INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY WITH LEADING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Cambridge Community Foundation is launching two interrelated projects and seeks a graduate school intern skilled in writing, project management and communication.

One project is our planning of a 5-year executive and organizational strategy. The Cambridge Community Foundation has completed a pre-strategy planning process, where we identified goals for expanding the Foundation’s philanthropic and community-centered reach. We are working across all departments (Executive, Development, Programs and Grantmaking, Communications, Finance) to renew systems and best practices to achieve our 5-year goals.

The second project is a deep dive into the history and dynamics of racial injustice and justice in Cambridge. We are undergoing an internal process to learn and engage with community members to sharpen our understanding of the racial and cultural landscape. This will build up to actions the Foundation can take and share alongside the Cambridge community to forward local racial justice initiatives.

Each project has a team of staff and board members, whom the intern will work to support. Anticipated time is 12-16 hours a week for six months. The hourly rate for this engagement is $25/hour. Responsibilities include:

• Scheduling and managing meetings with community stakeholders
• Writing notes and memos chronicling the committees’ work
• Conducting and organizing research, and synthesizing learned and relevant material
• Contributing creative ideas and as a member of the team

Please direct all inquiries and application submissions to Office Manager and Executive Assistant to the President, Atsede Assayehgen at aassayehgen@cambridgecf.org.

About the Foundation:

The Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF) is our city’s local giving platform – built, funded, and guided by Cambridge residents since 1916. We are a convener and catalyst for transformative change:

As a civic leader—We offer an independent voice, convene individuals and organizations, and commission research to help identify priorities, set shared goals, spark innovative and effective solutions, and organize collaborations to pursue them.

As a grantmaker—We fund nonprofit organizations and collaborative initiatives that work to preserve Cambridge’s strengths and address its current and future challenges. We foster the collective giving of thousands of generous donors and invest in organizations that provide social services, academic support, cultural enrichment, and economic mobility and opportunity.

As a philanthropic partner—We work with donors to help them address their charitable goals in Cambridge and beyond, and offer information, advice and opportunities for collective impact.

Our vision for Cambridge:

We believe Cambridge should remain a bright beacon of…

…shared prosperity. . . where residents invest in each other’s economic potential; where poverty is reduced; and where children are equipped to succeed in a knowledge- and technology-driven economy.

…social equity. . . where there is equal justice; where no one goes hungry; and where everyone can afford a stable home.

…cultural richness. . . where diverse communities spark ethnic, spiritual, social, and artistic exploration; where innovation thrives; and where connections are deepened across neighborhoods, sectors and among residents.

Through collective giving and investments, our visionary goals cover the following areas:

Social Equity: Urgent needs, seniors, health, hunger, housing, social services

Shared Prosperity: Education, employment, early childhood, asset and wealth creation

Cultural Richness: Civic engagement, immigrants, arts and culture

Background & Context:

In March of 2021, the Foundation will release a report on Equity & innovation cities, which highlights the impact of Cambridge’s powerful innovation economy on the city and the challenges faced by many residents. The report highlights Cambridge’s growing income inequality, housing affordability, and persistent gaps in outcomes for Black and Brown populations despite the city’s growing prosperity. In addition, issues of racial injustice and systemic racism have created an opportunity for CCF to reexamine its systems, processes, approach.

Our commitment to racial justice is not optional. Without this commitment we cannot deliver against the core mission of the Foundation. Our strategic plan, our development efforts, and future success our linked to this moral imperative. While it may feel like a new initiative, it has always been central to our work. It is essential to our identity and our role in the community.

The recent COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated these persistent racial and income inequities resulting from systemic factors. In addition, the city’s charm and quality is attracting new populations, while its high cost of living is driving out long standing populations and the middle class who can no longer afford to stay. As we engage the city in civic conversations and delve into our strategic plan for the next 3-5 years, we see a tremendous opportunity to ensure that Cambridge is well equipped to protect, bolster, and sustain the values that define this beloved city – values of equity, diversity and inclusion that make Cambridge an attractive and vibrant place.