Call for Applications: Humanities EXCEL Fellowship with United Way of Santa Cruz County – Marketing and Development Intern, 2024-2025

We encourage work-study and non-work-study students to apply. This role is only open to undergraduate students with a declared or proposed Humanities major or minor and requires work authorization.

Application Deadline: November 20, 2024

The Humanities Division and The Humanities Institute are excited to announce an experiential learning opportunity for undergraduates at UC Santa Cruz to work with United Way of Santa Cruz County.

The Humanities Experiential Career Exploration and Learning (EXCEL) Program connects Humanities majors and minors to organizations in the community for paid internships. In this cohort program, EXCEL Fellows gain practical experience and professional training while learning about positions outside of the university that build on their studies in the humanities. At the same time, community partner organizations benefit from students’ assistance and academic expertise. EXCEL Fellowships carry on the success of THI’s Public Fellows program, and they foster positive collaborations between the campus and community, demonstrating the value of a Humanities degree for a range of careers.

Applicants must have a declared or proposed major or minor in the Humanities Division at the time of their application to be eligible. Please see the Humanities Division majors and minors list to check your eligibility before applying.

About United Way

United Way is a global non-profit that mobilizes local communities to action so everyone can thrive. For over 83 years, United Way of Santa Cruz County has partnered with local organizations and community members to co-create solutions to our community's most pressing challenges. By taking a comprehensive approach, we listen and respond to the needs of our community, recognizing that when our youth thrive, our community thrives.

Our programs and initiatives expand access to essential resources during times of need and natural disasters, helping individuals and families connect with financial assistance, housing support, and critical services that promote long-term financial security and stability.

Our youth programs focus on mental health, college, and career readiness, fostering a sense of community and belonging. We actively work to close the gap on inequities, uplifting the well-being of youth and families because empowering the next generation builds the foundation for a stronger, more resilient community.

From strengthening local resilience to advancing health, youth opportunity, and financial security, we are dedicated to building a future where every person in our community can reach their full potential. Together, we create the conditions for success, starting with our youth.

Position Description: Marketing and Development Intern

RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

• Content Creation & Social Media Management (40%): Develop engaging content for social media, newsletters, and marketing materials to promote events and campaigns. This includes drafting posts, creating graphics, and scheduling content across multiple platforms. United Way supplies a marketing and branding toolkit and other resources.
• Donor Research & Engagement (30%): Assist in identifying potential donors, researching funding opportunities, and helping to cultivate relationships with current and prospective supporters. This may involve data entry, database management, and donor outreach. It also involves attending community events, sending follow-up emails and thank you letters, and outreach communications.
• Event Support and Promotion (20%): Help plan, promote, and support events, including coordinating logistics, drafting promotional materials, and assisting with volunteer coordination. Working events would be greatly appreciated (and paid), but it is not required. Events include
  • Award Ceremony in April
  • “Stuff the Bus” in July
  • Women in Philanthropy Quarterly Events
  • Emerging Leader Circle Events monthly
  • Community events throughout the year
• Reporting and Analysis (10%): Assist in tracking marketing campaign performance, compiling reports, and analyzing data to assess the effectiveness of various resource development efforts.

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• You are a declared or proposed major or minor in a department in the Humanities Division and are in good academic standing. If your major or minor is proposed, you can declare by the end of the academic year in June. [strict eligibility requirement]
  • Eligible majors: Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism, Classical Studies, Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Feminist Studies, History, Jewish Studies, Language Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Philosophy, Spanish Studies
  • Eligible minors: Black Studies, Classical Studies, East Asian Studies, History of Consciousness, History, Italian Studies, Jewish Studies, Language Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Middle Eastern and North African Studies, Philosophy, Spanish Studies
• You have work authorization.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal & community engagement skills
• Ability to take initiative
• Basic understanding of social media platforms (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) and content creation.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or Google Workspace.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Experience in marketing, communications, fundraising, or event planning.
• Familiarity with graphic design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite) and basic design skills.
• Interest in nonprofit work, community engagement, or social impact initiatives.
• Experience with donor databases or CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) is a plus.
• Enthusiasm for storytelling and creative problem-solving.

Internship Term: January 2025-June 2025

Hours: 15 hours/week

Compensation: $20/hour

# Positions Available: 2

Location: Hybrid – United Way has specific days that they are in office. Interns would come in on those days. The United Way offices are located at 4450 Capitola Rd., Ste 106, Capitola, CA

• UCSC Humanities funds a ZipCar account so students can book vehicles to travel to work or required events in Santa Cruz County if needed.

Mentorship: You will report to the Program and Communications Officer Amanda Gamban and work with Dawn Bruckel, the director of Development and Marketing. The partner supervisors will delegate tasks and review your work, provide coaching, and help you understand what working in this field is like. You will meet to check in at least once per week

Apply By Submitting

1. Your updated resume
2. A short cover letter (no more than one page) answering these questions: Why are you interested in this position? How does your academic expertise and skillset prepare you for this role? What are you hoping to gain from this opportunity?

REVIEW these resume and cover letter resources to ensure you are a strong candidate!

• Address your cover letter to the United Way team.

Once the application window closes, there will be an interview process with top candidates. This job is expected to start in early January 2025.

Please contact the EXCEL Program coordinator, Kylie Rachwalski, at hum-experiential-learning@ucsc.edu with any questions.

The Mellon Foundation, The Helen and Will Webster Foundation, The Humanities Institute, and the UCSC Humanities Division generously support the Humanities EXCEL Program.