People & Culture Intern - Summer 2027

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: People and Culture Intern - Summer 2027

Reports to: Talent Acquisition Associate

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 The People and Culture Team

The People & Culture (P&C) team is an operational support function responsible for advancing the Foundation’s strategic efforts to design, implement, and manage innovative human resources practices and initiatives that attract, develop, engage, support, and retain an energized, high-performing, and diverse staff within a culture of continuous learning and improvement. We are committed to collectively cultivating and enriching a culture grounded in trust, relationships, and authenticity, where every person at the Foundation is cared for, can thrive, and own their impact. 

The People and Culture Intern will gain broad exposure to the People & Culture function and provide project and operational support across Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Benefits & Compensation, HRIS, P&C Communications, and Special Initiatives.

About the Internship

Responsibilities may include:

• Helping review applications and participate in virtual and in-person interviews
• Partnering with the Department Administrator to set up welcome kits and greet new hires on their first day.
• Partnering with Senior Associate to the Managing Director on setting team meeting agendas, team lunches, and international office quarterly check-in's.
• Supporting in the data integrity and maintenance of applicant records in our ATS/HRIS (Workday).
• Conducting research on developing a needs assessment and a process for launching a people analytics strategy to align with P&C initiatives and Foundation goals.
• Editing pre-recorded Spotlight Series videos and publish on MacArthur’s intranet site.
• Supporting maintenance of the Employee Resources, L&D, and Benefits listings and pages on the MacArthur intranet (the Hub).
• Supporting the handbook review process and updates as needed across all 3 foundation offices.
• Being a thought partner with special projects around staff engagement and wellness
• Engaging in creative special projects using different technology platforms.
• Other projects and duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate program of study
• Demonstrated interest in all areas of Human Resources
• Proficiency with Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel required; experience in HRIS tools such as Workday a plus.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Outstanding organizational abilities and attention to detail are essential.
• Ability to work in a quick and collaborative environment and ability to manage multiple projects.
• Research skills, event planning, and digital marketing experience are 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.

About Us

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur 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.