About Wagner Foundation
Wagner Foundation’s vision is a just and robust community where everyone is valued equally and can imagine, shape, pursue, and sustain the lives they wish to lead. In pursuit of this vision, the Foundation’s mission is to confront the social and historical disparities that perpetuate injustice. We do this by accompanying organizations aligned with this goal, serving as advocates for change and convening thought leaders. Our focus on health equity and shared prosperity is balanced by a holistic approach which aims to develop and strengthen equitable systems throughout the world. Included in our vision is a belief that art, culture, and creativity are vital to personal well-being and a vibrant society. In its efforts, the Foundation welcomes creative solutions bringing communities together. It is committed to encouraging visionary individuals, as well as arts organizations that expand cultural access. The willingness to explore, ask questions, and support one another makes new solutions possible, transforming culture in the process.
We work diligently to understand challenges, work within systems, and balance immediate and long-term needs. This work is built on our organizational values of accompaniment, striving for equality, building trust, conscious listening, creative change, and leading together.
Please visit www.wfound.org to learn more about our work, methodology, and values.
Purpose of the Program
Wagner Foundation’s internship program offers a unique immersion in the philanthropic and non-profit sector. Individuals involved in or interested in confronting issues of social justice will participate in the day-to-day operations of Wagner Foundation and our accompaniment approach to grantmaking, which is rooted in building trusting, nonprescriptive relationships and establishing shared goals and mutual accountability with grantee partners. Interns will also become familiar with our Do, Learn, Share methodology. We approach our work through a systems change lens and seek to balance immediate action with long-term commitments to address the root causes of historical problems, transforming culture in the process. Interns will be an integral part of our small team, working within a complex and fast-paced environment.
Project Summary
One way we believe we can have impact as a funder is by changing the way money moves across the private, philanthropic, and public sectors and serving as credible thought leaders on where the greatest impact for long-term change will be. Wagner Foundation provides funding within our focus areas of Health Equity, Economic Prosperity and Cultural Transformation across North America, Africa, Latin America, and Haiti. Within these focus areas, we have defined key strategies for grantmaking and opportunities where we believe we can have impact.
Building on these strategies, interns will support the compilation of field research, quantitative and qualitative grantee-provided data, landscape analyses of aligned funders, and help develop an ongoing process for maintaining this information in the future. Additionally, they will help the Foundation understand how current events and policy windows align with these strategies in order to elevate advocacy opportunities. Each intern will be responsible for researching and aggregating this information within their identified sector of expertise and will work collectively with the other interns to produce a cohesive document with the requested information across funding streams.
This research will be a tool for program staff to leverage as a guide for grantmaking decisions and how they communicate Wagner Foundation’s work externally. Additionally, it will serve as a resource for the Foundation’s communications department to connect our grantmaking goals with the supporting data and develop a strategic communications plan to further our advocacy agenda.
Project Focus:
Wagner Foundation is hiring for three interns with sector-specific experience in one or more of the following areas:
1. Arts & Culture
An understanding of or strong interest in art and health, public art and public
memory, and contemporary visual art organizations
Familiar or strong interest in research methodology commonly used in social
impact and arts philanthropy
Projects may include tasks and writing associated with Wagner Arts Gallery,
so some familiarity with working in exhibition contexts preferred but not required
US
An understanding of or strong interest in US health systems, and strategies to
address health inequities, health disparities and structural and social
determinants of health
Knowledge or interest in maternal health equity strategies, and workforce
development a plus
Familiar with research methodology commonly used in population health and
public health related research
Global Health Financing
An understanding of global health systems, particularly in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Familiar with global health funding models and particularly the way in which Ministries of Health work with external stakeholders including NGOs, bilateral, and multilateral organizations
Familiar with research methodology commonly used in global health and public health related research
Candidate Profile
You will be a strong candidate for a Wagner Foundation internship if you possess many, though likely not all, of the following attributes and competencies:
Passion and Commitment
A passion for Wagner Foundation’s mission and a commitment to advancing its goals and embracing its accompaniment approach to grantmaking
Commitment to the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and inclusiveness
Knowledge of and commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the
desire to confront societal disparities
Experience and Education
Must be pursuing a graduate degree, or have recently completed a graduate degree (e.g. MBA, MPA, MPP, MPH, MSW, MFA, or MEd)
Prior internship, fellowship, or related work experience in the areas of public health, global health, international relations, philanthropy, public policy, cultural policy, art history, and/or arts administration
Experience and understanding of basic research methodology
Skills and Abilities
Excellent research and writing skills
An ability to understand and translate dense and/or complex topics into engaging and
compelling reports and presentations, especially in our programmatic areas of Health
Equity, Economic Prosperity, and Cultural Transformation
Demonstrated capacity to take initiative and operate effectively at a strategic as well as
a tactical level
Strong project management skills including prioritizing tasks, executing deliverables,
and meeting multiple, concurrent deadlines
Flexibility and intellectual curiosity to engage with a range of material, including annual reports, white papers, academic and theoretical articles, and organizational media
Culture and Environment Fit
Collaborative spirit and ability to adapt in a dynamic environment
Demonstrated ability to be a productive and collaborative team member who thrives on
sharing ideas and receiving feedback in a dynamic environment
Interest, comfort, and strength working in a small, dynamic organization with a start-up
orientation
Commitment
Internship commitment is for 40 hours/week for 10 weeks beginning in mid-June and finishing in mid-August (exact start and end date to be determined)
Interns are expected to be in-person at Wagner Foundation’s Cambridge, MA office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with remote work Monday and Friday
Interns will be paid $10,000-$12,000 ($25.00-$30.00 hourly) for the summer commensurate with experience minus withholdings required by law or authorized by the individual
Please note that, as a temporary employee, Interns will not (except as otherwise required by law) receive any of the employee benefits to which employees are entitled, including, but not limited to, the 401(k) plan, medical insurance, dental insurance, long-term or short-term disability, and life insurance
Interns must have existing authorization to work in the United States
Application and Selection Process
Application Submission: Interested candidates are invited to submit a resume, cover letter indicating their preferred focus area, and work sample to [email protected] with the subject line “2024 Summer Internship”.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a deadline of March 15th.
Screening calls and first round interviews will be conducted on zoom the week of March
25th.
Final interviews will be conducted in person (if candidates are local) or via zoom April 2nd-5th.
Decisions will be made by April 12th.
We believe this approach allows candidates to showcase their abilities and potential beyond what is captured in a traditional resume and cover letter, and we are committed to a fair and inclusive selection process.
We appreciate the time and effort all applicants put into their applications.
Diversity and Inclusion
Wagner Foundation is committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment where diversity thrives. We believe that everyone has a unique story to tell, and these stories enrich our understanding of the world.
We seek candidates who bring diverse experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from individuals who are underrepresented in the field, including but not limited to individuals from underrepresented ethnic or racial groups, LGBTQ+ individuals, individuals with disabilities, and those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.
We recognize that diversity and inclusivity make us stronger and help us better confront the societal disparities we seek to rectify. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is a core component of our mission and our work.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
All current Wagner Foundation employees are required to be vaccinated (including boosters) for COVID-19, and we will require any new employees to be fully vaccinated by date of hire as well, absent a medical or religious accommodation as approved by the Deputy Director.
For more information about Wagner Foundation, please visit www.wfound.org.