Marketing & Business Development Intern

Marketing & Business Development Paid Intern

Local (Lynchburg, VA) filmmaker and author is seeking a paid Marketing & Business Development Intern to assist with sponsorship development, bulk-book sales, and strategic partnerships for the John Clarke: The Fight for Soul Liberty historical novel and related feature-film project.

About the Project

John Clarke: The Fight for Soul Liberty tells the gripping story of Dr. John Clarke (1609–1676), a persecuted Baptist minister who became a rebel against religious tyranny—defying the Puritans, challenging the Crown, and risking treason to confront those who claimed the power to dictate how others must worship—ultimately securing an unprecedented guarantee of Religious Liberty for the Colony of Rhode Island, 113 years before the founding of America.

The historical novel is part of a larger feature-film project now in development, creating opportunities for partnerships across publishing, film, American history, Religious Freedom, education, libraries, and historical organizations.

The John Clarke project is fiscally sponsored by From the Heart Productions, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, providing an established structure through which qualifying project sponsorships and charitable contributions can be processed.

Learn more at JohnClarkeMovie.com/novel.

About the Opportunity

This is an opportunity for a motivated Marketing or Business Development student who wants hands-on experience with a real-world sponsorship and partnership campaign while working directly with an independent filmmaker and author.

This is a part-time, 30-day paid internship, approximately 12–15 hours per week / 2–3 hours per day, with the potential to extend. The position is primarily remote, with a weekly in-person meeting at a mutually agreed-upon public location in the Lynchburg area. Compensation will be discussed with the selected candidate.

The intern will begin with an established list of prospective foundations, historical and educational organizations, libraries, religious-freedom organizations, sponsors, and potential partners while also researching and qualifying additional opportunities aligned with the project.

Responsibilities will include identifying appropriate decision-makers and direct contact information, conducting professional outreach using approved project and fiscal-sponsorship materials, following up consistently, and developing opportunities for end of year sponsorships, bulk-book purchases, and strategic partnerships. Interested prospects and all sponsorship or financial discussions will be referred directly to the author/producer and fiscal sponsor as appropriate.

All project correspondence must be conducted through the designated production email address. The intern will work within a shared Google Drive and accurately maintain the project's shared Excel outreach spreadsheet, documenting contacts, communications, follow-up dates, responses, and prospect status.

We are looking for someone who can take an approved outreach strategy and run with it—someone who is self-driven, goal-oriented, deadline-oriented, organized, and comfortable communicating directly with decision-makers.

The position provides practical experience in marketing, business development, sponsorship outreach, strategic partnerships, publishing, professional communications, and an active historical feature-film project.

Experience & Qualifications

• Marketing / Business Development student with an interest in American history, Religious Freedom, historical storytelling, publishing, and/or film
• Self-driven, resourceful, goal-oriented, and able to work independently
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills
• Professional, confident, and respectful phone manner
• Comfortable communicating with foundations, organizations, sponsors, and business professionals
• Strong online research and organizational skills
• Exceptional attention to detail, including accurate recordkeeping and timely follow-up
• Deadline-oriented and capable of managing multiple prospective contacts
• Comfortable working with Google Drive, shared files, and Excel spreadsheets
• Professional, dependable, responsive, and receptive to direction
• Confidentiality and a high level of personal and business ethics are a must
• Selected candidate will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
• Must have access to a personal computer, reliable internet connection, and phone
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship