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Strategic Philanthropy & Social Impact Internship

Berkeley

The Cal Alumni Association (CAA) provides all Cal graduates with rewarding connections to the university, to fellow alums, and to current students. Founded by the original graduates of the University of California in 1872, the Cal Alumni Association today represents more than half a million alums living throughout the world.

Our mission is to cultivate a lifelong relationship with our alma mater by connecting and inspiring alums, students, and the campus community through meaningful and inclusive opportunities. We foster a culture that celebrates diversity, creates a sense of belonging, and advances equity.

 

Job Title: Strategic Philanthropy & Social Impact Internship

Organizational overview
The Cal Alumni Association (CAA) is the official alumni organization of UC Berkeley, serving a global
network of more than 600,000 alumni. Founded in 1872, CAA advances lifelong connections between
alumni, students, and the university through programs, scholarships, career development, philanthropy,
and community engagement initiatives that support UC Berkeley’s mission of excellence, equity, and
public impact.


Position Overview
The Cal Alumni Association (CAA), in collaboration with the Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP),
invites UC Berkeley students to apply for an internship within the Office of Development. This role
focuses on strategic philanthropy, donor engagement, grant research, and mission-driven initiatives
that strengthen alumni connections and advance university impact.
Guided by GSPP’s values of public service, innovation, equity, and evidence-based leadership, interns
will gain experience developing inclusive, data-driven philanthropic strategies that support UC
Berkeley’s mission of access, excellence, and social impact.


Project Scope
Interns will support the Office of Development by identifying, researching, and advancing opportunities
for grants, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and creative philanthropic partnerships. Work will blend
rigorous policy-style analysis with innovative, creative execution to expand funding streams that sustain
alumni programs, student scholarships, and campus priorities.
You will operate in a fast-paced, collaborative environment that mirrors GSPP’s emphasis on turning
ideas into actionable results under real-world constraints, while upholding principles of transparency,
equity, and long-term societal benefit.

Key Deliverables
The intern will be expected to complete 1–3 strategic deliverables during the internship, focused on
philanthropy, grant development, research, and innovation initiatives that support the mission of the Cal
Alumni Association and UC Berkeley.

Strategic Grant Proposal or Philanthropic Initiative
Design and develop one major professional deliverable, such as:
o a full grant proposal or Letter of Inquiry (LOI) for a foundation, corporate, or public-sector
funding opportunity; or
o a concept paper and pitch deck for a new alumni engagement, scholarship, equity, or
social impact initiative.

● Incorporate stakeholder research, data analysis, measurable outcomes, and evidence-based
recommendations aligned with the values of the Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP).

● Target Outcome: Produce a polished, implementation-ready document or presentation suitable
for direct use by the development team.
2. Foundation & Institutional Grants Research Portfolio
● Conduct comprehensive research on foundations, corporate giving programs, government
grants, and mission-aligned institutional funders.
● Develop a professional grants pipeline portfolio that includes:
o funder profiles,
o funding priorities,
o eligibility analysis,
o historical giving patterns,
o strategic alignment with CAA and UC Berkeley initiatives,
o and recommended cultivation or submission strategies.
● Target Outcome: Identify and prioritize funding opportunities with a combined potential value of
$500K+ in prospective or renewable support, with several opportunities advanced to proposal-
ready stage.

3. Alumni & Major Donor Opportunity Pipeline
● Research and evaluate high-capacity alumni, philanthropic partners, and strategic donor
prospects aligned with university advancement priorities.
● Assist in creating donor engagement materials, stewardship concepts, and prospect strategy
recommendations that support long-term relationship development.
● Contribute to data-driven fundraising strategies focused on alumni engagement, scholarships,
public impact initiatives, and institutional growth.
● Target Outcome: Deliver a strategic donor opportunity pipeline identifying priority prospects,
engagement recommendations, and philanthropic pathways that support sustainable
development goals.


Preferred Qualifications
● Interest in nonprofit management, fundraising, development, corporate social responsibility,
public policy, communications, or alumni relations.
● Strong research, writing, and analytical skills.
● Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities.
● Ability to manage multiple projects in a collaborative environment.
● Familiarity with CRM systems, donor research, or development operations is a plus.


Skills & Competencies
● Strategic thinking and problem-solving
● Professional writing and storytelling
● Mission-driven leadership
● Attention to detail and organizational skills
Pay rate  $20.35 / hour

Schedule 
● 40 hours per week, flexible schedule, Monday–Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT, plus
coverage of special events (may occur in evenings/on weekends).
● Internship will report to the Major Gift Officer and Development team.
● Start Date: June 17, 2026
● End Date: August 12, 2026

Location 
Hybrid schedule, splitting time working on-campus at Alumni House and working remotely. Remote
work must be performed in California.

To Apply
If you are passionate about using philanthropy as a force for meaningful social impact, we encourage
you to apply for the Strategic Philanthropy Social Impact Internship.

Please submit the following:
A current resume

A brief cover letter sharing: Your interest in the internship.

Your experiences and how they align with the mission of the Cal Alumni Association and
Goldman School of Public Policy.

Your perspective on advancing philanthropy and social impact initiatives, and how you
hope to contribute through this opportunity.

Applications are due by May 22, 2026
Apply online through UC Berkeley Alumni Careers or email your materials with the subject line:
“Strategic Philanthropy & Social Impact” to emily.esparza@alumni.berkeley.edu.

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