Fundraising Intern

Members of the Downing Capital Group team are investor-entrepreneurs. We are a new breed of investment firm: our team members are business builders, not merely capital providers. Our unique model turns conventional private equity and VC on its head: we begin with our own business ideas, recruit management teams to execute them, and then capitalize on these ventures. The vast majority of the firm’s capital will be invested in ideas incubated internally.

We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented Fundraising Intern to join the DCG team in New York. This is a rare opportunity to work at the center of an active investment fund, with a primary focus on fundraising: sourcing, research, and outreach, while also rolling up your sleeves across the many workstreams that keep a fund running day to day.

This role is built for someone who thrives in a high-ownership environment. You will work directly with the DCG portfolio operations team, wear multiple hats, and move fluidly between fundraising execution and broader fund priorities. No two days will look the same. You will need to context-switch quickly, bring structure to ambiguity, and deliver high-quality work across a fast-moving agenda.

How You'll Make an Impact:

Fundraising & Investor Sourcing

• Research and build targeted lists of prospective investors covering family offices, institutional LPs, angels, and strategic partners, for both the fund and portfolio companies
• Conduct in-depth background research on investor mandates, check sizes, portfolio focus areas, and prior investments to qualify and prioritize outreach
• Draft and refine outreach materials, including initial emails, follow-up sequences, and meeting preparation briefs
• Maintain and update the investor CRM, tracking outreach status, meeting notes, and pipeline progression with precision
• Support the preparation of fundraising materials such as pitch decks, one-pagers, data rooms, and fund updates
• Coordinate and support the logistics of fundraising activity, keeping pipelines organized and next steps clearly owned

Fund Operations & Portfolio Company Support

• Work directly with portfolio company teams across a range of operational workstreams including hiring coordination, project tracking, and strategic execution
• Help prepare materials for portfolio company leadership including briefs, one-pagers, and structured summaries to support key decisions
• Assist with tracking and organizing cross-portfolio initiatives, ensuring the right information reaches the right people at the right time

Wearing Multiple Hats

• Support the team across a wide range of fund and portfolio workstreams as priorities shift and projects evolve
• Help keep internal processes organized including managing trackers, coordinating workflows, and ensuring nothing slips through the cracks
• Contribute to internal materials including team updates, project summaries, and strategic briefings
• Jump into ad hoc research, analysis, or execution tasks across any of DCG’s portfolio companies or fund-level initiatives
• Be a reliable, proactive presence that the team can count on no matter where the work takes you that week

What you’ll bring to the table: 

• Solid years of experience at a startup, private equity, hedge fund, or venture capital firm with a proven track record of success in strategic roles. 

• Outstanding academic credentials with a bachelor's or master’s/MBA degree. 

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and provide actionable insights. 

• Proven ability to interact effectively with C-Suite executives and senior management, demonstrating strong communication and interpersonal skills. 

• Executor/entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive approach to solving problems. 

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic initiatives, with a strong understanding of investment processes, portfolio management, and market dynamics. 

• Highly organized and structured with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively. 

• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office and other relevant software tools. 

• A proactive and adaptable attitude in a dynamic work environment with a commitment to continuous improvement.

Role Details

This is a full-time, hybrid internship based in New York City. The team meets in the office on Mondays and Thursdays. Compensation for this role is $17/hour. The expected internship timeline is late May through early to mid-August.