Internship Opportunity through Penn State’s Office of University Development

Penn State’s Office of University Development is offering full-time paid internships this summer to students or recent graduates interested in learning more about a career in fundraising and non-profit work. Applicants must possess excellent organizational, communication, and time-management skills, and can either be current juniors or seniors or recent college graduates.

Interns will be placed in University Development offices for the duration of the program and will participate in an array of projects while developing an understanding of fundraising in higher education. Applicants must be able to commit to 40 hours per week and will be paid $10/hour for the duration of the program—from late May until early August. For applicants who prefer academic credit, one to three credits of independent study are available through most academic programs.

The internship experience will be based on a three-pronged program, including real world experience, classroom learning, and professional development.

Real World Experience:
Participants will spend 32 hours per week in a University Development office working on meaningful projects that introduce them to new skills and career opportunities. These challenges could include anything from meeting with donors to coordinating a recognition event to assisting with the development of a major gift proposal. Along the way, interns will get valuable feedback and mentoring from experienced professionals.

Classroom Learning:
Interns will spend eight hours per week in the classroom learning about the role of philanthropy within institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations. Interns will participate in class discussions, listen to guest speakers, and be given reading and other types of assignments. Interns will also keep a reflective journal detailing their own philanthropic interests and motivations, and have the opportunity to go on relevant, organized tours.

Professional Development:
The internship includes a variety of events designed to expose students to industry professionals and develop appropriate conduct in such situations. Programming includes a dinner etiquette workshop, a networking workshop, a professional development retreat, and a donor social event.

Please contact Lyn Culver (lkc3@psu.edu) or Jordan Ford (jaf378@psu.edu) with any questions.

To apply for this internship, please complete this secure online form by December 31, 2009.

For more information, you can also view this video, created by our summer 2009 interns.