Reading Services Business Development Internship

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This position is ideal for an individual with an interest in or experience with non-profit management and research. Under the direction of the Chief Volunteer Officer and the Volunteer Administrator, the candidate will execute the business development plan for the Reading Services Program, conduct research that supports the Volunteer Center mission, and create and/or implement programs for Lighthouse Guild. The responsibilities will range from identifying partnerships that will create reading opportunities in the outer boroughs and other hard to fill locations, identifying volunteers to serve in those locations, and pairing them with candidates in need of reading services. They will also support the reading program as a reader when necessary. At the conclusion of this placement, the volunteer will know the essentials of creating viable programs as well as identifying capacity building resources for an organization.

Principal duties and responsibilities:
1. Conduct research necessary to support the capacity building needs of the department/organization.
2. Identify partnerships that will create and or meet reading opportunities in the outer boroughs and or hard to fill locations
3. Create cultivation programs and activities for the organization’s various philanthropic constituencies. (Keep for Development/Marketing Job Description)
4. Work in conjunction with the Reading Services Program Team to execute matching of volunteers and clients
5. Draft and execute the plan to identify off-site reading locations for visually impaired clients.
6. Coordinate efforts to conduct outreach and identify volunteers for the reading program in hard-to-reach areas.
7. Follow-up with organizations that support the visually impaired to share information about reading services to generate additional clients for the program.
8. Recruit volunteer readers for the clients (in conjunction with the Reading Services Project assistants).
9. Track, organize and report on the information that is received from the potential partner organizations to help draw conclusions about how best to serve the population for this program.
10. Support the administrative needs of the department and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
1. An entrepreneurial spirit with an ability to take initiative to complete the project
2. Experience managing a project independently to completion is required.
3. Interest/experience in business/public administration, research and philanthropy and taking on responsibilities that are important to the operation of the Volunteer Center is necessary.
4. Strong written and verbal communication skills required.
5. Prior experience where customer service skills have been used is preferred. Will accept someone with good interpersonal skills
6. Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel are required.
7. The ability to take and follow instruction and apply critical thinking skills
8. Must be comfortable managing others to complete the project.
9. The ability to exhibit excellence in the execution of your responsibilities is required.