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Communications & Development Intern

Columbia Land Conservancy

Chatham, New York

Job Type Paid Internship
Salary $18 per hour
Deadline Apr 30, 2026
Min. Experience 0 - 1 year

The Columbia Land Conservancy is currently hiring a Communications & Development Intern.

Find full job description and application instructions at ColumbiaLand.org/Jobs

Email applications only, please. Send a cover letter and resume to Jobs@ColumbiaLand.org in order to apply, with the subject line “Communications & Development Internship.”

Position Summary

The Communications & Development Intern works to further CLC’s mission by engaging our community of supporters and donors through digital and in-person outreach. This position supports the Communications and Development teams. This position is completely in-person, based out of CLC’s Chatham office.

Learning Goals

  • Build Intern’s proficiency in digital and in-person outreach.
  • Learn best practices for relationship management, communications, and development and make connections in the field.
  • Provide Intern regular feedback toward meeting workplace expectations.
  • Help Intern access professional role models and mentors.

Duties and Responsibilities

Assist with communications program (65%)

  • Publicize events by adding to community calendars  
  • Create event listings and post to the CLC website
  • Create short-form videos for use on social media and the CLC website
  • Take photos at public events
  • Create social media graphics and posts
  • Represent CLC at community events while sharing information about programs offered and answering questions

Assist with development program (35%)

  • Collect stories, interviews, and testimonials from CLC supporters
  • Thank and steward donors through sending letters, cards, welcome packets, and phone calls
  • Prepare for and attend donor events
  • Support CLC’s fundraising gala
  • Support entering data into Raiser’s Edge, CLC’s relationship management system

Other support as needed

Other tasks as your interests and passions allow! CLC believes internships are learning experiences and will work with the selected candidate to ensure that both professional and organizational goals are achieved.

Qualifications

Qualifications required to excel in this position can come from professional and lived experiences. Below, we describe what we believe are important qualifications for a candidate, while remaining open to diverse backgrounds that can lead to these skill sets. Position descriptions are often presented in a way that leaves qualified candidates, particularly women, people of working-class backgrounds, people of color, and LGBTQIA applicants, feeling unwelcome, intimidated, uncomfortable, and/or unqualified to apply. Recognizing that, we strongly encourage anyone who feels passionate about this work and believes they have what it takes to thrive in this role to apply.

Essential Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• Comfortable working in the office and in the field
• Ability to maintain composure and a positive attitude in the face of sometimes-disgruntled members of the public
• Weekday, weekend, and evening availability as needed
• Eagerness to learn the basic best practices of communications and outreach, including website maintenance, social media,      graphic design, and education
• Excitement to pursue CLC’s mission.


Physical Demands & Work Environment

Position will require mobility to work in office and outdoor settings and to use office equipment, including a computer, camera, and/or smartphone; strength to lift and carry materials weighing up to 10 pounds; vision to view the computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. The work environment will depend on the intern's interests, but will likely be approximately 60% indoor and 40% outdoor. Outdoor conditions may include hikes on CLC trails, which occasionally feature steep terrain.

This position is completely in-person in the Chatham, NY office. Please do not apply if you are not able to commit to in-person work.

This position is a 35-hour workweek, Tuesday – Saturday, with flexibility. Regular weekend and some evening work is an essential part of this position.

This position will receive 3 paid holidays, 2 days of sick leave, and a $100/month travel stipend totaling $300. 

How To Apply

Please read the full position description above or on our website and send a cover letter and resume to Jobs@ColumbiaLand.org in order to apply, with the subject line “Communications & Development Internship.”

Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Please do not contact CLC to follow up on the status of your application – we will be in touch when there is news to share!

Anticipated hiring process

Please note that this schedule is subject to change pending the number and quality of applications that are received. Priority will be given to those candidates who submit materials earlier in the hiring cycle.

  • April 30 – deadline for priority applications
  • Week of April 27 – Zoom interviews begin (approximately an hour)
  • May 8 – application window closes
  • Mid-May – early June – Position begins (start date flexible)

When you apply, please indicate that you are responding to the posting on Conservation Job Board.

Category Admin & Leadership , Land Trust
Tags Outreach