Ivory Innovations

Be Inspired

Student Internship Program

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

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 David Eccles School of Business, Price College of Engineering, School of Architecture & Planning, and Masters of Real Estate Development Program are encouraged to apply. Please see the description below and contact keni@ivoryinnovations.org with any questions you might have about the position.

Applications for the 2025-26 Student Associates are OPEN NOW until February 14, 2025!

Student Associate Team Descriptions

This internship program offers 3 area of focus teams, read the descriptions below to learn more about each focus.

Finance

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.

Policy & Regulatory Reform

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.

Construction & Design

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.

Student Associate Program Details

  • Fall Semester - 15 to 20 hrs/week:

    • Source organizations making an impact in the housing affordability space that fit within Ivory Innovations’ three criteria: Affordability, Scalability, Innovation

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

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

    • Write executive memos on each sourced company that include: Project Description, Business Model, Innovation, Key Metrics, Risks & Barriers to Scale, and Team Information

    • Pitch sourced companies to the Selection Committee 

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    Spring Semester - 5 to 15 hrs/week:

    • Attend judging sessions and be prepared to answer questions about companies from the Advisory Board

    • Conduct further diligence to write 5-page memos for Top 25 finalists and create/present PowerPoints for Top 10 Finalists

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

    • Students will have opportunities for additional research projects for portfolio organizations

    • 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 2025-26 school year

    • 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

    • Paid internship - $14/hour

    • Hybrid schedule

    • Travel opportunities

    • Networking opportunities

    • Potential summer internship

    • Opportunities for growth within the company

    • Business writing 

    • Business analysis and risk assessment 

    • Due diligence 

    • Understanding the financial and regulatory hurdles of real estate development 

    • The home-buying process 

    • Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills 

    • How local, state, and federal policies impact housing supply 

    • Construction methods, building process, and design techniques 

    • The depth and breadth of the real estate industry and career opportunities available 

    • Extensive research and analytical skills

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.