Job Description

Position: Communications Intern - Summer 2025

Reports to: Director, Communications

Location: Chicago, Illinois (Hybrid)*

Duration: June 10 - August 13, 2025

Compensation: Paid Internship

About the Foundation:

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation's largest independent foundations. The Foundation boldly invests in creative solutions to urgent challenges, sparking hope for our future.

We work on a few big bets that strive toward transformative change in areas of profound concern, including the existential threats of climate change and nuclear risk, the challenges of criminal justice reform and revitalizing local news in the U.S. and corruption in Nigeria.

In addition, we maintain enduring commitments in our hometown Chicago, where we invest in people, places, and partnerships to build a more inclusive Chicago and in journalism and media, where we invest in more just and inclusive news and narratives.

We also make awards to extraordinarily creative individuals through the MacArthur Fellows program and for solutions to critical problems of our time through 100&Change. For more information, please visit our website is at www.macfound.org.  

About the Department:

The Communications team collaborates with program teams and other colleagues across the Foundation to create and implement strategic communications plans that enhance the impact of MacArthur’s work and the work of grantees. The team is responsible for the Foundation's strategic efforts to communicate with the press, public, and policymakers, including media relations, web and social media efforts, printed materials, and events. The team also provides communications support and advice to MacArthur’s leadership, staff, and grantees. 

About the Internship:

The Communications Intern will support the department with a balance of short- and long-term projects.

Responsibilities may include:

• Brainstorming, researching, and creating stories to communicate MacArthur’s work, both written and multimedia;

• Supporting meetings and events for internal and external audiences;

• Researching and developing databases on vendors, media relations work, and peer best practices;

• Contributing to Staff forums on Communications strategies and approaches; and

• Other projects, as determined in consultation with the intern and depending on the team’s needs.

The internship is designed to be a substantive learning experience, so the intern will join Communications team meetings and Staff events and attend briefings by grantees and other practitioners.

The intern will contribute across MacArthur’s areas of work, rather than focus on any one social issue. This internship will be of value to candidates interested in communications, especially as a tool for social change.

Qualifications:

Successful candidates will have a demonstrated interest in communications, journalism, public relations, digital communications, and/or public affairs. Strong written and oral communication skills, outstanding organizational abilities, and attention to detail are essential. Experience with social media, photography, video editing or production is a plus.

Application Process:

The application deadl