Special Projects Fund Intern (Graduate-Level)

SPECIAL PROJECTS FUND INTERN (GRADUATE-LEVEL)

NYHealth Background:

The New York Health Foundation (NYHealth) is a private and independent foundation dedicated to improving the health of all New Yorkers, especially people of color and others who have been historically marginalized. NYHealth began operations in 2006; today, it has approximately $300 million in assets and a $15 million annual grants and operations budget.

NYHealth is committed to making grants and making a difference beyond grant dollars: informing health care policy and practice; spreading effective programs to improve the health system; serving as a convener of health leaders across the State; and providing technical assistance to grantees and partners. Today, the Foundation concentrates its initiatives on three program areas: Primary Care; Healthy Food, Healthy Lives; and Veterans’ Health. NYHealth also engages in responsive grantmaking through a Special Projects Fund.

The Special Projects Fund (SPF) is a $3 million annual funding opportunity that allows NYHealth to respond to opportunities that fit the organization’s mission but fall outside the Foundation’s priority areas. SPF allows NYHealth to be responsive to the changing health care environment by supporting innovative ideas that emerge from the community. SPF is reserved for coordinated interventions that advance NYHealth’s broad mission and have the potential to improve New Yorkers’ health and wellbeing measurably.

Position Summary:

The Special Projects Fund intern will work closely with the program officer and program assistant. This position is ideal for graduate-level students interested in learning about public interventions and community strategies that improve health equity and access. Additionally, this position offers interns exposure to health care philanthropy.

The internship is a part-time position (15–18 hours per week) from September 2025 through June 2026. The hourly compensation rate is $20; the intern also receives a monthly 32-ride subway transit card ($94).

This hybrid position requires remote and in-person work at the Foundation’s New York City office. Full-time staff are currently in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; although the intern’s work schedule is generally flexible, they are expected to spend time onsite at least one day per week on Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays.

Responsibilities:

Specific responsibilities are as follows:

• • Respond to funding inquiries;
  • Work with the Grants Management Department and the program team to facilitate the submission of letters of intent and full proposals from potential applicants;
  • Coordinate proposal review meetings with NYHealth staff and external reviewers;
  • Participate in the review and recommendation of projects for Board approval;
  • Assist with monitoring and managing grants portfolio;
  • Assist with organizing meetings and other events;
  • Conduct research on New York-focused and national health care issues, as well as subjects of particular interest to the Foundation; and
  • Perform limited administrative work.

Qualifications:

The prospective intern should be a graduate-level student pursuing a degree in public health, health policy, or a related field. This position is ideal for students who are interested in learning about health care philanthropy, public health interventions, and management of health programs. The successful candidate will have a strong commitment to NYHealth’s mission and should possess excellent writing, research, communication, and database management skills.

Additionally, the candidate must have the ability to multitask and to work both cooperatively and autonomously under tight deadlines. Experience in public health and health policy is preferred. NYHealth is committed to making the internship a learning experience by providing opportunities for the intern to participate in meetings that are appropriate for career development.

Please send a cover letter and resume to internships@nyhealthfoundation.org and include “Special Projects Fund Intern” in the subject line. The deadline for submission is July 31, 2025.

The New York Health Foundation welcomes applications from people of all cultures, backgrounds, and experiences, and values having a diverse staff. Individuals from historically marginalized populations are encouraged to apply. Employment opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established under law.