Development & Communications Internship

The Development & Communications Internship provides students with a hands-on introduction to nonprofit fundraising, community engagement, and communications. Interns will also gain a broad understanding of how nonprofit organizations operate, including how programs, administration, and fundraising work together to support families in Napa County. As part of onboarding, interns will receive an introduction to Cope’s programs and services, helping them understand the full scope of our work.

Department: Development
Supervisor: Development & Communications Coordinator
Location: Cope Family Center, Napa, CA
Hours: Flexible; schedule set in partnership with student to meet internship program expectations (approximately 60 hours)
Compensation: Unpaid internship designed for student learning
Requirements: Must be 16+.
Eligibility: High school students participating in their school’s internship program

Aligned with high school internship guidelines, this experience is structured for the student’s learning benefit, with activities designed to help interns understand the day-to-day work of a nonprofit development team.

What You Will Learn

During this internship, students will gain exposure to:

• How nonprofit organizations function, including the relationship among programs, finance, administration, and development
• An overview of Cope Family Center’s programs and services, and how our work supports families in Napa County
• How nonprofits build relationships with donors, volunteers, and local businesses
• How community campaigns and fundraising events are planned and promoted
• How data is used to track donor engagement and measure impact
• Professional skills such as time management, communication, customer service, and task follow-through
• The importance of storytelling and messaging in nonprofit communications

Responsibilities

Intern tasks will support learning in fundraising and communications while contributing to the work of Cope’s Development & Communications team. Activities may include:

• Event and program promotion
  • Submit announcements to community calendars
  • Help prepare and upload flyers through Peachjar
• Volunteer engagement and recognition
  • Record volunteer hours in the volunteer database
• Donation processing
  • Process gift acknowledgements (mail merge, print, address, mail)
• Business engagement
  • Track fulfillment of business giving benefits
  • Support data entry and organization related to sponsorships
• Community campaign support
  • Assist with tasks related to the Paint the Town Blue child abuse prevention awareness campaign
  • Support outreach, material preparation, and visibility efforts
• General administrative support
  • Assist with filing, organizing materials, preparing mailings, and other office tasks

Who Should Apply

This internship is a good fit for students who:

• Are curious about nonprofit work, fundraising, communications, or marketing
• Enjoy writing, organizing, or community engagement
• Want to build professional skills in a supportive environment
• Are dependable, eager to learn, and ready to take initiative

No prior experience is required.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your resume and cover letter to Daniela Gamez-Eusebio: dgamez@copefamilycenter.org