INTERNSHIP DETAILS

AAMD Intern

CompanyMCA
LocationChicago
Work ModeOn Site
PostedApril 6, 2026
Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
The intern will support the Development department with donor cultivation, stewardship, and database management while assisting in the execution of fundraising events. They will also collaborate with various museum departments to understand business operations and contribute to institutional projects.
Internship Type
part time temporary
Company Size
271
Visa Sponsorship
No
Language
English
Working Hours
24 hours
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About The Company
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago offers exhibitions of the most thought-provoking art created since 1945. The MCA documents contemporary visual culture through painting, sculpture, photography, video and film, and performance. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, the MCA boasts a gift store, bookstore, restaurant, 300-seat theater, and a terraced sculpture garden with a great view of Lake Michigan.
About the Role

Stipend: $7,560 total, paid on a biweekly basis


The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) is excited to host an internship through the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) paid internship program that strives to introduce students to all the careers available in art museums. The AAMD Intern will be working in the MCA’s Development department and will learn how the museum’s fundraising goals are met in the areas of individual giving, institutional giving, events, and development services. In addition to the departmental activities listed below, the intern will be assigned a defined project that will be a culmination of their work at the end of the internship.

  • Work hand in hand with Development team to see how donors are cultivated, solicited, and stewarded for support of institutional priorities, projects, programs, and exhibitions by helping with communications, donor acknowledgement and recognition, database management, and event planning and execution. 
  • Support the Development team on the entire donor life cycle, from prospecting and research to cultivation to gift agreement and recognition by providing project management support.
  • Learn important communication skills while helping to prepare materials for solicitations and reports in collaboration with departments museum wide.
  • Develop an understanding of the business operations of a development department by assisting with grant agreements, pledges, proposals, and goals forecasting.
  • Work with members from other departments to understand how staff collaborates across the museum on exhibitions, committee meetings, and other projects.
  • Participate in departmental meetings and MCA staff events.
  • Other duties as assigned by the Director of Institutional Giving.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 

  • Must be in your undergraduate sophomore, junior, or senior year at an accredited college or university. 
  • Interest in contemporary art. 
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. 
  • Ability to manage assignments with attention to detail and strong organization skills. 
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365.
  • Ability to perform occasional light lifting. 
  • General mobility throughout the museum.

BENEFITS OF THIS INTERNSHIP INCLUDE:

  • Free admission to MCA exhibitions for yourself and guests.
  • Free admission to many special and member events.
  • Reduced price tickets to MCA Stage performances.
  • Discounts on dining in Marisol and in our award-winning MCA Store.
  • Access to our onsite library.
  • Opportunities to attend curator-led staff tours.
  • Free or discounted admission to many other cultural institutions across the United States.
  • Opportunity for a professional development/travel stipend subject to approval by AAMD.

The schedule and hours will be agreed upon by the intern and supervisor.
This is a part-time internship lasting approximately 17 to 21 weeks at 20- 24 hours per week.
Key Skills
CommunicationDonor cultivationDonor stewardshipDatabase managementEvent planningProject managementGrant agreementsPledgesProposalsGoals forecastingMicrosoft Office 365Attention to detailOrganization skillsWritingResearch
Categories
Art & DesignAdministrativeCreative & MediaManagement & Leadership
Benefits
Free admission to MCA exhibitionsFree admission to special and member eventsReduced price tickets to MCA Stage performancesDiscounts on dining in MarisolDiscounts in MCA StoreAccess to onsite libraryCurator-led staff toursFree or discounted admission to other cultural institutionsProfessional development and travel stipend