The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation has announced the participants of its 2014 Non-Profit Internship Program.
The Foundation believes it is important for college students to secure paid summer internships with nonprofit organizations in order to pave a pathway to future employment in the sector and offer a training ground for the next generation of nonprofit leaders.
In an effort to diversify the pool of aspiring, young nonprofit professionals, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation's Non-Profit Internship Program awards up to twenty students with paid summer internships and matches them with organizations the Foundation has funded across the state. The program also aims to expand opportunities for students to explore the nonprofit field, a sector that contributes 425,000 jobs to the state. Many internships in the nonprofit sector are unpaid, which poses a considerable barrier to students who cannot afford to work without pay for the summer.
"We established the Non-Profit Internship Program as a way to give college students the opportunity to explore a career within this dynamic sector," said Joy Vermillion Heinsohn, director for programs with the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. "It also is intended to address our concern about the prevalence of unpaid internships, and provide students with the experience and credentials they need to better position themselves for a potential career with a nonprofit organization after graduation."
Students are selected through a competitive application process. Eligible students must be enrolled full time in a four-year college or university; a resident of North Carolina either attending an in-state or out-of-state institution; and receiving a Pell grant during the academic year in which they submit the application. Host organizations – all of which are based in-state – must meet a set of criteria in order to participate.
This year, 57 organizations and 83 students from 31 schools applied. Internships offer a range of exposure and skill-building opportunities in the areas of research, community outreach, public policy, communications, fundraising and social media.
The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation established the Non-Profit Internship Program in 2011.
Below are the organizations that were selected this year and their 2014 summer interns:
- Beloved Community Center of Greensboro, Laci Ollison, North Carolina A&T State University
- Campaign for Migrant Worker Justice, Laura Bardin, Furman University
- Carolina Justice Policy Center, Daniel Leake II, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Center on Poverty, Work & Opportunity, Alicia Mills, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
- Center for Urban and Regional Studies, Jaren Mack, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Core Sound Waterfowl Museum, Kristen Boling, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Durham Regional Financial Center, Jennifer Moetului, North Carolina Central University
- Institute of Political Leadership, Tishawn Allen, North Carolina A&T State University
- Hispanics In Philanthropy, Paola Salas, University of North Carolina at Asheville
- Neighbors in Ministry, Voneasha Davis, Bennett College
- NC Advocates for Justice Foundation, Quiana Harris, Winston-Salem State University
- NC Center for International Understanding, Hunter McGuire, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Jade Manley, Winston-Salem State University
- NC Community Development Initiative, Patrick Minor, North Carolina Central University
- NC New Schools, Sarah Muscutt, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Kimberly Mayes, Davidson College
- The Nature Conservancy, Alayna Ward, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- The Support Center, Anastasia Bowden, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Thirtieth Judicial District Domestic Violence-Sexual Assault Alliance, Chanel Shulman, Wake Forest University
- UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, Alisha Carter, Elon University