Leading EDGE | The Student Perspective: Internships

Want to learn more about the younger generation and prepare for future employees? Leading EDGE presents The Student Perspective blog series! In this installment, hear from four of our Cohort 3 interns on their summer internship experiences at Moore and PMG.

Clare Smith – Moore Intern

I had an incredible experience as an intern at Moore this summer. Working on the programmatic team (with what I think are some of the smartest people in the industry), I can confidently say that I learned invaluable skills and gained experience in a quickly emerging and growing field. More than that, I gained a deeper understanding of the non-profit business sector and got a front-row seat to the amazing work that is being done to shape lives and communities all over the world. 

One of the most unique things about Moore is the multitude of clients that we serve. Each client has a different mission, and we come alongside them to help communicate their purpose to donors. It was a unique opportunity to be able to work with so many clients and on so many accounts, just glimpsing the vast amount of impact that we play a small but integral role in. Supporting clients who are doing the hard work of showing up to serve each day by effectively promoting their mission and brand was a unique gift and privilege.

I am convinced that there is nothing that shapes a company more than its work culture. This summer showed this to me in a new light — I have never experienced such a welcoming and engaging work environment as what I encountered at Moore. Working on a team that took every opportunity to encourage one another was one aspect that made my internship experience a place full of learning & growth. The encouragement that was so evident in our team gave me the freedom to ask questions and try new things without being afraid of getting something wrong.

One of my favorite experiences from the summer was the opportunity to attend the Bridge conference during the first week of August. As someone with an interest in the non-profit world, Bridge ignited me with a new passion. I have always had a desire to work in a purpose & mission driven environment — seeing the vast number of ways that companies, organizations, and individuals are involved in the world of non-profits was captivating. I was able to meet many Moore employees, as well as attend sessions that made me excited to join the industry after I graduate. It was so much fun to interact with and meet many of my teammates in person at the conference as well as get to know the TNPA interns in our cohort better.

I am incredibly grateful for this experience and all the people from TNPA and Moore who have invested in me and my future over the last 3 months! 

Xinyi (Serena) Song – Moore Intern

Over the past few months, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to intern at Moore, a leading nonprofit fundraising and branding organization. Moore is renowned for its innovative approach to mail, direct response television (DRTV), digital, and other fundraising strategies. Here’s a glimpse into my journey and the valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way.

My internship at Moore has been nothing short of transformative. The organization’s multifaceted approach to nonprofit fundraising has exposed me to various strategies and tools. I learned how Moore crafts compelling direct mail pieces that resonate with donors. From conceptualizing messages to understanding audience segmentation, I gained insight into what makes direct mail effective. Working with DRTV campaigns was eye-opening. I observed how television spots are developed, from initial scriptwriting to final production. This experience highlighted the importance of creating engaging content that drives viewer response.

My role also involved supporting digital initiatives, including social media campaigns and email marketing. I learned how to analyze engagement metrics and optimize content for better donor interaction and gained an understanding of how Moore helps nonprofits build strong, cohesive brands. This included learning about strategic planning and the importance of consistent messaging across various channels.

One of the biggest lessons was the importance of personalization in fundraising. Tailoring messages to specific donor segments significantly enhances engagement and response rates. Effective fundraising often involves a blend of multiple channels. Moore’s success in integrating mail, DRTV, and digital strategies taught me how cohesive messaging can amplify results. I learned how crucial data is in shaping and refining campaigns. Analyzing performance metrics allows for informed adjustments, ensuring that strategies are both efficient and effective. The dynamic nature of nonprofit fundraising requires a blend of creativity and innovation. Moore’s approach to developing new ideas and solutions was inspiring and showed me the importance of thinking outside the box.

My time at Moore has been incredibly enriching. The skills and knowledge I’ve gained are invaluable, and I’m grateful for the mentorship and support from the team. This experience has solidified my passion for nonprofit work and provided me with a strong foundation for future endeavors in the field. For those interested in pursuing a career in nonprofit fundraising and branding, Moore offers an exceptional environment to learn and grow. I’m excited to apply these insights to my future work and continue making a positive impact in the nonprofit sector.

Andrea Flores – PMG Intern

This summer I had the opportunity to intern with The PMG Family through the Nonprofit Alliance Leading Edge Program. These past two months went by fast but I learned a lot about the important role direct mail plays in the nonprofit industry. I had the privilege of working under the Vice President of Business Strategy, Jaime Grams.

One of the first things Jaime taught me during my internship was that The PMG Family consists of four business entities, the Production Management Group, MailSmart Logistics, MMI Direct, and The Engage Group. It all began with the Production Management Group, which later expanded into four specialized divisions. In short, the Production Management Group handles direct mail production, MMI Direct is in charge of data processing and data hygiene, MailSmart Logistics provides postal logistics solutions and mail tracking, and The Engage Group is responsible for online fundraising.

Before I interned for PMG I recycled most of the mail I received without opening it. After my first day, I was overwhelmed with the amount of information I learned about the direct mail industry. Sensing this, Jaime and I visited Corporate Mailing Services, a mail shop to see firsthand how PMG’s work is produced. Seeing all the machines and materials cleared up most of my confusion. I had no idea how much effort went behind each piece of mail. Every ink color, paper type, envelope size, and other seemingly small details mattered more than I imagined. Direct mail is an effective tool for nonprofits since it helps build meaningful relationships with donors and prospects. Every personalized letter or card is thoughtfully prepared to make a genuine connection, which is necessary for successful fundraising. After completing this internship, I will no longer be throwing out my mail without opening it first.

Throughout these two months, I also learned what it means to work with a dedicated group of people. One of the teams I had the opportunity to work closely with was the marketing team which consisted of Jaime, Elise Buck (Marketing Manager for The PMG Family), and Nicole Shields from Professional Marketing Matters. While the marketing team prepared for the 2024 Bridge Conference, I witnessed firsthand the strategic planning and attention to detail required to develop the company booth. Every design, measurement, and other elements had to be triple-checked since the conference provides significant exposure for The PMG Family.

I felt lucky that PMG brought me along with them to attend the 2024 Bridge Conference. It was my very first conference and expanded my understanding of the nonprofit industry since I was able to attend sessions and connect with professionals in the field. It was also a great opportunity to catch up with staff members from the Nonprofit Alliance, Shelby Truxon, and Shannon McCracken. Seeing the marketing team’s hard work come to life in the exhibit hall was exciting, as it showcased the company’s creativity and dedication.

My favorite part about interning this summer was the opportunity to sit down and speak with different people who work at each business entity. Dealing with feelings of uncertainty when starting your profession is one of the hardest things about being the first person in your family to attend college. You don’t have someone to ask questions or offer guidance. In spite of that, The PMG Family employees became the people I asked my questions to and sought advice from. Every employee I spoke to, regardless of how briefly they had known me, was incredibly supportive and enthusiastic to teach me what they do or answer my questions.

My experience with The PMG Family may have been brief but it was impactful. I learned so much and gained skills that will serve me well throughout any stage in my career. The PMG Family does the necessary behind the scenes work that helps their nonprofit clients fulfill their missions and I am happy to say I was able to witness and contribute to it this summer.

Jason Taylor – Moore Intern

My time at Moore has been an incredible experience, and today, as I reflect, I realize just how fortunate I’ve been to have had this opportunity.

First and foremost, I’m grateful to be surrounded by brilliance within my team. The specialists I work with have extensive knowledge in their respective areas of focus. What makes them truly exceptional, though, is their ability to understand the workings of the other team members. This has allowed them not only to contribute to the team but to augment each other’s skill sets through open-mindedness and a genuine curiosity to learn.

Note to self from this experience: Be a specialist, but also understand how your skill set can be used in conjunction with others to enhance their work. Be open-minded and recognize the bigger picture of how your skills can contribute not only to your team’s goals but to the overall objectives of the company.

Another aspect of brilliance I’ve learned is the value of learning from the experience of others. At 23, I know that I have a lot to learn. Acknowledging my ignorance, I sought out as much knowledge as I could from the experts within my space.

Regarding sales ability, I learned foundational skills from three different people. One emphasized the importance of being unafraid to be my authentic, truthful self. Another highlighted persistence and being okay with hearing “no.” The third stressed the significance of maintaining a calm demeanor and emotional intelligence. I was able to distill a lifetime of experience from these experts in just a few conversations, and I’m excited to put these insights into practice.

Note to self from this experience: Learn from every conversation and interaction. I was able to gain years of experience through conversations that only took minutes. Now, it’s up to me to internalize and implement these learnings.

In the second week of my internship, I had the opportunity to speak with our CEO, Gretchen Littlefield. I tried my best to seize the opportunity and learn as much as I could. From our conversation, I took away a couple of key points.

Note to self from this conversation: Be okay with failure, as failure—not success—is the main catalyst for growth. Reflecting on this, it makes sense. Only through failure can I learn the limitations of my abilities, which I can then reflect on and use to expand my capabilities.

Wrapping it Up

I want to thank Shelby Truxon, Shannon McCracken, Greg Albright, Gretchen Littlefield, and the rest of the team at TNPA. They provided me with resources going into my internship to learn about the non-profit industry, yet somehow my first week still hit me like a truck with the overload of information. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to an industry that has a profound impact on the world. I am a firm believer in achieving win-win scenarios in this world, and the non-profit sector consistently delivers these types of experiences.

I also want to thank Nick Ellinger for his guidance throughout this process and for working to facilitate a positive learning experience. From the start, he has been committed to getting feedback from me on my experience and workload, constantly striving to understand how he could improve my experience. In my first week, he connected me with several experts in the company who shared their insights with me, for which I am immensely grateful.

While I still have much to learn about marketing and fundraising in the non-profit space, I am leaving with far more knowledge than I had before. One thing I know for sure as I leave this experience is that I want to be a student of life. Wherever my career may take me, with a better understanding of the world, I will improve my ability to give back to my fellow man and woman, to give back to the universe which brought me into it.

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For Employers: Read more about how to work with Leading EDGE students.

For Students: Writers needed! Contact Shelby Truxon, Vice President of Internship Experience, at struxon@tnpa.org to write for the “Student Perspective” blog series. Read more about Leading EDGE internships and other programming.