New Work Exploration Intern

Job Description

NOTE: To ensure a fair and equitable recruitment process, our Foundation Staff and Board do not host preliminary conversations with applicants outside of our standard interview process.

Position: New Work Exploration Intern - Summer 2027

Reports to: Research & Analytics Project Manager, New Work Exploration

Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid)

Duration: June 8 - August 11, 2027

Compensation: Paid Internship (Hourly rates will start at $22.00/hour)

About the Foundation

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation’s largest independent foundations. The Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur invests in solving some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., revitalizing local news, expanding who creates, uses, and benefits from artificial intelligence, and strengthening the well-being of Native communities. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program and the global 100&Change competition, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsive democracy as well as the vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago. The Foundation also maintains offices in Nigeria and India.

About New Work Exploration

The New Work team was established in 2022 to identify new ways the Foundation can address important social challenges as some of its major programs conclude. The team explores promising ideas by working with colleagues, outside experts, researchers, and people affected by these issues to develop proposals for the Foundation’s Board to consider. Throughout its work, the team is mindful about whose perspectives are included and how the Foundation’s contributions and strengths might expand opportunities and address inequities. The efforts of this team have supported the launch of programs focused on Local News, Native Self-Determination, AI Opportunity, and Peace.

About the Internship

The New Work intern will help the team explore how philanthropy can support young people’s well-being, voice, and agency. Working closely with the Research Project Manager and other colleagues, the intern will gain hands-on experience translating research and stakeholder perspectives into program strategy, planning, and internal communications and knowledge sharing. A mentored learning experience that advances department goals, assignments will evolve with the team’s priorities and the intern’s interests, with regular guidance and feedback.

Responsibilities may include:

• Conducting and synthesizing research on relevant issues, organizations, philanthropic approaches, and the Foundation's current internal practices and archives to produce briefs that inform strategy and planning.
• Researching approaches to meaningful youth participation and support stakeholder engagement through outreach messages, meeting preparation, and participation in conversations, convenings, or site visits, as opportunities arise.
• Analyzing potential and current grant recipients’ efforts to engage and /or support positive outcomes for youth towards their mission and goals.
• Developing and presenting a final project, selected with the team, that reflects the intern’s interests, synthesizes their learning, and contributes to the department’s work; possible formats include a research brief, practical toolkit, stakeholder landscape, or another agreed-upon resource.

• Participating in team meetings, staff learning opportunities, and regular mentorship and feedback sessions, and contribute to related short-term research, planning, or program activities as needs arise.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate or graduate students in public policy, social sciences, nonprofit management, public health, science, and/or humanities.
• Experience and interest in approaches to youth engagement, building voice and agency, and/or supporting mental health and well-being.
• Strong research and writing skills.
• Internet and social media fluency.
• Flexibility to manage multiple assignments.
• Some prior interaction with nonprofit organizations desired; experience with efforts that support young people (ages 13-25) to learn while developing and practicing skills in fields such as civic engagement, organizing, justice, climate, journalism, and/or arts and culture, a plus.

This internship is based in Chicago, Illinois. Our work environment is hybrid with designated in-office days and virtual days. Interns will be required to reside in the Chicagoland area for the duration of the program. Housing assistance for non-local students may be available and will be discussed during the interview process.

Application Process:

The application deadline is MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2026 AT 11:59 PM CST. Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume. As a requirement, students “must be returning back to school” to be eligible. Students meeting the minimum requirements should apply through the MacArthur Foundation website (www.macfound.org/jobs).

NOTE: To ensure a fair and equitable recruitment process, our Foundation Staff and Board do not host preliminary conversations with applicants outside of our standard interview process.

Work Environment and Reasonable Accommodations

The work environment is an office setting.  Requests for reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable a person with disabilities to perform the job.  Reasonable accommodations are also available during the interview process.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.