represented communities and individuals with lived experience of hunger to apply.