Planned Giving Intern

JOB TITLE: Planned Giving Intern

DEPARTMENT: Development

LED BY: Planned Giving Officer (PGO)

HOURS: Part-Time; 12 hours/week

LOCATION: Hybrid

ABOUT SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND

Second Harvest Heartland is the second-largest food bank in the United States, sourcing and delivering food to nearly 1,000 food shelves and food distribution partners throughout 59 counties across central and southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Our work begins with a bold vision: a community where no one goes hungry. We help fill plates, shelves, and fridges throughout the region while shining a light on food insecurity and its root causes and inspiring action at home and across the country. By utilizing new and better data, engaging and mobilizing partners, and advancing innovative solutions, we are on the leading edge of a movement to address hunger and food insecurity in our communities.

If you’re ready to turn your passion into purpose, join us and help build a future where every neighbor has the food they need to thrive.

POSITION SUMMARY

Join Second Harvest Heartland’s Development team as a Planned Giving Intern to deepen your fundraising skills while working to end hunger. This role will support the Planned Giving Officer by leading stewardship tasks, like donor story gathering and community-building efforts, as well as providing additional administrative support.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary (60%): steward existing estate donors, known as Table of Hope (TOH) Society members, through two primary projects:

• Donor story gathering – to deepen donor relationships and develop promotional content, intern will play a key role in a donor story gathering campaign

• Invite select TOH members to share their motivations for giving with Second Harvest Heartland
• Conduct interviews with support of Development/Communications staff
• Communicate with donors for reviews and approval
• Steward donors by sending final product, when available

• Community survey – to understand TOH donor motivations and stewardship preferences, intern will craft and execute a survey to help future stewardship efforts be more meaningful

Secondary (40%): provide support with prospect management, event planning, and day-to-day administration.

The intern will have CRM training to ensure that all donor-facing activity is documented into our donor database, Raiser’s Edge NXT.

SHADOWING AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Based on the intern's interest, capacity, and the needs of the Planned Giving program, the intern may have the opportunity to accompany the PGO on donor visits, sit in on vendor conversations, or observe complex revenue processing procedures. There will also be opportunities for the intern to network with other Second Harvest Heartland staff, depending on capacity.

VALUES

• We Deliver: We use our head and heart to make decisions, we make the best use of donor dollars, and we achieve results safely and reliably.  
• We Lead with Our Hearts: We keep our neighbors, partners, and teams at the center of our work. We seek to understand and anticipate their needs. 
• We Are All in this Together: We collaborate, internally and externally. We communicate openly, seeking feedback, and sharing knowledge. 
• We Innovate: We seek out bold new ideas, we embrace change, and we commit to continuous improvement for ourselves and our work.  
• We Believe our Differences Make us Stronger: We value inclusion and embrace the variety of backgrounds that make up our team and our community. Our different experiences and perspectives empower us to fulfill our mission.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Comfort communicating with strangers through a variety of channels
• Active listening with an emphasis on respect, connection, and curiosity
• Proactively asks questions and seeks clarity
• Work with flexibility and enthusiasm, centering relationships and customer service
• Demonstrated ability to plan, manage and follow through on multiple tasks and projects with attention to detail.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and take initiative
• Demonstrated familiarity with Microsoft Office, Office365, and the ability to learn other computer software programs.
• Preference for professional or academic experience in marketing, communications, fundraising, nonprofit management, or community engagement fields

TIME REQUIREMENTS AND SCHEDULE

• Total time requirement: November 2026-June 2027, can potentially extend to September 2027, approximately 12 hours/week
• Days of the week: Days of the week for this position are flexible but within Monday-Friday business hours.

• Time of the day: 8:30am to 4:30pm (flexible within these hours)
• Work sites: Second Harvest Heartland HQ Brooklyn Park and/or virtual. In person at HQ on Wednesdays is preferred but not required.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT/LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Interns will gain experience in donor relationships, fundraising logistics, and complex donation vehicles. These skills are transferrable to fundraising, sales, and community engagement careers.

• Learn how to host donor conversations and understand how personal stories impact engagement and giving behavior
• Gain experience in nonprofit administrative and data management
• Exposure to planned giving, a niche Development topic

Second Harvest Heartland is an equal employment opportunity employer.