Funding for Unpaid Summer Experiences

Cohen Career Center Internship Fund 

The application deadline has passed for Summer, 2021.

The Cohen Career Center Internship Fund exists thanks to kind donations from the Parent's Fund and other donors. The fund awards up to $4,000 to undergraduate students who will be completing unpaid internships over the summer. Internships deemed “necessarily unpaid” are offered by employers that genuinely lack the financial resources to pay wages to their interns and typically fall within the following sectors: non-profit, government, education, and non-governmental organizations. Opportunities at boutique, for-profit, media/communications, or entrepreneurially-oriented organizations may be considered if justification is provided regarding why the internship is unpaid.  Awards are based on a budget model for living expenses and are not intended to provide pay for the internship.

To be eligible, applicants must be returning to the college after the completion of the internship, i.e. a rising sophomore, junior, or senior. May or August 2021 grads are not eligible. To apply for the funding, the student must have secured an unpaid internship that is a minimum of 160 hours, worked at one organization, over at least four weeks. The minimum required hours must be completed between May - August, 2021. An applicant cannot use multiple internship offers to meet the duration and hourly requirements.

To apply, a student must submit the following 5 documents. Keep in mind that the application process is competitive and all application materials should be well-written and free of errors. You can schedule a virtual appointment with an advisor in the Cohen Career Center or drop in to Quick Advising (Tues-Fri, 10:00am-12:00pm, find the Zoom link the TribeCareers Announcements) to meet with someone to review your documents.

• Statement of interest (no more than 800 words total) addressing the following points:
  • What is the connection between this internship and your career goals? How do you hope to benefit from the internship? How has your academic coursework prepared you for this internship?
  • In what way would funding help better enable you to pursue an internship? If relevant, outline any costs you anticipate incurring as a result of the internship.
  • List any other sources of funding that you have applied for and/or received whether from William & Mary or external sources. Please note the amount of the funding and when you anticipate hearing about whether you will receive it.
• Up-to-date resume (max. 2 pages). You may wish to view resources on our website.
• Internship posting or position description
• Budget (demonstrating the intended use of internship funds). Please utilize the following worksheet.  Please note: the award is considered taxable income, which may affect the amount you receive.  Additional note: for remote internships, only tech needs such as hot spots and additional data will be considered for funding, not hardware, software, or living expenses.
• Proof of the internship opportunity, i.e. offer letter or email, written in English, which outlines employer’s contact information, confirms that the internship has been offered and accepted, lists the start and end dates for the internship, the total number of hours to be worked, and that it is unpaid. The employer also must complete this verification form regarding the Fair Labor and Standards Act.

Dobson-Thaker Internship Endowment

The application deadline has passed for Summer, 2021.

These internship funds have been generously given by Julie Dobson and Chet Thaker to support undergraduate students at William & Mary who are participating in unpaid summer internships.  Awards are based on a budget model for living expenses and are not intended to provide pay for the internship.

To be eligible, applicants must be returning to the college after the completion of the internship, i.e. a rising sophomore, junior, or senior. May or August 2021 grads are not eligible. To apply for the funding, the student must have secured an unpaid internship that is a minimum of 160 hours, worked at one organization, over at least four weeks. The minimum required hours must be completed between May - August, 2021. An applicant cannot use multiple internship offers to meet the duration and hourly requirements.

To apply, a student must submit the following 5 documents. Keep in mind that the application process is competitive and all application materials should be well-written and free of errors.

• Statement of interest (no more than 800 words total) addressing the following points:
  • What is the connection between this internship and your career goals? How do you hope to benefit from the internship? How has your academic coursework prepared you for this internship?
  • In what way would funding help better enable you to pursue an internship? If relevant, outline any costs you anticipate incurring as a result of the internship.
  • List any other sources of funding that you have applied for and/or received whether from William & Mary or external sources. Please note the amount of the funding and when you anticipate hearing about whether you will receive it.
• Up-to-date resume (max. 2 pages). You may wish to view resources on our website.
• Internship posting or position description
• Budget (demonstrating the intended use of internship funds). Please utilize the following worksheet.  Please note: the award is considered taxable income, which may affect the amount you receive.  Additional note: for remote internships, only tech needs such as hot spots and additional data will be considered for funding, not hardware, software, or living expenses.
• Proof of the internship opportunity, i.e. offer letter or email, written in English, which outlines employer’s contact information, confirms that the internship has been offered and accepted, lists the start and end dates for the internship, the total number of hours to be worked, and that it is unpaid. The employer also must complete this verification form regarding the Fair Labor and Standards Act.

Bertha Taylor Scholarship for Public Affairs Internships - This scholarship will not be available Summer, 2021.

Thanks to the generosity of Bertha Taylor and alumni of the College, the William & Mary Charles Center for Academic Excellence is able to award a number of scholarships to help support continuing undergraduate-level students undertaking summer internships related public affairs. The exact number of awards and the amount of each will vary from year to year.
To be eligible, applicants must be continuing undergraduate-level students who are undertaking unpaid or low-paying summer internships related to public affairs. To apply for the grant, the student will need to have an offer and proof of the unpaid or low-paid internship.

Upon completion of the internship, all recipients of Taylor funding must complete and submit an evaluation of the internship. In addition, all recipients must submit one 400-word reflective essay on their experiences, including a photograph and short biography of themselves. 

To apply, a student must submit the following 5 documents. Keep in mind that the application process is competitive and all application materials should be well-written.

• Statement of interest (no more than 800 words total) addressing the following points:
  • What is the connection between this internship and your career goals? How do you hope to benefit from the internship?
  • In what way would funding help better enable you to pursue an internship? If relevant, outline any costs you anticipate incurring as a result of the internship.
  • List any other sources of funding that you have applied for and/or received whether from either William & Mary or external sources. Please note the amount of the funding and when you anticipate hearing about whether you will receive it.
• Up-to-date resume
• Internship posting or position description
• Budget (demonstrating the intended use of internship funds). Please utilize the following worksheet.
• Proof of the internship opportunity, i.e. offer letter or email, written in English, which outlines employer’s contact information, confirms that the internship has been offered and accepted, lists the start and end dates for the internship, the total number of hours to be worked, and that it is unpaid. The employer also must complete this verification form regarding the Fair Labor and Standards Act.

Lawrence and Jean Irwin Memorial Internship Scholarship

The application deadline has passed for Summer, 2021.

Thanks to a generous donation by Lawrence and Jean Irwin, the William & Mary Government Department is able to award a number of scholarships to help support continuing undergraduate-level students undertaking summer internships related politics, government, or public affairs. The exact number of awards and the amount of each will vary from year to year.

Applicants must be continuing undergraduate-level students majoring in Government or Public Policy and undertaking non- or low-paying summer internships related to politics, government, or public affairs in general (positions with law firms, consultants or other for-profit enterprises do not qualify).

Students may apply while still awaiting word about an internship, but Irwin Scholarships will only be awarded once they provide confirmation of a formal offer in letter or email form.

Students receiving credit for academic work in conjunction with their internships, through the College or another university, are not eligible for Irwin Scholarship funding.

Students already receiving funds from the interning organization or the College (e.g., Departmental or Charles Center summer support, Monroe Scholarships, other FUSE scholarships) are not eligible.

Upon completion of the internship, all recipients of Irwin funding must complete and submit an evaluation of the internship.

To apply, a student must submit the following 5 documents. Keep in mind that the application process is competitive and all application materials should be well-written.

• Statement of interest (no more than 800 words total) addressing the following points:
  • What is the connection between this internship and your career goals? How do you hope to benefit from the internship?
  • In what way would funding help better enable you to pursue an internship? If relevant, outline any costs you anticipate incurring as a result of the internship.
  • List any other sources of funding that you have applied for and/or received whether from either William & Mary or external sources. Please note the amount of the funding and when you anticipate hearing about whether you will receive it.
• Up-to-date resume
• Internship posting or position description
• Budget (demonstrating the intended use of internship funds). Please utilize the following worksheet.  Please note: the award is considered taxable income, which may affect the amount you receive.
• Proof of the internship opportunity, i.e. offer letter or email, written in English, which outlines employer’s contact information, confirms that the internship has been offered and accepted, lists the start and end dates for the internship, the total number of hours to be worked, and that it is unpaid. The employer also must complete this verification form regarding the Fair Labor and Standards Act.

Reves Center Summer Internship Scholarships - This scholarship will not be available Summer, 2021.

Application Deadline: typically mid-April. Please note: no applications will be accepted after the deadline!

The Reves Center offers a number of scholarships for continuing students at the undergraduate or graduate level. Students must be involved in full-time internships overseas or in domestic agencies/organizations that are international in focus.

To be eligible, applicants may not be graduating before December of the application year.

Upon completion of the internship, all recipients of Reves Center funding must complete and submit an evaluation of the internship. In addition, all recipients must submit one 400-word reflective essay on their experiences, including a photograph and short biography of themselves. Essays may be considered for publication on the Reves Center website and/or in the Reves Center’s magazine, World Minded. A one minute video of the internship may be substituted for the essay if desired. All essays and videos should be sent to Reves Center Communications. 

To apply, a student must submit the following 5 documents. Keep in mind that the application process is competitive and all application materials should be well-written.

• Statement of interest (no more than 800 words total) addressing the following points:
  • What is the connection between this internship and your career goals? How do you hope to benefit from the internship?
  • In what way would funding help better enable you to pursue an internship? If relevant, outline any costs you anticipate incurring as a result of the internship.
  • List any other sources of funding that you have applied for and/or received whether from either William & Mary or external sources. Please note the amount of the funding and when you anticipate hearing about whether you will receive it.
• Up-to-date resume
• Internship posting or position description
• Budget (demonstrating the intended use of internship funds). Please utilize the following worksheet.
• Proof of the internship opportunity, i.e. offer letter or email, written in English, which outlines employer’s contact information, confirms that the internship has been offered and accepted, lists the start and end dates for the internship, the total number of hours to be worked, and that it is unpaid. The employer also must complete this verification form regarding the Fair Labor and Standards Act.

H. Stewart Dunn, Jr. Civil Liberties Fellowships 

Application Deadline: typically mid-April. Please note: no applications will be accepted after the deadline!

The H. Stewart Dunn, Jr. Civil Liberties Fellowships exists thanks to the generous donation by Timothy P. Dunn and Ellen R. Stofan. The Project funds up to 4 summer internships for William & Mary undergraduates. William and Mary undergraduates are encouraged to seek out low or unpaid civil liberties internship positions at organizations of their choice and apply for a Dunn Fellowship to fund their work. Dunn Fellowships are available for civil liberties internships of personal interest to the applicant, regardless of political affiliation or subject, so long as that organization seeks to preserve and protect civil liberties afforded Americans by the U.S. Constitution. Special consideration will be given to internships with organizations that address civil liberties afforded by the First Amendment. In most cases, internships with public defenders’ offices are not eligible for funding. Most fellowships range from $2000 to $3000, depending on student need.

To be eligible, applicants may be from any field of study, but they must be continuing undergraduate students. The internships must last a minimum of five full-time weeks.

Post-fellowships have additional responsibilities. Upon completion of the internship, scholarship recipients must complete and submit an online evaluation of the internship. They will be expected to provide a one-page summary of their work and responsibilities with their civil liberties organization. This report will be submitted to Professor Chris Nemacheck no later than September 15 of the year in which the internship was completed.

To apply, a student must submit the following 5 documents. Keep in mind that the application process is competitive and all application materials should be well-written.

• Statement of interest (no more than 800 words total) addressing the following points:
  • What is the connection between this internship and your career goals? How do you hope to benefit from the internship?
  • In what way would funding help better enable you to pursue an internship? If relevant, outline any costs you anticipate incurring as a result of the internship.
  • List any other sources of funding that you have applied for and/or received whether from either William & Mary or external sources. Please note the amount of the funding and when you anticipate hearing about whether you will receive it.
• Up-to-date resume
• Internship posting or position description
• Budget (demonstrating the intended use of internship funds). Please utilize the following worksheet.
• Proof of the internship opportunity, i.e. offer letter or email, written in English, which outlines employer’s contact information, confirms that the internship has been offered and accepted, lists the start and end dates for the internship, the total number of hours to be worked, and that it is unpaid. The employer also must complete this verification form regarding the Fair Labor and Standards Act.

J. Edward Grimsley Fellowship for Journalism  

Please note: This is *not* an internship; it is a source of funding for grants to be awarded to students who have already acquired an internship.

The application deadline has passed for Summer, 2021.

This fellowship was created to allow William and Mary undergraduate students to gain practical journalism experience during the summer. Mr. Grimsley graduated from the College in 1951 with a degree in Government. Now retired, he is the former editor of the Richmond Times Dispatch and has won numerous awards from the Virginia Press Association. In 2021, the Charles Center will award one $3,000 Grimsley fellowship.

To apply, a student must submit the following 5 documents. Keep in mind that the application process is competitive and all application materials should be well-written.

• Statement of interest (no more than 800 words total) addressing the following points:
  • What is the connection between this internship and your career goals? How do you hope to benefit from the internship?
  • In what way would funding help better enable you to pursue an internship? If relevant, outline any costs you anticipate incurring as a result of the internship.
  • List any other sources of funding that you have applied for and/or received whether from either William & Mary or external sources. Please note the amount of the funding and when you anticipate hearing about whether you will receive it.
  • Up-to-date resume (max. 2 pages). You may wish to view resources on our website.
  • Internship posting or position description
  • Budget (demonstrating the intended use of internship funds). Please utilize the following worksheet.
  • Proof of the internship opportunity, i.e. offer letter or email, written in English, which outlines employer’s contact information, confirms that the internship has been offered and accepted, lists the start and end dates for the internship, the total number of hours to be worked, and that it is unpaid. The employer also must complete this verification form regarding the Fair Labor and Standards Act.

Alan B. Miller Entrepreneurship Center Internship Program

The deadline has passed for Summer, 2021.

Overview
The Alan B. Miller Entrepreneurship Center Internship Program is a 10 week long paid internship for entrepreneurially minded students who are interested in working for startups. Students' applications will be reviewed by established alumni startups based on their specific skill set and background.

Purpose
The purpose of the program is to allow students to continue their entrepreneurial studies during the summer. This opportunity not only provides students with real world experiences but hopefully a lifelong mentor. Additionally, the program aims to support alumni startups by providing partial funds to hire hard-working William & Mary interns.

• Resume
• Short answer section
• Possible Interview

Timeline
March 7th: Application Deadline

Late March to Early April: Company Decisions

Expected start date depends on start-up

Note: some positions will be remote for Summer 2021 

• Members of the Alan B. Miller Entrepreneurship Center
• Willing to learn new skills
• Proven self starters
• Outside of the box thinkers

• Commit to a zoom meeting with the CEO of their respective company
• Afterwards, write a short essay about your experience
• Contact companies that you have applied to and resign your application

Compensation
Interns can expect to be paid $5,000 for the summer.

Questions?

Please contact Savannah Orsak at sjorsak@email.wm.edu for any questions about the program.

Applications will be posted in TribeCareers in early February.

Public Policy Fellowship Program for Internships

Application Deadline: April 20, 2022.  Please note: no applications will be accepted after the deadline!

Apply in TribeCareers

(Please note: The requirements of this fellowship program differ in some important respects from FUSE programs managed by the Cohen Career Center and other William & Mary community partners.  Please be sure to follow the policies and procedures as detailed on the Public Policy Program website [click here].) 

William & Mary's Public Policy Program and the Schroeder Center for Health Policy provide financial support for selected public policy students who are considering unpaid or low-paid positions.  The Public Policy Program will support internships in all areas of public policy, and the Schroeder Center will support internships specifically in the field of health policy.  

Schroeder Center for Health Policy Fellowship Program for Internships

Application Deadline: April 20, 2022. Please note: no applications will be accepted after the deadline!

Apply in TribeCareers

(Please note: The requirements of this fellowship program differ in some important respects from FUSE programs managed by the Cohen Career Center and other William & Mary community partners.  Please be sure to follow the policies and procedures as detailed on the Schroeder Center for Health Policy’s website [click here].) 

William & Mary's Schroeder Center for Health Policy and the Public Policy Program provide financial support for selected public policy students who are considering unpaid or low-paid positions.  The Schroeder Center will support internships in the field of health policy, and the Public Policy Program will support internships in all other areas of public policy.  

Selected public policy students receiving funding under the Public Policy/Schroeder Center Fellowship Program will receive as much as $3,000 to support eligible, unpaid or low-paid summer public policy internships.  For complete details on the policies and procedures related to this program (including eligibility and application requirements), please visit the Schroeder Center for Health Policy’s website by clicking here.

Please contact Elaine McBeth (mcbeth@wm.edu; 757-221-2386) if you should have any questions about this Fellowship Program.

Student Eligibility

Our internship funding is available to undergraduate students currently enrolled full-time or part-time in any degree program. International students (F1/J1 visas) may apply, however, consider any effect the award would have on tax status -- please consult the Reves Center for more information. Awards are limited to one per student per year. Applicants must be in good academic standing at the time of application and remain in good standing throughout the internship. If the Spring 2022 cumulative GPA falls below 2.5, the funding award will be subject to review. Applicants need to be in good disciplinary status with the college as well and the selection process will involve a review of Dean of Student’s records.

Internship and Employer Eligibility  

The internship must meet the specific requirements, duration, and total hours which are outlined in the descriptions above.  The minimum required hours must be completed between May-August, 2022. An applicant cannot use multiple internship offers to meet the duration and hourly requirements.  Our funding cannot be applied retroactively toward any internship hours that were completed prior to May 2022.

Federal law requires payment of interns unless the internship satisfies criteria outlined by the U.S. Department of Labor.  William & Mary cannot determine whether any internship satisfies the Department of Labor criteria. To help ensure that William & Mary students are provided with beneficial internships, William & Mary requires all employers participating in the program to certify that they have reviewed and will abide by the Department of Labor criteria established in the FLSA.  Employers must submit an online verification form which will route directly to [[lrandolph, Lisa Randolph]].

Special Considerations Required for International Internship Opportunities  

William & Mary's Travel Warning policy should be considered for any international internship. The College's policy establishes the circumstances under which student travel to countries subject to a U.S. State Department Travel Warning is permitted. Students hoping to intern abroad while receiving funding for an internship, should check the DOS Travel Warnings for the country they are interested in. If the country is under a DOS Travel Warning, please complete a petition which will be reviewed by the Reves Center. All petitions must be received by Nick Vasquez, International Travel and Security Manager, at the Reves Center no later than April 1st. 

Selection Criteria

The review committee will consider the following factors: academic standing, disciplinary status, nature of the internship, and the connection between the internship and the applicant's career interests.

Basis for Disqualification

The following criteria serve as automatic disqualification from the FUSE funding process:

• Incomplete application at time of deadline or submission of materials after the deadline
• Non-completion of the internship requirements
• Independent or unsupervised internships.  Virtual internships will be considered Summer, 2021 only
• Internships through fee-based programs
• Internships with William & Mary. No research projects or work under any department at the undergraduate or graduate campuses will be funded.
• Internship site is owned or managed by member of intern’s family
• Inaccurate representation of internship or employer information
• Honor code, academic or disciplinary conduct violations
• Non-completion of post-internship commitments
• Transferring or withdrawing from the college before, during, or after the internship is completed

Selection Committee 

Applications will be reviewed by a committee consisting of William & Mary employees from the Cohen Career Center, Charles Center and Government Department.  The committee will conduct a review after the deadline.

Disbursement of Award 

Awards will be distributed prior to the experience. If an intern does not complete the full internship for any reason, they will be responsible for repaying the full award amount. Questions about funding can be directed to [[lrandolph, Lisa Randolph]].

Post-Internship Expectations 

Following the completion of the internship, the student must complete an evaluation reflecting on the internship’s impact on his/her academic and career goals. The internship supervisor must submit an evaluation of the intern’s performance including verification that the required hours were completed between May and Aug, 2022. If the supervisor evaluation form is not returned at the conclusion of the experience, the internship is considered incomplete, and students will be expected to repay all funds awarded. If you have any questions about this, please contact [[lrandolph, Lisa Randolph]].

Inclusion in Publicity Materials & Donor Events 

Acceptance of an award by a student implies his/her agreement that the college may use the student’s name and likeness in materials related to the internship funds. Recipients may request an exemption from this by writing to [[lrandolph, Lisa Randolph]]. Recipient agrees to be available as requested for activities such as thank you letters, information sessions, and donor-recognition events.

Additional Funding 

The internship funds managed by the Cohen Career Center are just a few ways William & Mary provides financial support for internships. A student can investigate additional funding for internships and summer study opportunities via the Charles Center and  Office of Community Engagement, as well as his/her academic department(s). The Cohen Career Center awards can be held concurrently with any other William and Mary merit awards, although these awards/sources should be mentioned in the section of the application that addresses costs of the internship and financial need.