Foundation Events Intern - Winter 2027 Semester

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital•Grand Rapids, MI

About The Position

The Foundation Events Intern will gain hands-on experience in event planning and execution, with an emphasis on fundraising in health care. The intern will support event timelines and project plans, vendor and venue coordination, volunteer management, event logistics, guest registration, donor communications, event-day operations, and post-event reporting. The role also provides administrative support to the events team and opportunities to participate in offsite Mary Free Bed events, including some evenings and weekends. This is a supervised internship with learning goals related to managing risk in health care administration. Interns work 20–25 hours per week for 12–16 weeks; the actual hours and duration are determined when the position is awarded. Supervisors will work with interns to avoid conflicts with academic participation. Interns receive formal evaluations midway through and at the end of the internship. Academic credit may be coordinated with the intern’s institution but is not required. Interns must follow Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital policies and procedures. The position pays $18 per hour. The work is primarily sedentary and involves frequent keyboard use, with occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling of up to 10 pounds and brief periods of walking or standing. Reasonable accommodations are available in accordance with the ADA.

Requirements

Completed coursework in a relevant field such as nonprofit management, communications, marketing, hospitality, business, or a related area.
At least junior or senior standing at an accredited four-year college or university.
Strong organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with professionalism and attention to detail.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced team environment.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy, especially when managing guest lists, data, and logistics.
Customer-service mindset and ability to provide a positive, professional guest or donor experience.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and integrity.
Ability to meet the stated physical requirements, with reasonable accommodation where applicable.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with CRM systems or event platforms.
Academic credit for the internship may be coordinated with the intern’s institution, but is not required.

Responsibilities

Assist with event timelines and project plans.
Support coordination with venues, vendors, and caterers.
Coordinate event volunteers, including recruitment, communication, scheduling, on-site management, and post-event recognition.
Help manage event logistics, including room setups, audiovisual needs, and signage.
Maintain guest lists, RSVP tracking, and registration systems.
Assist with preparing briefing documents and run-of-show schedules.
Support donor communications, including drafting communication plans, confirmations, and follow-ups.
Support post-event reporting and analysis.
Help prepare auction items, pledge materials, or donation tools.
Assist with on-site event execution, including setup, teardown, and communication with vendors and guests.
Provide general administrative support to the events team.
Participate in offsite Mary Free Bed events, including some evenings and weekends.
Demonstrate excellent customer service and professional standards of behavior.
Promote teamwork and direct communication with coworkers, and handle confidential information discreetly and sensitively.
Identify problems and seek solutions; promote patient and family satisfaction where possible and participate in departmental customer-service monitoring and reporting.