About Denton Diablos:
The Denton Diablos are an up-and-coming minor league soccer team dedicated to providing our fans with an unforgettable sports experience and fostering a strong sense of community. As we continue to grow and build our brand, we are looking for a Fundraising Intern to join our team. This person will play a key role in supporting the team's efforts to secure and manage fundraisers. This individual will gain hands-on experience in sports business development, sales, marketing, and client relations within a fast-paced and passionate environment. The intern will directly contribute to the financial health and growth of the team by assisting in the entire sponsorship lifecycle, from prospecting to fulfillment, we want you on our team!
Position Overview:
The Fundraising Intern will play a vital role in supporting the team's fundraising efforts, focusing on individual donations, community grants, and special fundraising campaigns. This individual will gain hands-on experience in non-profit development, donor relations, grant writing, and event management within a passionate sports environment. The intern will directly contribute to securing the resources needed to support team operations, community programs, and player development.
Key Responsibilities:
- Donor Research & Cultivation:
- Research potential individual donors, community groups, and foundations that align with the team's mission.
- Assist in creating and maintaining a database of donor prospects and current supporters.
- Support the development of donor outreach strategies and communication plans.
- Grant Writing Support:
- Assist in the planning and execution of various fundraising campaigns (e.g., online giving campaigns, crowdfunding, end-of-year appeals).
- Help create compelling fundraising content for digital platforms, social media, and direct mail.
- Support the tracking of campaign progress and donor participation.
- Campaign Support:
- Assist in the execution and fulfillment of sponsorship agreements, ensuring all contracted deliverables are met (e.g., signage, digital assets, promotional events).
- Help manage sponsor inventory and track activation progress.
- Support the creation of post-sponsorship reports detailing ROI for partners.
- Event Planning & Execution:
- Provide logistical support for fundraising events, such as galas, silent auctions, or community fundraisers.
- Assist with event promotion, volunteer coordination, and guest registration.
- Help with post-event follow-up and donor acknowledgments.
- Donor Relations & Acknowledgement:
- Assist in drafting personalized thank-you notes, emails, and impact reports to donors.
- Help ensure timely and accurate donor recognition.
- Administrative Support:
- Maintain accurate records in the team's donor management system.
- Assist with preparing fundraising reports and presentations.
- Provide general administrative support to the fundraising department as needed.
- Brand Alignment:
- Ensure all sponsors, groups, and promotions reflect the team’s brand and mission while appealing to fans’ interests.
Qualifications:
- Experience: Previous experience in retail, sponsorship sales, or sales coordination, preferably in the sports or entertainment industry.
- Education: Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a Bachelor's degree program in Non-Profit Management, Philanthropy, Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field.
- Fan-Centric: Passionate about creating positive experiences for Donors.
- Organizational Skills: Proactive, self-motivated, and detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
- Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with internal teams and external vendors.
- Creative: Ability to work with the marketing and design teams to create engaging merchandise collections and promotional materials.
- Availability: Flexible to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, and special events.
- Strong interest in sports and community development.
Learning Outcomes & Benefits for the Intern:
- Gain practical, hands-on experience in fundraising strategies for a sports organization.
- Develop valuable professional networking contacts within the sports and non-profit sectors.
- Learn about donor cultivation, grant writing, and campaign management.
- Enhance communication, research, and organizational skills.
- Opportunity to see the direct impact of your work on the team's success and community initiatives.
- Team merchandise and potential for future roles.
Why Join Us?
- Be Part of a Growing Brand: Help build and manage the merchandise side of a rising soccer team with passionate fans.
- Creative Opportunity: Work closely with the marketing team to develop unique products and promotional campaigns that excite our fanbase.
- Impact: Your role will directly contribute to the fan experience and help grow the team’s presence in the community.
- Collaborative Environment: Work in a dynamic, fast-paced team with passionate individuals who love soccer and sports culture.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.
