Development Operations Intern, Spring 2026

Development Operations Intern, Spring 2026

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), which shared in the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, is a U.S.-based international advocacy organization working at the intersection of medicine, science, and law. With a global network of thousands of medical, scientific, and legal experts, PHR uses the power of medical and scientific evidence to document human rights and humanitarian law violations and prevent abuses, protect survivors, and promote justice and universal human rights for all.

Building upon its highly respected place in the field, and supported by a committed and talented team, PHR seeks a Development Operations Intern.

Location: New York, New York (hybrid)

Reports to: Senior Operations and Special Projects Manager

Organizational Overview

Physicians for Human Rights was founded in 1986 by five physicians who were united in the belief that health professionals, with their specialized skills, ethical duties, and credible voices, are uniquely positioned to prevent harm and promote respect for human rights. Since its founding, PHR has built a long and distinguished record of accomplishment by conducting groundbreaking investigations and advocacy, in concert with strategic partners.

PHR’s approach includes extensive documentation of the use of illegal and inhumane weapons in armed conflicts, attacks on civilians, and the physical and psychological impacts of torture and sexual violence as a weapon of war. Other core activities include protecting the rights of those seeking asylum in the United States, the human rights implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, and halting attacks on medical facilities and frontline health professionals.

Internship Description

PHR’s development operations internship allows one student who is interested in nonprofit fundraising behind the scenes, philanthropy, and cultivation of high-net worth individuals and organizational supporters. This internship will grant insight into the day-to-day operations of an international human rights organization’s development team, including research on potential donors and institutional funders, Salesforce database management, and outreach strategy. Proficiency with Salesforce and Microsoft Excel is required. Experience with Canva is preferred.

The development operations intern will also attend departmental and staff meetings, as well as other opportunities to work across departments with other interns and staff. PHR offers a $500 stipend to eligible student interns upon completion of the internship.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support Development team with Salesforce database management and tracking multiple donation streams
• Assist in research to identify and assess new funding opportunities and prepare thorough, well-written briefings on those opportunities
• Support writing, reviewing, and editing fundraising materials and create other materials to be shared with donors as needed.  
• Assist with the cultivation of individual and major gifts ($1K+) through mail processing, donation tracking, and the creation of donor acknowledgements
• Collaborate with the Development team to create donor documents in Canva and to update donor resources for distribution
• Manage spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel to record donor detail and track gift information
• Partner with Development Team to refine processes for donation tracking and donor assessment
• Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

• Current enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program of study
• Strong data management skills with an emphasis on proficiency with Salesforce and Microsoft Excel
• Strong analytical, writing, and verbal skills and superior research skills.
• Impressive organizational skills, attention to detail, commitment to data accuracy, and ability to meet deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and professionally
• Self-motivated

Location and Hours

• The internship will commence in February with at least a 12-week commitment
• The internship will follow a hybrid work model, with some work conducted remotely and some in our office located in Midtown, Manhattan. Preference for two days of work in the office, ideally on Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Minimum of 15 hours/week

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter, resume, and short writing sample to resumes@phr.org and include “Development Operations Intern, Spring 2026” in the subject line. Please include in your cover letter the number of weekly hours you would be able to commit to the internship.