Intern, Development & Operations-Orange County, CA

American Heart Association; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Heart U resources

Training & support

Hybrid work model

Job summary

The American Heart Association offers an internship in the Orange County/Inland Empire/Coachella Valley market to support Development and Operations teams. You will help plan, execute, and follow up on fundraising campaigns such as Heart Walks and Go Red for Women, working 20–25 hours per week in a hybrid schedule with Irvine office days.

Ideal candidates are seniors or graduate students in Business, Marketing, Event Planning, Communications, Public Relations, or Nonprofit Management, with an

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Business, Marketing, Event Planning, Communications, Public Relations, Nonprofit Management or related field.
• Experience or interest in nonprofit fundraising, event management, operations, community engagement, or volunteer management.
• Comfort with outreach, public speaking (vendor/donor calls and presentations).
• Strong written and verbal communication and ability to work with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Assist development and implementation of fundraising activities, logistics, and admin support for the OIC market.
• Support fundraising campaigns including the Orange County Heart Walk, Inland Empire Heart Walk, Coachella Valley Heart Walk, and Orange County Go Red for Women.
• Assist with pre-campaign planning, day-of-event execution, and post-campaign wrap-up projects.
• Work with event systems like Luminate and Tableau to aid data entry, reporting, donor management, and campaign tracking.
• Assist with volunteer recruitment, engagement, and management.
• Conduct prospect research to identify new leads and support fundraising and sponsorship efforts.
• Update campaign marketing materials (save-the-dates, invitations, social media, volunteer communications, event collateral).
• Provide logistical and administrative support to ensure campaigns/events run smoothly for volunteers, sponsors, and participants.
• Support Community Impact initiatives and Hands-Only CPR demos; participate in Heart Walk kickoffs. Training provided.

Skills

Outreach/public speaking

Fundraising promotions

Verbal and written communication

Organizational skills

Microsoft Office & Canva

Tableau & Luminate familiarity

Education

Business/Marketing/Event Planning/Communications/Nonprofit Management degree

Tools

Luminate

Tableau

Job description

Overview

Since our founding in 1924, we've cut cardiovascular disease deaths in half, but there is still so much more to do. To overcome today’s biggest health challenges and accelerate this progress, we need passionate individuals like you. Join our movement, be part of the progress, and help ensure a healthier future for all. You matter, and so does the impact you can make with us.

The American Heart Association’s Internship Program provides college students an opportunity for hands‑on experience in various facets for individuals interested in gaining work experience with a non‑profit, voluntary health organization.

We have an exciting opportunity in the Orange County/Inland Empire/Coachella Valley (OIC) Market for an intern to support our Development and Operations Teams. As an intern supporting our Spring Heart Challenge, Go Red for Women, and STEM events, you will play a key role in driving the success of these impactful campaigns. Your responsibilities will include a variety of tasks that contribute to the planning, execution, and follow‑up of these life‑saving initiatives.

The Association offers many resources to help you maintain work‑life harmonization through your changing needs and life situations. To help you be successful, you will have access to Heart U, our award‑winning corporate university, as well as training and support locally and through our National Center.

#TheAHALife is more than a company culture; it is our way of life. It embodies our commitment to work‑life harmonization and is guided by our core values where our employees can thrive both personally and professionally. Discover why you will Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Valued at the American Heart Association by following us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and at heart.jobs.

Internship Overview

• Time Commitment: 20-25 hours per week
• Internship Duration: 1/25/27-5/7/27
• Location: Hybrid – one to two days per week in the Irvine, CA office, with remote work on other designated days.
• Salary: $23.00 per hour

Internship Outcomes

Individuals participating in the internship program are provided with an opportunity to:

• Gain important and practical job skills to be successful in a non‑profit environment.
• Opportunity to explore a career‑path with a reputable voluntary health/service organization.
• Complete an internship that enriches your academic and professional resume as well as enriching your personal life by making a difference in the lives of others.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the development and implementation of fundraising activities, logistics, and administrative support for the Orange County Inland Empire (OIC) market.
• Work with the Event Director, Development Directors, and Development Coordinators to support fundraising campaigns including the Orange County Heart Walk, Inland Empire Heart Walk, Coachella Valley Heart Walk, and Orange County Go Red for Women.
• Assist with pre‑campaign planning, day‑of‑event execution, and post‑campaign wrap‑up projects.
• Work within event support systems such as Luminate, Tableau, and other American Heart Association platforms to assist with data entry, reporting, donor management, and campaign tracking.
• Assist with volunteer recruitment, engagement, and management.
• Conduct prospect research to identify new leads and compile information to support fundraising and sponsorship efforts.
• Assist with updating campaign marketing materials including save‑the‑dates, invitations, social media content, volunteer communications, event collateral, and other promotional materials.
• Provide logistical and administrative support to ensure fundraising campaigns and events operate efficiently and deliver a high‑quality experience for volunteers, sponsors, and participants.
• Support Community Impact initiatives and events as needed, including assisting with Hands‑Only CPR demos and participating in Heart Walk company kickoffs. Training will be provided.

Qualifications

• Candidates who are seniors or graduate students pursuing a degree in Business, Marketing, Event Planning, Communications, Public Relations, Nonprofit Management or a related field.
• Experience or interest in nonprofit fundraising, event management, operations, community engagement, or volunteer management.
• Must be comfortable with outreach and public speaking (phone calls & emails to vendors & donors as well as giving presentations).
• Experience/interest in promotion, sales, or fundraising.
• Demonstrated skills in effective one‑on‑one and group communications and comfort with working professionally with all levels of community leaders, volunteers, and staff.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Intermediate to excellent proficiency in Microsoft Office and Canva.
• Ability to travel locally and attend occasional in‑person meetings and events throughout Orange County, Inland Empire, and Coachella Valley as needed (majority will be in Orange County).
• Required: Reliable WiFi connection and reliable transportation.
• Minimum availability of 20 hrs/wk, M‑F between the hours of 8:30am-5pm.
• This is a hybrid position, with interns expected to work in the office one to two days per week and remotely on other designated days.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship, now or in the future. For any roles working remotely, the work must also be performed inside the United States, not in a foreign country.

Compensation & Benefits

The job application window is expected to close: October 30, 2026.

• Compensation and Performance – Attracting talented, committed interns means offering competitive compensation, ongoing professional development and training, and an environment in which to work and grow. And we do.
• Professional Development – You can join one of our many Employee Resource Groups (ERG) or be a mentor/mentee in our professional mentoring program. Heart U is the Association’s national online university, with more than 100,000 resources designed to meet your needs and busy schedule.
• Healthcare Benefits – You will have the opportunity to participate in our Teladoc General Medical and Behavioral Health programs. We also provide access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at no cost as a confidential program designed to assist employees and family members with personal issues that affect their relationships at home or at work.

EOE/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities

At American Heart Association | American Stroke Association, our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, age, language, sexual orientation, national origin and physical or cognitive abilities.

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