About the role#
AbilityFirst offers an internship program for students to gain experience in nonprofit fundraising and development. You will support the Development Team by assisting with research, prospecting, data entry, and the preparation of materials for grant proposals and reports. This role provides exposure to the full grant cycle, from initial research to final reporting, in a collaborative environment. This is an unpaid, temporary internship for college credit.
What you'll do#
- Research prospective foundation, corporate, and government funding opportunities.
- Analyze grant information to identify matches between our needs and grantor goals.
- Gather information and draft sections of grant proposals and reports under supervision.
- Collect program data and success stories from staff to support writing efforts.
- Track deadlines, deliverables, and follow-up correspondence with funders.
- Participate in monitoring grant-funded programs and evaluating their success.
- Organize and maintain grant records in Salesforce.
- Provide administrative support, including taking team-meeting notes and proofreading documents.
- Help maintain relationships with grantors through telephone, email, and personal notes.
- Ensure grantors are invited to special events and related functions.
- Uphold mandated reporter responsibilities to ensure participant safety.
What you'll need#
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's degree program.
- Aged 18 to 24.
- Interest in nonprofit organizations, fundraising, or communications.
- Demonstrated writing and research skills gained through coursework or projects.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, specifically Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Willingness to learn database systems.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Effective communication skills and a professional demeanor.
- Ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds in a multicultural environment.
- Valid driver's license.
- Successful completion of a background check.
- Preferred fields of study include English, Communications, Journalism, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, Political Science, Business, Marketing, Social Work, Sociology, or Psychology.
Location & details#
- This role is based in Pasadena, California.
- The work modality is hybrid.
- This is a full-time, unpaid internship position.
About AbilityFirst
AbilityFirst is a nonprofit organization based in Pasadena, California. Founded in 1926, the company provides programs for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities. Its services include job training, community programs, and after-school enrichment. The organization also operates a camp in the San Bernardino forest.
How to get in at AbilityFirst
Securing an internship at AbilityFirst requires timing, as early applicants are often reviewed before the volume of candidates becomes unmanageable. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, so you apply among the first and get seen before the pile grows. Reaching out to the right person can be the difference between a stalled application and an interview. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the company's roles so you can reach out directly to ask about the role or a referral, which materially improves response rates.
