Student Internship Program

Be Inspired.

Each year we hire students with an understanding of and passion for ideas about housing affordability.

Email us at hiring@ivoryinnovations.org to apply or with questions.


Ivory Innovations Student Associate

Ivory Innovations, a nonprofit with the mission to catalyze innovation in housing affordability, is looking to hire University of Utah student interns (associates) for 20 hours/week to assist in the research of affordable housing initiatives for the Ivory Prize. Students with an understanding of and passion for ideas about housing affordability, as well as a prior background in business/finance, public policy, or construction & design studies will be given preference. Additionally, students within the University of Utah School of Architecture and Planning, David Eccles School of Business, and Masters of Real Estate Development Program are encouraged to apply. Please see the description below and contact hiring@ivoryinnovations.org with any questions you might have about the position.

Applications for the 2024-25 Student Associates are now closed.

Apply in under 5 minutes, contribute towards the solution to finding solutions in housing affordability!

 

Finance - Applications are closed

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Policy & Regulatory Reform - Applications are closed

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Construction & Design - Applications are closed

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Student Associate Descriptions

Finance Student Internship - $12 per hour

Overview:

University of Utah undergraduate and graduate students interested in Private Equity/Venture Capital sourcing or impact investing will benefit from the role as a Finance Associate with Ivory Innovations. Interns will build skills in sourcing, business writing, and company diligence, as well as connect with experienced founders with backgrounds in finance, real estate, startups, and technology.

Responsibilities:

Fall Semester - 15 to 20 hrs/week:

  1. Source 15 finance-focused organizations making an impact in the housing affordability space that fit within Ivory Innovations’ three criteria: Affordability, Scalability, Innovation

  2. Schedule, plan, and attend calls with company founders and executives to perform deeper diligence on potential nominees

  3. Act as a company liaison/representative to communicate between sourced companies and the Ivory Innovations team

  4. Write 15 one-page memos on each sourced company that include: Project Description, Business Model, Innovation, Key Metrics, Risks & Barriers to Scale, and Team Information

Spring Semester - 5 to 10 hrs/week:

  1. Attend 3 judging sessions and be prepared to answer questions about companies from the Advisory Board

  2. Conduct further diligence to write 5-page memos for Top 25 finalists and create/present powerpoints for Top 10 Finalists

  3. Continue to act as a point of contact between companies and Ivory Innovations

Qualifications:

  • Passion for innovative, impactful, and solution-focused organizations

  • Interest in real estate and housing issues

  • High level financial knowledge

  • Sophisticated oral and written communication, organization, and time management skills

  • Enrollment at the University of Utah during the 2024-25 school year

Requirements:

  • Attend in-person Monday meetings from 4:30-5:30 PM located in the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building (SFEBB)

  • Attend weekly team virtual team meetings 

  • Work for 2.5+ hours in office during specified time blocks


Policy & Regulatory Reform Student Internship- $12 per hour

Overview:

University of Utah undergraduate and graduate students interested in local, state, or federal government and housing policies will benefit from the role as a Policy Associate with Ivory Innovations. Interns will build skills in research, policy evaluation, and writing, as well as connect with policy leaders and experts from across the country.

Responsibilities:

Fall Semester - 15 to 20 hrs/week:

  1. Source 15 policy-focused organizations making an impact in the housing affordability space that fit within Ivory Innovations’ three criteria: Affordability, Scalability, Innovation

  2. Schedule, plan, and attend calls with company founders and executives to perform deeper diligence on potential nominees

  3. Act as a company liaison/representative to communicate between sourced companies and the Ivory Innovations team

  4. Write 15 one-page memos on each sourced company that include: Project Description, Business Model, Innovation, Key Metrics, Risks & Barriers to Scale, and Team Information

Spring Semester - 5 to 10 hrs/week:

  1. Attend 3 judging sessions and be prepared to answer questions about companies from the Advisory Board

  2. Conduct further diligence to write 5-page memos for Top 25 finalists and create/present powerpoints for Top 10 Finalists

  3. Continue to act as a point of contact between companies and Ivory Innovations

Qualifications:

  • Passion for innovative, impactful, and solution-focused organizations and policies

  • Interest in housing issues and policies

  • Experience researching an synthesizing government policies or a public planning background

  • Sophisticated oral and written communication, organization, and time management skills

  • Enrollment at the University of Utah during the 2024-25 school year

Requirements:

  • Attend in-person Monday meetings from 4:30-5:30 PM located in the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building (SFEBB)

  • Attend weekly team virtual team meetings 

  • Work for 2.5+ hours in office during specified time blocks


Construction & Design Student Internship - $12 per hour

Overview:

University of Utah undergraduate and graduate students interested in real estate, construction, or architecture will benefit from the role as a Construction Associate with Ivory Innovations. Interns will build a deeper understanding of the building process, learn about innovative design techniques, and connect with construction & architecture experts from across the country.

Responsibilities:

Fall Semester - 15 to 20 hrs/week:

  1. Source 15 construction or design-focused organizations making an impact in the housing affordability space that fit within Ivory Innovations’ three criteria: Affordability, Scalability, Innovation

  2. Schedule, plan, and attend calls with company founders and executives to perform deeper diligence on potential nominees

  3. Act as a company liaison/representative to communicate between sourced companies and the Ivory Innovations team

  4. Write 15 one-page memos on each sourced company that include: Project Description, Business Model, Innovation, Key Metrics, Risks & Barriers to Scale, and Team Information

Spring Semester - 5 to 10 hrs/week:

  1. Attend 3 judging sessions and be prepared to answer questions about companies from the Advisory Board

  2. Conduct further diligence to write 5-page memos for Top 25 finalists and create/present powerpoints for Top 10 Finalists

  3. Continue to act as a point of contact between companies and Ivory Innovations

Qualifications:

  • Passion for innovative, impactful, and solution-focused organizations and companies

  • Interest in architecture, construction, or real estate

  • Education or background in architecture, construction, or real estate

  • Sophisticated oral and written communication, organization, and time management skills

  • Enrollment at the University of Utah during the 2024-25 school year

Requirements:

  • Attend in-person Monday meetings from 4:30-5:30 PM located in the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building (SFEBB)

  • Attend weekly team virtual team meetings 

  • Work for 2.5+ hours in office during specified time blocks


Ivory Innovations Student Alumni

After working at Ivory Innovations, our alumni are working on exciting projects for a variety of organizations. To learn more about our past student associates, click below.