Research And Development Intern Jobs in Columbia, SC

Fundraising & Development Intern

The Poston Foundation

Columbia, South Carolina | Hybrid

Internship | Unpaid

About The Poston Foundation

The Poston Foundation is a South Carolina 501(c)(3) public charity based in Columbia and focused on providing practical, dignity-centered assistance to South Carolinians experiencing hardship, instability, or resource gaps.

Through the Carolina Cares Initiative, the Foundation provides Carolina Cares Essentials Kits and related direct support to individuals and families in need. The organization is currently strengthening its fundraising, partnership, and operational infrastructure to support responsible growth, sustainable charitable activity, and future grant opportunities.

Our approach emphasizes practical community support, responsible stewardship, transparency, and measurable impact.

About the Role

The Poston Foundation is seeking a Fundraising & Development Intern to assist with donor research, fundraising communications, sponsorship outreach, development administration, and other activities supporting the Foundation’s charitable programs.

This is a hybrid internship based in Columbia, South Carolina, with a combination of remote work and occasional in-person activities.

The intern will gain hands-on experience with the day-to-day development work of a growing nonprofit, including donor prospecting, fundraising campaigns, sponsorship materials, donor stewardship, grant research, and development tracking.

This role is well suited for a student, recent graduate, or early-career professional interested in nonprofit development, fundraising, communications, community engagement, or public service.

Responsibilities

The Fundraising & Development Intern may assist with:

* Researching prospective individual donors, businesses, foundations, grantmakers, and community partners

* Identifying potential corporate sponsorship and in-kind contribution opportunities

* Maintaining donor, sponsor, and prospect information in spreadsheets or development databases

* Supporting fundraising campaigns for the Carolina Cares Initiative

* Preparing donor outreach materials, sponsorship presentations, fundraising correspondence, and supporting documents

* Drafting donor thank-you messages, acknowledgment communications, and impact updates

* Assisting with email, social media, direct outreach, and other fundraising communications

* Researching relevant grant and community-funding opportunities

* Supporting preparation of basic grant prospect summaries and development research

* Helping organize small fundraising, volunteer, or community-engagement activities

* Tracking contributions, outreach activity, deadlines, and follow-up items

* Assisting with basic fundraising and development reports

* Supporting donor stewardship and relationship-management activities

* Helping ensure fundraising records and communications are organized, accurate, and consistent with the Foundation’s mission and nonprofit compliance practices

Responsibilities may be adjusted based on the intern’s interests, experience, academic background, and the Foundation’s current development priorities.

Qualifications

Strong candidates will demonstrate:

* Strong written and verbal communication skills

* Ability to conduct research and summarize findings clearly and accurately

* Good organizational skills and attention to detail

* Ability to manage spreadsheets, records, deadlines, and multiple assignments

* Comfort using common office and online productivity tools

* Professionalism and discretion when handling donor and organizational information

* Reliability and ability to work independently

* Ability to collaborate effectively in both remote and in-person settings

* Interest in nonprofit fundraising, philanthropy, community service, communications, business development, or public administration

Experience with donor databases, CRM platforms, fundraising software, grant research, Canva, Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, or similar tools is helpful but not required.

Current college students, graduate students, recent graduates, and individuals seeking practical nonprofit-development experience are encouraged to apply. Coursework or experience in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, business, public administration, public relations, or a related field is preferred but not required.

What You Will Gain

This internship is designed to provide practical exposure to nonprofit fundraising and development, including experience with:

* Donor and foundation prospect research

* Corporate sponsorship development

* Fundraising campaign strategy

* Donor communications and stewardship

* Grant prospecting

* Development tracking and reporting

* Nonprofit operations and compliance

* Community partnership development

* Fundraising materials and presentations

Interns may also have opportunities to contribute directly to development projects that can serve as substantive examples of nonprofit-sector experience.

Position Details

Location: Columbia, South Carolina

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Position Type: Internship

Compensation: Unpaid

Schedule: Flexible; hours and duration to be discussed based on availability and organizational needs

The Poston Foundation values professionalism, responsible stewardship, community service, and respect for the dignity of the individuals and families its programs are intended to serve.