This paper discusses an internship experience at the Audubon Institute, a not-for-profit organization located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Audubon Institute oversees the management of several facilities dedicated to the cultivation and awareness of nature. The primary focus of the internship was development and fund raising. As intern the author was given the responsibility for several special projects, the purpose of which was to assist the Vice-president for Development with improving the operations of the department. In addition, the intern assisted with the ongoing activities of the department, including grant writing and special events planning. Special projects included a feasibility study for developing a new membership category for an out-of-state market, obtaining bids on an electronic screening service for the department's database, and financial studies of 2 major fund raising events. In addition, recommendations were made regarding the improvement of Development's donor research process. The primary impact of the intern's time upon the Audubon Institute was to provide a resource for analyzing Development Department plans and events in order to assist in future decision making. The results of all research and analyses are included in the Appendix.