Summer 2027 Fundraising, Grant Writing, & Development Internship

ArchCity Defenders•St. Louis, MO

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

ArchCity Defenders (ACD) is a holistic legal advocacy organization that combats the criminalization of poverty and state violence, especially in communities of color. ACD’s foundation of civil and criminal legal representation, social services, impact litigation, policy and media advocacy, and community collaboration achieves and inspires justice and equitable outcomes for people throughout the St. Louis region and beyond. ArchCity Defenders envisions a society liberated from systems of oppression where the promise of justice and racial equity is realized; communities where our approach to public safety prioritizes investment in well-being, health, and transformation without relying on criminalization and incarceration; and people living freely in their communities, thriving regardless of their race or income. ArchCity Defenders is working on broad-based change to the St. Louis region’s criminal legal system. One way we advance this agenda is through the use of impact litigation. In order to effectively file and argue civil rights impact cases, it is necessary to have extensive knowledge of legal precedents, state and federal statutes, and county and municipal ordinances. Although impact litigation has become one effective tool for change, ArchCity Defenders remains dedicated to representing our clients and changing the lives of our clients on an individual basis. To this end, we provide direct representation in housing, elder, consumer, family, criminal, and other areas of the law. ACD’s Development team educates the community and donors about the organization's mission, initiatives, and services; advocates for issues important to our client community; supports the work of ACD’s staff by providing monetary, in-kind, and volunteer resources; coordinates with local, national, and international funders; and supports the work of ACD’s Communications team. ArchCity Defenders is looking for a development intern to join its dynamic and innovative development team. The intern will research, nurture, and develop relationships with funders and donors in support of the development team, enter information into our databases, and assist with planning and executing events to support our funding efforts.

Requirements

Impressive written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
Basic administrative skills.
Ability to tackle challenges head-on, work independently within deadlines, and make an impact.
Flexibility and readiness to meet ACD's evolving needs.
Commitment to our mission of racial and economic justice and driving systems change.
Cultural awareness and sensitivity toward diverse populations.
Understanding of the structures of power, privilege, and oppression.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with CRM.
Willingness to learn new systems.
Experience developing connections with businesses and individuals.
Outgoing personality.
Event or fundraiser experience.

Responsibilities

Brainstorm fresh and exciting communication ideas.
Write engaging stories and materials for our events and marketing efforts.
Update our development database using Blackbaud.
Research and create compelling materials for grant applications and funding opportunities.
Discover and nurture relationships with potential individual and corporate donors.
Summarize our weekly achievements and progress for our Director of Development.
Find potential donor sources, small business partners, mission-aligned celebrities, and corporate champions.
Attend development update meetings to collaborate and share your insights.
Support the mission of ACD and collaborate with our fantastic team to achieve it.
Embrace any challenge that comes your way, all in the name of helping our Development team thrive.
Any other duties as assigned to help the Development team do its best work.