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Gain hands-on event experience while supporting animals in need.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is seeking an enthusiastic and organized Events Intern to support our Events team. This unpaid internship provides hands-on experience in nonprofit event planning, fundraising, marketing, community engagement, and donor support while contributing to events that raise awareness and critical support for animals in our care.

This is a great opportunity for someone interested in events, nonprofit work, fundraising, marketing, communications, hospitality, or community engagement who wants to build professional skills in a mission-driven environment.

• Unpaid internship
• Flexible schedule based on availability and event needs
• Evening and weekend availability required for some events
• Internships are available year-round
• Work may take place at ARL locations and occasionally off-site at event venues

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal welfare organization, helping animals and the people who love them through sheltering, adoption, veterinary care, animal services, community programs, and pet support resources. Across multiple locations and programs in the Des Moines metro, the ARL works every day to provide compassionate care, practical support, and trusted resources for animals and families in our community.

• Support the planning, preparation, and execution of ARL events.
• Assist with event logistics, timelines, supplies, setup, and tear-down.
• Help recruit donations for auctions, raffles, and event needs.
• Assist with event pages, ticketing software, registrations, and attendee information.
• Create or support content for social media, the ARL website, and event promotion.
• Help develop marketing and social media plans to encourage community participation.
• Assist with scheduling rentals, birthday parties, and other event-related activities.
• Communicate with local businesses, sponsors, donors, and community partners.
• Learn creative fundraising strategies that support nonprofit events and animal welfare.

• Interest in event planning, fundraising, marketing, nonprofit work, or community engagement.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Creativity, flexibility, and willingness to help with a variety of projects.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment where priorities may shift.
• Dependable, professional, and open to learning.
• Availability for some evenings and weekends based on event needs.

This internship is designed as an opportunity for professional development, learning, and skill building. Events Interns gain exposure to nonprofit event planning, fundraising, marketing, donor engagement, community partnerships, and the behind-the-scenes work that helps make mission-driven events successful.

This is an unpaid internship and should not be viewed as paid employment.

This internship may involve sitting, standing, walking, event setup and tear-down, moving supplies, and supporting events in both indoor and outdoor settings. Work may take place at ARL locations and off-site event venues.

The role may involve exposure to animals, animal dander, moderate noise, outdoor weather conditions, and busy event environments while following established safety procedures.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in the internship experience.

As an Events Intern, you will help support events that raise awareness and critical resources for animals in need. Your work will contribute to meaningful community experiences while helping fund programs and services that support animals and the people who love them.

If you are enthusiastic, organized, and excited to gain hands-on event experience in a mission-driven nonprofit environment, we would love to have you join our team.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law. Applicants are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations as needed.