Fundraising & Business Development Intern
Support LWG's fundraising and resource mobilization — prospect research, donor-facing materials, and pipeline tracking.
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- Position type
- Unpaid internship. Academic credit supported where your institution allows it.
- Who should apply
- Graduate student (preferred), upper-level undergraduate (junior/senior), or recent graduate. 18 years or older.
- Eligibility
- Open to candidates anywhere.
- Duration
- 4–6 months, approximately 5–10 hours per week, flexible to set your own schedule.
- Location
- Remote
- Reports to
- Intern Supervisor and Local Works Global Executive Director. Interns may also be matched with a mentor from LWG's alumni network or Steering Committee.
- Focus areas
- Prospect Research, Fundraising Materials, Grants & Proposal Support, with support for Pipeline Tracking, Donor Communications, and Business Development
- Apply by
- October 5, 2026
About Local Works Global (LWG)
Local Works Global believes that the people closest to a challenge understand it best, and that they should be the ones who decide how to solve it. We work to move the world’s development capital and decision-making power toward them. To make that real, we work in three ways:
We reimagine the system, rethinking what comes after traditional aid.
We put new ideas to practice, testing new ways to move money (including private capital) and decision-making power to local organizations.
And we help funders make the shift, advising donors who want to fund differently.
Our work started at USAID, where we spent more than a decade shifting power and strengthening community leadership in development. That experience lives on through the global network that grew from it: more than 320 locally led development practitioners and 400 trusted community partners across 64 countries. Learn more at localworksglobal.org.
Rather than chasing the largest institutional donors, LWG builds relationships with funders whose priorities overlap with ours, from family foundations to individuals who care about community leadership and a better model for foreign assistance.
LWG is currently 100% volunteer-run and pre-revenue.
Role Overview
This internship is ideal for graduate students, upper-level undergraduates, or recent graduates interested in nonprofit fundraising, philanthropy, and resource mobilization for locally led development. This is a founding-stage role. You will be part of the core team, which includes former senior USAID staff, and take real ownership of fundraising work rather than sitting several layers removed from it. Because LWG is pre-revenue, this role is unpaid. What we offer instead is proximity, responsibility, and a front-row view of building something new. LWG is a small, collaborative team, and the intern will work alongside staff and other interns whose responsibilities overlap and complement this role.
Key Responsibilities
1. Prospect Research (Primary Focus)
- Research foundations, family offices, corporations, individual donors, and other potential funders whose priorities overlap with LWG’s mission, and develop concise funder profiles.
- Maintain accurate research records, sources, and prospect information.
2. Fundraising Materials and Grants Support
- Help prepare, format, edit, and proofread donor-facing materials, including one-pagers, concept notes, proposals, and presentations.
- Research funder requirements, deadlines, and application guidelines, and help assemble supporting materials for proposals and reports.
3. Pipeline Tracking & Donor Communications Support
- Help maintain organized records of prospects, outreach, pipeline status, and update the CRM (or other tracking systems, as applicable).
- Track deadlines, follow-ups, next steps, and other fundraising-related action items.
- Support the preparation of donor and prospect communications for staff review.
4. Business Development Support
- Work with LWG’s Director of Advisory Services to identify opportunities that may be a fit for LWG’s consulting and advisory services.
Qualifications & Competencies
- Passion and commitment to equality, equity, and community empowerment.
- Strong research and organizational skills, with attention to detail and accuracy.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required, including the ability to proofread professional, donor-facing materials.
- Interest in nonprofit fundraising, philanthropy, or international development.
- Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
- Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and varying levels of English-language proficiency.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; familiarity with AI productivity tools is an asset.
- Must be a self-starter who is comfortable working independently while receiving regular guidance, mentorship, and feedback from the Local Works Global team.
What You Will Gain
- Hands-on experience in nonprofit fundraising, including prospect research, grants support, and donor communications.
- Dedicated mentorship from an experienced professional in your area of interest.
- Exposure to how mission-driven organizations build sustainable funding.
- Experience supporting a nonprofit committed to changing how international development is designed, financed, and implemented.
- A certificate of completion and a letter of recommendation upon successful completion of the program.
How to Apply
To apply, send a resume/CV and a short cover letter explaining why this role interests you to internships@localworksglobal.org. Please apply by 11:59 PM your time on October 5, 2026. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and locations. If you are excited about this work but unsure whether you meet every qualification, we still encourage you to reach out.