The Community Fundraising & Events Intern is a hands-on role that contributes to national athletic fundraising events, engages with our inspiring athlete community and gains valuable experience in nonprofit operations, event planning and donor stewardship.
About Us:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $2 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.
Core to our philosophy is how we think of our capital and its risk profile relative to other stakeholders in the drug development pipeline. We work aggressively to de-risk various therapeutic strategies and tools in the hopes of building a robust pipeline of new treatments for patients. In order to achieve our mission of finding a cure for PD it is critical that we engage with, and bring together, members of the PD community including researchers, physicians, health professionals and most important, people with Parkinson's and their families.
We believe that to find a cure for PD as quickly as possible, our capital needs to push research forward today—we therefore deliberately hold no endowment or excessive reserves. We instead seek to deploy funds raised as quickly and wisely as possible. MJFF raises over $100 million annually. Today, the Foundation has approximately 300 full-time employees. We offer a collegial and collaborative environment where optimistic problem-solvers and entrepreneurial, resourceful individuals can thrive and make a tangible difference for millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Position Summary:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (“the Foundation”) is seeking an Intern in our Community Fundraising & Events department. The Foundation’s grassroots fundraising arm, Team Fox, empowers supporters around the world to raise funds and awareness for Parkinson’s research in their local communities. Through athletic events, personal campaigns and creative initiatives, our members turn their passions into impact.
MJFF is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented junior or senior undergraduate student—or graduate student—to support our Team Fox Endurance Program. This hands-on role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to national athletic fundraising events, engage with our inspiring athlete community and gain valuable experience in nonprofit operations, event planning and donor stewardship.
The Intern will be supervised by the Senior Community Fundraising Manager and collaborate closely with the Community Fundraising Manager to support event planning, donor communications, social media and day-to-day program operations.
This is a hybrid-flex internship based in New York City, with required in-office work. This fall internship will ideally begin after Labor Day and run through the end of the calendar year. Weekly hours (16–24) will be set in coordination with your manager based on your class schedule.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
- Assist with planning and execution of race weekend logistics for Team Fox Endurance events in 2025 and 2026, including venue coordination and enhancing the guest/athlete experience
- Help steward top individual fundraisers by drafting handwritten thank-you notes, crafting personalized emails and organizing mailings
- Track athlete fundraising progress and assist with internal reporting to help ensure participants meet their goals
- Support the implementation and fulfillment of Team Fox Endurance’s incentive program
- Contribute to program marketing efforts by creating content for social media, writing post-event blogs and spotlighting athletes from the community
Qualifications and Skills:
- Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, ideally in nonprofit management, public health, communications, sports management, or a related field
- Passionate about community engagement, social impact and working in the nonprofit space
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a natural ability to connect with a diverse range of people
- Highly organized and attentive to detail, with the ability to manage multiple tasks independently
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); familiarity with Canva, Salesforce, or social media tools is a plus
- A positive, team-oriented attitude and willingness to jump in and support wherever needed
Salary:
The hourly range for this internship is:
- Undergraduate Students: $17-$19/hour
- Graduate Students: $19-$21/hour
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing through examples, their specific qualifications and interest in the position. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, please apply. Applicants who best match the position’s needs will be contacted.
MJFF is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Diversity may refer to characteristics including, but not limited to, race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstance, geographic background, ability and disability, political ideology and age.