Overview

Z. Smith Reynolds (ZSR) Foundation believes summer internships offer a crucial pathway to future employment and experience for the next generation of nonprofit leaders. However, the universality of unpaid internships in the nonprofit sector often creates financial hurdles for students to participate in such experiential learning.

In an effort to diversify the pool of young nonprofit professionals in North Carolina, ZSR established the Nonprofit Internship Program (NIP) in 2011. Each summer, the program awards 20 college and university students, enrolled in four-year institutions across the state, with paid internships at ZSR-grantee organizations that are working to advance the Foundation’s values in the areas of Community Economic Development, Public Education, Social Justice & Equity, Environment, and/or Strengthening Democracy.

Internships

Students spend a minimum of eight weeks during the summer with participating host organizations. Internships offer a range of exposure and skill-building opportunities in areas such as research, community outreach, public policy, communications, fundraising and social media. Details and workplans for each intern vary by organization. A list of internship descriptions will be available in early December 2012. To see a list the 2012 participating organizations, please click here.

In addition to the internship, students will have the opportunity to connect with other interns in the program and participate in on-going professional development throughout the summer.

Compensation

Interns receive a taxable stipend of $2,400 for their summer internship, which is paid in part by ZSR and the host organization.

Eligibility

Before applying, students should be aware of the following eligibility requirements. Eligible students must be:

• Full-time, enrolled in a four-year college or university;
• A resident of North Carolina or attending an institution of higher education in the state; and
• Financially eligible for a Pell grant (students ineligible for a Pell grant due to documentation issues or criminal conviction may substitute to a FAFSA/Student Aid Report)

Students of color are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

To apply for a summer internship through the Nonprofit Internship Program, students must submit answers to short essay questions, an updated resume, and contact information for professional/academic references.

To increase selection for an internship, applicants are encouraged to apply for more than one internship and submit tailored applications for each position.

The application is completed entirely online and will be available from December 7, 2012 to February 1, 2013 at 11:59PM. ZSR encourages applicants to compose and save their open-ended responses in Microsoft Word or a similar word processor and copy their answers into the application.

*If you would like to be notified when the student application becomes available, please contact Allie Yee at alliey@zsr.org.

Application essay questions include:

• Briefly describe the activity of your high school or college career that was most meaningful to you and why. (Word limit: 250 words)
• Describe your interests or experiences in the nonprofit sector. How did these interests attract you to this internship program? (Word limit: 250 words)
• How would our host organization benefit from having you as an intern? (Word limit: 150 words)
• State briefly why you are interested in this internship and what you hope to gain from your experience. (Word limit: 150 words)

Additional Documents:

• Resume (Required)
• Writing Sample (Optional)
• Cover Letter (Optional)

Timeline

• December 3 – Host organization applications due
• December 7-February 1 – Intern applications available to students
• February 1 – Intern applications due
• February-March – Organizations matched with interns
• March – Interns notified of placement with host organizations
• May/June – Internships begin

Role of ZSR Staff/NIP Coordinators

ZSR Staff/Coordinators of the Nonprofit Internship Program oversee candidate recruitment, confirm interns/site matches, authorize grant payments to host sites, and organize professional development opportunities for interns during the summer. ZSR Staff/NIP Coordinators also oversee the fulfillment of the NIP Program Agreement Form. Host organizations that meet eligibility requirements have purview over interviewing, matching with, supervising, and paying interns.

If you have additional questions, please contactAllie Yee at 336-354-0063 or alliey@zsr.org.