Virtual Internship: Fundraising, Campaign Research & Strategy Intern

The Office of Fine Arts, U.S. Department of State, offers an unpaid, experience-oriented internship in fundraising, campaign research, and strategy. This dynamic experience will give the intern real-world experience as the office prepares to launch, a national fundraising campaign.

The Diplomatic Reception Rooms is preparing to launch, a national fundraising campaign to provide funding for their national education program. The educational program connects teachers and school librarians with the historic art and objects from the Diplomatic Reception Rooms’ collection. Educators use these primary resources as teaching tools, helping history come to life in their classrooms. Currently in the quiet phase, this campaign will identify, cultivate, solicit and close major gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations, and non-profits. This internship provides hands-on training and experience in major gift fundraising, campaign research, and strategy to help educate and encourage the development of future professionals in the field

.Candidates must have a demonstrated interest in major gift fundraising, campaign research, and/or campaign strategy. This internship is open to graduate students pursuing a Master of Arts degree in American studies, art history, arts management, communication, creative writing, English, exhibition design, fundraising, history, history of decorative arts, marketing, museum education, museum studies, political management, political science, project management, public communication, public relations, and strategic communication.

The intern supports the work of the Campaign Director for the Diplomatic Reception Rooms as a fundraising, research, and strategy assistant. The intern selected will have the opportunity to work directly with the Campaign Director and will engage in conducting donor research, campaign budgeting and planning, developing donor ratings, creating campaign pyramids, and assisting in developing campaign strategy including marketing, messaging, and branding. Based on ability and interest, the intern will have the opportunity to draft lead letters, donor proposals, and campaign case statements. Candidates must demonstrate excellent research and writing skills, and have the ability to work independently and as part of a team. The opportunity to work in a dynamic environment used to conduct our nation’s diplomacy is part of the internship experience

The 42 Diplomatic Reception Rooms, located on the top two floors of the U.S. Department of State, are the site for many of our nation’s diplomatic meetings and events including international summits, treaty negotiations, official U.S. State Luncheons, and important presidential speeches. The rooms house a historic museum-quality collection of more than 5,000 fine and decorative art objects valued at more than $125 million that tell the story of our country’s founding and formative years. The fine and decorative arts collection is comprised of paintings, sculptures, prints and manuscripts, furniture, silver, glass, textiles, export porcelain and earthenware from 1730 - 1860. A significant portion of the collection relates to important moments in our country’s history and represents excellent examples of fine and decorative art from important artists and craftsmen. Some of the pieces in the collection include portraits of Founding Fathers by Gilbert Stuart, landscape portraits by Thomas Moran, porcelain owned by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the desk upon which the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783. These historic objects and artwork tell the story of our country’s history and cultural heritage, and illustrate the importance of diplomacy and civic engagement.

The collection and the stories it tells are taken beyond the walls of the U.S. Department of State through educational programming. DRR's educational initiatives encourage educators to use historic art and objects from state and national museums and libraries to develop innovative lesson plans centered around civic engagement. Programming is uniquely tailored to support school librarians and teachers of English language arts, art, and social studies in grades 4-12