Internship Opportunities Available

February 17, 2023


The Erie Community Foundation’s Internship Program gives students the opportunity to gain valuable experience working directly with the nonprofit sector. In addition, interns gain a better understanding of philanthropy and the Foundation’s role in the community. The Erie Community Foundation is a collection of charitable endowments operating under the administrative umbrella of a single public charity. It is our mission to inspire, engage and empower donors and communities across the region, today and tomorrow.

At the completion of the internship, we hope that the successful candidate will gain valuable work experience outside the classroom and hone professional skills needed for their career.

Below are the internship opportunities available at The Erie Community Foundation:

Philanthropic Services Internship

I. Position Summary

The Philanthropic Services Team works directly with current and prospective donors to fulfill this mission. Our Internship Program gives students the opportunity to gain valuable experience working with donors and stakeholders, as well as gain an understanding of philanthropy and how it impacts our community. The Erie Community Foundation is a collection of charitable endowments operating under the administrative umbrella of a single public charity.

III. Duties & Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Assisting with donor events, seminars, and receptions
    • Manage the donor database with contact information and updates
    • Event invite process; mailings and tracking
  • Assisting and supporting departmental communications to donors and professional advisors, primarily via email and newsletters
  • Managing excel databases and integrating them into the CRM system
  • Assisting in all activities that support affiliate and affinity funds;
    • The Erie Women’s Fund
    • Young Erie Philanthropists
    • LGBT Funds of The Erie Community Foundation
    • community foundations in North East, Union City, Corry, and Findley Lake
  • Assisting with various projects throughout the organization which may include assembling presentation materials for meetings and general administration
  • Interface and collaborate with all other Foundation departments (Finance, Marketing, and Community Impact) to understand the role that Philanthropic Services plays in overall success
  • Collaborate with Foundation projects such as our annual meeting and Erie Gives
  • General Administrative support

Upon completion of internship, the successful candidate will gain work experience and professional skills that will be invaluable in any career requiring exemplary client service and care, specifically in the areas of personal finance management, public relations, and development.

IV. Position Dimensions

  • Schedule:
    • The Erie Community Foundation is open Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. A great majority of the internship will fall between these hours. However, there are a few instances the Philanthropic Services Intern will be asked to work beyond these hours.
    • We are flexible with number of days and hours and can work with your schedule to find times that work best for all.
    • The summer internship would ideally begin in May and run through August with an opportunity to stay on longer.
  • Wage:
    • Hourly wage of $10
    • Interns are eligible to collect credits with your college/university as part of this internship.
    • As an intern, you will receive “temporary employment” status and would not be eligible for employee benefits available to regular Foundation employees, including health insurance, vacation, and sick pay, paid holidays, and participation in the Foundation’s 401(k) plan.
  • Application details
    • Please email your cover letter and resume to Ric Giles, Director of Philanthropic Services, by April 1.
Apply for the Philanthropic Services Internship

Accounting Internship

I. Position Summary

The Erie Community Foundation’s Accounting Internship Program gives students the opportunity to gain valuable experience working directly with the Finance team. At the completion of the internship, we hope that the successful candidate will gain valuable work experience outside the classroom and hone professional skills needed for a career in accounting. This position is an integral part of the Finance team. The Intern will gain experience and exposure to a diverse investment portfolio of more than $322M, a proprietary operating system, unique community foundation functions, and an introduction to work in the nonprofit sector.

Interns will have the opportunity to work closely with all department professionals at The Erie Community Foundation.

The Finance team is responsible for managing the Foundation’s accounting functions, practices, procedures, and reporting in accordance with policies. Our Intern will support the execution of accounting and finance functions for Foundation activities including:

II. Duties & Responsibilities

  • The Finance team is responsible for managing the Foundation’s accounting functions, practices, procedures, and reporting in accordance with policies. Our Intern will support the execution of accounting and finance functions for Foundation activities including:
    • Preparation and Processing of:
      • Accounts payable
      • Investment statement reconciliations
      • Investment summaries
      • Journal entries
    • Assistance with:
      • Monthly bank reconciliations
      • Financial statement preparation
      • Scholarship processing
      • Investment reports
      • Year-end procedures
      • Annual audit procedures
      • Other tasks as assigned

III. Qualifications

  • Completion of sophomore year of college, with a major in Accounting, Business, or Finance
  • Highly organized and attentive to detail, quality, and accuracy
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both written and oral
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Excel, Word and Outlook

IV. Position Dimensions

  • Schedule:
    • The Erie Community Foundation is open Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.; the internship will fall between these hours.
    • We are flexible with number of days and hours and can work with your schedule to find times that work best for all.
    • This year-round internship would ideally begin in June and run through the end of the following school year. Potential to extend further.
  • Wage:
    • Hourly wage of $10
    • Interns are eligible to collect credits with your college/university as part of this internship.
    • As an intern, you will receive “temporary employment” status and would not be eligible for employee benefits available to regular Foundation employees, including health insurance, vacation, and sick pay, paid holidays, and participation in the Foundation’s 401(k) plan.
  • Application details
    • Please email your resume to Amanda Lincoln, Controller, by April 1.
Apply for Accounting Internship