Development Internship @Cultural Survival

Department: Development – Remote & In-Person (Boston/Providence area)

Focus: Development support

Manager / Mentor: Danielle DeLuca, Senior Development Manager

Season: Fall 2026

The application period closes on July 18th, 2026. Early applications are encouraged

# of Internships available: 1

Planned start dates: September 21st, 2026

Duration and hours: 3 months, 15 hours per week

Internship Type: Remote & In-Person, nonprofit, unpaid internship with a learning stipend.

Intern’s expenses: This is a remote internship with some opportunities for in-person work. For the three-month internship, the selected intern will receive a one-time stipend of $500.00 to assist with expenses such as phone, electricity, internet, office supplies, and other internship-related costs.

Overview

Cultural Survival’s internship program provides mentorship, learning, and development opportunities for individuals interested in the non-profit sector, particularly in the vital work Cultural Survival performs to advance and defend Indigenous Peoples’ rights, lands, languages, and cultures. This initiative is one of the ways we demonstrate our social commitment to academic development and the provision of meaningful learning opportunities. 

Our internship opportunities welcome individuals from diverse nations, geographies, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, genders, religions, spirituality, ages, experiences, viewpoints, and cosmovisions.

About the internship

Focus: Development support

We are accepting applications for an upcoming remote and in-person internship opportunity in our Development department for Fall 2026. The selected intern will report to our Senior Development Manager, and the initial internship length is 3 months. While most of the internship can be completed remotely, there will be opportunities for in-person work in our Cambridge, MA office. Priority will be given to applicants who are available to attend our Cultural Survival Bazaars in Boston, MA, on December 12-13 and Providence, RI, on December 19-20. 

We are looking for a detail-oriented and resourceful person with a strong interest in non-profit fundraising and in learning about Indigenous Peoples’ rights, activism, traditions, and conditions.

Interns applying to this department should be interested in the Development field applicable to Indigenous Peoples, human rights, and nonprofit organizations. Interns must be independent, self-motivated, and reliable.  A high level of discretion and care is required when handling confidential donor and member information. 

Cultural Survival’s team spans 21 countries, working across time zones, languages, and cultural contexts to support Indigenous Peoples’ rights and self-determination. The selected intern will collaborate alongside our Development team, gaining direct exposure to nonprofit fundraising and donor engagement within a mission-driven, Indigenous-led organization. 

Fluency in English is required. 

Key learning objectives:

• Enhance proficiency in nonprofit fundraising, including prospect research, donor stewardship, and event planning and support. 
• Build a deeper understanding of the conditions shaping Indigenous Peoples’ movements globally. 
• Develop the skills to navigate and collaborate effectively in a culturally diverse, globally distributed, and remote work environment. 

Key tasks:

• Conduct prospect research to identify potential funding sources for Cultural Survival.
• Support the planning and execution of upcoming events, including the Cultural Survival Bazaars and a 50th anniversary celebration for the Cultural Survival Quarterly magazine. 
• Participate in donor stewardship by acknowledging, recognizing, and reporting on impact to support ongoing donor engagement. 
• Contribute to building a strong network of former Cultural Survival interns and encourage them to continue engaging with the organization. 

Weekly time commitment 

We will welcome a candidate who is interested in our work and is able to dedicate an average of 15 hours per week to the project.

Cultural Survival will accommodate the intern’s academic commitments and will provide opportunities for a monthly mentorship session within this department. 

Upon successful completion of the internship, the intern will qualify to receive an internship certificate of completion. 

How to apply

To be considered for this internship opportunity, the candidate’s application must include the following:

1. A cover letter addressed to Danielle DeLuca, Senior Development Manager.
   1. Detail your interest in this internship, how you specifically meet the criteria we are looking for, and why you connect with our mission.  We want to understand your unique voice and writing style. Therefore, please refrain from using AI-generated content in your cover letter. The letter will be evaluated as your writing sample.
2. Resume

If you require a reasonable accommodation request to apply, please send an email to hr@culturalsurvival.org