About Shedd
Special Events & Donor Relations Intern
To be considered for this internship opportunity, please send a complete application information to:
Internship Program (Attn: Volunteer Services)
John G. Shedd Aquarium
1200 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
Internship@sheddaquarium.org
Fax: 312-939-4895
Internship Title: Special events and donor relations internship
Internship Department: Development
Objective: Assist the development department in functions pertaining to fundraising and donor stewardship
Responsibilities:
• Assists with multiple aspects of donor relations, special events and development activities including, but not limited to, major fundraising events, cocktail parties, dinners, meetings, tours and other donor-related activities.
• Assist with planning fundraising events, both large-scale (up to 900 people) and small-scale (fewer than 50 people) at Shedd. Works directly with the donor relations/special events program manager to ensure all details, from editing nametags to organizing volunteers and finalizing event logistics, are covered.
• Also assists in overseeing activities associated with the Auxiliary Board. Helps maintain Auxiliary Board information and activities.
• Usually takes on one event as a focal point for the internship, but works on many different projects.
Final Product(s): An intern will gain valuable hands-on experience in the development/event-planning field.
Qualifications: A desirable candidate can multitask, work well with teams and independently, digest a lot of information simultaneously, be detail-oriented, think creatively, effectively manage his or her time, and meet deadlines. A candidate who is a self-starter with some experience/interest in special-event planning and management. Intern should be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite. Professional work ethic and demeanor is imperative.
Volunteer supervision experience helpful. Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel. Raiser’s Edge experience is a plus. Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Some nights and weekends required.
Minimum GPA: 3.0 on a 4-point scale
Desired Year in School: Sophomore, junior, or senior in an undergraduate program
Compensation: Unpaid. Interns must make arrangements with their schools to gain academic credit for this internship. Shedd Aquarium is happy to provide any work documentation necessary for this process.
Desired Majors: Not-for-profit fundraising, communications, business, or a related field.
Time Commitment: Three to five days a week; 15 to 30 hours weekly (set schedule will be determined based on intern availability). For training purposes, Wednesday availability is preferred.
Learning Potential: This internship provides an excellent opportunity to learn about fundraising. It is anticipated that the intern will learn how to execute donor-related communication and activities; gain an understanding of museum-based fundraising; gain an understanding of the Chicago philanthropic community; learn about the aquarium and its programs as well as the natural environment of Chicago and the Midwest region; and gain an understanding of fundraising special-events management and execution.
To Apply: Print and complete the application on our website. A list of required application documents is on the website. If you have any questions regarding this internship or our program, please e-mail the volunteer coordinator at internship@sheddaquarium.org.
Application Deadline:
Fall 2010–Aug. 15, 2010, or until the internship is filled.
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