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 a strong emphasis on fundraising in health care. The intern supports event logistics, volunteer coordination, donor communications, and post-event reporting, while providing administrative support to the events team. Participation in offsite Mary Free Bed events on some evenings and weekends is required. This internship is designed to support learning goals related to managing risk in health care administration. Interns are supervised, and the supervisor works with each intern to schedule required hours around academic classes. Interns receive formal evaluations midway through and at the end of the internship. Mary Free Bed may coordinate with an intern’s academic institution regarding credit, but academic credit is not required. Interns are expected to follow Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital policies and procedures; failure to do so may result in disciplinary action, including termination. If an internship is terminated, the stipend may be prorated through the termination date.

Requirements

Completed coursework in a relevant field such as nonprofit management, communications, marketing, hospitality, business, or a related area.
Be at least a junior or senior at an accredited four-year college or university.
Strong organizational and time-management skills, with 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.
A 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.
Work 20–25 hours per week for a 12–16 week period; actual hours and duration are determined when the position is awarded.
Follow all Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital policies and procedures.
Able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and lift, carry, push, or pull up to 10 pounds occasionally.
Able to sit for most of the time, with brief periods of walking or standing, and use a keyboard frequently.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with CRM systems or event platforms.

Responsibilities

Assist with event timelines and project plans.
Support coordination with venues, vendors, and caterers.
Support end-to-end volunteer coordination, 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 on some evenings and weekends.
Demonstrate excellent customer service and professional standards of behavior.
Promote teamwork and direct communication, handle confidential information discreetly, identify problems and seek solutions, and contribute to patient/family satisfaction and customer-service monitoring.