Business Development Intern

Foundant + smartsimple • Bozeman, MT

9d • Remote

About The Position

The Business Development Intern plays a supporting role in Foundant's pipeline growth, working alongside our BDR team to learn how we engage prospects, uncover their needs, and communicate the value of our solutions. This is a hands-on role — not a shadow program — and interns contribute real work from day one. Through guided outreach and research, the intern helps identify and qualify potential clients in the foundation sector, gaining firsthand exposure to the early stages of a B2B sales cycle. This includes supporting both inbound lead handling and outbound prospecting efforts, with coaching from experienced BDRs along the way. The intern works closely with BDRs and Account Executives to understand what makes a quality lead handoff, learning how discovery insights translate into actionable sales information. By observing and contributing to prospect conversations, the intern begins to develop the consultative instincts that define effective business development. This role sits at the intersection of research, communication, and strategy — an ideal starting point for anyone serious about a career in sales or business development. Interns who excel here leave with a clear picture of what B2B sales looks like in practice and a foundation strong enough to grow from.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related field
• Strong written and verbal communication skills — you can write a clear, professional email and hold a conversation with confidence
• Analytical mindset — you’re comfortable gathering data, identifying patterns, and making observations that inform decisions
• Curiosity about technology and a genuine interest in learning B2B SaaS sales from the ground up
• Organized and detail-oriented — you take notes, follow up, and don’t let things fall through the cracks
• Self-motivated and able to work independently in any environment while staying engaged and collaborative with the team
• A competitive drive and a team-player attitude — you want to contribute, not just observe
• High ethical standards and discretion when working with client information and company data

Nice To Haves

• Real, resume-worthy experience in B2B SaaS sales at a company with a meaningful mission
• Hands-on time with industry tools including Salesforce, ZoomInfo, Claude, Gong, and sales engagement platforms
• Direct mentorship from the Director of Business Development and exposure to the full sales cycle
• A strong understanding of the nonprofit and foundation sector and how technology supports mission-driven work
• Potential for conversion to a full-time BDR role for high-performing interns

Responsibilities

• Help build and maintain targeted prospect lists for outbound campaigns across targeted segments. This includes sourcing contacts, cross-referencing with the database and preparing lists for upload
• Assist in generating leads through email and call outreach, social media prospecting, and research-driven campaign support
• Support execution of outbound prospecting activities, including email personalization, LinkedIn research, and other preparation
• Conduct research to identify potential clients, markets, and business opportunities within the nonprofit and foundation sector
• Analyze industry trends, competitive offerings, and prospect behavior to provide actionable insights to the BDR team
• Support BDR territory research by helping to map organizations to AE-owned accounts and flagging new prospects using company tools
• Assist with managing and routing inbound leads, ensuring timely follow-up and accurate CRM entry in Salesforce
• Help track lead-generating activity from events and marketing campaigns and flag high-priority follow-ups for BDRs
• Collaborate with the BDR/marketing team by providing input and feedback on demand generation campaigns and activities
• Help maintain accurate and up-to-date records in Salesforce, including contact data, account details, and activity logging
• Assist with data cleanup projects to improve lead quality and territory routing accuracy
• Collaborate with the BDR team to support preparation of outreach materials, messaging frameworks, and campaign sequences
• Shadow BDR workflows to learn business development processes/techniques firsthand
• Support BDRs in the preparation of regular reports on business development activities, lead generation efforts, and pipeline status for overall team review
• Attend team meetings and contribute observations on lead flow, campaign quality, and prospecting trends

Benefits

• competitive salary
• tuition
• lifestyle reimbursements
• bespoke mindfulness and fitness initiatives
• Flexible PTO policy
• professional and personal development
• exposure to diverse ideas, expertise, and projects that span multiple industries
• opportunities to grow your career
• autonomy and responsibility
• Employee recognition

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed