At The Obama Foundation, our mission is to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. We seek to build an active democratic culture where people are equipped and motivated to make change in the communities where they live, work, and play. Right here on the South Side of Chicago, we’re building a home for this vision, a global center for change with a range of opportunities - coordinated programming, community outreach events, educational moments, and more - that invite visitors from down the block or across the globe to turn hope into action.

Achieving our ambitious goals starts with an exceptional team built on our Hope to Action Values - Courage, Empathy, Integrity, Accountability, Community, Inclusivity, Pragmatism, Resilience, Imagination, and Hope. A Framework that anyone, anywhere, can use to build trust, activate participation, and expand opportunity in their community.

Purpose of the Role

As a member of the Legal team, the Research & Due Diligence Associate conducts investigative research and vetting assignments to identify and contextualize risk across the Foundation. This role is responsible for producing high-quality research on individuals, organizations, vendors, speakers, and donors to support informed decision-making and ensure alignment with organizational priorities.

In this role, you will report directly to the Due Diligence and Research Director.

Core Responsibilities

• Investigative Research: Conduct vetting on partners connected to Foundation programming by analyzing public records, media coverage, nonprofit filings, and online presence to identify reputational, operational, or legal risks.

• Analytical Synthesis: Evaluate the credibility, relevance, and severity of findings using established methodologies. Synthesize research into clear vetting memoranda that distinguish between routine background information and material risk.

• Project Execution: Independently manage assignments from intake through completion, ensuring timely delivery and accurate records within the Foundation’s vetting database.

• Team Collaboration: Coordinate with the Research Director on timelines and provide guidance to Analysts, including reviewing work for accuracy and adherence to research standards.

• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to enhance research workflows, vetting standards, and internal documentation practices while flagging gaps in vetting records.

• Compliance & Discretion: Handle sensitive and confidential information with a high degree of discretion, maintaining awareness of nonprofit governance and anti-corruption frameworks.

Required Qualifications

• 2-3 years in investigative research, due diligence, journalism, compliance, legal research or related fields.

• Proficiency with investigative databases (e.g., LexisNexis), project management tools (e.g., Asana), and CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce).

• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and synthesize findings into clear written analysis.

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Sound analytical judgment and extreme discretion when handling sensitive information.

The salary range for this role is between $59,755 and $74,670.

This is a remote role based in the Chicago area.

Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider submitting an application. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings!

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Foundation is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability, please e-mail us at careers@obama.org if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application.