2026 Dan Broun Internship

The MDC Rural Prosperity and Investment team seeks an advanced undergraduate or graduate-level student to serve as a Program Associate in the Dan Broun Internship program.

About MDC Rural Prosperity and Investment
The MDC Rural Prosperity and Investment team focuses on amplifying the voice, capacity, and power of rural communities in the south by strengthening and networking their efforts towards equitable systems and policy change. Grounded in the values of PEOPLE, POWER, PROGRESS, and PARTNERSHIP, we provide an array of community-based and community-led capacity-building services including facilitation, training, coaching, relationship brokering, conflict management, and resource development. MDC is a nonprofit organization based in Durham, N.C., focused on shaping a South where all people thrive. Learn more at .

About the Program Associate
The Program Associate role is designed as a structured, year-long learning experience designed to build essential competencies in rural community development and capacity-building. Through hands-on project-based work, mentorship, and intentional professional development, all Program Associates will develop transferable skills for their careers in 6 core competency areas:

1. Equitable community engagement principles
2. Rural capacity building theory, policy, and practice
3. Nonprofit organizational development
4. Facilitation and capacity-building tools
5. Communication with diverse audiences
6. Interprofessional practice

The goal of the Program Associate is to strengthen their understanding of rural community-driven, capacity-building services and develop additional skills by supporting MDC Rural Prosperity and Investment staff, community partners, and other constituents. Under the supervision of a Partnership Manager, the Program Associate will support a specific location or issue area to be determined in consultation with the chosen candidate.

Tasks may include:

1. Assisting with meeting planning, coordination, facilitation, and notetaking.
2. Community outreach and communications.
3. Drafting logic models, asset maps, project management tools, and other products.
4. Supporting policy change efforts by researching and summarizing public policy.
5. Identifying and developing projects that further the goals of a given program.
6. Attending meetings convened by partner organizations.
7. Other administrative tasks (no more than 10%).

Key Qualities and Skills

1. Experience in community outreach, research, and/or program evaluation.
2. Excellent oral and written skills to communicate with a variety of audiences. Skills in bilingual (English and Spanish) speaking, writing, etc. are highly desired, but not required.
3. A sincere curiosity about rural communities and willingness to explore issues of inclusion, power, privilege, and diversity.
4. Ability to think creatively and collaboratively, while also taking independent initiative; an exceptional commitment to personal integrity, professionalism, and excellence.
5. Skilled in detail-oriented customer service and responsive to community and staff needs.
6. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, virtual meeting applications, and internet research.

There is a strong preference for candidates in or connected to eastern or western North Carolina. This is a hybrid (virtual and in-person) internship, and candidates should be available to travel into a community once a month. 

About the Dan Broun Award
Late MDC employee Dan Broun was a highly esteemed champion for place-based strategies to improve outcomes for rural communities in the South. In his honor, Program Associates are invited to participate in an optional project that celebrates the “why” behind the work. Participants will design and present a self-directed project reflecting on their learning journey and contributions to rural communities, and one Program Associate will receive the Dan Broun Award, including an additional stipend beyond the normal pay rate.

Professional Development & Work-Life Balance
MDC is committed to sustainable work practices and investment in the long-term skill-building of employees. Program Associates will participate in intentional professional development throughout their internship, including context-specific learning in facilitation, coalition building, and equity-centered approaches, as well as broader professional coaching on subjects like workplace conflict mediation, office culture navigation, and job searching.
As part of our commitment to work-life balance, Program Associates can participate in an organization-wide summer “Focus Week” with no meetings to allow for concentrated project and self-development work, may optionally join “Summer Pause” Fridays (specific dates in July and August) when staff finish at 12pm, and enjoy a full week off in late December for “Winter Break.”

Commitment
This is a year-long internship experience to begin in May and conclude in spring of the
following year. For the summer, our expectation is up to 40 hours per week for three months. Some flexibility is possible. For the fall and spring semesters, our expectations are up to 20 hours per week. Program Associates are encouraged to attend MDC and Rural Prosperity & Investment staff meetings 2-3 times a month virtually and up to 2 quarterly in-person, as schedules permit .

Rate: $18.00/hour + limited benefits (i.e., holiday pay, travel reimbursement, conference attendance allotment).

To Apply
Please submit a cover letter addressed to MDC describing your interest in this position, a pdf version of your resume, and three references on our website via JazzHR. Questions about the application process can be emailed to [email protected] .

MDC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and equity, it is our policy to provide an equal employment opportunity to all individuals without regard to age, color, race, religion, national origin, disability, military/veteran status, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, or status in any other group, protected by federal or local law or for any other reason. We encourage applications from people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and members of underrepresented groups to effectively achieve our mission. Reasonable accommodations are available on request. For more info about MDC, go to .