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Mission-Driven Real Estate Internship Program

Program Overview

As part of the Fitzgerald Institute for Real Estate’s mission to shape the next generation of ethical real estate leaders, the Church Properties Initiative works to place Notre Dame real estate students in mission-driven internships with Catholic diocesan real estate offices and faith-based housing organizations.

Intern and Organizational Profile

Interns:

CPI recruits high-achieving real estate undergraduates who have a deep desire to serve the Church and to grow their experience in real estate skills. Students should be teachable (and willing to learn), have excellent communication and time management skills, and be committed to contributing to an improvement in church real estate stewardship. Most students applying for internships through our program are rising Sophomores or Juniors.

Organizations:

We try to match students with organizations that are innovating in the church properties space and that have a clear commitment to proactive stewardship of church property through projects involved in (but not limited to) themes like:

  • Pastoral/strategic planning
  • Parish mergers
  • Housing development
  • Adaptive reuse of church property
  • Capital campaigns and reserve studies

Above all, though, our highest priority for partners is that they be willing to teach and lead our students towards becoming forces for good in the world. Intern projects and management should be clear, positive, and beneficial to both the work of the organization and towards the professional development of the student.

Interested in hiring an intern for your mission-driven real estate organization? Email John O'Neill, CPI Program Manager, at joneil11@nd.edu. 

2026-2027 Timeline

  • Fall Semester 2026: Partner/Placement Recruitment

    • Select sites where interns will serve over the summer.
  • November 19, 2026: Mission-Driven Internship Info Session
    • Students attend to learn about the program and hear from previous interns.
  • Late Fall to March 2027: Student Application Period
    • Interested students apply for internship positions and list placement location preferences (if applicable).
  • Spring 2027: Interviews and Offers
    • Students interview directly with hiring managers and organizational leaders.
  • Late-Spring 2027: Predeparture Formation Meetings
    • CPI hosts predeparture formation sessions to build intern cohort and prepare students for their summer experiences.
  • Summer 2027: 8 to 10 Week Internship Period
    • Students may begin internships as early as mid-late May and could run until mid-August.

Costs

CPI/FIRE seeks to ensure these are paid internship opportunities for interested students. For reference, Notre Dame students earn a minimum wage of $15/hr for on-campus employment. Partner organizations are advised to consider their local cost of living when making an hourly wage offer, and to consider what housing options are available.

Next Steps

  • Students:

    • If you are a Notre Dame undergraduate student pursuing a minor in real estate, please contact John O'Neill, CPI Program Manager, for the most up-to-date information.
  • Employers:
    • If you are interested in hosting one (or more!) student interns for this summer, please contact John O’Neill, CPI Program Manager, at joneil11@nd.edu.
    • To begin the process of placing a student intern with your organization, we will need a job description listing the type of work/projects you anticipate the intern completing over the summer and any applicable experience/skills desired

Previous Internship Sites

Real Estate minors have completed internships with several mission-driven and Catholic real estate organizations in the past. Here are a few organizations that have previously hosted interns:

2026

2025

2023