Special Initiatives/Program InternAt — Weingart Foundation

About the Foundation: The Weingart Foundation seeks to achieve inclusion and opportunity for all Southern Californians, especially for those who have historically been excluded due to their race, income level, gender, religion, immigration status, disability, age, sexual orientation, or zip code. To achieve this goal, the Foundation’s grantmaking program and other support are designed to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of nonprofit organizations, collaboratives, and coalitions working to meet essential needs, expand opportunity and eliminate structural barriers to equity by building the community power required to sustain long-term prosperity. Our vision is a dynamic and effective social change sector in Southern California that is creating equitable systems and structures needed to achieve justice.

Internship Purpose: To further the mission of the Weingart Foundation by assisting with programmatic activities, community outreach and engagement, philanthropic requests, events, and overall administration.

Duties and Responsibilities:

· Work independently and within a team on a special project or established program area.

· Act as a project manager for special projects which may include planning and coordinating presentations, developing visuals, disseminating information, and organizing events.

· Draft correspondence, which may include email, letters, memos, etc.

· Maintain an organized system of tracking, monitoring and prioritizing tasks and projects.

· Answer and/or field emails, telephone calls and communications and respond as appropriate.

· Coordinate, support, and attend special events and community convenings.

· Handle confidential and non-routine information with sensitivity.

· Prepare meeting materials.

· Assisting with research within the field and compiling reports.

· Gather resources and create informational files for grantees.

· Conduct due diligence for innovative grants or investments related to housing justice and wealth building for priority communities.

· Work with Communications team on behalf of program team.

Skills Developed Include:

a) Overall knowledge and understanding of the local philanthropic ecosystem

b) Greater awareness of philanthropic leadership and strategic planning

c) Ability to develop relationships with community leaders

d) Enhanced communication skills and abilities.

General Requirements: Weingart’s summer internship is intended for current college students who are interested in pursuing careers in the nonprofit sector or have demonstrated their concern for society by volunteering or having worked in organizing or other nonprofit pursuits.

More about the components of Weingart’s Special Opportunity Fund (SOF):

Black Justice and Healing

We believe addressing anti-Black racism is core to the Foundation’s mission to advance racial, social, and economic justice in Southern California. Similarly, we view Black leadership and Black-led organizing as key to growing a multi-racial movement for better and just systems that benefit all people. We know that the collective equity and justice we seek is only possible in deep collaboration and relationship with others. We strive to break down the power imbalance between nonprofits and funders, and the silos within the social change sector. We leverage our resources and access to amplify the power of grassroots communities and advance systems change. Increasingly, we seek to disrupt traditional philanthropic roles to develop new, bold approaches to achieving long term change. We partner with Black-led organizations and coalitions working to address the material conditions of the Black community. Key strategies include: 1) strengthening organizations building power and providing critical services in Black communities; and 2) support systemic efforts to repair damage from harmful anti-Black policies, recover from the pandemic, and advance full inclusion for Black communities.

Housing Justice

With the region grappling with an unprecedented homelessness crisis as well as some of the country’s highest housing costs, communities of color are being impacted particularly hard. We partner with organizations toward the vision where every Southern Californian has a safe and affordable home. Key strategies include 1) strengthening organizations that are building the power of BIPOC tenants and people experiencing homelessness, building community-based affordable and supportive housing, and providing critical services; and 2) advancing bold systems change efforts to address the housing and homelessness crises and dismantle the systemic and anti-Black racism at their root.

Strengthening Nonprofit Effectiveness

Nonprofit organizations play a critical role in our society, as changemakers, safety net providers, and employers. Yet too many are under-capitalized, especially those led by and working in communities of color. We believe that we can only make real progress toward justice when communities have the robust infrastructure and capacity needed to fully unleash their power. While our Unrestricted Operating Support program is our primary vehicle to advance nonprofit effectiveness, the Foundation also supports direct nonprofit capacity building support through several targeted efforts, including those focused on organizations and leaders of color. This support includes Foundation funded trainings, consulting, workshops, and other resources to help improve an organization’s ability to meet its mission.

Immigrant/Refugee Rights and Integration

Southern California has long been a confluence of diverse communities and cultures, which has driven the region’s vibrancy and economic growth. Yet immigrants and refugees have long faced exclusion and exploitation largely based on race and income level. We partner with organizations that work with these communities to protect and secure their own rights, as well as to build a region of full inclusion and belonging for all. Key strategies include: 1) strengthening organizations building power and providing critical services (including safety net, legal, and language access services) in BIPOC immigrant communities; and 2) support systemic efforts to repair damage from harmful immigration policies, recover from the pandemic, and advance full inclusion for immigrants regardless of status.

More About Weingart: www.weingartfnd.org

Training:

Initial employer orientation, programs team orientation, meet/greet with various teams, shadowing program officers on grantee site visits, meet with other philanthropic professionals, weekly mentoring/coaching sessions.

Learning Outcome:

a) Overall knowledge and understanding of the local philanthropic ecosystem

b) Greater awareness of philanthropic leadership and strategic planning

c) Ability to develop relationships with community leaders

d) Enhanced communication skills and abilities.