Development Associate

Location(s): Remote or Kingston, NY

Duration: 3-6 months

Hours: Flexible 15-18 hours a week for full-time students. Eligible interns not taking classes can work up to 40 hours per week.
Compensation: $22 - $25/hour

The Clean Energy Internship
This position reports to the Senior Development Associate. The Development Associate will support MHET’s fundraising, prospect research, and donor stewardship across programs (HUG, HELP, HELP Fund, and Energy Innovation). The intern will gain hands-on experience in development operations, prospect research, grant drafting, and CRM/data tracking, while advancing MHET’s mission to build community-rooted, equity-centered clean energy solutions.

The Development Associate will support development and fundraising activities for community-oriented clean energy, energy justice, and decarbonization projects. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of energy democracy, energy justice, and environmental issues facing low-income and BIPOC communities, as well as excellent persuasive writing skills and the ability to analyze complex information.

• →Research and identify funding opportunities from individuals, corporations, donor-advised funds, and foundations, with a focus on clean energy, energy justice, and decarbonization projects.
• →Manage and maintain donor databases, track donations, record donor engagement, and generate reports to assess fundraising progress and donor trends.
• →Assist in the implementation of MHET’s fundraising plan and development policies by coordinating logistics, managing outreach, and conducting follow-ups with energy justice funders.
• →Assist with the planning and coordination of fundraising events, including MHET's annual gala, providing on-site support to ensure each event's success as well as donor engagement and follow through in the days after.
• →Support the design and execution of MHET's broader fundraising campaigns.
• →Write and edit grant proposals, ensuring they clearly convey MHET’s mission and highlight our commitment to energy justice, decarbonization, and community-driven clean energy solutions.
• →Maintain a calendar of grant deadlines and ensure timely submission of all required documents.
• →Synthesize and analyze complex information, including energy, decarbonization, and environmental data, to create compelling reports and presentations for funders and partners.
• →Help cultivate relationships with current and prospective energy justice donors through regular communication, including personalized emails and acknowledgment letters.
• →Collaborate across departments to collect and analyze impact metrics, then work with the communications team to turn them into clear visual updates (e.g., one-pagers, dashboards, social posts) that highlight MHET’s clean energy, energy justice, and decarbonization initiatives.
• →Provide administrative support for fundraising activities, including scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, and taking minutes.
• →Analyze data to identify trends and opportunities for improving fundraising efforts, especially in relation to energy justice and decarbonization initiatives.

• Strong persuasive writing skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information, including energy, energy justice, and decarbonization, into clear and compelling proposals and reports.
• Strong design skills with the ability to create visually appealing and effective presentations that communicate complex ideas.
• Passion for energy justice, environmental justice, and decarbonization, with a deep understanding of the energy issues impacting low-income and BIPOC communities.
• Excellent research and analytical skills, with the ability to analyze and interpret financial, energy, and environmental data.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities and projects simultaneously.
• A self-starter who can take ownership of their work and manage day-to-day responsibilities with minimal oversight, while also collaborating effectively with a team.

Eligibility: To be eligible for this role, you must  meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

1. An individual currently attending or who attended a degree program at a college or university located in New York State within the last 12 months as of the date of the intern application.
2. A current New York State resident attending or who attended a college or university outside of New York State within the last 12 months as of the date of the intern application. New York State residency, with proof of residency such as a rental agreement or utility bills, must have been established prior to the start of the internship.
3. New York State residents who are members of a disadvantaged community and/or priority population.
4. 1. You can identify a disadvantaged community using this link: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/ny/Disadvantaged-Communities 
   2. Priority population is defined as follows:
   3. 1. Veterans;
      2. Individuals with disabilities;
      3. Low-income individuals, whose household’s total income is below or at 60% of the State Median Income, or whose household has been determined eligible for or is receiving assistance through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or other human service benefit programs;
      4. Incumbent or unemployed fossil fuel workers;
      5. Previously incarcerated individuals;
      6. 16- to 24-year-olds who are enrolled in or have completed a comprehensive work preparedness training program such as those offered by Boards of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES), technical high schools, Conservation Corps, YouthBuild, and AmeriCorps. The training program must include a combination of rigorous clean energy education with hands-on technical training. Eligibility for work preparedness programs under this category will be considered on a case-by-case basis.;
      7. Homeless individuals;
      8. Single parents.
         
         

Equal Opportunity Notice:

MHET is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We value the unique perspectives and contributions that a diverse workforce brings to our organization. MHET encourages individuals from underrepresented groups, including but not limited to women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals, to apply for this position. We are dedicated to creating a workplace that respects and values differences, and we aim to foster an inclusive environment where all employees can thrive. 

To Apply: To apply, please upload your resume and cover letter to our Careers Page portal explaining your interest in clean energy and community engagement.

Learn more about NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Internship here.