Grantmaking Strategy And Benchmarking Intern

Position Summary

This is a fully remote, unpaid position ideal for someone seeking practical research experience in philanthropy, nonprofit program management, and global development – particularly in grantmaking focused on women and girls in the Global South. The Grantmaking Strategy & Benchmarking Intern will conduct a structured benchmarking study of peer funders in the gender equality space. The strategic work includes evaluating peer reporting frameworks and models, identifying adaptable best practices, and producing documentation that informs governance-level decision making. The Grantmaking Strategy & Benchmarking Intern will support the Program & Grantmaking Manager, CEO and members of the Rise grants committee in this research-oriented role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct reviews of reporting frameworks used by at least 5-8 comparator funders.

• Analyze and document metrics from funders, including renewal processes, philanthropy practices, and grant duration and funding models.

• Review publicly available materials and summarize experiences from external networks, applicants, and former grantees.

• Identify experience gaps and opportunities for Rise to improve partner experience and engagement.

• Produce a structured benchmarking memo and comparator matrix using Excel or equivalent software.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Strong research and writing skills.

• Interest in philanthropy, gender equality, and international development.

• Highly organized with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.

• Experience synthesizing qualitative and quantitative information

• Self-motivated and able to work independently in a virtual environment.

• Ability to structure ambiguous problems into clear analytical frameworks.

• High discretion and professional judgement.

• Graduate student pursuing public policy, international affairs, nonprofit management, gender studies, public administration, or business degrees preferred.