Intern, Development Department (Fall)

Description

Legal Aid DC, a nonprofit organization with an approximately $18 million annual budget and a staff of approximately 125 employees, is seeking a Fall Intern to join our Development Department.

Since 1932, Legal Aid has provided civil legal assistance to clients in individual cases and engaged in systemic reform. Currently, we provide individual representation in consumer law, domestic violence/family law, housing, public benefits, and immigration matters. We also help people with the collateral consequences of their involvement with the criminal justice system. From the experiences of our clients, we identify opportunities for law reform, public policy advocacy, and systemic impact and appellate litigation. Legal Aid also administers the DC Resource Bridge, a single access point for legal services in the District. 

Legal Aid believes that meaningful pursuit of our anti-poverty mission requires an unwavering commitment to racial justice and equity. We aspire both to reflect the rich racial diversity of the communities we serve and to value, respect, and empower our staff and clients to be effective agents of change. For more information about Legal Aid please visit our website, www.LegalAidDC.org.

Our work is supported through public and private grants and private fundraising from individuals, law firms, and other contributors.

This internship is for Fall 2026 and will be 12 weeks in duration. Interns at Legal Aid DC have the unique opportunity to receive substantive assignments that will have an immediate impact on our clients. Legal Aid will help Spring semester interns receive course credit for their internships. Interns work out of Legal Aid’s offices in NW DC, with the option to perform some work remotely if approved by their supervisor. Spring interns should expect to work at least 12 hours per week. 

Legal Aid’s Development department is responsible for raising over $10 million per year. About 40% of funding comes from government grants, primarily allocated by the DC Bar Foundation. Most of the remaining funds come from the DC legal community, including from law firms and individual attorneys. At its core, our role is to share the impact and importance of Legal Aid’s work with supporters and potential supporters, to understand their philanthropic priorities, and to demonstrate exceptional gratitude for their support. We believe this approach can sustain the long-term health of the organization and ensure that it can continue to achieve its mission far into the future.

Responsibilities: 

• Support individual and organizational donors by providing acknowledgment letters and other important tax documentation. 
• Maintain Legal Aid’s donor database system, DonorPerfect, ensuring that donor records are up-to-date and that all      contributions have been properly recorded. 
• Conduct in-depth research on current and prospective philanthropic funders to identify alignment with Legal Aid DC values and priorities 
• Other duties as assigned 

Requirements: Current undergraduate student interested in Development or public interest and law.

Scholarship Funding:

Interns will receive a scholarship of up to $2,585 for the 12 week internship. Interns will not receive scholarship funding if they receive outside funding for their internship or they are interning through a school program that precludes them from being paid. 

To Apply:

Legal Aid values an inclusive, diverse workplace and encourages applications from interested persons from diverse backgrounds of any race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. 

We strongly encourage applications from people with personal experience with the criminal justice system and/or with lived experiences in the communities we serve. 

Submit your application, cover letter, resume, writing sample and transcript or letter of matriculation here. Applications will be accepted until 5pm EST on June 22, 2026.