Acumen is looking for an Institutional Partnerships Summer Associate (10 - 12-week paid internship) with strong research and analytic skills to support the work of our Development & Partnerships team based in New York. Acumen currently works in a hybrid model and people are in the office Tuesday - Thursday.
Acumen
We are investors. A different kind of investor. We invest in people and companies working to solve problems for people living in poverty… essential products and services that bring more opportunities, more choices to millions. To date, Acumen has positively impacted 501 million lives by investing $154M in 167 innovative, early-stage companies in Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and the United States. But investing clearly is not just about capital. It is about investing in people. We have been investing in people for years. Connecting with emerging leaders in their own countries and engaging them in extended collective dialogue on what constitutes a “good society,” moral inquiry, and skill building.
About Development & Partnerships
Acumen partners with leading global corporations and institutions to advance our mission to change the way the world tackles poverty. The Development & Partnerships team leads fundraising efforts for the organization, working with companies like Apple, IKEA Foundation, Target Foundation, Bank of America, Barclay’s, Autodesk Foundation SAP, Barclays,EY, and others to invest in and support early-stage social enterprises and business leaders across the energy access, agriculture, workforce development, and financial inclusion sector to develop more inclusive, locally-led, sustainable business models. We collaborate with institutions in one or more of the following ways: financial support for Acumen’s initiatives, strategic support for Acumen’s global network of entrepreneurs, or through convenings, insights generation and influence.
About the role
The Summer Associate will help the Development & Partnerships team by supporting the team’s overall strategy and engagement of Acumen’s prospective and current institutional partnerships – corporates, corporate foundations, and foundations.
The Summer Associate’s primary role will be to contribute to the annual assessment of current institutional partnerships, working with a variety of relationship managers across the organization to better understand new opportunities to partner and how we are delivering against our goals with each partner. Specifically, the Summer Associate will be accountable for:
- Supporting the forward-looking strategy for institutional partners by mapping current relationships across Acumen’s priorities, market trends etc.
- Soliciting and analyzing data – both internal and external – in support of the annual assessment (e.g., assess strengths and areas of opportunity, provide recommendations for engagement with institutional partners, and internal synergies for effective engagement)
- Conducting research on events, conferences, and other potential opportunities for Acumen to share its work in front of institutional audiences.
- Potentially supporting existing events and the creation of sessions at conferences.
- Updating collateral and marketing assets for institutional audience
Skills & Qualifications
- Ability to work efficiently to meet deadline
- Ability to take initiative with research and analysis and produce valuable results in conditions of uncertainty
- Some experience and interest in Business Development (Fundraising) or Account/Relationship Management
- Strong writing and presentation skills
- Familiarity with Salesforce or facility with CRM software
- Ability to work effectively within Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
- Self-reflective and aligned with Acumen values
- Permanent authorization to work in the United States
- Preferred: First-year MBA candidate or other relevant Master’s degree
Deadline
Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis through March 31, 2024.
Compensation:
Graduate students will work out of the NYC office and will receive a stipend of $750 per week for a maximum of 10-12 weeks
