Capacity Building Intern - Wilson Center Funded

Organization Name: Grassroots Grocery

Organization Website: www.grassrootsgrocery.org

Compensation: $19.00/hour

Duration of Internship: 280 hour commitment (Full-time, 35 hrs./week for 8 weeks)

Eligibility: This opportunity is open to all registered Pace students (undergraduate, graduate and international students)  that are graduating in Dec. 2024 OR later.

Address: 1750 E Gun Hill Rd, Bronx, NY, 10469 (Saturday Location)

Modality: Hybrid format, with a strong preference for in-person attendance in the Bronx on Saturday mornings and (most likely) a co-working space in Harlem during the weekdays.

About the Employer: Founded by a sixth-grade teacher during the pandemic, Grassroots Grocery is a not-for-profit organization powering a fleet of volunteers who bring fresh produce to community sites serving neighbors in need. We use a hyper-local, volunteer-powered, community-centered approach, and our programs include: (1) Community Fridges, and (2) Rapid Rescue. Our Community Fridge Program provides hyper-local infrastructure for increased food access. Our Rapid Rescue volunteers provide fresh produce rescued in bulk from the Hunts Point Produce Market to a growing network of hyper-local community sites every Saturday morning, where community leaders are empowered to provide food directly to their residents in need.

Position Overview: Interns play a key support role at Grassroots Grocery, providing the capacity to grow the organization’s operations, engagement, and overall impact. Working directly with the Founder/Executive, other team members, and community stakeholders, interns will manage day to day logistical tasks, volunteer engagement, community support activities, deliverable development, communications, and system implementation. This is an ideal opportunity for a self-motivated and detail-oriented individual who is passionate about food access and community development. This position is hybrid, and depending on responsibilities, would include in person activities through Upper Manhattan and the Bronx.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 
Communications Support
● Research and create graphics for external collateral/promotion opportunities
● Create social media material
● Use our technology to communicate with community partners regarding deliverables
● Create other outreach materials
Community and Volunteer Development Support
● Support the Grassroots Grocery team, including Dan Zauderer our CEO, in the cultivation and maintenance of long-term relationships with companies, organizations, schools, churches, alumni, networks, and corporations, through sustained outreach and other means
● Brainstorm and execute creative approaches to get in touch with local community stakeholders and decision-makers
Business Planning Support
● Support Founder/ED and Business Operations Consultant in business plan research and development
● Research competitors and market
● Research relevant funding opportunities
Fundraising Support
● Research grant opportunities using the Instrumentl platform
● Research our donors and supporters using Linkedin and other platforms
● Researching potential corporate partners and contacts at those organizations

Preferred Skills:
● Strong time management skills, with an ability to be self-directed
● Excellent relationship building skills grounded in a respect of different backgrounds and experiences
● An ability to collaborate with all levels of stakeholders, internally and externally
● A strong orientation towards technology platforms
● A high degree of comfort communicating across different mediums, with an eye towards collaboration and impact

The Ideal Candidate is: 
The ideal candidate is dependable, self-motivated and has great attention to detail and organization with a passion for food justice and/or NYC communities. This candidate should have the ability to work in an innovative, startup, ever-changing, high energy environment. They should share an openness and excitement for learning and trying new things and have a high level of integrity and trust.