Grassroots is looking for a Summer Intern

Grassroots Capital Management makes social investments globally that have both a financial and social return. Currently, Grassroots and its partners manage/advise five impact investment funds covering predominantly microfinance as well as small medium enterprise, affordable housing, and sustainable agriculture sectors.  Grassroots is looking for a short term intern to help develop pipelines of MFIs and investors. In undertaking this research, the intern can expect to develop a good familiarity with MFIs around the world with varying degrees of financial and social performance, the networks and resources that support them, and the investor communities that are engaging with the microfinance industry.

Organization:                    Grassroots Capital Management, PBC

Job Title:                             Microfinance Intern (Unpaid)

Project (s):                          Research on MFIs for Impact First Initiative

Job Location:                     Brooklyn, NY and Remote

Dates:                                   July 22-Aug 30, 2013 (flexible)

Time Commitment:        Approx. 20 hours/ week

Primary Responsibility: Research Sustainable MFIs with Exemplary Social Programs

Grassroots seeks a Microfinance Intern to help identify microfinance institutions (MFIs) with exemplary social programs and performance. Grassroots has identified approximately 50 MFIs reputable for their social commitment and performance and would like to enhance this initial pool with lesser known, financially sustainable MFIs in Africa and Asia (other than India).

The Intern will:

1.    Identify MFIs that meet Grassroots’ social and financial screening criteria with a focus on Asia and Africa, leveraging Mix Market data and other industry resources and publications focusing on MFIs with strong social programs.

2.   Collect additional data related to the MFIs’ social products and services and social performance structures and systems (e.g., governance, social performance department, utilization of tools such as the Progress out of Poverty Index, design of social interventions and related metrics).

Other Responsibilities: MFI Corporate and Ownership Structures that Preserve Social Mission

As part of Grassroots’ focus on “Impact First” MFIs, the team has drafted a summary paper on models used by MFIs and other socially-minded entities to prioritize and preserve their social mission in their organizational and ownership documents. The intent of this paper is to raise awareness in the industry of strategies by which to preserve MFIs’ social missions and to incorporate some of these ideas into Grassroots’ advisory work with MFI investees. The intern will help revise this summary paper by researching new models from within and outside the microfinance industry.

Time permitting, the intern will also identify social impact investors that prioritize social returns/impact and embrace moderate financial returns.

Reporting: The Intern will report to the Managing Director of Investments while working with the full team.

Critical Knowledge & Capabilities/Experience

·         Strong research skills

·         Solid Excel and PowerPoint skills

·         Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

·         Strong communication, persistence, flexibility, and passion for microfinance

Language Skills: English plus Spanish, French or Portuguese desirable

Education: Preference for graduate degree, those pursuing a graduate degree, or those with prior work experience in international relations, economics, business, or finance.

To Apply

Please forward resume to info@grassrootscap.com  together with a brief description of your interest and availability for this position.