Dr. Shirley Davis Foundation – Strategic Partnership & Donor Development 

Employer

University of South Florida (USF) - Mellon Humanities Internship Program

Mellon Humanities Internship Program
Title: Dr. Shirley Davis Foundation – Strategic Partnership & Donor Development 
Internship Site: Tampa, FL 
Field: Social Services
Total Internship Hours: 50-150
Location: Hybrid – Tampa, FL

MHI Compensation: This position is eligible for the MHI $1000 Scholarship. Students who receive an offer for this position will be required to enroll in the Mellon Humanities Internship course to receive the $1000 scholarship disbursement. As referenced in the Student Interest Form that you filled out to sign up for participation in MHI, this scholarship can impact, or be impacted by, other financial aid you receive. 

If an internship requires out of pocket costs, students may apply for reimbursement for expenses including background checks, qualifying travel, or equipment. All applications will be reviewed and processed for eligibility. Please contact your departments internship coordinator for more details.

The $1000 scholarship offered for this position is intended to provide financial assistance for the pursuit of your education; it is not compensation for the performance of any services and does not create an employment relationship between the you and the Site.

This position is an experiential learning opportunity and receipt of the scholarship is tied to an academic course (IDS 3947). If you do not complete your registration for the course in a timely manner, your internship offer may be withdrawn, and your department’s Internship Coordinator may notify the host organization that the position has reopened.

Job Description:                                                                                                      

This internship centers on building a sustainable partnership and donor development pipeline for the Dr. Shirley Davis Foundation. Rooted in the Foundation’s mission to Motivate, Cultivate, Elevate, and Celebrate extraordinary individuals and businesses, the goal of this project is to research, identify, and organize high-quality prospective partners, collaborators, and sponsors — while creating the tools and strategy needed to support long-term relationship development and organizational growth.

The intern will be responsible for producing deliverables that will directly support the Foundation’s sustainability and community impact.

Key Deliverables may include:

Part 1 (50 Hours)

• A curated, organized database of prospective partners, sponsors, and donors
• A detailed prospect pipeline with research notes, alignment summaries, and recommended engagement strategies

Part II (50 Hours)

• A suite of professionally written outreach email templates and communication scripts for Executive Director use
• Draft sponsorship tier language and a partnership proposal template
• Gathered and organized beneficiary or community testimonials for use in future outreach and campaigns

Part III (50 Hours)

• A comprehensive strategic partnership and donor engagement plan, including systems, tools, and recommendations for ongoing use
• A final presentation outlining key opportunities, priority leads, and implementation recommendations

Responsibilities:

Working closely with the Executive Director, the intern will:

• Define the scope, priorities, and target sectors for partnership and donor research within the first week
• Conduct independent research using online databases, organizational records, LinkedIn, and public resources to identify prospective partners and donors
• Build and maintain a structured prospect pipeline using Excel, or a similar tool, including key contact details, alignment notes, and opportunity summaries
• Analyze and synthesize research findings to identify high-priority leads and partnership opportunities
• Draft tailored outreach emails and communication templates for Executive Director use (note: the intern will not be responsible for direct outreach or meetings)
• Prepare briefing documents and summaries to support Executive Director follow-up and engagement
• Assist in drafting sponsorship tier language and partnership proposal templates
• Gather and organize beneficiary or community testimonials for use in future outreach materials and campaigns
• Collaborate with leadership to ensure all materials align with the Foundation’s voice, mission, and brand
• Present project findings, key leads, and final strategic recommendations to the Executive Director and relevant stakeholders
• Handle all prospect data and organizational information with discretion and professionalism in accordance with the Foundation’s confidentiality agreement
• Track hours, tasks, and progress, providing regular updates to the Executive Director

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and critical analysis
• Strong written communication skills, particularly in professional and business writing
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail
• Self-motivated and able to manage a project independently with guidance
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel) and comfort with digital research tools
• Familiarity with spreadsheet or CRM tools (Excel, Airtable, or similar) is a plus
• A genuine interest in nonprofit development, fundraising, and community impact
• Prior experience in research, communications, or development-related work is a plus