ACLU of Southern California Fundraising Internship

• Are you passionate about social justice?
• Do you enjoy meeting new people and developing relationships?
• Would you be excited to secure funding and resources for organizations working to build power with marginalized communities?
• The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California invites you to explore a possible career in fund development.

About ACLU SoCal

ACLU SoCal is dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties, civil rights, and economic justice. We focus our resources on the most marginalized and disenfranchised communities, including people of color, immigrants, members of minority religions, LGBTQ people, unhoused people, incarcerated people, and others. ACLU So Cal uses an integrated advocacy approach, utilizing litigation, policy advocacy, coalition-building, leadership development, media advocacy, and community education and engagement. We advocate for systemic changes in laws, policies, and practices that address the root causes of inequity and promote inclusion and opportunity. ACLU SoCal focuses on the following issue areas: criminal justice reform, police practices, economic justice, LGBTQ and reproductive justice, immigrant rights, first amendment and democracy, and education equity.

Internship Overview

ACLU SoCal seeks a part-time intern for the Spring 2025 term to support the work of the Philanthropy Department, which does the fundraising for the organization. The internship is open to students who have completed two full years or more of college coursework. The goal of the internship is to support the work of our team while also raising awareness about career opportunities in development, particularly for communities that are underrepresented in the field. Specific goals for the internship will be developed collaboratively with the supervisor.

●       Time Commitment: The internship requires a commitment of 8-10 hours per week.

●       Internship Duration: Internships are an 8 to 10-week period, starting in January or February.

●       Compensation: No pay or stipend is available, but arrangements can be made for work/study or course credit.

●       Location: This internship will be held mostly virtually with opportunities for occasional in-person meetings and advocacy campaign events. A workspace in our downtown office is possible if desired.

The intern will focus on foundation grants and will also support individual donor fundraising. No previous experience in fundraising is required. The intern will be supervised by the Senior Associate Director of Foundation Relations.

Roles and Responsibilities

•         Conduct research and analysis of grant-making foundations and prepare written profiles
•         Conduct major donor prospects research
•         Prepare internal documents for new grants that summarize key elements of the payments, reporting requirements, and use of funds
•         Assist with entering data, coding, and maintaining data hygiene in Salesforce, ACLU’s fundraising database
•         Summarize programmatic updates for funder communications
•         Assist with drafting and uploading grant proposals and reports
•         Participate in staff's donor strategy discussions
•         Assist with donor mailings, merging and printing, coding, and data hygiene
•         Assist with small group gatherings intended for donor education, cultivation and stewardship
•         Shadow the Associate Director of Foundation Relations and possibly other staff members in meetings with ACLU SoCal staff, foundation funders, and donors and prepare written notes
•         Attend department meetings and have the opportunity to attend advocacy events like public hearings, court hearings, rallies, and community forums.
•         Other projects as assigned

Experience and Qualifications

•         Has completed two years of college coursework
•         Previous involvement in social justice activism is preferred, including as a volunteer
•         Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite or equivalent
•         Interest in learning about fundraising for the social justice sector
•         Strong written and oral communication skills.
•         Strong interpersonal skills and attention to detail
•         Ability to multitask and work independently
•         An awareness of institutional racism and other oppressive systems through either personal experience or study and learning
•         A personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regards to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance
•         Lived experience related to one or more of our issues areas is desirable

To Apply

Please upload your resume to our Application Portal by November 18th.

ACLU SoCal is committed to developing a culture of diversity, equity, respect, and inclusion and to strive to maintain a workforce that reflects the communities that we serve. The ACLU SoCal is an equal opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable law. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply and value people of all races, genders (including gender identity or expression), sexual orientations, disabilities, citizenships, ages, religions, and national origins and who have different marital statuses, family caregiving responsibilities, lived experiences with the criminal justice systems, and genetic information. ACLU SoCal does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of any of these characteristics.

The ACLU SoCal is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please e-mail hrsupport@aclusocal.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.