Public Investments Intern Research & Portfolio Management

John S. And James L. Knight Foundation

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Knight Foundation is seeking a Public Investments Intern - Research & Portfolio Management to join the foundation for Summer 2026. This paid internship offers a hands-on opportunity to contribute to meaningful, well-scoped work that advances Knight Foundation's mission to support informed and engaged communities. In this role, the Public Investments Intern will support research, data analysis and portfolio monitoring activities related to the foundation's public investment portfolio. The intern will contribute to the development of analytical tools and templates that strengthen how the Investment Team evaluates managers, understands portfolio exposures and communicates investment insights. About Knight Foundation Knight Foundation supports a more effective democracy by funding free expression and journalism, arts and culture in community, research in areas of media and democracy, and the success of American cities and towns where the Knight brothers once published newspapers. Our approach is inclusive and nonpartisan. We value freedom of speech and the press, and we often embrace new and innovative technology to achieve our goals. Our drive to create positive change is amplified by our ability to collaborate internally and with our partners. We look for authenticity, agility, and accountability, knowing we are at our best when we leverage our collective strengths and experiences. We proactively approach our work with a sense of pride and responsibility-adapting, as needed, to the changing realities in our communities. About the Internship Program Knight Foundation internships are 10 weeks, running from early June through mid-August. Pay: $20.00 per hour Eligibility: Open to local and non-local students with the legal right to work in the United States. Relocation: Interns are responsible for their own travel and housing costs. Designed as a reciprocal learning experience, Knight Foundation internships provide students with real responsibility, professional development and exposure to philanthropy, while enabling teams to move important projects forward. Interns gain practical skills, confidence and professional networks through project work and organization-wide programming. What You'll Do Working with the Investment Team, the intern will support research and portfolio management activities related to public investments. Responsibilities may include: Designing and developing a public fund manager “tear sheet” template Using manager and fund data to populate standardized manager tear sheets Creating and maintaining spreadsheets to track look-through holdings for public investment funds Collaborating with the Private Investments intern to align public and private look-through holdings Working with the Investment Associate to create or update factor exposure reports for public holdings Analyzing portfolio data to identify areas of overconcentration, underexposure or opportunity Designing a manager “consistency scorecard” to assess alignment between stated strategy and actual holdings, time permitting What You'll Produce By the end of the internship, the intern will have contributed to: Public investment manager tear sheet templates A manager consistency scorecard template Centralized spreadsheets tracking look-through holdings Reports and analyses of portfolio factor exposures and risks What You'll Learn By the end of the summer, the intern will gain experience in: Key data and information required to monitor a public investment portfolio Look-through analysis in a multi-manager investment context Portfolio factor exposures and how weighted averages are calculated across portfolios Designing clear, audience-friendly templates for complex financial information Presenting analytical findings in both written and verbal formats The intern may also have opportunities to participate in meetings with investment managers, collaborate across the Investment Team and connect with peers at other organizations through site visits, presentations and networking opportunities. Collaboration with other Knight Foundation interns is also expected as part of the broader internship experience. Who Should Apply We welcome applicants with strong analytical skills and an interest in investments and financial markets.

Requirements

Strong analytical skills
Interest in investments and financial markets
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office tools
Understanding of basic investment principles, including securities, valuations and portfolio theory
Strong written communication skills
Ability to synthesize data from multiple sources
Comfort managing multiple concurrent projects
Professional discretion and ability to maintain confidentiality

Nice To Haves

Undergraduate student (rising senior or advanced rising junior preferred)
Genuine interest in investments or capital markets (no specific major required)

Responsibilities

Designing and developing a public fund manager “tear sheet” template
Using manager and fund data to populate standardized manager tear sheets
Creating and maintaining spreadsheets to track look-through holdings for public investment funds
Collaborating with the Private Investments intern to align public and private look-through holdings
Working with the Investment Associate to create or update factor exposure reports for public holdings
Analyzing portfolio data to identify areas of overconcentration, underexposure or opportunity
Designing a manager “consistency scorecard” to assess alignment between stated strategy and actual holdings, time permitting

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