Development Operations Intern | Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources

Mission Statement and Brief History of the Organization
For over 70 years, the Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources (FHSR) has been committed to improving the quality of life for children affected by hearing disorders in Illinois and around the Midwest. A small, grassroots nonprofit, its mission is to support innovative educational, clinical, and social services that enable children and young adults with hearing loss to participate fully in society. Its vision is a world where deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) young people have the opportunity to develop to their full potential and to enjoy the same social, educational, and economic opportunities as their peers. FHSR accomplishes this through a partnership model, offering several innovative educational, clinical, and social programs in collaboration with partners such as the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, and Merit School of Music. Learn more at: www.fhsr.org

Position Summary

FHSR seeks a part-time (5-10 hr/week) Development Operations & Data Intern to support fundraising and donor engagement efforts. This role is ideal for a student or working professional interested in nonprofit fundraising, data strategy, and communications.

The intern will gain hands-on experience managing a live donor database, supporting fundraising campaigns, and working directly with senior leadership. This work will play a meaningful role in how FHSR engages donors and funds programs serving deaf and hard of hearing children.

While the Foundation is located in Chicago, IL, there is no centralized, physical office. This role will be remote, with a flexible schedule. The Foundation prefers a candidate located in the Chicagoland area.

The Intern will report to the Director of Development & Communications, and engage with a range of hands-on projects and tasks, including but not limited to:

• Become the in-house expert on our donor database, DonorPerfect (online, self-paced training will be provided), so you can help staff maintain and improve workflows. 
• Maintain the integrity of a live donor database used for fundraising strategy and reporting to leadership and the Board of Directors, directly supporting donor stewardship and fundraising outcomes.
• Review and update constituent profiles within DonorPerfect to maintain a constant and up-to-date resource for reporting.  This includes:
  • Regular data entry, gift processing, and reporting to senior leadership (Executive Director, Director of Development & Communications, and Board of Directors).
  • Assist with event registration and event data reporting.
  • Build new reports in DonorPerfect as needed.
  • Maintain records and process documentation.
  • Make outreach to FHSR’s Boards in order to obtain updated donor information
  • Support FHSR’s annual Rock the Town for Hearing concert, with a focus on fundraising during the event
  • Support senior staff in donor stewardship efforts
  • Create and/or edit development marketing materials on Canva
  • Other projects may be developed/assigned to align with the Foundation’s needs and the intern’s learning goals. 

Details
One-Year Engagement: September 1, 2026 - August 31, 2027.  Twenty (20 hours) per month (averaging 5 hours/week), with up to 30 hours per month available if special projects are identified. Hours are flexible and can be scheduled around class commitments; most work can be completed asynchronously. $20 per hour.  Position reports directly to the Director of Development & Communications, but will have considerable interaction with other senior staff. 

Qualifications

• Considerable college-level coursework is preferred. 
• Demonstrated interest in non-profit business operations and/or fundraising preferred. 
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment, with support and guidance from staff.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent time management skills - ability to take on time-sensitive projects as needed. 
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to prioritize demands and meet deadlines 
• Team player, with willingness to collaborate and learn new information
• Experience/interest in utilizing Canva to create materials for external audiences 
• Proficiency in Google Workspace & Microsoft Excel

What You’ll Gain:

• Hands-on experience with a widely-used nonprofit CRM (DonorPerfect)
• Exposure to fundraising strategy, donor stewardship, and grant research
• Experience working with nonprofit leadership and board-level reporting
• Professional references and mentorship
• Potential to design & complete a capstone project based on your interests and FHSR’s needs. 

APPLICATION SUBMISSION PROCESS
Please send resume and brief cover letter (no more than 500 words) to kspelman@fhsr.org by July 20th, 2026
No phone calls, please.  Anticipated start date: September 1, 2026