Development Internship
The development team is responsible for all aspects of fundraising at Global Minnesota. As a member of the development team, the Development Intern will assist our Member Relations and Gala Fundraiser areas.
Individual Memberships are the most common type of gift made over the course of the year, with the majority received between October-December. Memberships are renewed annually and include benefits ranging from event discounts to special invitations and more.
The annual Gala fundraiser gathers 400+ attendees for a single evening in the spring to support Global Minnesota’s mission and raise funds for ongoing educational and cultural programs. The evening includes fine international cuisine, global entertainment, and the Tour the World auction, featuring amazing travel packages, delicious culinary experiences, rare global collectibles, and more.
The Development Intern will be involved in fundraising strategy, donor communications, research, and outreach. If mutually agreed, this position may have the opportunity to extend into the spring semester and attend the annual Gala.
See the full internship description here.
Applications for the Fall 2026 internship are now open! Application deadline is August 7.
Program features include:
- Hands-on experience working for a World Affairs Council nonprofit organization
- One assigned supervisor who will provide training and guidance
- Opportunity to join Global Minnesota staff meetings to gain deeper understanding of our operations
- Free admittance to selected public programs
- Complimentary Global Minnesota membership
- Networking opportunities
- Gain both clerical and program-specific skills
- Optional stipend of $500 for those eligible
What the internship will look like:
- Being coordination for the Gala’s online auction, including item research, solicitation, follow-up, and tracking
- Campaign planning, including assisting with member promotions and year-end campaign implementation
- Prepare mailed donor communications
- Update membership and other informational materials
- Research fundraising strategies and best practices in support of individual membership programs
- Other tasks may be assigned based on individual interests such as copywriting, graphic design, event planning, data entry, event tabling, social media, etc.
What you bring to Global Minnesota:
- Must be pursuing an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree, or have recently graduated
- Nonprofit Management, Global Studies, International Relations, Public Policy, Peace Studies, and Political Sciences or Area Studies majors preferred but not required
- Strong written and verbal communication skills required
- Previous work and/or volunteering experience ideal
Skills & mindset:
- Dependable, globally-minded students with an interest in learning and the ability to write well, pay attention to details, commit to deadlines, be part of a team, and respond to feedback would be a great fit for this opportunity.
Timeline of program:
- Start date: first or second week of September
- Expected completion: first or second week of December
- This position may have the opportunity to extend into the Spring semester
Reports to: Membership and Gala Manager
Important considerations:
- Able to work in-person at the Global Minnesota office 6 to 8 hours a week and up to 2 to 4 hours remotely
- Access to equipment and shared-drive will be provided in-office only
- This is an unpaid internship with an optional $500 stipend available to those eligible who successfully complete 12-14 weeks at about 10 hours/week
- *If the intern is interested, additional hours may be added at the supervisor’s discretion, with mutual agreement
- Interns contribute to ongoing initiatives aligned with organizational needs, working collaboratively with the team, rather than managing independent projects
Upon receiving your completed online application, résumé/CV, and cover letter, Global Minnesota may contact you with additional questions or to invite you for an interview.
Feedback will only be provided to candidates at the end of the recruitment process, which is expected to conclude by the end of August. If you have any questions before then, feel free to email Jo Mattos at [email protected].