Fund Development & Events Intern
Job Description
Want an internship with meaning? Intern at the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan (MHF)! The MHF is dedicated to empowering individuals to take action through our signature program, be nice., which focuses on mental health education and suicide prevention. Our mission is to reduce stigma, promote awareness, and encourage positive behaviors that impact the well-being of communities. As part of our team, you’ll work on impactful fundraising campaigns and events for our signature program, be nice., which focuses on mental health education and suicide prevention. This is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in nonprofit fundraising and event planning while contributing to a cause that saves lives and creates a lasting impact.
As a Fund Development & Events Intern, you’ll support the planning and execution of fundraising initiatives and community events, collaborating with a passionate team to bring our mission to life. You will gain valuable experience in nonprofit fundraising, donor relations, and event logistics, helping us raise the necessary funds to support the be nice. program’s growth and impact. This internship will provide you with real-world exposure to nonprofit operations, donor engagement, and the intricacies of planning large-scale events.
Because we invest significant time and effort in mentoring and training our interns, we ask for a reciprocal commitment from you. To ensure you gain the full benefit of this experience, we request that interns commit to a six to eight-month internship. This allows for deeper learning, meaningful contributions, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact within our organization.
This internship will run from summer 2025 through March 2026 up to 20 hours per week. Please note, while this internship is unpaid on an hourly basis, MHF will give the intern a $500 stipend upon the internship’s completion.
Essential Job Functions
- Assist with developing and implementing fundraising strategies for campaigns, including donor outreach and engagement efforts.
- Help plan, organize, and execute community fundraising events, including coordination of event logistics, guest lists, and vendor communications.
- Identify and approach local businesses and individuals to solicit silent auction items, ensuring proper tracking and management of donations for auction events.
- Develop and execute event promotion strategies across social media platforms and email campaigns to increase engagement and attendance.
- Assist with tracking donations, sponsorships, and event outcomes, ensuring accurate records are maintained for future donor engagements.
- Provide general administrative support to the Fund Development and Events teams as needed, including research, copywriting, and event preparation.
- Other functions as assigned
Minimum Requirements
Must be actively enrolled in an accredited college or university in the fields of communication, health communication, public relations, nonprofit management, business, marketing or related field.
- Highly organized and detail oriented
- Excellent ability to communicate in person, print and electronically to variable audiences
- Ability to manage multiple projects at once
- High level of integrity, diplomacy and initiative
- Writing and copy-editing experience is preferred
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and Google Suite.
- Experience with developing messages for social media (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn)
- Experience with Canva and/or Adobe Creative Suite (inDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat Pro) preferred
- Complete work during traditional work day (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) with some flexibility to assist on an occasional evening and weekend. Work will be primarily in-person at the MHF offices located at 160 68th St. SW., Suite 120, Grand Rapids, MI 49548.
- Commitment to providing up to 20 hours of assistance per week
Please apply through Handshake, or email your resume and cover letter to Rachael Braginton at rachaelbraginton@benice.org. No calls please.