Accelerate YOUR GROWTH & Impact

The Summer Fellowship Program supports the learning and engagement of highly-motivated individuals passionate about social change and equity while they engage in summer internships in the social impact sector.

Through the Summer Fellowship Program, individuals who are preparing to enter the workforce for the first time or are new to the workforce, participate in meaningful summer internships at mission-driven organizations while taking part in engaging and informative Summer Fellowship programming. The Summer Fellowship bolsters the leadership skills and networks of participants, illuminates pathways to a variety of careers and leadership roles in the social sector, and fuels their passion for mission-driven work.

Launched in 2006 at New Sector Alliance, the Summer Fellowship Program formally transitioned to the management and ownership of INP in fall 2021 as part of a strategic partnership agreement between the two organizations. Read more about the program transfer here.

WHAT IS THE summer FELLOWSHIP?

The Summer Fellowship Program brings together individuals who are preparing to enter the workforce, including undergraduate students, career changers, and non-traditional nonprofit job seekers who are preparing to enter the workforce, who are interested in exploring careers in the social impact sector. During the program, Summer Fellows gain an understanding of how nonprofit and mission-driven organizations function, hone their leadership and professional skills, and engage in mentoring relationships and network-building that extend beyond the Summer Fellowship experience. The Summer Fellowship Program provides skills, tools, knowledge, and networks that emerging leaders need to be more equipped for long-term career growth. Included in the experience:

  • Seminars, all of which deeply integrate the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, that explore career development, build knowledge about the social impact sector, cover essential leadership skills, and introduce the fundamentals of design-thinking.
  • Networking conversations with a diverse network of other nonprofit and social impact professionals to provide opportunities for connection, collaboration, and building social capital.
  • One-on-one mentorship with a social impact professional.
  • Peer Learning with other Summer Fellows to work on skills, offer support and problem solving, and discuss workshop topics and concepts.
  • Access to additional resources through INP’s active and diverse network. This includes learning from other equity-driven leaders including current students, alumni, faculty members, community partners, and funders.

Who Are our summer fellows?

At INP, we know that the learning experience in the classroom is strengthened by the diversity of our students. We encourage candidates across all identities, backgrounds, and organizational sizes to apply.

Ideal candidates for the Summer Fellowship Program are:

  • Undergraduate students, career changers, and non-traditional nonprofit job seekers who are preparing to enter the workforce
  • Have already secured a summer internship (part-time or full-time) at a nonprofit organization (required)
  • Committed to working within the nonprofit or social impact sector.
  • Growth-oriented and passionate about social justice, racial and gender equity work, and community change that have secured a summer internship or employment with a social impact organization.

We are no longer accepting applications for our Summer Fellowship Program.

Did you know?

We actively recruit diverse classes in order to strengthen students’ learning experience and build a leadership pipeline that reflects our communities. Over 60% of Summer Fellows identify as BIPOC.

My summer was fantastic, and I learned more in these 10 weeks than I have in any classroom.

Palavi Thatai, Summer Fellowship Alum

The most valuable part of my Fellowship experience was the network of people. It provided an excellent network of resources and empowered me to take direction and control of my career. Thanks to the support in the Fellowship, I committed to the social sector and feel prepared to take on leadership roles.

Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, Summer Fellowship Alum

sEMINARS

Summer Fellows will meet virtually on Friday mornings for two hours, five times throughout the summer (roughly every two weeks), mid-June through mid-August. Seminars are facilitated by a lead faculty member, complemented by guest instructors, and include engaging presentations, discussions, and small group work with a cohort of 10 to 25 peers, as well as the opportunity to get to know others in the cohort from your geographic location.

Seminar topics will focus on three areas:

  • Nonprofit Sector Knowledge Building (Governance, Finance, Organizational Structures, Mission and Theory of Change)
  • Self Exploration and Future Planning (Identity, Interest Discovery, Career Odyssey Visioning, Communication Styles) 
  • Workplace Success (Organizational Culture, Goal Setting, Work Planning, Pay Equity and Negotiation, Networking)

SCHEDULE

We are no longer accepting applications for our Summer Fellowship Program. For the health and safety of students and staff, the Summer Fellowship is being held virtually for the duration of the program, from June to August 2023.

LOCATIONS

There are currently no geographic restrictions. We encourage any and all early career social impact professionals in the U.S. and territories to apply.

Process

Our application process consists of an online application with three components:

  • Program preferences, education, and demographic information
  • Short responses to three prompts
  • Virtual interview with an INP staff member

Applicants will receive a more detailed timeline during the interview process.

Application Deadlines

We are no longer accepting applications for our Summer Fellowship Program.

Tuition

While historically the tuition for INP’s Summer Fellowship has been $1,000, we are committed to making all of our programs as accessible as possible. Thanks to the generosity of our Board of Directors and funding partners, INP is now able to waive tuition for any individual who would like to attend the Summer Fellowship Program. Please do not let financial constraints prevent you from applying.

However, if you or your organization is in a position to contribute financially toward the cost of participating in the Summer Fellowship Program, it will allow INP to extend these types of opportunities to even more social sector leaders. If accepted into the program, you can let us know at the time of enrollment that you are open to a discussion with INP staff about this. The ability to contribute financially will in no way affect admissions decisions for this INP program.

Continuing Education, networking & alumni community

In addition to the significant learning and growth participants achieve during the Summer Fellowship Program, INP alumni gain access to lifelong alumni benefits including continuing education, networking opportunities, and more. Check out our Alumni page for more on these benefits.

Alumni Report

%

of RISE and Summer alums say that skills learned at the Fellowship were largely transferable to their current role

%

of RISE and Summer alums remain in social impact work

%

of RISE and Summer partner organizations agree that the support provided by RISE and Summer Fellows was a good or excellent value

%

of RISE and Summer alums continue to rely on their Fellowship network as an important support system outside of work

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