The Monthly Launch
The Road Less Traveled: Non-Profit Internships
Top 3 Myths About Interning With Non-Profit Organizations
Angela Schmiede
Dean of Academic & Professional Success
Menlo College
It’s easy to get drawn into imagining yourself as an intern at Google or with a prestigious firm on Wall Street. The reality is that most big name corporations have highly selective internship and employment programs. By one estimate, you would have a better shot at gaining admission to Stanford or Harvard than you would at scoring a job at Google. What other options are available as the competition for internship positions and jobs becomes more intense?
Nonprofit internships are often overlooked as an excellent way to gain transferable skills and work on substantive projects that you can own. Let’s debunk some of the common myths about interning with a nonprofit:
Myth #1: Having a “big name” company on my resume is the best way to get a job when I graduate.
Reality: While interning with a top company will certainly get the attention of prospective employers, at the end of the day, they are more interested in what you have actually accomplished. Your past performance is the best indicator of the value you can bring to a prospective employer. Because many nonprofits have limited human and financial resources, interns are often able to manage major projects that communicate a high level of responsibility on resumes. Being able to say that you implemented QuickBooks in your organization, coordinated a fundraising event that raised $500,000, or designed and launched a nonprofit’s website that increased volunteer applications by 15 percent, can provide evidence of your strong project management skills. Projects of this scale and level of responsibility are typically not offered to interns in larger corporations.
Myth #2: Interning with a nonprofit means that I will be working for free.
Reality: While a number of nonprofits do not have the resources to pay volunteer interns, internship offices are seeing a trend in more nonprofits offering hourly wages or stipends to their interns. In part, nonprofits are building internships into their budgets as they realize the value that interns can bring. In addition, many nonprofits are able to use grant funding to hire interns for special projects.
Myth #3: I should intern in a “real” business.
Reality: There are over 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the U.S. Together these organizations employ 8 percent of our workforce and account for over 5 percent of the U.S. Gross National Product. Business majors can find internships in nonprofits in areas ranging from IT to marketing to finance. Do you know what the NFL, New York Stock Exchange, Princeton University, and American Red Cross all have in common? They are all nonprofit organizations.
A frequently overlooked benefit to interning with a nonprofit is the opportunity to be part of an organization that has social impact. Imagine the potential rewards of interning for an organization that measures its bottom line not just on its financial impact, but also on the impact it has on society. Another benefit to consider is that interns in nonprofits often have the opportunity to interact with board members, some of whom might have influential leadership positions in corporations and can help you expand your network. Opening your internship search to nonprofit organizations might benefit you in ways you never expected.
Non-Profit Internships
Check out these wonderful non-profit based internship programs.
You can always find more information on more opportunities like these by logging into UTSA Handshake, http://utsa.joinhandshake.com/login OR by connecting with us on Twitter and Instagram: @InternUTSA
SA Clubhouse Leadership Intern Program
CLIP participants are afforded an opportunity to learn non-profit leadership skills at one of San Antonio’s most-exciting and rewarding non-profit organizations.
M.A.D.D. Internship Program
Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving, drugged driving and underage drinking.
M.A.D.D. offers an array of internship opportunities. Interns are given the opportunity to start and finish their own projects. They work closely with staff and may choose to participate in areas of: Marketing, Communications, Community Health, Public Health, Fundraising and Special Events, Criminal Justice, Non-Profit Management, Public Relations, Victim Services, Counseling, Therapy, Community Outreach and Public Policy.
For more information on internship opportunities, contact Mike Dunnelll at mike.dunnell@madd.org or 210-349-0200 Extension 4817
Intern of the Month!!
This month we celebrate, Kendall Cantor!! (pictured above)
Multidisciplinary Studies, Freshman
Kendall will be spending her summer as a City of San Antonio Ambassador where she will be placed at UTHSC-SA. Kendall aspires to be a nurse practitioner.
Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram to help us celebrate our featured UTSA Internship Student of the Month. Next month could be you! Ask us how.
@internUTSA
IG & Twitter: @internUTSA
Email: career.serivces@utsa.edu
Website: hireroadrunners.com
Phone: 2104587486
Twitter: @internUTSA