Mellon Foundation
The Monuments Project Intern
The Mellon Foundation (“Foundation”) believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and we believe that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom to be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. The Foundation makes grants in four core program areas - Higher Learning, Arts and Culture, Public Knowledge, and Humanities in Place - and through its signature Presidential Initiatives. The Foundation seeks an Intern for our Monuments project team.
The Monuments Project Overview:
The Monuments Project supports efforts to recalibrate the assumed center of our national narratives to include those who have often been denied historical recognition. We resource a broad set of practices of remembrance that transform the nation’s commemorative landscape and memorialize the compelling stories of those outside of conventional power so that our collective histories are more completely and accurately represented, catalyzing the healing, knowledge, and imagination that strengthens our interconnected communities.
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Program Associate and working with the full team, the Program Intern will support the Monuments Project initiative within the office of the president. The Intern will provide a wide range of administrative, organizational, and research support. This internship is ideal for a student seeking an opportunity to gain exposure to and experience with transforming the way our country’s histories are told in public spaces and ensuring that future generations inherit a commemorative landscape that venerates and reflects the vast, rich complexity of the American story. The Intern will also have the opportunity to learn about foundation operations generally and within a cohort of interns across a variety of the Foundation’s departments. This is a full-time, 10-week position with a start date in June 2025.
Position Description:
The Intern will pursue an independent project related to forthcoming geographic and/or thematic priorities for the Monuments Project initiative, to be determined in alignment with the Intern’s interests and professional goals. Additional responsibilities may include and are not limited to the following:
- Work independently and with the team to compile data and conduct research in connection with program grantmaking and initiatives
- Review and research grant inquiries for discussion with the team
- Assist with the preparation of briefing materials, reports, and presentations, as assigned
- Assist with sourcing, drafting, and editing content, including memos, talking points, and email
- Assist with general office and grant-related work, such as electronic filing, preparing correspondence, responding to requests for information, scheduling, etc.
- Reconcile/organize archival documents in the data storage system
- Assist the Humanities in Place team with grant reports
Required Skills and Experience
- Strong interest in history, the arts and humanities, commemoration and public memory, and social justice in a nonprofit setting
- Proven ability to take direction but also to work with minimal direct supervision and manage multiple projects while being a committed team player
- Some nonprofit experience preferred, with demonstrated ability to anticipate next steps, take initiative, exercise discretion, and apply sound judgment
- Willingness to learn from mistakes, and to approach the work with curiosity and integrity
- Must be flexible, nimble, highly organized, and have a proven ability to juggle multiple and competing tasks and demands with impeccable follow-up and attention to detail
- Excellent oral and written communication skills; excellent analytical, critical thinking, and organizational skills with precise attention to detail
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint helpful
- Familiarity with various web-based platforms and/or the ability to learn new applications quickly
- Ability to be highly productive working independently and as a member of a team
Mellon Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Mellon offers a generous total reward package that includes base salary and a comprehensive benefits program, as well as an excellent working environment. Mellon is committed to providing compensation that is competitive and equitable within the philanthropic sector. The estimated salary range for this role is $27.00 - $30.00 per hour. The amount of pay offered will be determined by several factors, including but not limited to qualifications, unique skills, credentials, or experience that is expected to impact the candidate’s contribution to the role. We will also consider market data as well as the Foundation’s internal pay equity framework.
The Mellon Foundation is committed to access and inclusion for our applicants. If you have accessibility requests to support your participation in the hiring process, please let us know at your earliest convenience.
Please note that Mellon maintains a hybrid work schedule, with three days per week in person at the Foundation’s Manhattan offices.
Candidates should apply by submitting a cover letter describing fit for the position and a resume by March 10th. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.
The Foundation will consider each complete application carefully but only contact those individuals it believes are most qualified for the position.