Intern, Strategic Initiatives & Partnership Development

Organizational Description

In partnership with families, SOAR365 creates life -fulfilling opportunities for individuals with disabilities in Richmond, VA.

With multiple locations throughout central Virginia, SOAR365 programs span the lifecycle and assist people with disabilities to live happy, successful and meaningful lives. Programs and services include Pediatric Therapy Services; Adult & Youth Day Services; Workforce Development Services; and Residential (Summer Camp and Respite) Services.

Intern Role: We are seeking a motivated intern with project management skills to support our 2025 Strategic Initiatives plan with a focus on strengthening and expanding partnerships across the Greater Richmond region. This role will play a critical part in creating an inventory of existing partnerships, identifying potential partners, and developing strategies to deepen relationships that further our mission.

This is a unique opportunity to work alongside senior leaders and contribute to long-term strategy while developing hands-on experience in nonprofit partnership management and community engagement.


 

Please note, this is primarily an in-person role with hybrid options available.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct a comprehensive inventory of existing organizational partnerships while capturing depth of engagement.
• Facilitate discovery meetings and/or interviews with leaders across departments including Human Services, Business Solutions, and Community Engagement.
•  Create a list of strategic prospective mission-aligned partners.
• Support strategy development for cultivating new partnerships.
• Assist in identifying corporate partners with philanthropic goals aligned with SOAR365.
• Explore opportunities for partnerships with faith-based and civic organizations.
• Draft summaries, memos, and reports to communicate findings and recommendations to leadership.
• Participate in planning meetings, strategy sessions, and community events as appropriate.

Learning Goals and Outcomes:

• Gain hands-on experience in nonprofit partnership development and stakeholder engagement.
• Develop skills in qualitative research, relationship mapping, and strategic planning.
• Gain familiarity with the landscape of Richmond’s nonprofit, corporate, and civic sectors.
• Learn how to translate organizational strategy into actionable initiatives.

 Qualifications/Requirements:

• Ideal candidate is pursuing a degree in Nonprofit Management, Communications, Public Administration, Business, or a related field.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills — comfortable leading conversations and interviews.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Interest in nonprofit operations, community engagement, and partnership building.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint); experience with CRM systems or databases a plus. 

This position is an unpaid internship at a not-for-profit organization, but SOAR365 will provide the following:

• Training, support and guidance for the intern.
• An environment that welcomes ideas and experiences of how this can be a beneficial experience to each student intern
• Supervision for any policies required per university internship policy
• Significant beneficial learning for the intern and hands-on experience
• A position that complements the work of staff members and improves the overall organization, without displacing a paid employee
• Accommodations to the interns academic and personal commitments, the ability to create a schedule that support interns needs and availability
• A unique and enjoyable experience for each intern at SOAR365

Internship Details:

• Schedule: 6-10 hours per week, flexible based on intern’s availability and academic schedule.
• Duration: Fall 2025 Semester / Spring 2026 Semester 
• Compensation: This is an unpaid internship position. SOAR365 is happy to work with students that qualify for work study programs. 
• Location: Primarily an in-person role with hybrid options available.

How to Apply:

To express interest in this role, please email Liz Baker with your resume and a brief description of why you’d be a good fit for this internship.

Liz Harris

Volunteer Engagement Director, SOAR365

804-665-1210

Liz.baker@soar365.org