Capital Sourcing & Strategic Finance Intern

Job Summary

NALEJ.ai is seeking a research-driven Capital Sourcing & Strategic Finance Intern to support the identification, evaluation, and engagement of potential capital sources across public, private, federal, state, local, DoD, and agency-affiliated funding channels. This role is focused on building a structured view of capital pathways that may support NALEJ's growth strategy, including non-dilutive funding, public financing programs, strategic investment sources, state and local economic development programs, and private capital relationships. The intern will help build a capital source tracker, prepare concise source briefs, and support leadership with actionable intelligence for capital planning and external engagement.

Responsibilities

Research and map potential capital sources across federal, state, local, DoD, public, private, and agency-affiliated programs relevant to NALEJ's growth strategy. Identify non-dilutive and alternative capital pathways, including grants, loans, loan guarantees, economic development incentives, innovation funds, challenge/prize programs, and public-private partnership opportunities. Research private and strategic capital sources, including venture capital, strategic investors, corporate innovation funds, family offices, and mission-aligned investment groups. Build and maintain a structured capital source tracker with eligibility criteria, capital type, funding range, application or engagement requirements, timing, risk considerations, and recommended next steps. Prepare concise capital source briefs that summarize source fit, value proposition, engagement path, and key considerations for NALEJ leadership. Support preparation for external engagement by drafting outreach notes, backgrounders, meeting prep materials, and follow-up action trackers. Coordinate with Corporate Operations, Finance, and BD stakeholders to distinguish capital sourcing from traditional contract pursuit and avoid duplication of effort. Provide weekly capi