Development & Grant Writing Intern

Overview

Play Like a Girl is a Nashville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to leveling the playing field for girls. Our mission is to provide young women with the tools, mentorship, and resources to succeed in competitive careers in male-dominated fields like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). By leveraging skills gained through sport, we help girls build confidence, leadership skills, and teamwork to achieve their dreams.

For more than 20 years, Play Like a Girl has empowered thousands of girls nationwide. As our programs and partnerships continue to grow, we are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented intern to support our corporate partnerships, donor engagement, and event execution efforts.

This internship offers hands-on experience in nonprofit fundraising, grant writing, and donor stewardship. The intern will play a key role in securing funding and resources that make our programs possible.

Strategic Priorities

As Play Like a Girl continues to expand its national impact, this role will support key organizational priorities:

Grow Grant Revenue: Build a consistent pipeline of grant opportunities and submit compelling applications that fund program growth.

Enhance Donor Engagement and Stewardship: Improve donor communication, recognition, and follow-up to strengthen long-term relationships and retention.

Expand Pro-Bono and In-Kind Support: Identify and secure donated services, training, and resources the organization can leverage to extend its reach and reduce costs.

Improve Systems and Data Management. Maintain accurate records and tracking to support strategic outreach, reporting, and decision-making.

Role and Responsibilities

The Development & Grant Writing Intern will support the CEO and Director of Partnerships, Strategy & Operations by owning high-impact grant research, writing, and stewardship tasks that drive fundraising success.

Grant Research & Writing (Primary Focus)

• Research prospective foundation, corporate, and government grant opportunities aligned with our mission and programs
• Build and maintain a grant prospect and deadline tracker
• Draft grant applications, letters of inquiry, and narrative components for staff review and approval
• Submit a minimum of one completed grant application per week
• Tailor application language to each funder’s priorities and requirements
• Maintain organized records of submitted applications, outcomes, and reporting deadlines
• Assist with grant reporting for existing funded programs

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Maintain and update donor records in the CRM
• Coordinate and track donor outreach, including calls, check-ins, and follow-up communications
• Draft thank-you emails, impact updates, and acknowledgment letters for donors
• Support donor recognition efforts (lists, social mentions, event signage)
• Coordinate post-event follow-up communications and surveys
• Pull basic engagement reports (email opens, attendance, giving touchpoints)

Pro-Bono & In-Kind Resource Development

• Research and identify businesses, professionals, and organizations that offer pro-bono or donated services relevant to our work (e.g., training, technology, consulting, printing, event support)
• Draft outreach emails requesting donated services or in-kind support (for staff review and approval)
• Track outreach activity, follow-ups, and commitments
• Maintain an in-kind resource tracker and support onboarding of pro-bono partners

Communications Support 

• Draft LinkedIn copy or partner spotlight content
• Pull quotes and highlights from events or impact stories for use in grant narratives and reports
• Format donor newsletters or updates using approved templates
• Repurpose approved messaging for different audiences

Required Skills and Experience

This role is best suited for a junior or senior undergraduate student or a graduate student pursuing a degree in nonprofit management, English, communications, public administration, social work, business, or a related field.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate:

• Strong research, writing, and editing skills
• Ability to write clearly and persuasively for different audiences and funders
• Attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously
• Interest in grant writing, fundraising, or nonprofit development
• Proficiency with Google Workspace; CRM or project management experience is a plus
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines in a remote environment
• Comfortable being on camera and participating in video-based content creation
• Interest in mentorship, community building, and mission-driven work

Expectations

• Work closely with the CEO and Director of Partnerships, Strategy & Operations, to support fundraising and grant initiatives
• Submit a minimum of one grant application per week
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism when handling donor and partner information
• Communicate progress and updates regularly
• Demonstrate strong attention to deadlines and follow-through
• Serve as a professional representative of Play Like a Girl

Pay & Work Environment

• Compensation: Paid internship with stipend.
• Hours: 15 hours per week per term.
• Internship term: Semester-based, with the possibility of extension.
• Location: Remote, with occasional opportunities to support virtual or in-person events when available.

How to Apply

If you are interested in gaining hands-on experience in grant writing, fundraising, and nonprofit development, we encourage you to apply.

Submit a single PDF to [email protected] with subject line: Development & Grant Writing Intern – [Your Name], including:

• Cover Letter: Explaining your interest in grant writing, fundraising, or nonprofit development, and sharing how your skills and experience would help you support donor stewardship, grant research, and in-kind resource development in a growing organization.
• Resume: Detailing your qualifications relevant to this role.
• Assessment (one, single-spaced page): Play Like a Girl is looking to grow its grant revenue and expand access to pro-bono resources. In one page, outline how you would: identify and prioritize five strong grant opportunities aligned with our mission, manage a weekly grant submission workflow, and approach outreach to businesses or professionals for donated services or in-kind support. Your response should demonstrate your approach to research, writing, and organization.

Applications will close on Friday, July 10, 2026.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Play Like a Girl is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We encourage applications from rural residents, people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others from historically marginalized groups.