Strategic Philanthropy & Social Impact Internship

Strategic Philanthropy & Social Impact Internship

The Cal Alumni Association (CAA) provides all Cal graduates with rewarding connections to the university, to fellow alums, and to current students. Founded by the original graduates of the University of California in 1872, the Cal Alumni Association today represents more than half a million alums living throughout the world.

Our mission is to cultivate a lifelong relationship with our alma mater by connecting and inspiring alums, students, and the campus community through meaningful and inclusive opportunities. We foster a culture that celebrates diversity, creates a sense of belonging, and advances equity.

Job Title: Strategic Philanthropy & Social Impact Internship

The Cal Alumni Association (CAA) is the official alumni organization of UC Berkeley, serving a global network of more than 600,000 alumni. Founded in 1872, CAA advances lifelong connections between alumni, students, and the university through programs, scholarships, career development, philanthropy, and community engagement initiatives that support UC Berkeley's mission of excellence, equity, and public impact.

The Cal Alumni Association (CAA), in collaboration with the Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP), invites UC Berkeley students to apply for an internship within the Office of Development. This role focuses on strategic philanthropy, donor engagement, grant research, and mission-driven initiatives that strengthen alumni connections and advance university impact. Guided by GSPP's values of public service, innovation, equity, and evidence-based leadership, interns will gain experience developing inclusive, data-driven philanthropic strategies that support UC Berkeley's mission of access, excellence, and social impact.

Interns will support the Office of Development by identifying, researching, and advancing opportunities for grants, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and creative philanthropic partnerships. Work will blend rigorous policy-style analysis with innovative, creative execution to expand funding streams that sustain alumni programs, student scholarships, and campus priorities. You will operate in a fast-paced, collaborative environment that mirrors GSPP's emphasis on turning ideas into actionable results under real-world constraints, while upholding principles of transparency, equity, and long-term societal benefit.

The intern will be expected to complete 1–3 strategic deliverables during the internship, focused on philanthropy, grant development, research, and innovation initiatives that support the mission of the Cal Alumni Association and UC Berkeley.

Strategic Grant Proposal or Philanthropic Initiative Design and develop one major professional deliverable, such as: a full grant proposal or Letter of Inquiry (LOI) for a foundation, corporate, or public-sector funding opportunity; or a concept paper and pitch deck for a new alumni engagement, scholarship, equity, or social impact initiative.

Incorporate stakeholder research, data analysis, measurable outcomes, and evidence-based recommendations aligned with the values of the Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP).

Target Outcome: Produce a polished, implementation-ready document or presentation suitable for direct use by the development team.

Foundation & Institutional Grants Research Portfolio Conduct comprehensive research on foundations, corporate giving programs, government grants, and mission-aligned institutional funders. Develop a professional grants pipeline portfolio that includes: funder profiles, funding priorities, eligibility analysis, historical giving patterns, strategic alignment with CAA and UC Berkeley initiatives, and recommended cultivation or submission strategies. Target Outcome: Identify and prioritize funding opportunities with a combined potential value of $500K+ in prospective or renewable support, with several opportunities advanced to proposal-ready stage.

Alumni & Major Donor Opportunity Pipeline Research and evaluate high-capacity alumni, philanthropic partners, and strategic donor prospects aligned with university advancement priorities. Assist in creating donor engagement materials, stewardship concepts, and prospect strategy recommendations that support long-term relationship development. Contribute to data-driven fundraising strategies focused on alumni engagement, scholarships, public impact initiatives, and institutional growth. Target Outcome: Deliver a strategic donor opportunity pipeline identifying priority prospects, engagement recommendations, and philanthropic pathways that support sustainable development goals.

Interest in nonprofit management, fundraising, development, corporate social responsibility, public policy, communications, or alumni relations. Strong research, writing, and analytical skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities. Ability to manage multiple projects in a collaborative environment. Familiarity with CRM systems, donor research, or development operations is a plus.

Strategic thinking and problem-solving Professional writing and storytelling Mission-driven leadership Attention to detail and organizational skills Pay rate $20.35 / hour

Schedule 40 hours per week, flexible schedule, Monday–Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT, plus coverage of special events (may occur in evenings/on weekends). Internship will report to the Major Gift Officer and Development team. Start Date: June 17, 2026 End Date: August 12, 2026

Hybrid schedule, splitting time working on-campus at Alumni House and working remotely. Remote work must be performed in California.

If you are passionate about using philanthropy as a force for meaningful social impact, we encourage you to apply for the Strategic Philanthropy Social Impact Internship.

Please submit the following: A current resume A brief cover letter sharing: Your interest in the internship. Your experiences and how they align with the mission of the Cal Alumni Association and Goldman School of Public Policy. Your perspective on advancing philanthropy and social impact initiatives, and how you hope to contribute through this opportunity.

Applications are due by May 22, 2026 Apply online through UC Berkeley Alumni Careers or email your materials with the subject line: "Strategic Philanthropy & Social Impact" to View email address on click.appcast.io.