What are the responsibilities and job description for the BR-2515 Digital Fundraising and Stewardship Graduate Intern position at World Wildlife Fund?
Overview
WWF Overview
For 60 years, WWF has worked to help people and nature thrive. As one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, WWF works in more than 100 countries, connecting cutting-edge conservation science with the collective power of our partners in the field – with one million members in the United States and five million supporters globally, as well as partnerships with communities, companies, and governments.
At WWF, we are working to create an organization where the richness of all our unique views, experiences, and backgrounds combine to create the most sustainable and inclusive conservation outcomes possible, bringing the greatest benefit to the planet and every person who lives on it.
Across the many cultures and individuals that represent WWF, we are unified by one mission, one brand, and one common set of values: Courage, Respect, Integrity and Collaboration.
BRIDGE is WWF’s summer internship program. Launched in 2021, it is a paid internship opportunity aimed at a pool of talented undergraduate and graduate students who could bring fresh thinking and innovation to the environmental sector. In particular, WWF aims to employ interns who have not previously had a breadth of professional experience and have not previously considered conservation as a career pathway.
Position Summary
WWF’s members who donate on a recurring basis (each month, quarter, or year) sometimes stop giving - why and what can we do to prevent this from happening? This internship will dive deep into donor trends and data to help the Membership team improve donor retention! Learn from digital fundraising and stewardship experts who have decades of experience. Identify key moments to test new retention tactics across channels, including email, telemarketing, SMS, and mail. Find ways to deepen the supporter connection to our conservation mission and inspire our most loyal members to continue giving.
Responsibilities
Internship Description:
- Analyze giving trends of recurring donors
- Identify moments to test and optimize retention
- Research best practices and industry trends for recurring donor retention
- A/B test tactics for upgrading sustaining gift amounts
- Determine how to use incentives and new benefits to inspire loyalty
- Personalize and segment marketing language to target different types of donors in meaningful ways
- Provide support for Digital Fundraising and Stewardship Team
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- Pursuing a graduate program in business, marketing, or communications. Those studying outside these areas are still highly encouraged to apply. Must be an actively enrolled student and not received degree at time of internship start date (June 16, 2025).
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong writing, research, and analytical skills.
- Able to prioritize deadlines, work on multiple projects, and manage relationships across the organization.
- Keen attention to detail.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration.
- Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.
- Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.
- Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.
- Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Subject expertise in one or more of the following areas is preferred, but not required:
- Experience or interest in nonprofit marketing and/or fundraising
- Coursework in data analysis, such as statistics
Learning Outcomes
- How to reduce recurring donor churn (donors who stop their giving)
- How to standardize and measure donor satisfaction
- Best practices with sending omni-channel communications across email, SMS, telemarketing, mail, and more
- Ability to identify moments in the giving lifecycle where additional stewardship and/or marketing could positively impact donor retention
WWF interns will be offered a set of professional development opportunities, aimed at increasing their exposure to conservation and sustainability careers. This includes:
- Development discussions with their manager;
- Up to two online courses through Cornell University’s eCornell program;
- Speed mentoring with different WWF teams;
- Opportunity to present their work to intern peers and WWF staff;
- Session on resume and interviewing best practices.
Interns will also have access to an array of networking opportunities. This includes meetings with WWF’s staff and leadership team.
Location:
This position is flexible on location. The intern may complete the internship either in Washington DC or other states, with the exception of: Hawaii, Kentucky, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Wyoming.
Compensation:
Paid - $22.50 per hour (full-time, 35 hours per week)
Internship Dates:
Internship will run from June 16, 2025 to August 22, 2025
How to Apply:
Please submit a resume & cover letter through our Careers page. In your cover letter, please describe:
- Your relevant skills and interest for this position
- Your connection to nature and the environment
- What obstacles have you experienced trying to break into the field of environmental conservation?
- How you could contribute to the field of conservation.
If selected for the role, you will need to provide 1 letter of recommendation as part of the WWF application process.
Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
Salary : $23
