The Nonprofit Summer Internship Program – Year Four

For the past four summers, The Denver Foundation's Nonprofit Internship Program has afforded college students, especially those from populations traditionally underrepresented in the nonprofit sector, an opportunity to engage in meaningful internship opportunities with Metro Denver nonprofit organizations.  For ten weeks, selected interns partner with Community Grants Program grantees and gain exposure to several aspects of the work of a nonprofit organization, including programmatic work, fundraising, and governance.  Host organizations must have a clearly articulated commitment to building inclusiveness and diversity, and be engaged in strategies to become more inclusive as an organization.

The Nonprofit Internship Program was inspired by findings from the Inclusiveness Project that internships help encourage individuals of color to pursue opportunities in the nonprofit sector.  In May 2006, The Denver Foundation conducted a survey with college students and young nonprofit professionals about how nonprofits can better connect with people of color.  Of the 112 respondents (all of whom identified themselves as individuals of color), 95% thought it would be useful for nonprofits to do more outreach to people of color about opportunities for work or leadership in the nonprofit sector and 90% expressed interest in internship opportunities within the nonprofit sector.  In response to these findings, The Denver Foundation established the Nonprofit Internship Program in the summer of 2007.

The program’s popularity has continually grown over these years.  This year 178 applications were received for 12 positions, and 46 nonprofit organizations applied to be one of the 10 host organizations (The Denver Foundation hosts two interns).

“We are seeking ways to expand our resources to include more participants in the program,” says Lauren Casteel, VP of Philanthropic Partnerships.  “I love this program and love the students.  It is an honor to watch them develop and grow each summer.”