Foundation Events Intern - Summer 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 will support the events team with planning, logistics, volunteer coordination, guest and donor communications, on-site event execution, and post-event reporting. Some off-site Mary Free Bed events during evenings and weekends are required. This internship is designed to promote learning related to managing risk in health care administration. Interns are supervised, work with their supervisors to schedule hours around academic participation, and receive formal evaluations midway through and at the end of the internship. The internship requires 40 hours per week for 12–16 weeks; the actual schedule and duration are determined when the position is awarded. 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.

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, particularly 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.
Work 40 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.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with CRM systems or event platforms.
Academic credit through the intern’s academic institution, if available; this is not required.

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, and donation tools.
Help with on-site event execution, including setup, teardown, and communication with vendors and guests.
Provide general administrative assistance to the events team.
Attend off-site Mary Free Bed events on some evenings and weekends.
Demonstrate excellent customer service and professional standards, encourage and support those standards in team members, and promote teamwork and direct communication.
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.