Fall Development and Communications Internship – J.N. “Ding” Darling NWR

Organization Description

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society (DDWS) was established more than 40 years ago as one of the nation’s first “Friends” groups to support a National Wildlife Refuge. The DDWS is a nonprofit organization with the mission to support the conservation and wildlife protection work and educational outreach programs within the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

Location

Sanibel Island, Florida. A barrier island located off the coast of Fort Myers in Southwest Florida; the weather is warm throughout the year with an average temperature of mid 70s in the winter months.

Summary of Position

The DDWS Development and Communications Intern position is designated to introduce college-level individuals or recent graduates interested in working in the nonprofit sector. The intern will work in a fast-paced environment with both the DDWS and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife National Wildlife Refuge staff in collaboration on several projects, including events and program planning, donor cultivation and stewardship, graphic design, communications, and social media. This is a temporary position, working an estimated 40 hours per week. The typical work week is Monday to Friday 9 am to 4pm. The intern will be directly supervised by the Philanthropic Director and Program Coordinator in the development team.

Primary Responsibilities

• Create images/graphics, ads, invitations, and other marketing materials
• Manage the DDWS social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.)
• Implement and assist in designing our bi-weekly “Ding” on the Wing e-newsletter with email marketing software Constant Contact
• Engage in multimedia storytelling through photography, videography, and writing online stories about “Ding” Darling on our blog
• Assist in all aspects of fundraising, event planning, and outreach events, including:
  • Designing event and program marketing materials
  • Sponsorship solicitations
  • Auction donation requests
  • Staffing events
  • Mailings
  • Other duties as requested
• Assist in donor data management with CRM software Donor Perfect
• Work with development team with designing all mailings, including:
  • Solicitations
  • Organizational updates
  • Quarterly newsletters
• Assist in Visitor Services programs, visitor interaction and orientation, and Visitor & Education Operations at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge; strengthen marketing and sales skills at the “Ding” Darling Nature Store and Lifestyles Store; and gain outreach, educational, and science communication skills with our Wildlife on Wheels (WoW) mobile classroom.
• Other duties as assigned

Desired Qualifications and Abilities

The DDWS is recruiting a creative, committed, and self-starting individual with strong graphic design, organizational, writing, time management, and interpersonal skills. Candidates should be highly proficient and skilled in Microsoft Office, Social Media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube) and have familiarity with graphic design programs such as Canva or Adobe Suite. A background or interest in wildlife and conservation is required. This candidate should be a strong and independent worker.

Housing and Compensation

• Housing for the intern, including furniture, basic necessities, and Wi-Fi, is provided at no cost to the intern on Sanibel Island, FL. Housing is a shared apartment with fellow “Ding” Darling interns in areas of education, visitor services, non-profit administration, and Wildlife-on-Wheels. Bedrooms will be shared amongst 2 interns of the same sex. Shared spaces (living room, kitchen, laundry room) will be co-ed.
• Interns receive a living stipend of $350 a week and a one-time $150 travel allowance.
• If using a personal vehicle for work, interns will be reimbursed for tolls and mileage spent during the workday.
• In addition, the intern will benefit greatly from being a part of our program with an average of six to eight interns in the areas of education, visitor services, non-profit administration, and Wildlife-on-Wheels. The Refuge welcomes nearly one million annual visitors from around the world each year, so interns gain a broad base of experience as they apply for future positions. The intern will also have opportunities for networking with others in conservation-related fields.

Internship Duration

This internship term is one year, running from August 2026-August 2027. Start/end dates are flexible.