ALUMNAE AND DONOR SPONSORED INTERNSHIP GRANT PROGRAM

Barnard College’s Alumnae and Donor Sponsored Internship Grant Program is the successful collaboration of Career Development and alumnae, individual, and foundation donors interested in the career development of college women.  Students involved in unpaid internships are eligible for Alumnae and Donor Sponsored Internship Grants in the fall, spring, and summer. Some grants are open only to students pursuing internships in specific fields (i.e. public service, medicine, or the arts); others are more general in scope regardless of the applicant's career interest or major. When submitting an application students apply in general to the program and will be considered for all grants for which they meet the eligibility requirements.

Qualifications: Barnard students in good academic standing are eligible to apply for funding. First-Year students may apply for a grant starting the summer after their first year, and Seniors are eligible to apply as long as they are registered for classes. Visiting students are not eligible to apply for funding. Previous internship grant recipients may apply for second grants but will be considered only after initial decisions for funding have been made. Funding is not available for internships with political campaigns.

1.      Application Process, Selection, and Requirements

2.      Frequently Asked Questions

3.      Available Funds

APPLICATION PROCESS

Deadlines for 2009-2010:

No late applications will be accepted for any reason.

·         Fall: Tuesday, September 22, 2009; 11:59 PM

·         Spring: Tuesday, February 2, 2010; 11:59 PM

·         Summer: Wednesday, April 7, 2010; 11:59PM

Grant-Writing Workshops:  In order to assist students in writing the most optimal grant application for this program, Career Development will sponsor several workshops prior to the grant deadline.  Please look for these workshops on eRecruiting and RSVP to attend.  Workshops will assist you in understanding the process, writing winning essays, and creating an appropriate resume and cover letter.

Application Process:

1.      Download the application form here.

2.      Complete the form, including all demographic information and three essays and save to your computer.

3.      Log-in to eRecruiting

4.      Search for “Alumnae & Donor Sponsored Internship Program” and apply.

5.      Upload a resume.

6.      Upload your saved application file as the “Cover Letter”

7.      Click “Submit” 

NOTE: If you encounter any issues with eRecruiting, please call Career Development at (212) 854-2033.  We suggest not starting this process last-minute as late applications will not be accepted for any reason.

Selection Criteria:

1. Quality of Essay (both content and writing)
2. Substance of Internship
3. Quality of Resume
4. Academic Standing
5. Availability of Specific Funding

Requirements / Expectations of Grant Recipients:

1. Hours.  Students are expected to intern for 6-12 hours in the academic term and at least 15 in the summer months.  Students working fewer hours may get smaller grants than those working more hours.
2. Participate in an online community.  All interns will be expected to participate in an online community which will allow us to communicate with all interns, hold online discussion forums, and track deadlines and events.  Career Development staff will post topics bi-weekly and each intern will be expected to reply to each thread.
3. Attend one internship grant seminar hosted by Career Development.
4. Attend one other professional development event of her choosing – on campus or off campus – and submit a 500-word narrative reflection.
5. Write a “Thank You” note to each of her fund’s donors.
6. Prepare a poster presentation for display at an Internship Program Reception.
7. Attend the annual Torchbearer’s Reception in Spring, 2010.  Students are only invited to attend if their donor will be in attendance.  The Development office handles these invitations.
8. Evaluation.  Each grantee will be expected to fill out an online evaluation on eRecruiting.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This process seems different from past years?  Is it?

Yes.  We have moved this process online including your application and the timesheet payment process for successful grantees.  We are no longer requiring the supervisor signature sheet as part of the application, but are requiring a copy of your internship’s position description.

How much time will it take for decisions?

About two weeks.

How will we hear about the decision?

You will hear via email. 

Can I fill out the application if I don't officially have the internship yet?

You can only apply for an internship grant for a specific internship.  Therefore, if you apply for a grant for an internship that you don’t have and are awarded an internship grant and don’t actually get the 

internship you will have a problem. Likewise, if you get a grant and then change your internship, you will forfeit your grant.

If I have two internships should I write about both of them or just one?                                                                                                                                                            

You can apply for funding for both internships or for just one.  In your essay explain why you are interested in both experiences and what you hope to learn from both.  Awarding a student a grant for two internships is a very rare occurrence; your essays should explain why doing both internships makes the most sense for your career development.

Do I apply for a specific grant?

No, you apply in general for an internship grant and are awarded grants based on application quality and available funding.

Can I get a grant if I’m interning with a professor?

If you are interning with a professor who is working for an outside organization yes, but you cannot get a grant for conducting research for a Barnard professor working for Barnard. 

Can I get a grant if I am doing an internship as part of a course?

No, internship grants are for students doing unpaid, non-academic internships only.

Can I get a grant more than once?

Yes, but the chances are not great.  We try to give as many students as possible the opportunity to receive funding for an unpaid internship. 

What are the most common reasons why an applicant does not get funded?

Typos, poor grammar, a sloppy resume, and generally an application that does not appear well-thought-out.

I am a first-year student, can I still apply for internship funding?

Yes, for summer.  However, keep in mind that once you get funding it is difficult to get funded a second time.  

I am studying abroad, may I still apply for funding?

Yes.  Please also note that we have special funding each summer for students interning abroad.

I am an international student, may I still apply for funding?

In most cases, international students are eligible for this program, depending on their own circumstances and visa.  If you are in doubt, you should check with the academic dean who assists international students in the Dean of Studies office.

I am a senior who will be graduating following the Fall academic term.  May I apply for  summer and/or fall internship grants?

Yes.

My internship sponsor is providing some compensation for my internship.  May I still apply?

In most cases, we encourage you to apply and give us as much information as you have about the compensation package offered.  If it will amount to more than $600, it is unlikely you would be funded.  

I am doing an internship through an organization that I have paid to place me in a position.  May I still apply?

No.  This program does not support the use of funds for this purpose.

For summer grants, is free on-campus housing provided?

While subsidized housing has been available in the past, this benefit is determined each year by a college committee.  We have no information about Summer 2010 at this time.

INTERNSHIP FUNDS WITH SPECIFIED CRITERIA

Arts and Cultural Organizations:

• Georgiana Pimentel Contiguglia '64 Fund for internships in the visual arts, dance, theatre or other related fields.
• Todd Evans and Hannah B. Evans '97 Internship Fund provides financial assistance for students interested in the arts.
• Joyce Kosh Kaiser '57 Fund awards grants for internships in art or art history. Candidates must be art history majors completing their junior year. (summer)
• Liman Foundation New York City Arts Internship Fund awards grants for internships in all areas of the arts including visual arts, theatre, film, and dance. Internships must be in New York City non-profit arts organization.
• The Susan Weis Mindel '66 and Dr. Joel S. Mindel Intership Fund for the Arts
• Esther and Morton Rose Memorial Arts Internship Fund for a junior or senior in a course of study related to visual or performing arts.
• Ellen “Pucky” Violett ’46 Internship Fund for internships in the arts, including theatre, film and publishing.

Asian and Middle Eastern Cultures or Art History majors:

• Costanza Anchisi '89 Memorial Internship Fund Gives preference to students completing their junior year with a major in Asian and Middle Eastern cultures. Applicants should demonstrate relevance of internship experience to area of study and/or thesis topic.

Community Service/Politics/Public Service:

• Daniel & Florence Guggenheim Foundation Internships in Criminal Justice funds students to work at selected criminal justice internships each summer.  Deadline normally falls in February.
• April Benson '73 Internship Fund awards grants to students interested in community service.
• Todd Evans and Hannah B. Evans '97 Internship Fund provides support for community service internships.
• Jewish Foundation for Education of Women provides funding to students of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds interning at non-profit organizations who are from the New York Metropolitan area and demonstrate financial need.
• Lisa Miller '90 Internship Fund
• Metropolitan Life Foundation/Richard R. Shinn Undergraduate Fellowships in Public Service funds students working in public service. Past interns have worked for various government agencies and elected officials. (summer)
• Terry Newman ‘79 Internship Fund for students working in non-profit organizations, including public after-school enrichment programs, that work to support urban education.
• Jessica Patt '89 Community Service Internship Fund was established in memory of this alumna to continue her legacy by providing financial support to students pursuing internships focused on community service.
• Francene Rodgers Fellowship for an internship related to women and public policy.
• Carol Krongold Silberstein '69 and Alan Silberstein Public Service Internship preference is given to students interning for organizations assisting children.
• Tow Foundation Public Service Internship Fund allows students to intern in virtually any area of public service.

Early Childhood Education and Development:

• The Eleanor T. Elliott '48 Internship Program for students working in direct service and advocacy organizations.

Human Rights:

• Halpern Family and Peter Juviler Human Rights Internship Fund is for internships in the area of human rights, including civil rights, race relations, women's rights, programs for children, environmental/health protection, refugee and asylum rights.

Media and Communications:

• Univision Internship Fund for students pursuing internships at Univision Network. Preference is given to Latina students.

Psychology:

• April Benson '73 Internship Fund is for students interested in new media or psychology.

Science, Math or Economics Majors, or Internships in Finance:

• Sara Elizabeth Strang '95 Internship Fund

Students with demonstrated financial need:

• Charlotte Zmora Fahn '59 & Stanley Fahn Internship Fund
• Lisa Phillips Davis '76 and Stephen M. Davis Internship Fund

Students with disabilities:

• Marsteller Internship Program (named in honor of Julie V. Marsteller '65, founder of the Office of Disability Services). Eligible applicants must be registered with the Office of Disability Services (ODS).

Washington, D.C. area internships:

• Belle and Harry Salzman Fund is for students who wish to pursue internships in the Washington, D.C. area. Candidates should be sophomores or juniors with demonstrated financial need who are interested in public service, law, and government. Past interns have worked for various government agencies and elected officials.

Unrestricted Funds for Internships in Any Career Area

• Eve Green '40 Internship Fund
• Jane Rosenzweig Jelenko '70 Internship Fund
• Amy Lai '89 Internship Fund
• Linda Fayne Levinson '62 Internship Fund
• Shirley Estabrook Wood Internship Fund
• Dolores Kreisman '53 Internship Fund
• Jan Vinokour '72 Internship Fund

ODS 8/09

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