Summer 2026 - Intern, Development

About the team:

The Vera Development team dedicates their time to raising the financial resources necessary to fuel Vera's mission and programs. The Development team cultivates relationships with prospective funders, coordinates funder engagement around Vera's work, and partners with initiative leads, leadership team, and trustees to build and execute strategies for fund development.

The Development intern will provide a wide range of administrative, database, and research support to Vera’s Development Department. Vera will provide an opportunity for our interns to gain experience and familiarity in areas such as fundraising, donor cultivation, philanthropy, and non-profit administration. 

 The Development Intern will learn: 

• To understand the fundamentals of nonprofit fundraising and strengthen their professional writing skills 
• To build competence in donor prospect research 
• How Development supports organizational strategy 

About the role:

1. Donor Intelligence 

• Collaborate with prospect research team to conduct qualifying research on prospective donors. 
• Partner with Individual and Institutional teams to build donor briefing documents. 

2. Data Hygiene

• Partner with development operations and special events team to reconcile and record past event attendance. 
• Work with the prospect research team to ensure appropriate tracking of donor intelligence across development systems.

3. Donor Engagement

• Participate in design and dissemination of key donor engagement pieces, including acknowledgement and cultivation mailings.

4. Administrative Support

• Special projects for the department as needed 

What qualifications are we looking for?

Required: 

• While this internship is open to current students, we are also interested in candidates looking to pursue a career in any facet of nonprofit fundraising and development. 

Preferred: 

• Previous experience working in a fundraising database is preferred but not required (Raisers Edge, EveryAction, Salesforce, etc.) 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills 
• Experience with Microsoft Office and ability to learn new technologies 
• Interest in a nonprofit career, particularly in development and fundraising 
• Ability to show initiative, ask questions, and adapt to changing priorities 
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills 
• A strong passion for social justice and reformation 

Technical knowledge helpful for this role:

• Microsoft Office 
• SharePoint 
• Previous experience working in a fundraising database preferred 

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $17.00 - $25.00. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff - both personally and professionally - is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, click here. 

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / Summer 2026 - Intern, Development
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org.