Donor Engagement and Development Operations Intern

REPORTS TO:            Associate Director, Donor Engagement
                                    Development Operations Manager
TERM:                         Summer 2025
HOURS:                      20-30 hours per week (In-Office)

Through artistic excellence coupled with innovative, relevant programming; initiatives to connect with and grow new audiences; engagement with communities to ignite creativity across Chicago; and a modernized Opera House that is the setting for truly great experiences, Lyric is leading the advancement of opera. This collaborative vision will deliver ever more exciting, thought-provoking and inclusive audience and community experiences – while increasing the gravitational pull of our art form, our company, and our city.
The Donor Engagement team executes direct-response appeals and communications to support the Fund for Lyric, specifically focusing on two key donor societies, the Friends of Lyric ($50-$4,999) and the Patrons of Lyric ($5,000-$24,999). The Development Operations team ensures strategic decision-making through accurate analytics reporting, routine database maintenance, and creating distribution lists for donor communications.

The Donor Engagement and Development Operations Intern is responsible for helping retain, grow, acquire, and reactivate contributed support by assisting in cultivation, retention, and stewardship communications, leveraging our data processes to identify potential growth, and providing administrative support for each team. This is a great opportunity for students looking to pursue a career in Fundraising, Development Operations and/or Arts Administration.
 
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist with identifying prospects and creating profiles for potential pipeline donors.
• Assist in sending donor correspondence, such as receipts, acknowledgements, solicitations, stewardship letters, and invitations.
• Perform ad hoc data hygiene projects ensuring donor records are properly updated and maintained in the Tessitura database. Fulfill data service requests & tasks for the Development team.
• Additional projects as needed

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree.
• Must have excellent verbal, written, and personal communication skills.
• Ideal candidates will have scrupulous attention to detail and a strong work ethic with sensitivity to confidential information and the ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Intern projects require prioritizing and efficiently managing multiple tasks.
• Candidates will have proficiency in Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher) and Google Suite products.

• Sitting for extended periods.
• Ability to operate a computer and to handle other office equipment.
• Fast-paced environment.
• Preferred weekly In-Office schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday

COMPENSATION:

Job Classification: Part-Time, Non-Exempt Intern

Hourly Rate: $16.20 + Weekly $30 Travel Stipend

Application deadline: March 28, 2025 by 5:00pm CT

Lyric Opera of Chicago offers intern benefits including professional development and department workshops, complimentary tickets, and other events.    
  
Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, parental status, socio-economic status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We strongly encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.