Communications Assistant

Position Summary

The Communications Assistant will help Frederick Farm Goat Rescue and Sanctuary strengthen relationships with our existing supporters while engaging and inspiring new individuals, businesses, visitors, and community partners to support our mission.

This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the day-to-day operations of a working farm animal sanctuary. The intern will assist with community outreach, communications, marketing, guest experience coordination, recordkeeping, fundraising initiatives, and administrative operations.

The position is ideal for someone interested in pursuing a future career in animal sanctuaries, nonprofit organizations, animal advocacy, communications, community engagement, or related fields. Interns will gain practical experience while contributing directly to the mission and continued growth of Frederick Farm Goat Rescue and Sanctuary.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist with community outreach and identify opportunities to build relationships with local businesses, organizations, schools, community groups, and potential supporters.
• Help maintain and organize databases and records related to supporters, adopters, animal surrenders, community contacts, and other sanctuary activities.
• Assist with managing calendars, reservations, and scheduling for sanctuary experiences, programs, events, and other activities.
• Support social media efforts by identifying trends, developing content ideas, and assisting with posts, photographs, videos, and campaigns.
• Assist with the planning, organization, and promotion of fundraising campaigns and special events.
• Create and organize digital and print materials for sanctuary programs, events, fundraising, and community outreach.
• Research new marketing, promotional, partnership, and community-engagement opportunities.
• Assist with donor and supporter communications, including acknowledgements and updates.
• Help coordinate community events, fundraising events, sanctuary programs, and special projects.
• Assist with data collection, organization, and basic analysis related to campaigns, programs, and outreach efforts.
• Complete a development, communications, outreach, or fundraising project that contributes to the Sanctuary’s mission.
• Provide general administrative and organizational support as needed.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Strong connection to and enthusiasm for the mission and goals of Frederick Farm Goat Rescue and Sanctuary, with the ability to effectively communicate our philosophy and mission to others.
• Conscientious, dependable, organized, and attentive to detail.
• Friendly and outgoing with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team as well as independently.
• Strong time-management and organizational skills.
• Ability to follow detailed instructions, prioritize responsibilities, and meet deadlines.
• Strong writing, proofreading, and basic editing skills.
• Comfortable conducting online research and using standard computer applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, email, calendars, and databases.
• Comfortable learning and working across multiple digital platforms and applications.
• Familiarity with major social media platforms.
• Professional and courteous when communicating with sanctuary visitors, supporters, adopters, community members, and other members of the public.

Preferred Qualifications

• Photography, videography, graphic design, marketing, or content-creation experience is a plus.
• Comfort working around farm animals is preferred; previous experience with farmed animals is a plus but not required.
• Willingness to learn about rescued goats, animal sanctuary operations, and responsible animal advocacy.
• Maintains a vegan lifestyle in support of our animals and our mission.

Additional Information

This job description is intended to provide an overview of the position and is not all-inclusive. Responsibilities may evolve based on the intern’s interests and skills and the ongoing needs of Frederick Farm Goat Rescue and Sanctuary. The intern may be asked to assist with other related projects and responsibilities that support the Sanctuary’s animals, programs, visitors, and mission.