Intern, WES Fund (Remote)

Title: WES Mariam Assefa Fund Intern (Remote, U.S.)

Department: WES Mariam Assefa Fund

Duration: June – December 2025

Weekly hours: Maximum 20 hours per week

Rate of Pay: $20 per hour

Application deadline: Reviewing applications on a rolling basis

Description:

Launched in 2019, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund (the Fund) is a philanthropic initiative aimed at catalyzing economic and social inclusion, opportunities, and mobility for immigrants and refugees in the U.S. and Canada. Through grantmaking, impact investing, partnerships, and field-building, the Fund supports efforts to build inclusive economies and ensure all immigrants and refugees can achieve their aspirations. Since inception, the Fund has supported 143 organizations with $37 million in grants and investments. Read more about our work here: https://www.wes.org/social-impact/wes-mariam-assefa-fund/

The Mariam Assefa Fund Intern will have a mix of research, analysis, and project coordination responsibilities, which may evolve over the course of the internship as the Fund’s activities and operations continue to expand. They will report to the Senior Program Manager and will also support the Director of Strategy and Programs and have exposure to other members of the WES team in the US and Canada. This role will provide an exciting opportunity to gain exposure to multiple areas of program strategy and operations. The internship will be from June - December 2025. The position will be based remotely, with strong preference for candidates located in the Pacific time zone.

Duties included but not limited to:

 1) Research and Ideas Sourcing

• Conduct literature reviews on key research topics related to the Fund’s strategy and grantmaking approaches, such as employer practices for recruiting and retaining immigrant and refugee workers, worker organizing and collective ownership, immigrant and refugee leadership, best practices in diversity, equity, and inclusion, participatory grant-making and trust-based philanthropy, and more, and researching common trends or themes regionally and nationally.
• Coordinate, compile, and disseminate the WES Fund Weekly Review email update, sourcing relevant news and articles, events and partner updates to share with key stakeholders in the WES Fund network.

2) Project Coordination and Other Ad-hoc Support

• Support planning and preparations for key virtual internal and external events, including presentations and meetings with WES staff.
• Help to conceptualize, design, and implement discussions around new and current initiatives and other key meetings with external partners, by generating reference materials, copy-editing content, and summarizing learnings and next steps.
• Support the development of program and grants-related reports, memos, and presentations.
• Develop story ideas, interview questions, and draft copy for blogs or social media and talking points that can be utilized by WES’s Strategic Communications team.
• Provide administrative support to the Director and Senior Program Manager as needed.

The Ideal Candidate will:

• Have a commitment to supporting immigrants and refugees and excitement about exploring alternatives to traditional philanthropy that recognize and shift power to our partners and communities, such as trust-based philanthropy.
• Bring lived experience from immigrant and refugee communities and communities of color, as well the issues that the Fund focuses on.
• Have a deep-rooted intellectual curiosity, an openness to diverse ideas and perspectives, and a continued interest in learning and professional development.
• Bring a “can-do” attitude, have a willingness to stretch up and down in their role, take on additional responsibilities, and quickly establish credibility in new areas of work.
• Build collaborative working relationships with colleagues and external partners, mobilizing people at all levels towards collective goals.
• Bring an entrepreneurial mindset to generate new approaches, spot innovative opportunities, take calculated risks, and initiate action.
• Thrive in an environment that values transparency, collaboration, and an orientation for results.

Requirements:

• Current candidate and/or recent graduate from a public policy, international relations, economics, business, and/or another relevant graduate program.
• At least 2-3 years of professional experience focusing on workforce development, immigration, refugee resettlement, economic development, and/or social sector consulting.
• Awareness of, or interest in, the philanthropic sector.
• Ability to research, synthesize and integrate disparate pieces of data, analysis, and information.
• Demonstrated analytical skills to assess situations, break down complex problems, identify strategic tradeoffs, and apply learnings in a larger context.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to convey complex information appropriately to stakeholders with different backgrounds and needs.
• Fluency in English required; ability to speak additional global language preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, especially Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

How to Apply:

Please note that we require a cover letter along with your resume. Please submit these application materials (cover letter and resume) through our online portal.

Values: 

• Opportunity - We open doors so people can build better futures.
• Inclusion - We become stronger, more creative, and more resilient when we embrace diversity.
• Equity - We uphold fairness and justice in our work and actions.
• Enterprising - We are resourceful, inventive, and driven.
• Expertise - We challenge ourselves to be the best at what we do.

Inclusive Recruitment Process:

We welcome all applicants, irrespective of their experience perfectly fitting the job description, as we value diverse and innovative viewpoints. At our organization, individuals who thrive in a culture of continuous learning and inclusive teamwork excel. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported and welcome members of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply.

Our Commitment:

At World Education Services, we're committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the rich tapestry of our communities, both in the US and Canada. This commitment is underscored by our unwavering dedication to providing equal opportunities to all qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or genetics. This commitment extends to every aspect of employment, from recruitment and hiring to promotions, training, and benefits. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. For us, diversity goes beyond compliance – it's about embracing unique perspectives and cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential.

If you encounter challenges accessing or using our career site due to a disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by contacting us via email at hiring@wes.org. Our Talent Acquisition team is dedicated to supporting qualified candidates by providing solutions that can meet their needs. 

Please be advised that this email address is intended to receive and respond to inquiries concerning the accessibility of the online application system, and requests for assistance and accommodation during any part of the recruitment process. Résumés or applications sent to this email address will not be reviewed.

For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org.