Job Information
Menlo School Development Intern (2 positions) in Atherton, California
Music@Menlo is seeking two Development Interns for its 2025 season. Interns will have the opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience in all facets of a nonprofit development department and acquire valuable insights on the inner workings of an internationally renowned arts organization. As critical team members in the development department, interns will also work collaboratively with the events and hospitality, merchandising, and patron services teams to gain experience in executing donor events, fulfilling membership benefits, cultivating and stewarding festival supporters, soliciting in-kind contributions, managing and analyzing development data, researching individual, corporate, and foundation prospects, and interacting as frontline members of the administrative team with the more than 5,000 ticket buyers and 500 donors who attend fifty public and private events during the three-week festival period.
Responsibilities
Pre-festival:
Plan and execute individualized communication plans for all festival constituents including home hosts, event hosts, donors, volunteers, and staff. This includes event invitations, thank-you cards, and gifts.
Assist the development department in cultivating relationships with over forty home host volunteers, including making site visits, attending home host meetings, creating information packets for hosts, and assisting with artist arrival and departure transportation
Solicit in-kind food and beverage donations, decorations, and discounts from local businesses
Study and learn about the many details of the festival to ensure an in-depth understanding of all facets of the organization, including programming, venues, schedule of private and public events, artist roster, ticketing policies, and membership benefits
Conduct prospect research for senior staff
Assist the marketing department with drafting patron communications
Coordinate with other intern groups on select projects as required to develop clear and effective internal and external communications, gaining an understanding of an office environment and project management
During the festival:
Serve as a public representative of the festival and provide excellent customer service to patrons and community members
Staff and assist in the execution of post-concert dinner parties and other special events which includes name tag creation, picking up and delivering food and beverages, setup, serving, break down and cleanup
Help maintain donor records in Music@Menlo’s customer relationship management database
Track event RSVPs and communicate all pertinent information to staff and interns
Produce daily development reports for the senior staff including prospect research
Assist with setup, staffing, and break down of concessions tables
Accompany artists to host homes and introduce them to hosts
Manage and track the written thank-you card process for all festival teams, including the distribution of thank-you gifts for over fifty festival volunteers and in-kind donors
Assist the patron services team with pre-concert box office duties for free events, including setup, patron check-in, and premium seating setup
Qualifications
The ideal candidates will have an interest in nonprofit fundraising and management; interest in exemplary customer service; interest in learning and growing in a fast-paced environment; strong organization and interpersonal skills; positive energy and a willingness to pitch in wherever needed; and the ability to think quickly, be flexible, and adapt to unforeseen circumstances to solve last-minute challenges. Through this internship, interns will have the ability to further develop these job skills as well as learn new skills.
In addition, the following qualifications are required to ensure a meaningful, well-rounded experience for interns:
Ability to remain calm and pleasant in a fast-paced environment
Ability to work independently but integrate with a larger, cohesive team
Sound judgment, tact, diplomacy, and flexibility with different personalities and working styles
Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs
Dates, Compensation, Work Hours, Misc. Info
Internship dates are June 16 through August 11, 2025. This is a full-time, seasonal, non-exempt position. Hourly compensation is at the rate of $17.00 per hour. Work hours through July 3 will be approximately 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday allowing for a 30-minute lunch. Beginning July 8, the work schedule will change to include various forty-hour work week shifts, which may begin mid-week and may include Saturday and Sunday hours plus paid overtime. All interns are required to complete a successful background check. Minors will be required to secure a State of California minor work permit before commencement of and as a requirement for employment.
Our full-time interns are eligible to participate in our generous benefits package for the duration of their assignment, starting in the month following date-of hire, including comprehensive group insurance plans, retirement plan with exceptional employer contributions, and lunch on-site during the festival.
Interns will be responsible for securing their own housing and transportation arrangements. Housing is available at Menlo College, a short five-minute walk from the Music@Menlo office. Interns who choose to reside at Menlo College will coordinate directly with the College’s housing staff.
In addition, interns may access the following benefits:
On-the-job training and hands-on experience working with the organization’s staff in a professional, supportive environment
A broad perspective on the many components that form an internationally renowned classical music festival
Free tickets to select performances, subject to availability and schedule demands
For positions beginning prior to July 8, a seminar series led by staff and guest speakers focusing on topics related to nonprofit management, such as nonprofit finance, strategic planning, fundraising, and arts marketing
Career development assistance
College credit, work study, independent study, and/or cooperative learning programs may be available through your college or university. Participants may arrange for academic credit through their school, if desired.
To Apply
Complete the application form at www.musicatmenlo.org/about/internships and include your cover letter and résumé using the links on the application form. Please email your 2 letters of recommendation to internships@musicatmenlo.org .
Preferred deadline: February 1, 2025, or until positions are filled. Interviews to be scheduled beginning February 2 or as applications come in.
About Music@Menlo
Music@Menlo, an internationally acclaimed chamber music festival and institute under the artistic direction of cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, was founded in 2003. Based in Atherton, California (30 miles south of San Francisco), Music@Menlo is an important part of the Bay Area’s dynamic cultural fabric. Music@Menlo is noted for its world-class chamber music performances, extensive audience engagement programs, intensive training for preprofessional musicians through its Chamber Music Institute, and efforts to enrich and expand the global chamber music community.
About the Arts Management Internship Program
Music@Menlo’s internship program is ideally suited for motivated individuals who are eager to learn about the field of arts management and related work areas in a professional setting. An internship with Music@Menlo offers invaluable training and mentorship toward a professional career in arts management or nonprofit administration. Through on-the-job training and hands-on experience, interns gain practical experience and develop professional skills to take them into the next stage of their career development.