Philanthropic Communications and Content Intern - IE

About the role

JMU's Philanthropic Communications team is looking for a curious, relationship-driven Langridge Fellow to join us for the 2026-27 academic year. In this year-long role, You’ll serve as a liaison to our partner, Valley Scholars, by: helping build a framework for lasting community among their students and alumni; writing stories that inspire giving to the program; and keeping their giving websites up to date. In the spring, you'll support Family Business Symposium, one of Principal Giving's signature donor events. You will gain hands-on experience building systems for alumni engagement through social media and newsletters, maintaining accurate donor records in Salesforce, and supporting high-touch events, all while developing professional skills through close mentorship and structured supervision.

Responsibilities

• Valley Scholars Liaison: Project Coordinator and Content Creation (75%)
  • Liaise with the Valley Scholars program team to help build a sustainable framework for connecting current students and alumni, including a LinkedIn community and opportunities for dialogue between the two groups
  • Support processes for capturing and maintaining Valley Scholars alumni contact information while students are still enrolled, working with the registrar to maintain accurate and current alum records in Salesforce
  • Write and edit content for a new Valley Scholars newsletter, in partnership with the Philanthropic Communications team
  • Support the reimagining and consolidation of Valley Scholars web content, and build and update pages using JMU's web-based CMS (Cascade)
• Family Business Symposium: Event Support (15%)
  • Collect, write and edit symposium content for event materials, speaker and attendee bios, and registration emails
  • Assist with event-day logistics
• Philanthropic Communications Content Support (15%)
  • Participate with team on content and logistics for events like Stewardship Luncheon, Giving Day, Women for Madison Summit
  • Assist Associate Director of Content in maintaining JMU Giving website, helping with publishing or updating articles written by freelancer

Qualifications

• You must be a current JMU student; any class year or major is welcome to apply
• Strong writing and editing skills, with attention to detail
• Ability to maintain confidentiality; this role involves access to sensitive student, alumni and donor information
• Working knowledge or interest in nonprofit communications, storytelling, marketing, fundraising or first-generation student and alumni engagement
• Preferred majors include Media, Arts and Design (SMAD), Communications, Writing, Rhetoric & Technical Communication (WRTC), Marketing (COB), and/or Hospitality Management, though this is not required
• Knowledge or experience with Microsoft Office is required
• Knowledge of web-based CMS (we use Cascade), Salesforce CRM, and/or graphic design (canva and/or Adobe InDesign) is a plus

What You'll Gain

• Hands-on experience in philanthropic communications and donor engagement
• Mentorship from professionals in communications and fundraising
• Experience planning events and supporting strategic initiatives
• Opportunities to strengthen writing, storytelling and project management skills
• Exposure to alumni engagement, stewardship and advancement operations

Benefits

• Tuition Waiver Program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at J