Katie Barnes participated in her internship at the New York League of Conservation Voters in New York.
Tell us about your experience. What were your responsibilities?
During my internship with NYLCV, I worked with the development department. Mostly, I worked on planning fundraising events and researching potential major donors to the organization. During my internship, I helped to plan the organization’s annual gala, which is an event that hundreds of people attend and is a major fundraising opportunity. After that event, I helped to analyze donation data and create reports about how to improve fundraising in the future. I also was able to do major prospect research, which means researching people who could potentially become major donors to the organization and finding out their policy interests. I really enjoyed getting to build on my development skills for a mission-driven environmental organization that advocates for climate policy in my home state.
How did you get the opportunity? What resources at BU or elsewhere did you use?
Initially, I found and applied for the listing on Handshake. After looking at the organization’s website, I realized that I also knew someone who worked there, so I reached out to them to do networking as well.
What was the best thing about the experience? What was the worst?
The best part was getting to learn more about environmental policy initiatives and build up my research/development skills, getting a better idea about what career I want to pursue through informational interviews with people throughout the organization in different departments, my supervisors, and the rest of the development team were amazing to work with. The worst part was that it was unpaid. *
What was the most memorable moment of your experience?
Getting to sit in on a coalition meeting between my organization and different environmental justice organizations from all over New York City that are organizing for electric school buses for NYC public schools.
What advice would you give to another student about making the most of an internship, job, or other career-related experience?
Don’t be afraid to ask people at your organizations for coffee chats or informational interviews! Most people are happy to talk to you and it’s a great way to build your network and learn about other people’s roles.
*For information on receiving funds for nonprofit internships, check out the Yawkey Nonprofit Internship Program!
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