Application Guide
How to Apply for Stand Together - KIP Summer 2026 - Development Intern - Lever
at Standtogether
🏢 About Standtogether
Stand Together (formerly the Charles Koch Institute) is a philanthropic community focused on breaking barriers that prevent people from realizing their potential. What makes them unique is their partnership model with non-profit organizations, offering interns hands-on experience with real-world social impact projects. Someone might want to work here to gain exposure to both philanthropic strategy and grassroots non-profit operations simultaneously.
About This Role
This Development Intern role involves supporting fundraising and donor relations through the Lever platform, likely assisting with prospect research, campaign tracking, and donor communications. It's impactful because you'll contribute directly to resource mobilization for Stand Together's partner non-profits, enabling their social change initiatives.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing donor portfolios in Lever, preparing briefing materials for development meetings, coordinating with partner non-profit staff on joint fundraising initiatives, and analyzing campaign performance metrics. You'd likely split your time between internal Stand Together projects and collaborative work with their external partners.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Standtogether Is Looking For
- Demonstrates genuine interest in both philanthropy AND non-profit operations (not just one)
- Has experience or coursework related to fundraising, donor relations, or CRM platforms (like Lever)
- Shows understanding of Stand Together's unique partnership model with external non-profits
- Can articulate how their values align with Stand Together's approach to social change
📝 Tips for Applying to Standtogether
Explicitly mention your familiarity with the Lever platform or similar donor management systems in your resume
Highlight any experience with non-profit partnerships or collaborative projects, not just solo work
Tailor your application to address BOTH Stand Together AND their non-profit partners (mentioned in the requirements)
Reference specific Stand Together initiatives or fellowship programs you've researched
Submit early since this appears to be a competitive fellowship program with rolling review
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your understanding of Stand Together's partnership model with external non-profits", "Specific skills related to development/fundraising (not just general 'passion for helping')", 'How your background prepares you for the dual-interview process with both Stand Together and their partner', 'Why the KIP Summer 2026 timeline aligns with your academic/professional goals']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Stand Together's current non-profit partners and their specific initiatives
- → The Koch Internship Program (KIP) structure and previous fellow projects
- → How Stand Together uses the Lever platform specifically (check their career pages or LinkedIn)
- → Recent Stand Together publications or position papers on philanthropic strategy
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying with a generic 'philanthropy' cover letter that doesn't mention Stand Together's specific partnership model
- Focusing only on Stand Together without showing interest in their non-profit partners
- Submitting an application that treats this as a generic internship rather than a competitive fellowship program
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!