Grant Research Intern

Description

Public Health Connect is a consulting and community-building organization based in Indianapolis that partners with nonprofits and for-profits to advance public health, education, and wellness initiatives. We specialize in grant writing, fiscal strategy, and community engagement, helping organizations secure funding and build sustainable growth.

Our Grant Research Internship Program provides students with structured experience in the early stages of grant development. Interns will work directly with our Founder & CEO, Katharine Skirvin, and our Government Affairs & Grant Strategy Consultant, Da’zhana Hall. Supervision and mentorship will include weekly one-on-one check-ins, feedback on research summaries, and opportunities to shadow client strategy sessions. Interns will receive training in using funding databases, compliance review processes, and proposal development workflows.

Interns will gain hands-on experience by:

• Researching federal, state, local, and private grant opportunities

• Summarizing eligibility requirements, deadlines, and funding priorities

• Supporting proposal development with data collection and background research

• Contributing to grant tracking systems and client deliverables

Learning Goals:
By the end of the internship, interns will:

1. Understand the full lifecycle of the grant research process and how it connects to proposal writing.

2. Build skills in evaluating funding sources for eligibility and alignment.

3. Strengthen written communication through professional research summaries and briefs.

4. Gain insight into how public health and nonprofit organizations leverage funding for community impact.

5. Develop professional workplace skills including time management, virtual collaboration, and client-centered communication.

Responsibilities

The Grant Research Intern will support Public Health Connect’s grant development team by engaging in meaningful, project-based work that builds research and analysis skills. Responsibilities include:

• Conducting targeted research on federal, state, local, and foundation funding opportunities

• Summarizing eligibility requirements, deadlines, and application guidelines in concise briefs

• Assisting with the development of grant tracking tools and databases

• Gathering community data, statistics, and background research to support proposals

• Reviewing funder websites, annual reports, and priorities to assess alignment with client needs

• Participating in weekly team meetings to present findings and receive feedback

• Shadowing client strategy sessions to understand how funding opportunities are matched with organizational goals

Note: This internship is designed to be educational and skills-based. Administrative tasks (such as organizing digital files or formatting documents) will be minimal and limited to less than 25% of the role.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program (Public Health, Nonprofit Management, Business, Policy, or related fields preferred, but all majors welcome)

• Strong interest in research, public health, or nonprofit funding

• Good written and verbal communication skills

• Detail-oriented with the ability to organize information clearly

• Comfortable using Microsoft Office or Google Workspace tools

• Self-motivated and able to work independently while meeting deadlines

• Willingness to learn new skills and take feedback

No prior grant or professional experience is required—training and mentorship will be provided.

Contact Information