Program Development Intern

The Company

With 20 historic buildings and a working farm and garden, Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, MA is open April through December for self-guided tours, demonstrations, talks, and programs ranging from concerts to goat yoga. The museum, open to the public since 1960, celebrates the history and legacy of the Shakers, a religious group that lived communally and sought to realize the perfection of heaven on earth by espousing values of equality and pacificism. The year 2024 marks the 250th anniversary of the Shakers’ arrival in America from their founding country of England; the year offers opportunities for reflection and celebration of the Shakers’ significant influence on American culture and design. To learn more about the Village, visit our website at hancockshakervillage.org.

The Opportunity

Working alongside our small but efficient development team, the Development Intern will gain valuable experience in and understanding of the vital role that development plays in supporting the museum’s mission. This work is accomplished through timely donor communications, solicitation of private donations and sponsorships of special events, membership programs, and grant writing. The intern will gain experience in all areas of the development office including learning and working with the development database to enter and clean data, pull reports, and analyze donor engagement and giving; conducting donor research; writing donor communications; researching and writing grants and sponsorship proposals; providing customer service directly to patrons and trustees; learning about membership and giving programs; and supporting the department with special projects. The intern will also help to support the Events staff in planning and executing the annual fundraising Gala on August 3.

Desired Qualifications 

The Development Intern must be enthusiastic, hard-working, flexible, and a skilled-problem solver; have demonstrated success in multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment; be able to follow directions and show initiative, as the situation requires; be able to maintain composure and a sense of humor in high-pressure situations; and have a familiarity with Microsoft Office (Excel experience a plus). Prior experience working with the public is helpful but not required. 

Compensation and Application Instructions

The internship is full time (35-40 hours/week) and may include weekend shifts. Weekly schedules will be determined in advance of arrival by the intern and their supervisor.  Interns receive a stipend of $2,500, paid in weekly installments of $250. Interns are also offered on-site housing in the shared intern apartment in one of our historic buildings. Interns must provide their own meals and transportation. Because of the distance from shopping and other amenities, access to a car during the internship is highly recommended for a better experience but is not required. 

Applicants should submit 1) a letter of interest explaining why the internship is a good fit for you, 2) a resume, and 3) the names and contact information for two professional or academic references.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis but must be received no later than Friday, March 29, at 5 pm.