Summer 2025 Daniel C. Smith Philanthropy and Fundraising Internship Program

Are you a high-performer who wants to contribute to a mission-driven and values-based organization? If you are motivated by doing impactful work and making a difference in people’s lives, then the Indiana University Foundation (IUF) is the place for you. At the IUF, we believe in making the dream of higher education attainable, providing support for life-changing research, and preparing the next generation of leaders.    

As a trailblazer among our peers, we provide fundraising leadership and endowment stewardship to support needs and initiatives across all of Indiana University’s campuses. As part of our team, you will help make IU donor’s dreams last forever.   

At the IUF we work hard, celebrate achievements, and foster an environment where everyone’s contributions matter. We are nimble and innovative, and we want you to bring your ideas and energy to join forces with some of the best talent in our industry.  

In addition to being part of a meaningful mission as an IUF employee, you’ll find there are many ways to connect and collaborate. Our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives ensure that our colleagues are celebrated for who they are and have a voice. Our FUNdation (see what we did there?) committee helps us connect and unwind with food truck lunches, holiday gatherings, costume contests, free snacks, IU spirit-wear Fridays, and spontaneous gestures that surprise and delight. Our Wellness Committee ensures that the health and well-being of our employees is top of mind, offering yoga, a lunchtime walking group, meditation breaks, the Headspace app, and topical workshops. We encourage community leadership and service and make space for our staff to pursue their passions. Our total rewards philosophy ensures that we support employees financially, emotionally, and in their career growth.   

If the IUF sounds like a fit for you, we invite you to join us today.

About the naming of the Daniel C. Smith Internship Program: 

Under the leadership and direction of Dan Smith, the IU Foundations' former President and CEO, the IU Foundation was able to continue to support students financially and professionally despite the uncertainty of a global pandemic. Dan’s vision of this program is and has been to recruit and attract diverse fundraising talent. In honor and recognition of the ever-growing success of these interns and this program and with Dan’s retirement at the end of 2020, we officially re-named the summer internship program the Daniel C. Smith Internship Program, a well-deserved honor for Dan’s leadership and continued advocacy for student success and the fundraising profession. Dan’s legacy will live on through the success of the interns in this program. 

The Indiana University Foundation is seeking mission-driven, collaborative, and passionate students who are interested in a future career in development, fundraising, and non-profits. We are excited to present you with the opportunity to join the Daniel C. Smith Class of 2025 intern cohort!

As an intern with the IU Foundation, you’ll have an interactive opportunity in philanthropy at Indiana University. Our experts will guide you through a hands-on experience within the fundraising process from how a donor’s gift can transform into life-changing research, scholarships, and other higher education advancements. You’ll be able to see how philanthropic efforts can come to fruition throughout your internship experience with fun engaging activities both within the community and your cohort.

About the Program: 

The Daniel C. Smith Internship program runs from May 9th to August 1st, 2025. You and a cohort of interns will work 40 hours per week for 12 weeks and will be competitively compensated for your time. As an intern, you’ll will be matched with a “host unit” based on skills and interests, allowing direct supervision and mentorship by a frontline fundraiser at the university. As an intern, you are integrated into your individual host unit teams and can network with the IU Foundation’s professional staff and the rest of the intern cohort. 

Program Highlights: 

• Learning Series on the Fundraising Process: You’ll join IU Foundation and IU development leadership for this multi-faceted learning series. You will learn the people, processes, and foundation in place that led to the success of Indiana University’s Bicentennial Campaign, which raised just over 3.9 billion dollars for IU. 
• Case Competition: Team up with members of your intern cohort for an intense competition to solve a real-life business problem in the fundraising community! You will be grouped with a team of interns, with a development executive as your mentor, as you put your heads together to innovate the world of fundraising through this lively competition! 
• Networking Opportunities: One of the IU Foundation’s core values is collaboration. Throughout the summer, you will have access to 260+ fundraising and fundraising support professionals who are here to help you in your internship journey. We will connect you to important donors and friends of IU and will encourage and push you to make meaningful connections throughout your 12 weeks as an intern. 
• Signature events experience: You will be able to attend signature events and learn about how donor societies operate. Scholars attend dean’s advisory meetings, frequently attend development staff meetings, and gain exposure to annual giving, annual fund, stewardship opportunities and more.
• Development Scholars Program: Explore the exciting opportunity to extend your internship experience through our new program. Our Development Scholars Program offers a continuation of the internship program where selected interns are offered the opportunity to continue their work in fundraising across IU through a part time program that offers guaranteed career placement after graduation!

Did you know?

There is a longstanding history of success with this internship program! Our previous cohorts have an over 80% placement rate in development and fundraising positions all across the country in roles such as: Director of Private Philanthropy, Assistant Director of Development, Associate Director of Development, Deputy Finance Director, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, and more!

Your Professional Attributes: 

• Interest in a career in fundraising and philanthropy 
• High level of professionalism 
• Excellent interpersonal skills 
• Initiative, drive, and creativity 
• Ability to work on multiple projects at once 
• Experience with Microsoft Suite
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Your Qualifications:

• Students pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• Demonstrated involvement in philanthropic activities

While this program may be on-site or hybrid, candidates must reside in, or be willing to relocate to, Indiana for the duration of the internship program.

APPLY NOW:

• Make sure to submit resume and cover letter by January 19th, 2025.  A cover letter is highly recommended for consideration. 
• To learn more about the program, visit: https://iufoundation.iu.edu/students-parents/internships.html 
• For questions regarding the internship program, please contact Lawrence Hammer, Associate Talent Acquisition Specialist, at [email protected]. 

The IUF is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and professional work environment that is free of Discrimination and Harassment. The IUF will not tolerate any form of Discrimination or Harassment based on the Individual’s race, ethnicity, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, ancestry, marital status, protected veteran status, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by law.