Summer Social Impact Internship (SSII) Fund

The Summer Social Impact Internship (SSII) Fund supports undergraduate students who have committed to unpaid summer internships with nonprofit or government organizations dedicated to social impact, civic engagement and/or public policy.

After receiving an offer or developing an internship with an organization, eligible students may apply for SSII funding to defray anticipated costs, such as housing, transportation and food.

Students are encouraged to apply by the priority deadline of April 10, 2023. Applicants must apply by the final deadline of May 19, 2023 to be considered for this funding. The selection committee typically responds to applicants within seven business days. Applications can be completed in Handshake by requesting an Experience and selecting "Summer Social Impact Internship Fund Application (2023)" as the type.

Eligibility

Applicants who meet all of the requirements below are eligible to apply for the funding. Please note that an application does not guarantee funding. Awards are based on meeting eligibility criteria and the strength of the application; they are also contingent on funding availability during the application cycle.

Class year

Applicants must be currently enrolled first years, sophomores or juniors. Students on leave in spring 2023 and/or fall 2023 are not eligible for funding.

Organization

Applicants must have an unpaid internship offer with a nonprofit or government organization committed to a social impact, civic engagement and/or public policy mission. Students who received offers or accepted an internship from an organization through which two other students have already received SSII funding this application cycle are not eligible, nor are students who have accepted opportunities that require the student to pay an organization for placement and/or participation.

Duration

Applicants must work at least 10 hours per week for at least four weeks in the role.

Supervision

Applicants must have an internship supervisor who is not a current undergraduate student; has a minimum of two years professional experience; works full-time in their role and is not working full-time at another organization; and is available to meet with the intern regularly throughout the course of the internship.

Location

Both in-person and virtual opportunities are eligible. International sites are not eligible for funding unless students are applying to a site in their country of permanent residence. Consult the current guidance and guidelines from Princeton University on international travel before applying.

It is the responsibility of individual students to assess an internship’s logistics. We strongly recommend that students evaluate offers for health and safety, professional development and other aspects of the opportunity. Jessica Matzko is available to consult with students about any questions they may have regarding vetting internships and organizations.

I left my internship feeling more empowered to pursue opportunities that previously seemed inaccessible to me.

- Auhjanae McGee ’23

Funding

If approved for funding, the award amount is contingent upon the average weekly commitment.

Full-time commitment (e.g., 30+ hours/week): $600 per week
Extended part-time commitment (e.g., 20-29 hour/week): $400 per week
Part-time commitment (e.g., 10-19 hours/week): $250 per week

The maximum funding amount for a single internship in summer 2023 is $6,000.

Funding will be disbursed in two installments. The first installment, which will be 75 percent of the total funding awarded, will be provided through SAFE in May/early June. The second installment (the final 25 percent) will be provided through SAFE after program requirements are completed.

Students who accept a SSII Fund award for a summer internship:

May not accept funding from other Princeton sources for the same internship (and may not apply for “top off” funding from other departments/programs for the same internship)
Must withdraw all other funding applications for the same internship
May not accept more than $6,000 total in funding for summer projects or internships from Princeton sources
Must acknowledge that they have accepted the internship offer for which they have been awarded funding. Awards are not transferable to other internship offers.

Participation

Students receiving an award must complete the following:

An SSII advising appointment scheduled in Handshake and statement of commitment
A learning contract signed by your supervisor, due the end of your first week of your internship
Weekly written reflections, beginning Monday, June 5, 2023, and continuing through the duration of your internship
Mid-term and final evaluation forms, completed by you and your supervisor
A post-internship reflection essay
A poster, presented at the Service & Social Impact Internship Showcase event in fall 2023

Application

Applications can be submitted through Handshake beginning Monday, January 9, 2023, and will be reviewed once per week until Friday, May 19 (or until funding for this cycle is allocated). We recommend applicants apply by the priority deadline, April 10, 2023.

Partial applications will not be reviewed until they are completed. Students can expect to hear back around a week after submitting their applications. An application must be completed before the internship begins. Applications for an internship that is already in process will not be accepted.

Students must receive an offer to participate in an internship before they are eligible to apply for funding and can submit an application consisting of:

A description of the internship from the nonprofit organization
A copy of a letter or email from the nonprofit organization stating the start and end dates of the internship and the average expected hours per week
Responses to the questions on the application form

FAQs

How can I tell if an organization I'm working for is a nonprofit?

There's a few ways you can confirm the organization is a nonprofit:

Use the Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool on the IRS website
Consult the GuideStar Directory of Charities and Nonprofit Organizations (includes international organizations)
Check the organization's website
Confirm with your supervisor

You can also use the first two sites listed above to search for potential nonprofits with open positions, and Career Compass to learn more about nonprofit organizations.

How do I demonstrate that the work I will be doing qualifies as social impact, civic engagement or public policy?

When you complete the funding application form, there is a free-response question where you can explain why your opportunity relates to social impact, civic engagement or public policy

Do I need to pay taxes on my funding award?

An award received from the SSII Fund is taxable because it is a non-qualified payment received from the University.

At the start of the calendar year, the Office of Finance and Treasury sends students an email listing all payments they've received from the University that are non-qualified and may need to be reported on their taxes. SSII awards will be included in that list, and you should plan to report it on your taxes.

International students should seek tax compliance insight from the Global Financial Services department before seeking a SSII Fund award.

Are international students eligible?

There may be restrictions on the types of opportunities students are able to accept depending on their visa status.

We advise all students with foreign visas to consult with the Davis International Center before committing to an internship.

Can I get help with my application?

Yes. Center for Career Development staff is available to assist you. You can schedule an appointment in Handshake to meet with an adviser.

Is an independent project eligible?

Only opportunities hosted by a nonprofit are eligible.

I don't have summer plans yet. Can I still apply for funding if I can arrange an internship or project with a nonprofit before the deadline?

Yes. While you need an offer before applying for funding, you still have time to find an opportunity and receive an offer. If you're looking for a qualifying opportunity, consider:

Searching sites like Handshake, CareerShift and Idealist for qualifying positions
Attending career fairs and campus recruitment events where you can meet prospective employers
Finding potential qualifying employers using Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool on the IRS website and the GuideStar Directory of Charities and Nonprofit Organizations (includes international organizations)
Contacting any previous nonprofit employers you had to see if they have any openings or would consider creating an unpaid opportunity for you this summer
Meeting with a career adviser to explore options and put a plan together

My experience is paid. Am I still eligible for this funding?

If your internship is paid a minimal stipend directly by an employer, you can send us an email at [email protected] and a member of the Center for Career Development team will get in touch with you to help you review your options.

You are not eligible for this funding if you are already receiving funding from a Princeton source for any project/internship this summer.

I am already receiving funding from the University for a summer internship or project. Am I eligible for this funding if it’s for an additional project or internship?

No, you are not eligible for this funding if you are already receiving funding from the University for any summer project or internship.

Please email us at [email protected] if you have questions about this or believe it may not apply to your situation.

How do I get my pre-internship forms and who do I contact to get them approved?

If you are selected to receive funding, the Center for Career Development will provide you with the forms and instructions on how to fill them out and submit them for approval.

I'm still waiting to hear back some details on my summer project/experience. Can I still apply?

Yes, you can still apply for funding.

Please note in the application which aspects of your project/experience (e.g., the start and end dates) are yet to be determined.

Can my internship be either virtual or in-person?

Both in-person and virtual opportunities are eligible, though there are many considerations around travel, workplace safety and personal comfort that you may want to take into account.

Consult the current guidance and guidelines from Princeton University on travel, and you can meet with a career adviser to discuss related issues and to seek information you may need from employers as you consider the opportunity.

Can a family member, current student or new professional be my supervisor?

No; the opportunity is ineligible for funding if a family member, current student or new professional (someone with less than two years of professional experience) is your supervisor.

An important part of a project/internship is receiving mentorship, supervision and guidance from an experienced individual.

Can I start my application, save my progress and finish it at a different time?

No, there is not an option to save your application and resume at a later date. We recommend completing your responses to the questions in this Google Doc and cutting and pasting them in when you are ready to submit your application.

How do I upload an attachment to my experience request in Handshake?

You can find step-by-step instructions on how to do this on Handshake's support site.

How can I track the status of my application and required documents in Handshake?

You can find step-by-step instructions on how to do this on Handshake's support site. You will receive notifications from Handshake when your application is received and being reviewed, and you will be notified if your application is approved or declined.