Who we are

The American Journalism Project is a venture philanthropy dedicated to rebuilding local news. We believe local journalism is a public good and are securing its future by creating the conditions for values-driven, community-led nonprofit local news to sustainably provide the journalism our democracy requires. We mobilize new resources for local news and channel them into the business and operations capacity of nonprofit outlets, helping to build sustainable, long-lasting institutions. Our strategy in pursuit of a sustainable future for local news is supported by three pillars:

• We build organizations from the ground up, partnering with local leaders and philanthropies to identify and address information gaps
• We grow existing nonprofit news organizations poised for expansion by providing capital and hands-on coaching to help them scale sustainably
• We catalyze the local news movement by rallying philanthropic dollars and raising awareness about the crisis and the solutions underway to resolve it

Since our launch in 2019, the American Journalism Project has raised more than $224 million for local news across the country. We have completed two national funds and built a portfolio of 50 nonprofit news organizations across 36 states, including eight that we launched from scratch. These outlets are reshaping how local news is sustained and serves communities– building sustainable business models, telling the full stories of their communities, and prioritizing impact over profit.

Our values

• Local First: We know that local journalism must serve and be led by local communities. We make a practice of listening to, and making decisions with – not for – those communities, and connecting them to find strength in each other.
• Bold Leadership: We understand the severe economic challenge facing local news and thus democracy, and we embrace a sense of possibility with courage, urgency, and perseverance.
• Constant Learning: We recognize the unknown in front of us. Therefore, we operate with humility and a commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration.
• Commitment to Equity: We commit to creating a better, more diverse, and more inclusive news media that advances human and civil rights. We actively fight against injustice and racism, and that starts with doing the work ourselves.
• Integrity: We accept the responsibility of earning trust every day. We operate with honesty, transparency, dignity, and respect, and without allegiance to party, ideology, profit, or power.

Your team

The advancement intern will join the American Journalism Project’s Advancement team. Led by Chief Advancement Officer Patty Slutsky, the advancement team is focused on American Journalism Project’s external engagement, which includes communications and fundraising. We work together to raise capital from the philanthropic sector and raise the visibility of the American Journalism Project and the local nonprofit news ecosystem more broadly. We also collaborate with other players in the field to advocate for policy interventions for local news.

The position

The intern would join the team for a duration of three months. We are open to full-time and part-time applicants. Interns are paid $20 per hour, and all internships are fully remote. Over the course of the internship period, the intern will work with our Advancement team on the following major project:

Conducting prospect research and building donor profiles

You will work with our Senior Development Analyst to find new prospects to support the American Journalism Project. You will identify individuals, foundations, and corporations whose giving aligns with our mission of revitalizing local news across the country to support our democracy. Once a list of prospects has been compiled, the intern will assist in researching these prospects and have the opportunity to collaborate in devising outreach strategies.

In addition to this project, the advancement intern will have an opportunity to work on other projects that will help familiarize them with the development and fundraising operations at a nonprofit organization. These projects can range from donor event planning and logistics, grant writing (proposals and reports), Salesforce CRM management, and other projects that align with the intern’s interests.

Who you are

This role is a fit if…

• You are interested in exploring a career in the nonprofit sector, specifically in the areas of development and communications.
• You are interested in learning more about rebuilding local news across the country.
• You work well as an individual and with a team. You are comfortable joining a fully remote organization.

What background and skills do you have? (We know not all candidates will have all the skills we list. That’s okay. Tell us more about your relevant skills in the application!):

• Exceptional writing and research skills
• Comfortable collecting and analyzing data
• Remarkable attention to detail
• Ability to work collaboratively across a multidisciplinary team
• Curious to learn more about an advancement operation at a 501(c)3

Please submit an application through our portal. All candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S. If you have any questions, please feel free to email careers@theajp.org with “Advancement Internship” in the subject line.

The American Journalism Project is dedicated to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. The American Journalism Project encourages people of all races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses to apply.