2025 Dan Broun Internship

The MDC Rural Prosperity and Investment team seeks an advanced or graduate-level student to support capacity building and technical assistance services in rural communities through the Dan Broun Internship program.  

About MDC Rural Prosperity and Investment  

The MDC Rural Prosperity and Investment issue area focuses on amplifying the voice, capacity, and power of rural communities in the south by strengthening and networking their efforts towards equitable systems and policy change. Grounded in the values of PEOPLE, POWER, PROGRESS, and PARTNERSHIP, we provide an array of community-based and community-led capacity-building services including facilitation, training, coaching, relationship brokering, conflict management, and resource development. MDC is a nonprofit organization based in Durham, N.C., focused on shaping a South where all people thrive. Learn more at MDCinc.org.  

Currently, the Rural Prosperity and Investment issue area consists of six programs: Dan Broun Internship, Rural Forward, Nonprofit Capacity Community, NC Inclusive Disaster Recovery Network, Local Partnerships for Public Funding, and Equitable Rural Philanthropy. More on the other five programs below.  

Dan Broun Internship  

The Dan Broun Internship and Award honors our late MDC staff member, Dan Broun who championed place-based strategies to improve outcomes for low-income people in rural communities in the South. Throughout his career, Dan also worked hard to provide college students with learning opportunities that would help them become leaders and professionals focused on equity and inclusion in workforce development, with an emphasis on the rural South. 

About the Dan Broun Award 

Based on an internal nomination process a select Dan Broun intern (“program associate”) will receive an additional award/stipend beyond the normal pay rate at the end of the internship period. This award will be based on the intern’s final presentation and other decided upon criteria. Participating in this process is optional.  

About the Program Associate  

The goal of the Program Associate is to strengthen their understanding of rural community-driven capacity-building services and develop additional skills by supporting MDC Rural Prosperity and Investment staff, community partners, and other constituents. Under the supervision of a Partnership Manager, the Program Associate will support a specific location or issue area to be determined in consultation with the chosen candidate. The Program Associate will also support other projects through planning, facilitation, drafting meeting summaries, community outreach and communications, policy research, and/or other administrative tasks (no more than 10%). There is a strong preference for candidates in or connected to eastern or western North Carolina who are available for collaboration and local meeting attendance, and who have a keen interest or passion for work within a specific Rural Prosperity and Investment program. This is a hybrid (virtual and in-person) internship and candidates should be available to travel into a community once a month.  

Specific tasks may include:  

1. Assisting with planning, coordinating, facilitating, and notetaking for meetings.  

1. Drafting logic models, asset maps, project management tools, and other documents.  

1. Supporting policy change efforts by researching and summarizing public policy.  

1. Identifying and developing projects that further the goals of a given program.  

1. Attending meetings convened by partner organizations.  

Key Qualities and Skills  

1. Experience in community outreach, research, and/or program evaluation.  

1. Excellent oral and written skills to communicate with a variety of audiences.   

1. A sincere curiosity about rural communities; willingness to explore issues of inclusion, power, privilege, and diversity; and exceptional commitment to personal integrity, professionalism, and excellence.  

1. Ability to think creatively and collaboratively, while also taking initiative on projects.  

1. Skilled in detail-oriented customer service and responsive to community and staff needs.   

1. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, virtual meeting applications, and internet research.   

Commitment  

This is a year-long internship experience to begin in May and conclude in spring of the following year. For the summer, our expectation is up to 40 hours per week for three months. Some flexibility is possible. For the fall and spring semesters, our expectation is up to 20 hours per week. Rate: $18.00/hour + limited benefits (i.e. holiday pay, travel reimbursement, conference attendance allotment). 

MDC Work-Life Balance 

In the summer months, MDC holds a “Summer Pause” for full-time staff during the weeks of July through August, meaning they are not to work after 12:00pm on Fridays. Additionally, to improve capacity and work-life balance, for one week in the summer there is an organization-wide “Focus Week”, where no internal or external meetings are to be had. Program Associates are expected to participate in the Focus Week and can optionally participate in Summer Pause Fridays if they can work independently from their supervisors during the Pause. 

MDC is closed for the final full week of December every year for a “Winter Break”. All Program Associates and full-time staff are not permitted to work during this break.    

Office Culture  

1. Our commitment to our mission and values means sometimes we have long days to be responsive to our community partners and other constituents. We also support our staff in maintaining a strong work/life balance. We take initiative for our own projects, while also working collaboratively.  

1. The MDC Rural Prosperity and Investment team consists of a Senior Program Director, 2 Program Directors, 5 Partnership Managers, 1 Program Coordinator, 1 Program Administrator, and up to 5 Program Associates.  

1. Our work is primarily in person with some remote work via Zoom. Travel for in-person meetings in rural North Carolina is required as public health guidance and organizational policy about the COVID-19 pandemic allows.   

1. Program Associated are encouraged to attend bi-weekly virtual and quarterly in-person Rural Prosperity and Investment team meetings, as schedules permit.  

1. (Optional) Program Associates are invited to attend monthly virtual and quarterly in-person MDC staff meetings.  

To Apply  

Once posted, please submit a cover letter addressed to MDC describing your interest in this position, a pdf version of your resume, and three references on our website via JazzHR. Questions about the application process can be emailed to rfwdInfo@mdcinc.org.  

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through March 12, 2025, and interview appointments will be conducted through mid-April 2025, via Zoom and last roughly 75 minutes.  

MDC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and equity, it is our policy to provide an equal employment opportunity to all individuals without regard to age, color, race, religion, national origin, disability, military/veteran status, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, or status in any other group, protected by federal or local law or for any other reason. We encourage applications from people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and members of underrepresented groups to effectively achieve our mission. Reasonable accommodations are available on request. For more info about MDC, go to www.mdcinc.org.