Internships

Photo credit: Bryan Jack Hurlbutt

Each Riverkeeper internship provides the individual with a strong field experience in which he or she is assigned responsibilities vital to the function of our work. All interns are considered an important and equal part of the team. We seek a group of 6-8 interns during the summer and smaller groups throughout the year to help our policy, litigation, development, and communications teams progress with their work.

We have begun recruitment for spring and summer 2010 internships. Please read the below descriptions and send application materials to the appropriate person listed. Thank you for your interest in working with Riverkeeper!

• Fall 2010Assistant to Development Intern

  The Development Intern will work closely with the development team to provide support for all aspects of Riverkeeper’s fundraising operation, including data entry, filing, prospect research, coordination of fundraising events, mailings, and composing of correspondence and reports to funders. The internship provides the opportunity to work with an energetic, deeply committed and goal-oriented team of fundraisers, environmental attorneys and community organizers and to learn how not-for-profit organizations sustain their programs.

  Specific duties include:
  Membership Management

  • Open direct mail responses, photocopy checks and enter gifts into database
  • Send donor membership gifts
  • Order merchandise for membership premiums and special events
  • Research individual members for additional cultivation
  • File gifts and maintain up-to-date member files

  Grant research assistance:

  • Assist in the preparation and mailing of grant reports, proposals, and other materials
  • Research foundation and government granting agencies
  • Assist with the preparation of correspondence and other materials for individual major donors

  Special Events

  • Assist with mailings of invitations, Save-the-Date cards, and other event related materials
  • Take and confirm attendee responses
  • Research event participants and potential corporate sponsors
  • Assist with scheduling & planning of meetings

  General Administration

  • Assist with clean-up of database records
  • Order department supplies
  • Maintain files

  Specific duties include:

  • Assist in the preparation and mailing of grant reports, proposals, and other materials
  • Research foundation and government granting agencies
  • Assist with the preparation of correspondence and other materials for individual major donors

  General requirements:

  • Applications will be accepted from high-school, college and graduate students
  • Candidates should have a strong work ethic and the ability to commit to working with the department for the term of the internship
  • Candidates should also have strong verbal and written communication skills, be highly organized and detail oriented, be adept at Internet research, respect and maintain the confidentiality of donor information, and be able to work independently and on multiple projects under deadline
  • Proficiency in Word and Excel is required; experience with databases is desirable

  The position is unpaid with a flexible schedule, ranging from full-time to part-time hours (between 9AM-5PM) depending on your availability outside of school/work. Perfect for students who want the experience of working in the office of an environmental non-profit.

  Please send a letter of interest and resume or description of qualifications to:
  egriffin@riverkeeper.org

• Fall/Winter 2010-2011Communications and Social Media Intern

  Riverkeeper is seeking a motivated and talented Communications and Social Media Intern to assist with communications and public relations efforts.

  Specific duties include:

  • Research and assist with online outreach around Riverkeeper issues and campaigns (including blogs, social networks, microblogging, and other online communities)
  • Assist with other aspects of an evolving communications and outreach strategy
  • Strategies and assist with promotion of fundraising appeals
  • Strategies expanding following for all social networking sites
  • Assist with website content updates
  • Assist with photo production and archiving
  • Help put together and mail out basic press kits
  • Catalog media mentions and organize publications

  General requirements:

  • Social Networking skills and knowledge of trends
  • Experience posting to blogs and/or experience with CMS
  • Light photo editing skills
  • Must have own computer and ability to work remotely
  • Detail oriented

  Additional Qualifications

  • Interest in Hudson Valley and environmental issues preferred

  This is a part time position unpaid internship with flexible hours (between 8 and 15 hours per week).

  Please send a letter of interest and resume or description of qualifications to:
  gchambers@riverkeeper.org