American Cities Program Graduate Summer Intern

American Cities Program Graduate Summer Intern

About the Foundation 

The Kresge Foundation is one of the top 20 private philanthropic foundations in the United States and the only one focused exclusively on expanding opportunities for people with low-income in American cities. With an endowment of approximately $4 billion and a staff of over 100 employees, the foundation deploys grants and social investments across arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, and community development. The foundation’s state-of-the-art headquarters maintains an array of energy-efficient, water-conserving and health-promoting systems. The foundation also operates an office in Detroit’s Midtown district.

About the American Cities Program

The American Cities Program team’s overall mission is to expand opportunity by promoting effective and inclusive community development practice in cities across the country. The program holds a vision for the future where previously under-resourced places are resilient; offer a high quality of life; provide easy-to-access pathways to wealth and economic mobility; celebrate unique cultures; and reflect the power, priorities, and preferences of their residents. The team’s work is informed by the Foundation’s long-standing efforts in cities, its Place-Based work in Detroit, the approaches of Kresge’s discipline-based programs, and the insights of community partners.

The team has three grantmaking areas:

• Catalyze more equitable community and economic development in cities through long-term commitments to focus communities (Memphis, New Orleans, and Fresno) and strategic investments in other places;
• Support multi-city initiatives accelerating equitable community and economic development; and 
• Engage the national community and economic development ecosystem to be more responsive to needs and priorities of communities.

Within cities, the Program seeks to:

• Take a Place-Based approach, endeavoring to deeply understand local context, form candid relationships with local leaders and partners, and build on existing initiatives and momentum.
• Execute aligned, cross-disciplinary mutually reinforcing strategies at the neighborhood, city, county/region, state, and national levels.
• Promote long-term change including shifts in community power structures, ways of working, and the centering of racial equity and inclusion.
• Invest in cross-sector planning and collaboration, community development organizations’ capacity, affordable housing and commercial corridor development, public spaces, placemaking, community organizing, and advocacy.
• Provide national technical assistance resources, including the research and thought leadership of Kresge’s national grantees, connections to national funders, and connections to peers in other cities.

About the Position

The American Cities Program is seeking a dynamic Summer Intern to advance its Place-Based and national strategies by conducting analysis and research, developing strategy, and contributing to program implementation. The Intern will also have an opportunity to interface with Kresge grantees and/or related organizations focused on promoting equity and opportunity in American cities. The internship duration will run from June 9 – August 21, 2026.

Previous interns have played a critical role in articulating the program’s overarching strategy and have been involved in the planning, management, and execution of the program’s key initiatives. Examples of their engagements include:

• Analyzed and provided recommendations to inform the program’s support of organizations working at the nexus of climate change and community development. 
• Researched and analyzed participatory grantmaking best practices to inform the team’s approach to centering community voice in its investments; 
• Researched and provided recommendations to inform the program’s small business strategy in New Orleans, Memphis, and Fresno; and
• Developed a framework to determine the program’s next investment geography.

Primary Responsibilities Include: 

• Strategy: Lead a special project to advance knowledge exchange among cities and urban development practitioners. The project will align with team priorities and the candidate’s subject matter interests.
• Research & Learning: Conduct research to guide evaluation of the Foundation’s work in Kresge focus cities.
• Program Implementation: Perform qualitative research on the program’s historical investments and refine how the program shares this narrative with the field and grantseekers.
• Grantmaking Support: Assess the impact of selected investments and support program officers with national and local grantmaking, which may include inquiry calls and/or a proposal review.

Qualifications

• Current graduate student majoring in one of the following or a related field: Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, Business, General or Nonprofit Management, Urban Planning and Design
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 preferred
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience with spreadsheets, data management tools, PowerPoint Presentations, etc. 
• Passion for equity and justice. 

What we offer our Interns

• A pay rate of $30/hour for Graduate students
• Housing stipend of $350 per month
• Volunteer opportunity or group activity.
• Breakfast, lunch, and snacks daily for a minimal charge from our Troy cafeteria       

This position is located at the Detroit, MI office and has a hybrid schedule. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are in-office days. Therefore, the Foundation highly encourages applications from local metro-Detroit university students and students who will be local to the metro-Detroit area over the summer.                      

The application deadline for this position is Midnight EST on January 4, 2026. Please attach a cover letter for consideration for this position. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Kresge is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

 The Kresge Foundation participates in E-Verify to confirm authorization to work in the United States. For more information on E-Verify and to know your rights please click here.