Western Reserve Land Conservancy is seeking a Development Intern (“Intern”) for the summer of 2026. This internship will be for approximately 10 weeks, with start and end dates flexible depending on the Land Conservancy’s needs and the Intern’s availability. The pay rate is $17 per hour and the internship is 40 hours per week.
The position will report to the Director of Development and will work on a daily basis with the Community Relations Coordinator. The position will be located at our Conservation Center in Moreland Hills, OH. Normal work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday, but occasionally the Intern will be asked to flex and work evenings or weekends.
BACKGROUND
Western Reserve Land Conservancy provides people of our region with essential natural assets through land conservation and restoration. Headquartered in Moreland Hills, Ohio, we are the largest land conservancy in Ohio and nationally accredited by the Land Trust Alliance. Serving an area of 29 counties from the Pennsylvania line to the Sandusky Bay, the Land Conservancy has permanently conserved more than 80,000 acres at over 900 sites, which is more acreage than Cleveland Metroparks and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park combined. We work with private and public landowners, farming families, neighborhood development corporations, corporations, county park systems, residents, and many more to help create communities nourished by vibrant natural lands, working farms and healthy cities. Thriving Communities, our urban revitalization program, is nationally recognized for thought leadership on removing blight; creating land banks statewide to find productive uses for vacant properties; and revitalizing communities through greening strategies. Our mission is funded through a combination of program revenue, government grants, and philanthropic gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Development Intern will be part of the Land Conservancy’s Development team, which includes fundraising, communications, and marketing. The Intern will assist with summer events from planning to set up to tear down. The events will include, but are not limited to, EverGreen EverBlue, Conservation Celebration, Eastern, Southern and Western region landowner celebration events, Sporting Circle, and Conservation Education and Outreach activities.
In addition, the communications and marketing team is seeking assistance with writing needs including website copy, Landline magazine articles, and social media posts. There could also be a need for design work such as creating postcards and white papers.
Because a number of events are held at locations other than the Land Conservancy’s Moreland Hills office, the Intern must have a reliable means of transportation. The Intern will be reimbursed for approved business mileage.
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
•Minimum of high school degree, with one or more years of post-secondary education preferred.
•An interest in development work including event planning and implementation, working on design and communications materials, and the ability to write and proofread materials are preferred.
•Must be physically able to assist set up and tear down of event sites, so ability to stoop, bend and lift is required. Lifting could involve items up to 30 pounds.
•Some events may be held on Land Conservancy properties, so the ability to walk on hills, uneven terrain, and unpaved areas is also required.
•Some Land Conservancy events are held in evenings or on weekends, so the Intern must have schedule flexibility to work those hours as required.
COMPENSATION
This is an hourly position with a pay rate of $17 per hour, and it is eligible for overtime. Since this is a summer internship position, no benefits or vacation are provided. However, the individual will be paid for any Land Conservancy holidays that fall on a scheduled workday.
Western Reserve Land Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to hiring staff members who represent the rich diversity of our community. At the Land Conservancy, all employees and applicants for employment are judged on their merits. The Land Conservancy is committed to providing an environment free of illegal discrimination of any kind, and does not base any employment decisions on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, religion, age, disability, military or veteran status, or any other protected category under federal and state laws.
