Summer Intern - Policy Solutions Department

Reinvestment Fund is a mission-driven financial institution committed to making communities work for all people. As a federally certified community development financial institution (CDFI), we bring financial and analytical tools to partnerships that work to ensure that everyone has access to essential opportunities: affordable places to live, access to nutritious food and health care, schools where their children can flourish, and strong, local businesses that support jobs. We use data to understand markets, communities, and impediments to opportunity—and how investment and policy decisions can have the most powerful impact. We are part of coalitions that work to shift how entire sectors work to dismantle systems that perpetuate social and economic inequality.

Since our founding, we have put more than $2.4 billion to work for good — investing in projects that are both targeted and transformative. We have worked with scores of policymakers in cities, states, and federal agencies and helped millions of people nationwide access critical services and amenities. By tailoring financing solutions, fostering local partnerships, building coalitions, and informing strategies for tackling systemic injustices, we are charting paths and forging collaborations that catalyze positive, lasting impact.

Reinvestment Fund is committed to be an employer of choice for students looking to work in a community development financial institution with industry leaders.  We have worked hard to be recognized nationally for our combination of expert knowledge, innovative strategies and proven results.  Reinvestment Fund’s business environment provides students with ample opportunity for personal growth and success.

About the position
Reinvestment Fund is currently hiring an intern within our Policy Solutions Department. Our Policy team has developed and refined highly-customizable analyses to further public policy around issues central to the communities we serve. Our analyses are based on proven methodologies and are unique in their use of spatial and statistical analyses to understand places and inform effective program design and implementation.

This temporary position provides an opportunity for a detail-orientated, self-directed student to learn from some of the best talent in the community development field while contributing to the organizations strong social mission.  Duties include:

• Assisting with data gathering and processing and other research tasks for a variety of Policy Solutions projects related to equitable development, fair housing, access to childcare, and other topics.
• Using GIS software to plot data, prepare maps and reports demonstrating program utilization and the relationship of thematic data sets and how they related to each other.
• Preparing and summarizing research findings in memo formats and presenting findings as part of working team sessions.
• Other research and related tasks necessary for completion of analysis.
• There may be an opportunity to continue as an intern during the school year.

When Reinvestment Fund’s Philadelphia office is closed for social distancing, the individual will work remotely and be expected to work independently and collaboratively with staff and program participants.

Education, Experience, and Skills
To perform this job successfully, responsible students must:

• Be enrolled in graduate level studies is preferred, but undergraduates will be considered, majoring in Urban Studies, Public Policy, Sociology.
• Able to demonstrate previous research experience.
• Skills in any of the following are a plus: Arc GIS, SQL, R.
• Have the ability to take initiative, as well as work independently when needed.
• Demonstrate a high degree of independent decision making and communication skills. The decisions of students in these positions could directly affect the operation and success of the project or program.
• Proficient research and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with MS Office Suite.
• Students should be able to commit to a minimum of 20 hours per week.