What We Can Achieve Together:

Join TNC Virginia as a STEP Intern!

The goal of STEP is to create pathways for people seeking to gain experience with a conservation focused organization. We currently offer paid internships in a range of disciplines across our Virginia Team. With a focus on recruiting and developing a diverse staff, we strive to create an environment where people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities feel welcomed to participate in conservation. Wherever you are in your educational journey; community college, technical school, four-year program, or graduate school, STEP may have an opportunity for you to consider!

All STEP interns will receive an orientation, professional development webinars, and chances to visit TNC sites. Along the way, interns will have the opportunity to broaden their experiences through interactions with Nature Conservancy staff and partners. At the end of their internship, STEP interns will give a short presentation about their time at TNC to the Virginia staff.

This position will be open for at least two-weeks from the posting date. Please submit a resume and cover letter. Application materials will be reviewed as they are submitted. Zoom interviews will occur in mid-May with final hiring decisions made by May 29.

Schedule: 300 hours total, intended to be worked on a part-time basis and split between two semesters. Specific schedules will be determined upon hiring.

Pay: $18.25/hour

Location: Hybrid schedule, 80% remote, 20% in-person in Charlottesville, VA (either office time, or through scheduled visits)

The Position:

TNC is looking for an intern who is interested in learning about fundraising and donor research and outreach that support TNC’s conservation goals. This intern will work alongside our Development Operations Manager and entire Development Team to conduct research on prospective and current donors, support the writing of strategic external facing documents, and assist with planning events for donors.

The intern should demonstrate an interest in nonprofit organizations and have project management abilities, proficiency with technology, attention to detail, and flexibility in handling multiple projects, as well as the ability to handle and protect confidential donor information.

This position is scheduled to be an eight-month term (from August 2026 – April 2027) with the intern working on a part-time schedule. Candidates must be actively enrolled students. Preference is for candidates currently located in the Charlottesville area.

Main responsibilities include:

• Work collaboratively with Virginia’s Development, Marketing, and Conservation Teams to gain an understanding of the mission and needs of the organization

• Receive training in our donor management tool – Blackbaud

• Conduct research on prospective and current donors, creating briefings and updating donor profiles in the database as needed

• Handle sensitive and confidential donor information

• Support the Development team in drafting written updates on critical conservation goals

• Assisting in the planning and execution of events

What You’ll Bring:

• A student who will be actively enrolled at a 2- or 4-year institution for the 2026-2027 school year

• Experience, coursework, or interest in exploring the non-profit or conservation field

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Experience writing and editing

• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with data management

• Experience using Canva or other design software

• A student located in the Charlottesville area

STEP is designed for people early in their careers, or with limited prior professional experience.

Salary Information:

The pay for a candidate selected for this position is $18.25/hour. This only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

What We Bring:

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
We request Priority Protected Veteran & Disabled Referrals for all of our locations within the state.