Nonprofit Development & Grant Research InternAt — Lightning Youth Academy

The Nonprofit Development & Grant Intern will support our nonprofit Lightning Youth Academy in identifying funding opportunities and developing relationships with foundations, local businesses, donors, sponsors, and community partners. The intern will research grants, sponsorship opportunities, and potential business partners whose interests align with our mission of supporting youth through athletics, mentorship, mental performance, and community programs.

The intern will assist with grant research and preparation, business outreach, sponsorship development, professional communications, and community partnership development. The intern will also help create and distribute newsletters, program updates, and impact stories to keep current and prospective partners informed about our organization's programs, youth accomplishments, events, and community impact.

This position provides undergraduate students with practical experience in nonprofit development, grant research, fundraising, business partnerships, marketing, professional communication, and community engagement. Students will work closely with organizational leadership and receive guidance and feedback throughout the internship.

This opportunity is particularly suited for students pursuing Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Entrepreneurship, or related fields.

Tasks:

The student will perform the following professional and pre-professional duties:

1) Research and identify grant opportunities from foundations, corporations, government agencies, and other funding organizations that align with the organization's youth development, athletics, mentorship, mental performance, and community programs.

2) Evaluate potential grant opportunities by reviewing eligibility requirements, funding priorities, application guidelines, deadlines, and program alignment, and provide recommendations to organizational leadership.

3) Develop and maintain a grant prospect database containing funder information, funding priorities, eligibility requirements, deadlines, application links, and status of each opportunity.

4) Research local businesses and corporations that may be potential sponsors, donors, or community partners and identify their community giving priorities and partnership opportunities.

5) Develop and maintain a business partnership prospect list and organize potential partners according to their level of alignment with the organization's mission and programs.

6) Assist with grant applications and funding proposals by researching organizational information, preparing draft narratives, gathering supporting information, and assisting with required application materials under the direction of organizational leadership.

7) Assist in developing sponsorship proposals and partnership materials that communicate the organization's mission, programs, community impact, and opportunities for businesses to support local youth.

8) Draft professional outreach communications including emails, letters of inquiry, sponsorship requests, follow-up messages, and other correspondence to prospective funders, businesses, sponsors, and community partners.

9) Develop newsletters and partner communications highlighting youth accomplishments, athletic programs, mentorship activities, upcoming events, organizational achievements, and the impact of community support.

10) Assist with creating impact stories and program updates that communicate the organization's outcomes and demonstrate how funding and community partnerships benefit youth.

11) Track grant applications, business outreach, and follow-up activities using spreadsheets or organizational databases to ensure opportunities and communications are properly documented.

12) Research community events, networking opportunities, and resource fairs where the organization can develop relationships with potential donors, sponsors, businesses, and community partners.

13) Assist organizational leadership with presentations and outreach materials used to introduce the organization and its programs to prospective funders and community partners.

14) Participate in professional meetings with organizational leadership to review research findings, discuss potential funding opportunities, evaluate outreach strategies, and receive feedback on assigned projects.

15) Complete a final development project or presentation summarizing grant opportunities, business prospects, outreach activities, recommendations, and potential strategies for strengthening the organization's fundraising and community partnerships.

These duties provide students with hands-on experience in grant research, nonprofit fundraising, business development, professional writing, research and analysis, marketing communications, relationship management, and project management, while allowing them to progressively apply the knowledge and skills developed during the internship.

Training:

Students will receive structured training throughout the Fall 2026 internship to support the proposed learning outcomes and develop professional skills in nonprofit development and fundraising.

Initial General Orientation: All interns will participate in a mandatory orientation covering the organization's mission, programs, organizational structure, policies, professional expectations, confidentiality, and communication standards.

Nonprofit Development Training: Students will receive an overview of nonprofit fundraising and development, including how nonprofits identify funding sources, build relationships with donors and businesses, and communicate organizational impact.

Grant Research Training: Students will be trained on how to search for and evaluate grant opportunities, review eligibility requirements, identify funding priorities, research application deadlines, and determine whether a grant aligns with the organization's programs.

Business & Sponsorship Research Training: Students will learn how to identify potential local business partners and research their community involvement, charitable giving, sponsorship opportunities, and areas of interest.

Grant & Proposal Training: Students will receive instruction and examples of grant applications, letters of inquiry, sponsorship requests, and other funding materials. Staff will explain the purpose and context of each document before the student begins developing materials.

Professional Communication Training: Students will receive training in professional email communication, business correspondence, outreach to potential partners, and appropriate follow-up practices.

Newsletter & Partner Communications Training: Students will learn how to develop newsletters, program updates, impact stories, and other communications for donors, sponsors, businesses, and community partners.

Mentorship & Feedback: The intern will meet regularly with organizational leadership to review research, discuss funding opportunities, evaluate outreach efforts, and receive constructive feedback on written and professional work.

Progressive Responsibility: Students will initially observe and complete guided research and assignments. As they demonstrate competency, they will take on greater responsibility for grant prospecting, business outreach, communications, and development projects.

Professional Reflection: Students will periodically reflect on their experiences and connect their internship responsibilities to their academic coursework and future career goals in business, nonprofit management, marketing, communications, public administration, or related fields.

Learning Outcomes:

1) By the end of the academic internship, the student will be able to research and evaluate grant opportunities by identifying potential funders, reviewing eligibility requirements, and determining how funding opportunities align with the organization's mission and programs.

2) By the end of the academic internship, the student will be able to apply nonprofit fundraising and development strategies by identifying potential donors, foundations, local businesses, sponsors, and community partners.

3) By the end of the academic internship, the student will be able to demonstrate professional communication skills by developing grant-related correspondence, sponsorship requests, business outreach emails, newsletters, program updates, and other professional communications.

4) By the end of the academic internship, the student will be able to develop and maintain professional community partnerships by researching prospective businesses and organizations, conducting outreach, and supporting relationship-building efforts.

5) By the end of the academic internship, the student will be able to demonstrate effective research, organization, and project management skills by maintaining funding databases, tracking grant deadlines and outreach activities, evaluating prospective funding opportunities, and presenting recommendations to organizational leadership.