Internship Funding
- Summer Opportunities
- Internship Grant Fund (IGF)
- Ellen Rudnick ’72 Student Entrepreneur Fund
- Harold S. Geneen Fund for Internships in Corporate Life
- Tananbaum Fellowship
- Thompson Bartlett Fellowships for Economics
- Thompson Bartlett Fellowships for Science, Mathematics, and Computer Science
- The Vassar Fund for Living and Working Abroad
- Woodward Fund Student Veterans Internship
- Additional Vassar-Funded Summer Experiences:
- Tax and Reporting Obligations for Summer Grants and Fellowships
- Frequently Asked Questions
Summer Opportunities
The CCE has a wealth of resources for students considering summer opportunities, including funding to support internships and related experiences.
For more information about any of the following funding opportunities, please email igf@vassar.edu
Internship Grant Fund (IGF)
The Internship Grant Fund (IGF) provides financial support to Vassar students who are participating in low-pay and unpaid summer internship opportunities. View a list of IGF FAQs.
Deadline:
Rolling; application review begins in March
Eligibility Criteria:
- Current Vassar first year, sophomore, junior with an unpaid or low-pay internship secured
- Students who receive financial aid at Vassar receive priority consideration; certain funds that comprise the IGF are restricted to students who receive financial aid (see below)
- The proposed experience is an internship, research, or comparable experience with a designated supervisor who is an employee of the organization (and not a close family member)
- The proposed experience is a minimum of 20 hours/week and 6 weeks in length
- The proposed internship is not a Vassar-connected experience (eg, research with a faculty member, a project with an administrative office, etc.) or a fee-based program
Award Amounts:
- Typical grants range from $350–$4500
- Amounts range based on financial need, proposed budget, and time commitment (i.e., part-time vs. full-time, 6 weeks vs. 10 weeks)
- Available funds for students who do not receive financial aid are limited; typical awards are $750 or less
Application Process:
- Application components include the following: information about your secured internship(s), employer confirmation, resume, cover letter, budget, financial aid status, and contact information for 2 references, in addition to short answer questions
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in March and will continue until funds are depleted
- Applicants usually receive notification of their award status 2–3 weeks after their application is submitted
Evaluation Criteria:
In addition to demonstrated need, applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Intentionality: The applicant shows evidence of thought around what they are searching for and how criteria for the summer experience have been determined.
- Clarity of learning objectives: The applicant clearly defines and articulates potential takeaways from the proposed summer experience(s).
- Relevance of experience: If the applicant proposes an experience that is exploratory in nature, the applicant provides evidence to explain why the proposed experience(s) allow exploration and reflection on these areas of interest. Alternatively, if the applicant is searching for an experience that is purposeful with regard to identified career goals, the applicant provides evidence for how proposed experiences are relevant to the student's future goals.
- The overall quality of the application: The applicant submits an application that is complete, detailed, and demonstrates attention to detail (eg, free of errors, typos, etc.).
Expectations:
Recipients of IGF funding will be expected to:
- Provide employer confirmation and communicate with the CCE regarding any status changes
- Complete a brief mid-summer check-in
- Write a thank you letter to the donor at the end of the summer (recommended: include a photo of you and/or your internship)
Recipients may also be invited to serve on student panels to share more about their experiences.
Additional notes:
- Awards are contingent upon the continued availability of the proposed experience and travel policy guidelines
Funding Sources:
This year’s Internship Grant Fund is made possible through the generous support of a variety of funding sources, including both unrestricted (e.g., internships in any industry) and restricted funding sources, as detailed below. Any student who applies to the Internship Grant Fund will automatically be considered for funding through all of the following IGF funding sources:
Brigitte Mach Erbe ’63 Internship Fund: Unrestricted by industry.
Class of 2016 Internship Fund: Unrestricted by industry; preference for FGLI+ students.
Ostrow Graff Internship Grant Fund: Unrestricted by industry; preference for students who receive financial aid.
Paula Weil ’58 Internship Fund: Unrestricted by industry; restricted to students who receive financial aid.
Restricted by industry:
Ann Friedberg Kolker ’62 Internship Fund: Supports students with unpaid or low-pay internships in one or more of the following areas: health policy and/or advocacy, scientific research related to health and medicine, or advocacy for women’s rights.
Elizabeth C. Schwartz ’70 Internship Fund: Supports students with internships broadly in the field of environmental studies, with a preference for students who are interested in native plants, food quality, or farm-to-table subject matter.
Julie Reinganum ’77 Internship Fund For Social Justice: Supports students pursuing summer internships with non-profit organizations devoted to social justice and/or civil rights causes, broadly defined; preference for students who receive financial aid.
Mary Bryna Sanger ’71 Internship Fund: Supports students with internships in public policy and public service.
Pauline Newman ’47 Internship Fund: Supports students with internships at the intersections of science, technology, and society, including opportunities within the fields of business, law, public service, engineering, medicine, government, journalism, research, management, and education.
Sheila Ginsberg Riesel ’66 Endowed Legal Internship Fund: Supports students with internships in law and law-related fields.
View a list of past IGF-funded internships.
Ellen Rudnick ’72 Student Entrepreneur Fund
The Ellen Rudnick ’72 Student Entrepreneur Fund provides financial support for Vassar students of all class years to pursue summer opportunities in start-ups/entrepreneurial ventures. The funds can be used to support opportunities that are both creative and innovative where recipients can explore new ideas, especially with organizations that have a social impact.
Fill out the Rudnick application.
Deadline:
April 15
Eligibility Criteria:
- Current Vassar first year, sophomore, junior, or senior engaging in an entrepreneurial venture or interning with a start-up.
- Preference will be given to students who receive financial aid at Vassar.
- Preference will be given to students who are engaged with projects and organizations that have a social impact.
- Preference will also be given to projects or experiences that are full-time in nature.
- Opportunities may be self-initiated or with an entrepreneur or start-up organization. Special consideration will be given to opportunities proposed in conjunction with a Vassar alumna/us.
Awards:
- Two awards of $5000.
- Funds will be distributed as follows: $4500 in May/June; $500 in September.
Application Process:
- Application components include the following: information about your internship or venture, resume, cover letter, and one letter of recommendation.
- Applicants will be notified in early May.
Expectations:
Recipients of the Ellen Rudnick ’72 Student Entrepreneur Fund will be expected to:
- Provide employer confirmation (if not a self-started venture) and communicate with the CCE regarding any status changes
- Complete a Learning Contract
- Complete a brief mid-summer check-in
- Write a thank you letter to the donor at the end of the summer (recommended: include a photo of you and/or your internship)
- Attend a Zoom gathering with the donor and past recipients
Recipients may also be invited to serve on student panels to share more about their experiences.
Additional notes:
- Awards are contingent upon the continued availability of the proposed experience and travel policy guidelines.
This fund is made possible through the generous support of Ellen Rudnick ’72, former Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship and former Executive Director (now Senior Advisor) of the Michael P. Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
View a list of past Rudnick recipients.
Harold S. Geneen Fund for Internships in Corporate Life
The Harold S. Geneen Fund supports Vassar students at internships associated with corporate governance, compliance, and business ethics.
Fill out the Geneen application.
Deadline:
April 15
Eligibility Criteria:
- Current Vassar first-year, sophomore, or junior with a relevant internship secured.
- All majors welcome; students pursuing a major in Economics and/or Political Science are especially encouraged to apply.
- Priority will be given to those applicants who demonstrate a strong interest in corporate management, governance, and/or business ethics.
- Internships can include work with non-profit or for-profit entities, research, and other hands-on pragmatic experiences. Organizations that students have interned for in the past include Institutional Shareholder Services, the Office of Commercial Affairs at the Royal Thai Embassy, JP Morgan Chase Corporate and Investment Bank, NY Green Bank, and The White House.
- Proposed internships should be full-time in nature (eg, 30-40 hours/week for at least 6 weeks).
Awards:
- Two awards of $4000; additional summer earnings relief credit for recipients with unpaid or low-pay internships who have an expected summer earnings contribution.
- Funds will be distributed as follows: $3500 in May/June; $500 in September.
Application Process:
- Application components include the following: information about your confirmed internship, employer confirmation, resume, cover letter, and one letter of recommendation, in addition to a series of short-answer questions.
- Applicants will be notified in early May.
Expectations:
Recipients will be expected to:
- Provide employer confirmation and communicate with the CCE regarding any status changes
- Complete a Learning Contract
- Complete a brief mid-summer check-in
- Write a thank you letter to the donor at the end of the summer (recommended: include a photo of you and/or your internship)
Recipients may also be invited to serve on student panels to share more about their experiences.
Additional notes:
- Awards are contingent upon the continued availability of the proposed experience and travel policy guidelines.
This fund is made possible through a generous gift from The Harold S. Geneen Charitable Trust.
View a list of past Geneen recipients.
Tananbaum Fellowship
The Tananbaum Fellowship, also known as the Tananbaum Family Leadership Program for Work and Development, is a merit-based fellowship opportunity designed to provide internship support, mentoring, and enriching educational opportunities for Vassar juniors who demonstrate a commitment to professional and personal growth, achievement, and success. This fellowship is intended to support students across a wide range of industries, including the for-profit sector.
Fill out the Tananbaum application.
Deadline:
April 15
Eligibility Criteria:
- Current Vassar junior with a secured internship in any industry or sector, including for-profit
- All majors welcome
- Internships may be paid or unpaid
Awards:
- Twenty (20) awards of $5000 (domestic) or $6000 (international) WHERE ID = 288; additional summer earnings relief credit for recipients with unpaid or low-pay internships who have an expected summer earnings contribution.
- Funds will be distributed as follows: $4500 in May/June; $500 in September.
Application Process:
- Application components include the following: information about your confirmed internship, employer confirmation, resume, cover letter, transcript, and one letter of recommendation, in addition to a series of short-answer questions.
- Applicants will be notified in early May.
Evaluation Criteria:
Candidates will be evaluated on the basis of four primary criteria:
- Establishment of a clear connection between their immediate career goals and future professional goals
- Demonstration of a record of constructive endeavors, both on campus and during previous summers and other extended breaks
- Evidence of motivation, resourcefulness, maturity, and the ability to take initiative
- Demonstrated academic commitment and accomplishment
As this is a merit-based fellowship, financial need is not a consideration in the selection process. Additionally, proposed internships should be full-time in nature (eg, 30–40 hours/week for at least 6 weeks).
Expectations:
Recipients will be expected to:
- Provide employer confirmation and communicate with the CCE regarding any status changes
- Attend 2–3 cohort meetings
- Complete a Learning Contract
- Complete a brief mid-summer check-in
- Write a thank you letter to the donor at the end of the summer (recommended: include a photo of you and/or your internship)
- Attend an in-person or Zoom gathering with the donor in the fall
Recipients may also be invited to serve on student panels to share more about their experiences.
Additional notes:
- Awards are contingent upon the continued availability of the proposed experience and travel policy guidelines
The Tananbaum Family Leadership Program for Work and Development is made possible through the generosity of Steven Tananbaum '87 and Lisa Tananbaum.
View a list of past Tananbaum Fellowship recipients.
Thompson Bartlett Fellowships for Economics
Five (5) Thompson Bartlett Fellowships for Economics have been created to encourage outstanding and highly motivated students to pursue summer opportunities that will allow them to apply their economics education in a practical setting and contribute to US economic advancement. The goal of these need-based fellowships is to create more equitable opportunities for meritorious women and other historically underrepresented people in economics-related professions in corporate, government, university, and non-profit settings.
Fill out the Thompson Bartlett Fellowships for Economics application.
Deadline:
April 15
Eligibility criteria:
- Current sophomore or junior who receives financial aid at Vassar.
- Declared major or correlate in Economics. Preference will be given to majors. Up to 1 of the 5 awards will be made to correlates.
- Applicants with coursework in Quantitative Economics will also receive preference.
- Preference will be given to US citizens, permanent residents, persons applying for permanent residency, Dreamers, and international students fleeing violence.
- Secured internship in a corporate, government, university, or non-profit setting; internships should be full-time (30–40 hours/week) for at least 6 weeks.
- Internships may be paid or unpaid; applicants with unpaid or low-paid experiences will receive priority consideration.
- Summer opportunities may be industry- or research-based, but on- or off-campus research opportunities with Vassar faculty are not eligible.
- Previous recipients are not eligible to apply.
Awards:
- Five recipients will receive $5000 each.
Application Process:
- Application components include the following: information about your confirmed internship, employer confirmation, resume, cover letter, transcript, and one letter of recommendation, in addition to a series of short-answer questions
- Applicants will be notified in early May
Expectations:
Recipients will be expected to:
- Provide employer confirmation and communicate with the CCE regarding any status changes
- Attend 2–3 cohort meetings
- Complete a Learning Contract
- Complete a brief mid-summer check-in
- Write a thank you letter to the donor at the end of the summer (recommended: include a photo of you and/or your internship)
- Attend an in-person or Zoom gathering with the donor in the fall
Recipients may also be invited to serve on student panels to share more about their experiences.
Additional notes:
- Awards are contingent upon the continued availability of the proposed experience and travel policy guidelines
Supported through a generous gift from Dede Thompson Bartlett ’65, this Fellowship has been established to honor Emilie Jones Thompson, Ms. Bartlett’s mother, a champion of higher education for women who overcame enormous obstacles to graduate at age 45 with honors from New York University. Applications from members of historically underrepresented groups in economics are especially encouraged.
View a list of past recipients of the Thompson Bartlett Fellowships for Economics.
Thompson Bartlett Fellowships for Science, Mathematics, and Computer Science
Fifteen (15) Thompson Bartlett Fellowships for Science, Mathematics, and Computer Science have been created to encourage outstanding and highly motivated students to pursue summer opportunities that will allow them to build their scientific, mathematical, and computer science knowledge and advance their career goals for American scientific advancement. This fellowship is offered to encourage students who are interested in entering selected fields of science. The goal of these need-based fellowships is to create more equitable opportunities for meritorious women and other historically underrepresented people in STEM-related professions in corporate, university, non-profit, governmental, or medical settings.
Deadline:
April 15
Eligibility criteria:
- Current sophomore or junior who receives financial aid at Vassar and with a declared major as described below:
- Strong preference: Major in Astronomy, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, or Physics. At least 10 awards will come from this group of majors.
- Preference: Major in Biology, Cognitive Science, Earth Science, or Neuroscience. Up to 5 total awards will come from this group of majors.
- Preference will be given to US citizens, permanent residents, persons applying for permanent residency, Dreamers, and international students fleeing violence.
- Secured internship in a corporate, university, non-profit, governmental, or medical setting; internships should be full-time (30–40 hours/week) for at least 6 weeks
- Internships may be paid or unpaid; applicants with unpaid or low-paid experiences will receive priority consideration.
- It is strongly recommended that all applicants have taken 1–2 (or more) college courses in mathematics.
- Summer opportunities may be in industry or research/lab-based, but on- or off-campus research opportunities with Vassar faculty are not eligible.
- Previous recipients are not eligible to apply.
Awards:
- Fifteen recipients will receive $5000 each.
Application Process:
- Application components include the following: information about your confirmed internship, employer confirmation, resume, cover letter, transcript, and one letter of recommendation, in addition to a series of short-answer questions
- Applicants will be notified in early May
Expectations:
Recipients will be expected to:
- Provide employer confirmation and communicate with the CCE regarding any status changes
- Attend 2–3 cohort meetings
- Complete a Learning Contract
- Complete a brief mid-summer check-in
- Write a thank you letter to the donor at the end of the summer (recommended: include a photo of you and/or your internship)
- Attend an in-person or Zoom gathering with the donor in the fall
Recipients may also be invited to serve on student panels to share more about their experiences.
Additional notes:
- Awards are contingent upon the continued availability of the proposed experience and travel policy guidelines
Supported through a generous gift from Dede Thompson Bartlett ’65, this Fellowship has been established to honor Emilie Jones Thompson, Ms. Bartlett’s mother, a champion of higher education for women who overcame enormous obstacles to graduate at age 45 with honors from New York University. Applications from female-identifying students and members of historically underrepresented groups in STEM fields are especially encouraged.
The Vassar Fund for Living and Working Abroad
The Vassar Fund for Living and Working Abroad provides grants for students to pursue summer internships in foreign countries.
Fill out the Vassar Fund for Living and Working Abroad application.
Deadline:
April 15
Eligibility criteria:
- Current first-year, sophomore, junior, or senior with a secured summer internship in a foreign country. Seniors shall be considered eligible to receive a grant during the summer immediately following their graduation.
- With respect to academic major/correlate, the selection of grant recipients shall be prioritized in the following manner: 1) students who have declared a major in French & Francophone Studies; 2) students who have declared a correlate in French & Francophone Studies; 3) students who have declared a major in the humanities (including the arts, foreign languages and literatures, and social sciences) or a multi-disciplinary program; 4) all other majors.
- All students are welcome to apply, regardless of major.
- Preference will be given to applicants with limited opportunity and experience living and working abroad.
Awards:
- Approximately 5 awards of up to $7000 available
- A portion of the funds may be applied to satisfy the recipients’ summer earnings requirement.
Application Process:
- Application components include the following: information about your confirmed internship, employer confirmation, resume, cover letter, transcript, budget, and one letter of recommendation, in addition to a series of short-answer questions
- Applicants will be notified in early May
Expectations:
Recipients will be expected to:
- Provide employer confirmation and communicate with the CCE regarding any status changes
- Complete a Learning Contract
- Complete a brief mid-summer check-in
- Write a thank you letter to the donor at the end of the summer (recommended: include a photo)
Recipients may also be invited to serve on student panels to share more about their experiences.
Additional notes:
- Awards are contingent upon the continued availability of the proposed experience and travel policy guidelines
Supported through a generous anonymous gift, students are encouraged to seek transformative opportunities to live and work abroad.
View a list of past VFFLAWA recipients.
Woodward Fund Student Veterans Internship
The David, Helen & Marian Woodward Fund-Watertown was created to support veterans enrolled at Vassar pursuing unpaid or low-paid summer internships in government, non-profit organizations, and business. Recognizing that veterans’ benefits do not apply except during the academic year and that some veterans have family responsibilities, the David, Helen & Marian Woodward Fund-Watertown wants to encourage and support veterans’ ability to take summer internships they might not seek otherwise.
Fill out the Woodward Fund application.
Deadline:
May 1 at 11:59 p.m.
Eligibility criteria:
- Current first-year, sophomore, or junior with a secured summer internship
- Military veteran
Awards:
- Several recipients will receive awards of varying amounts.
Application Process:
- Application components include the following: information about your confirmed internship, employer confirmation, resume, cover letter, transcript, and one letter of recommendation, in addition to a series of short-answer questions
- Applicants will be notified in early May
Expectations:
Recipients will be expected to:
- Provide employer confirmation and communicate with the CCE regarding any status changes
- Complete a Learning Contract
- Complete a brief mid-summer check-in
- Write a thank you letter to the donor at the end of the summer (recommended: include a photo of you and/or your internship)
Recipients may also be invited to serve on student panels to share more about their experiences.
Additional notes:
Awards are contingent upon the continued availability of the proposed experience and travel policy guidelines
View a list of past Woodward recipients.
Additional Vassar-Funded Summer Experiences:
In addition to these the grants and funds administered by the Center for Career Education opportunities, a variety of funds for summer experiences are administered by the Dean of Studies Office, individual academic departments and programs, and the Office for Fellowships, and through the following programs:
The Community Fellows program, administered by the Office of Community-Engaged Learning, provides the opportunity for students to intern full-time with Poughkeepsie-based non-profit organizations. More information on Community Fellows.
The Undergraduate Research Summer Institute (URSI) at Vassar provides the opportunity for students to engage in full-time, collaborative research with faculty. More information on URSI.
The Ford Scholars Program provides special opportunities for students in the humanities and social sciences to engage in collaborative scholarship with faculty. More information on the Ford Scholars Program.
Vassar’s Powerhouse Theater takes place on the Vassar Campus every summer.
- The Training Program offers actors, directors, and playwrights the chance to take classes from resident professional artists, assist with professional productions, and perform/work on productions of their own. This program is fee-based. More information on the Apprentice Program.
- A few paid positions are available working in the box office and as house managers during the season. For more information about these paid positions or for any questions about the above programs, e-mail powerhouse@vassar.edu.
On-Campus Summer Employment Opportunities: There are approximately 70 summer job opportunities for Vassar students. These opportunities are primarily full-time, hourly positions throughout the campus providing necessary student staffing for various administrative and other offices. Priority is given to international students on financial aid and students with high financial need. Email stuemp@vassar.edu for more information. Online registration/applications for these positions typically open in late March. These opportunities are open to current first-year students, sophomores, and juniors; seniors are ineligible.