Legal Intern - Summer 2025

Position: Legal Intern - Summer 2025

Reports to: Associate General Counsel

Location: Chicago, Illinois (Hybrid)*

Duration: June 10 - August 13, 2025

Compensation: Paid Internship

About the Foundation:

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation's largest independent foundations. The Foundation boldly invests in creative solutions to urgent challenges, sparking hope for our future.

We work on a few big bets that strive toward transformative change in areas of profound concern, including the existential threats of climate change and nuclear risk, the challenges of criminal justice reform and revitalizing local news in the U.S. and corruption in Nigeria.

In addition, we maintain enduring commitments in our hometown Chicago, where we invest in people, places, and partnerships to build a more inclusive Chicago and in journalism and media, where we invest in more just and inclusive news and narratives.

We also make awards to extraordinarily creative individuals through the MacArthur Fellows program and for solutions to critical problems of our time through 100&Change. For more information, please visit our website is at www.macfound.org.  

About the Department:

The Office of the General Counsel of the MacArthur Foundation plays a key role in all MacArthur’s day-to-day operations, including grantmaking, investing and impact investing, policy development, governance and contracting. The team currently consists of eleven staff, including the Foundation’s Vice President and General Counsel, a Deputy General Counsel, two Associate General Counsels, and a Resident in Nonprofit Law.

About the Internship:

The intern will assist the Office of the General Counsel on matters relating to the work of the Office, including state and federal tax-exempt law, general corporate law, intellectual property law, anti-terrorist financing laws, international law, and regulatory issues. The intern will have the chance to substantively engage with may of the legal activities that the team engages with and gain skills and experience in legal research, drafting memoranda and Foundation policies, grant agreements and other documents, reviewing contracts, and interfacing with Foundation staff. Additionally, the intern will gain an understanding of the philanthropic sector and organizations working in different countries around the world supported by the Foundation’s national and international grantmaking programs.

Qualifications:

• Interns should demonstrate a passion for the nonprofit sector and a desire to learn more about whether a career in tax-exempt organization law may be of interest to them. Working knowledge of United States tax law is a plus, but not required

• At the time of the internship, applicants must:

  • be currently enrolled at an accredited U.S. law school through at least Fall 2025;

  • have completed at least a year (and preferably two years) of law school; and

  • be in good academic standing

• Interns are expected to be in the office at least two days each week, in line with the expectation for the Foundation’s Chicago-based Staff. Further, all summer interns are expected to be in the Chicagoland area for the duration of the program

• The Foundation is deeply committed to the values of diversity, equity and inclusion and expects interns to display a similar commitment

Application Process:

The application deadline is 11:59PM Central time on JANUARY 5, 2025. Applicants should include a cover letter, resume, and transcript with their application. As a requirement, students “must be returning back to school” to be eligible. Students meeting the minimum requirements should apply through the MacArthur Foundation website (www.macfound.org/jobs).

*Housing assistance for non-local students may be available and will be discussed during the interview process.