Research Development Intern Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

Austin, TX | Fall 2026 Internships

Interplanetary Help Desk is a tiny-but-mighty Austin-based 501(c)(3) that produces fundraiser concerts for local nonprofit organizations. Our goal is to help nonprofits quickly and easily raise money, all while supporting the music venues and musicians that make the Austin music scene so great. 
You’ll do work that feels good and makes a tangible difference. You’ll collaborate with people who care, building real community and helping great causes. 

Talk to us if you love doing good for others and local music—but also want to work on a well-managed, process-driven team where passion, teamwork, and good systems genuinely make a difference. (This is mostly an office job that happens to work in live music. If you’re looking for a way to break into the music scene, this isn’t a good fit.)

Our model is simple: We produce a fundraiser concert and cover costs through sponsorships. The nonprofit sells the tickets and keeps 100% of the ticket revenue (we don’t take a cut of ticket sales). Artists get paid well. Venues get a crowd. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.

About the Internship

You'll have significant independence and responsibility to execute meaningful projects (after a few warm-up projects to prove your skills). You'll earn solid, documented accomplishments to add to your resume. There will be some of the usual grunt work, but it contributes to projects that matter. We're doing too many important things to waste your time.

Work hard, skip the drama, enjoy the rush, and you'll be talking about what you accomplished for years. Interns who have worked with our founders at previous ventures have gone on to fantastic careers with amazing organizations in senior roles. (Two married each other, but that's not included.)
 

The Jobs We Have for Interns

(We’ll work with you to pick a project that matches your skills and interests. And we can mix it up if you want different experiences.)

• Research and Relationships: Find nonprofit causes we can help, sponsors who can pay for it, and music industry partners. Master the networking and relationship-building process. Help build a database that will be a resource for everyone. (These are essential skills for leaders and entrepreneurs.)
• Marketing, Communications, and Editorial: Create mission-driven content for our website, newsletters, social media, and fundraising. Learn how to drive action with words. You’ll learn a ton about authentic marketing, word of mouth marketing, and how to build giant follower lists. There will be some web and design opportunities if you have those skills.
• Business Management and Operations: Learn to run a real business (and nonprofit). Operations, customer service, facilities, and administration. How to execute. How to get things done. The thing that separates the dreamers from the doers. You'll learn how to be a useful businessperson, because they don't teach this in school.
• Fundraising and Sales: Work with our fundraising leaders to learn how to raise money for a cause or business. How to create offers, pitch donors and investors, and close the deal.
• Concert Production: All interns work on our shows, but there may be opportunities for a production-specific internship.

What you need to do/know/be to get an internship:

• This job is 12 hrs/week minimum, 10-week commitment, $12.50/hour.
• You must work in our office at 2222 and MoPac in Austin.
• You can write well, you’re organized, you’re on time, and you do your own dishes.
• You’re a self-driven learner who likes to study something new.
• You have an appreciation that doing great things sometimes includes doing hard or dull things.
• You’re ready for an office job, using office tools like Google Workspace, etc.
• You know how to work hard. You’re driven to better yourself. You care.
• You must be currently in school or just graduated.
• After a successful internship, we will help you with college credit, recommendation letters, and your job search.

We hire for attitude.

We choose the candidates who can show us a positive attitude, a desire to do great work, and a hunger for experience, so you can go on to do even greater things.

There is an amazing culture here. We work hard, we obsess about the details, and we challenge ourselves. We work intensely during the day on interesting stuff, and end in time to have interesting personal lives, too. If that sounds like fun, you'll love this place.

We want to see a great cover letter, resume, and anything else that shows us how you think and work.

Only a few students get this opportunity — and we're giving it to people who really want it, not people just checking off the internship box. We need to know that if we offer you the position, you're going to make the most of it.
 

Reviews from previous interns:

My internship experience at Interplanetary Help Desk made me feel like a respected and valuable member of the team. I was trusted with meaningful responsibilities, from negotiating partnerships to managing social media, while the work-life balance and office environment remained democratic, respectful, and fun. Every one of my coworkers was smart, talented, and truly enthusiastic about what they did, which made the team feel like a family. Additionally, anyone interested in live music and the community surrounding it would gain unparalleled exposure to local artists, venues, nonprofit partners, and other organizations through this position. - Annabelle Davis, Northeastern University

I really enjoyed my time as an intern at Interplanetary Help Desk. With a very welcoming staff and clear expectations I was able to gain hands-on experience working in the local music and nonprofit community. The internship was very well thought out and dynamic.  My experience at IHD was truly special -- I was able to build a talent database and conduct artist outreach from being thrown into the action on day one. You can expect to work with talented and creative individuals who will pass down their knowledge to you. Your time at IHD is vital and plays a significant role in the team's success. It's very rewarding. - Dillon Aitala, University of Texas

My internship at the Interplanetary Help Desk has provided me with invaluable professional experience through hands-on exposure to Austin’s music industry through both behind-the-scenes planning and on-site event execution. Throughout this program, I've deepened my marketing knowledge, building expertise in social media strategy, corporate partnerships, and sustained relationships with local media outlets. Furthermore, I gained practical experience in event production, specifically focusing on enhancing in-room experience, navigating artist relations, and other production logistics. IHD offers an awesome working environment, and I highly recommend their internship program to anyone seeking a meaningful career in the nonprofit or music sector. The team is full of great people who are willing to help you learn and grow in all the ways you desire. - Kyra Harrison, University of Texas

My internship with Interplanetary Help Desk was incredibly rewarding in so many different ways. I felt fulfilled with the work I was doing; I knew that I was contributing to a good cause, and I was able to connect with Austin’s music scene in new way. But what set this internship apart was the tight-knit crew that I was working alongside. I always felt like there was space for me to share ideas and ask questions. Everyone worked extremely hard, and it all paid off when we got to see people dancing and enjoying the benefit concerts we had spent months planning. It was a great experience that I am endlessly grateful for. - Lucy Murphy, University of Texas

Interning at Interplanetary Help Desk was a fabulous experience. The organization embodies a culture of excellent work with even more excellent people. I was able to own projects, like building the first outbound pipeline process, where my judgment and discretion were valued and trusted. Working there was not only a great learning experience, but a pleasant part of the day I genuinely looked forward to. - Ryan Bezdek, University of Texas

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