Senators Community Foundation Intern (Winter 2027)

The Opportunity

The Ottawa Senators are seeking energetic, detail-oriented interns to join the organization as a Senators Community Foundation Intern. This internship provides an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience with an NHL franchise and become fully engaged in the business of a major league sports team. 

The intern will provide hands-on support across Foundation events, donor relations, charitable giving administration, CRM data management and community research. This role offers an opportunity to gain practical experience in philanthropy and non-profit operations while contributing to initiatives that support children, youth and families throughout the Ottawa-Gatineau region. The successful candidate will be highly organized, detail-oriented and proactive, with strong communication skills and an interest in community impact. The role is well suited to a student looking to develop experience in event coordination, donor stewardship, fundraising, research and project management within a dynamic professional sports environment.

Terms Available: Full time placements available for Winter 2027 (January - April 2027)

Number of vacancies: 1

Key Responsibilities

Event & Community Engagement:

• Support the planning, coordination and execution of the Senators Community Foundation’s signature gala, including event logistics, guest experience, décor, auction preparation and on-site support.
• Assist with post-event activities, including silent auction fulfillment, item distribution, donor follow-ups and event reporting.
• Provide support for other Foundation events and initiatives as required, including corporate social responsibility nights, Telethon, and select Senators game-night activations.
• Assist with additional community engagement and fundraising projects as needed.

Donor Relations & CRM Support:

• Provide administrative support for the Foundation’s new donor program, including data organization and related donor stewardship activities.
• Assist with CRM data entry and maintenance, ensuring information is accurate, complete and up to date.
• Support the Foundation team with donor-related administrative tasks and projects as required.
• Assist with other donor stewardship initiatives and communications throughout the internship.

Charitable Giving & Foundation Operations:

• Assist with contacting 50/50 early bird prize winners and coordinating prize pick-ups or shipping.
• Support graphic requests and coordinate the ordering of promotional materials for the 50/50 program.
• Coordinate silent auction winner communications, prize pick-ups and shipping logistics.
• Assist with sourcing new silent auction items and liaising with other NHL teams to arrange item trades and shipping.
• Support Gift-in-Kind (GIK) administration and inventory management by coordinating item pick-ups, communicating with recipient organizations, scheduling logistics, and maintaining accurate inventory records as items are received, distributed or removed.
• Assist with managing the OSCF inbox, responding to or directing inquiries as appropriate, and providing general administrative support across Foundation operations.

Special Projects:

• Support short-term research and project-based initiatives that align with the Foundation’s priorities and strategic objectives.
• Assist with gathering, organizing and summarizing information to support Foundation programs, partnerships and funding opportunities.
• Conduct research on community organizations, programs and initiatives as required.
• Prepare research findings, summaries and other materials for internal use.
• Support ad hoc projects across donor relations, events, charitable giving and Foundation operations as priorities arise.

Qualifications (what we look for)

• Enrollment: Must be currently enrolled in a University or College program that requires an internship for credit.
• Skills: Strong communication, writing, and organizational abilities with exceptional attention to detail.
• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adhere to deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and an ability to work with data.
• Experience: Previous experience in customer service or nonprofit work is beneficial.
• Flexibility: Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and game nights as required.
• Language Skills: Bilingualism (English and French) is an asset.

Who We Are 

The Ottawa Senators Hockey Club is a professional sports organization competing in the National Hockey League (NHL) and representing Canada’s capital city. The Club delivers world-class sport and live entertainment experiences to the Ottawa-Gatineau region while operating in a fast-paced, collaborative environment across hockey operations, business operations, and event delivery, with a shared commitment to excellence, integrity, and community impact.

What We Offer

This internship offers an annual salary of $38,500, pro-rated for the duration of the term, along with hands-on, real-world experience in the sports industry. Interns receive two weeks of vacation accrued monthly and pro-rated to the length of the internship, as well as paid sick leave. Additional benefits include complimentary parking at the Canadian Tire Centre, access to tickets for select events, a free corporate GoodLife Fitness membership, and an employee discount at the Sens Store. The organization also has an active social committee that hosts multiple events throughout the year, and interns are welcome to attend these social engagements, along with opportunities to volunteer at signature events with the Senators Community Foundation.

We would like to thank all applicants for applying; however, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Applications received will be maintained on file for a period of 6 months and may be referenced for future staffing requirements.

Senators Sports & Entertainment (SSE) supports the goals of Ontario Regulation 191/11 - Integrated Accessibility Standards and is pleased to accommodate applicants who have a disability during the recruitment process. Please inform the Human Resources Department at 613-599-0250 if you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process.

SSE is committed to building an inclusive process that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities.

SSE confirms that it does not use artificial intelligence (AI) or automated decision-making tools in its recruitment or hiring processes. All candidate screening, evaluation, and selection decisions are conducted by human recruiters or hiring managers using predefined, job-related criteria, ensuring a fair, transparent, and human-led hiring process in compliance with applicable employment and privacy laws.

To all recruitment agencies: SSE does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies. Any resumes submitted without a prior agreement or request from our hiring team will not be considered. SSE is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.