Join our sunny squad

Explore a career at Project Sunshine! We are looking for passionate individuals to join our mission-driven organization and help us bring the healing power of play to children and families who are coping with medical challenges.

Open Positions

Position: Development Coordinator
Type: Full Time (hybrid in NYC)
Reports toDirector of Development and Development Manager
Annual Salary: $53,000 - $55,000

About Project Sunshine:
Project Sunshine’s mission is to bring connection and joy to children with medical needs through dedicated volunteers who deliver the healing power of play. For over 20 years, Project Sunshine volunteers have brought joy and play directly to pediatric patients through our network of medical facility and nonprofit partners across the country. Our programs include in-person play with patients (Here to Play), curated activity kit deliveries (Kits for Play), and live, virtual play sessions (TelePlay). Over 16,000 trained volunteers deliver programs that provide opportunities for creative expression, socialization, intellectual stimulation, and sensory integration to more than 200,000 pediatric patients and families each year. Our unique volunteer engagement model allows community groups, colleges, and corporations to create moments of connection with pediatric patients, caregivers, and families providing child and family-centered, play-based programming. Project Sunshine partners with 475+ medical facilities across the U.S. and in four international locations.

About the Position:

The primary role of the Development Coordinator is to advance Project Sunshine’s efforts to connect with and thank our community of donors, especially at the major gift level of $25,000+. Last year, Project Sunshine launched its first ever capital campaign to raise funds for initiatives that will support the organization’s growth and allow the organization to reach more pediatric patients. As our capital campaign progresses and Project Sunshine’s annual fundraising goals increase, we are seeking someone who can help the organization build sustainable processes for stewarding our most generous donors.

The Development Coordinator will work closely with the Director of Development and Development Manager to craft and manage annual stewardship plans for our donors to the general fund, fundraising events (Gala and Golf Classic), and capital campaign. The Coordinator will be responsible for gathering impact data for grant reporting, entering and maintaining donor gift and contact information in CRM, ensuring donors are thanked appropriately and promptly, drafting donor stewardship newsletters, and exploring new and creative ways to thank supporters.

The ideal candidate will be a collaborator, detailed-oriented, eager to build sustainable internal processes, and motivated to share appreciation for and advance connections with Project Sunshine supporters. Project Sunshine is looking for the right person who is ready to start their career in major gift fundraising, interested in a professional growth opportunity, and can help build Project Sunshine’s development program at an exciting time for the organization.

Principle Responsibilities:
  • ONGOING STEWARDSHIP (60%)

    • Maintains donor records and updates donor records when needed, ensuring we have current contact information available and communicate with donors in the best way possible
    • Work with Director of Development to create an Annual Donor Stewardship Plan for major donors, including donor communications, stewardship events, etc.
    • Develop novel content for donor newsletters, cultivation outreach, and appeals (email and mail) in accordance with Marketing efforts
    • Support events, including invitations and follow-up for 1-2 annual stewardship gatherings
    • Assists in organizing a thank-a-thon with staff when Project Sunshine receives an influx of gifts
    • Manages volunteering and donations for our family service program

     

  • PROCESSING & STEWARDING GIFTS (20%)

    • Enters donations in CRM through consistent, approved process
    • Establish and oversee process to review new gifts and assign lead for appropriate and personal follow-up
    • Ensures donors are thanked within promptly after making a gift by crafting and sending compelling thank you messages and making personal thank you calls when appropriate

     

  • IMPACT REPORTING (10%)

    • Collects program impact data from CRM and/or colleagues for grant reporting and general stewardship of top individual and foundation donors
    • Collaborates with marketing team to create compelling templates, visuals, and testimonials for donor stewardship reports, including Project Sunshine’s Annual Report

     

  • GENERAL TEAM SUPPORT (10%)

    • Provides special help to Director of Development and Development Manager in weeks leading up to and following annual Gala and Golf Classic
    • Assist with the creation and segmentation of donors lists and reports, as needed
    • Support the team with special projects and Campaign, as needed

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree and 1 - 2 years of experience, preferably in a nonprofit setting
  • Experience with Salesforce or other fundraising databases
  • Strong verbal, written, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills
  • Detail‐oriented, highly organized, and flexible
  • Ability to work individually and collaboratively to meet goals
  • Experience with Microsoft Office including fluency with Word, Excel, and Outlook required
  • Expertise with web-based tools and searches
  • Enthusiasm for Project Sunshine’s mission

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to Annie Sullivan McCallum, Director of Development, at hr2@projectsunshine.org.

Project Sunshine values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBT
individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

Project Sunshine is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal law. In compliance with federal law, all people hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required
employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Title:                 Manager of Volunteer Engagement
Type:                Full time (hybrid in NYC)
Reports to:        Program Director
Annual Salary:   $65,000 - $75,000

Organization Summary

Project Sunshine’s mission is to deliver the healing power of play to children with medical needs through trained and dedicated volunteers. For over 20 years, Project Sunshine volunteers have brought joy and play directly to pediatric patients through our network of medical facility and nonprofit partners across the country.

Over 16,500 trained volunteers deliver programs that provide opportunities for creative expression, socialization, intellectual stimulation, and sensory integration to more than 196,000 pediatric patients and families each year. Our unique volunteer engagement model allows community groups, colleges, and corporations to create moments of connection with pediatric patients, caregivers, and families providing child and family-centered, play-based programming. Project Sunshine partners with 475 medical facilities across the U.S. and in three international locations.

In 2020, we expanded to deliver a third channel of programming called TelePlay, which provides live, interactive play and activities over video conferencing. For the first time we can now directly serve children and families, in addition to our partnerships with hospitals and nonprofits around the world.

Position Description

The Manager of Volunteer Engagement oversees the volunteer programs of Project Sunshine. They build and maintain an infrastructure to promote growth, and develop and deepen the engagement of all types of volunteers in innovative ways.

The Manager will join a passionate and energetic Project Sunshine team, at a time of significant organizational growth. They will be an enthusiastic, highly motivated, and diplomatic leader and will play an important role in expanding an organization that brings hope and support to thousands of vulnerable children and their family members. They will work as a member of a fast-paced team of 18 hybrid staff located at the organization’s headquarters in New York City.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of Programs, the Volunteer Engagement Manager will serve as a key and collaborative member of the team, playing a crucial role in the institution’s dynamic growth; and will provide leadership for our college chapters, community chapters, and oversight for two staff members.

Volunteer Management

  • Management of recruitment, retention, and recognition strategies to promote a healthy and growing volunteer corps.
  • Implement the recruitment strategy as determined by the Program Director to meet the volunteer needs of partners across the US.
  • Oversee chapter leader and volunteer engagement to ensure high retention and satisfaction rates, high-quality program delivery, and positive relationships with medical facilities.
  • Reimagine Project Sunshine’s volunteer retention plan by implementing strong and consistent recognition strategies.
  • Create and update volunteer training based on current trends in pediatrics, best practices working with children and families, and partner and volunteer feedback.
  • Collaborate with the Salesforce Administrator to steward Sunshine Central adoption and usage to ensure a high-quality volunteer experience and consistent data collection and reporting.

Staff Management

  • Manage two direct reports, Coordinator of Training and Coordinator of Recruitment.
  • Be a player/coach with a positive and accessible presence.
  • Set high standards for professionalism, work product, and collegiality and hold staff accountable for maintaining them.

 

Required Qualifications

  • At least 5 to 7 years of experience in volunteer engagement with proven staff management experience.
  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of volunteer trends and best practices and a proven track record of managing large corps of volunteers.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills and clear, engaging communication style.
  • Integrity, a positive attitude, and a self-directed and entrepreneurial work style.
  • Experience with Salesforce a plus.
  • Passion for Project Sunshine’s mission.
  • Bachelor’s degree.
  • Ability to travel domestically, and work evenings and weekends as needed.
  • Valid driver's license required.

To apply, please email your cover letter and resume to HR4@projectsunshine.org with "Your Name + Volunteer Engagement Manager " in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled.

Project Sunshine values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBT individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

Project Sunshine is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal law. In compliance with federal law, all people hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Title: Intern
Start Date: May 20, 2024
Reports to: Department Lead
Compensation: $18 per hour (25 hours per week, Monday – Thursday)

Organization Summary 

Project Sunshine is a New York City headquartered organization that brings the healing power of play to children and families who are coping with medical challenges. Over 19,000 trained volunteers deliver programs that provide opportunities for creative expression, socialization, intellectual stimulation, and sensory integration — ensuring childhood remains a place of wonder. Project Sunshine partners with over 400 medical facilities across the U.S. and in four international locations, serving more than 175,000 pediatric patients and families. 

In 2020 we expanded to deliver a third channel of program, TelePlay, which provides live, interactive play and activities over Zoom. For the first time we are able to serve children and families directly, in addition to our partnerships with hospitals around the world.  

Position Description 

We are seeking talented individuals – undergraduates, graduates, or recently graduated students - to join our summer 2024 internship program. Each Intern will have a mix of responsibilities and specific duties based on their areas of interest and the department they are assigned to. Interns’ responsibilities may evolve over the course of their internship as needed. Interns will report to a designated member of their assigned department and will also have the opportunity to collaborate with other members of the Project Sunshine staff.  

This internship is an exciting opportunity to gain exposure to a volunteer-based nonprofit organization, the development of programmatic initiatives that drive impact for children and families coping with medical challenges, and key operations involved in building an organization funded by individuals, foundations, and corporate donations. This internship will run from May 20th through August 2nd. The internship is a hybrid work schedule and we are asking our interns to be able to commute to our NYC office two days a week with the possibility of more days as needed.  Candidates are welcome to apply to more than one desired area of interest.  

We are looking for interns in the following areas: 

  • Area #1: Program Development and Pediatric Partnerships 
  • Area #2: Volunteer Engagement 
  • Area #3: Digital Media, General Marketing and Communications 
  • Area #4: Fundraising and Development 
  • Area #5: Corporate Partnerships 
  • Area #6: International Program Management and Grant Research. 

 Qualifications 

  • Strong interest in Project Sunshine’s mission of improving the lives of children with medical challenges through play
  • Organized, detail and action-oriented, 
  • Self-starter who can work independently, as well as in a team
  • Interest in learning about the nonprofit sector
  • Interest in research and literature reviews
  • Impeccable written and verbal communications skills
  • Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in all work
  • Sense of humor and a deep-rooted intellectual curiosity and openness to diverse ideas and perspectives
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment that values transparency, collaboration, and learning
  • Excellent relationship building skills internally and externally
  • Undergraduate, graduate or recently graduated college student
  • Current or former Project Sunshine College Chapter Volunteer a plus 

To apply

Please email your cover letter and resume to Louise St. Rose at lstrose@projectsunshine.org with "Your Name + Internship Area of Interest" in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled.  

Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. 

To protect the health and safety of our employees, and consistent with Project Sunshine’s mandatory vaccination policy, all new hires (except those granted reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before their start date. 

Compensation: Project Sunshine is committed to financial compensation for its' interns. For this internship position, Project Sunshine will offer an hourly rate of $18.  

Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity Employment: Project Sunshine values a diverse workplace and an inclusive culture. We employ qualified people without regard to race; color; creed; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; religion; national origin; citizenship status; disability; ancestry; marital status; civil union or domestic partnership status; pregnancy or breastfeeding; veteran or military status; arrest record; credit history; medical condition; status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking; or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal law. 

Thank you for your interest. There are currently no open positions. Check back soon!

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

DEI Commitment

Project Sunshine is committed to creating and sustaiing an inclusive organization that can better serve the needs of a diverse group of children and families.