Program Description
Thank you for your interest in our program. The 2023 application process closes after Wednesday February 15. Please look for our 2024 program after December 1, 2023.
Forest Foundation fosters the next generation of leaders for the Common Good through placing college students in a comprehensive summer experience at a non-profit organization. Paid summer interns are paired with exceptional non-profit agencies in Greater Boston; agencies whose missions align with the intern’s passion, skill sets, and academic path. Forest Foundation also provides extensive parallel programming for professional and leadership development. The Undergraduate Summer Internship Program can be a multi-year experience when combined with our Second Year Internship Program. Interns are accepted regardless of disability, nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion or sexual preference.
Important Dates for 2024 Program
Accepted interns are required to attend all in-person and virtual meetings
December 1 – Applications Open
February 15 – Applications Due to Forest Foundation
February 15 -March – Students Notified of Forest Foundation Acceptances
April – Host Agency Placement Process
Wednesday May 22 , Virtual Welcome and Introduction Meeting, 10AM (Zoom) *expect 2+ hours
Thursday May 23 –Workshop #1 – 9:30AM-3:00PM Orientation (In Person), Non Profit Center 89 South Street, Boston, MA.
Friday May 24–Virtual meeting – 10AM Orientation Part 2 (Zoom) *expect 2+ hours
Tuesday, May 28 – Most internships begin
Wednesday July 31 – Board Meeting and Team Presentation, Wrap Up and Moving Forward 10AM-3PM(In Person)
Friday, August 2 – Most Internships End
Program Details and Requirements
The Forest Foundation Summer Fellowship Program is comprised of three core programs; a summer long internship, a series of professional and personal workshops, and a team-based grantwriting project and presentation to our board on behalf of a local non profit agency. A total of 400 combined hours of work (internship plus series of workshops/projects) are expected for the summer.
INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT:
Full time summer internship at a non-profit organization in the greater Boston area starts late May for 10 weeks. Interns must be willing to reside in or within commuting distance of Boston for the duration of the internship and program. Housing is not provided or subsidized.
Interns are paired with a partner non-profit agency whose mission and/or job requirement matches the intern’s skill set and areas of interest.
Interns receives $7,000 compensation for 400 total hours of work (internship plus series of workshops) over the summer, before tax. Forest Foundation grants this money to the host non-profit which in turn pays the intern directly. Interns are considered employees of their host agency and are responsible for reporting any income tax.
Interns will engage in general operations of the host non-profit while completing tasks that help advance the organization’s work and mission in the community.
Within the summer long internship and series of program/workshops, students are, among other things, required to complete a group project as part of the program: The Group Grant-Writing Project. Interns are placed in small teams, receive grant-writing training, and then write a real grant for an actual non-profit organization. Grants are presented to Forest Foundation’s Board of Trustees for review.
PROFESSIONAL AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING:
Interns will attend 5 (3 in-person, 2 virtual) professional and leadership development days facilitated by Forest Foundation. These draw upon experts in the community to increase understanding of the non-profit sector. Off week “academy sessions” will be held addressing workplace and sector practices, including non-profit financials, diversity and inclusion, and site visits.
Group Grant-Writing Project:
After receiving training, interns are assigned to small teams and, with Forest Foundation support, write a grant proposal for an assigned small non-profit agency. Grant proposals are presented to the Forest Foundation Board of Trustees for evaluation. Teams receive feedback from the Board and each proposal secures between $4000-$8000 funding for their assigned nonprofit.
Application Process
On Applying:
To help us place summer fellows with a match that aligns with your interests and aspirations, your responses to questions in your application will be shared with potential non-profit hosts if you are selected for the program. Please be precise in describing relevant information.
You also must have a recommender/nominator submit this form for your application to be considered. This person should know your commitment and levels of service to the non-profit sector. Family and friends are not to be chosen for this perspective on your engagement. You may send them this link for submission: Recommender/Nominator Form .
Application available on our website on December 1, 2021
Application deadline is February 15, 2022
Rolling acceptance through March, 2022
Commitment deadline to Forest Foundation up to 2 weeks after acceptance
Availability for an in-person, Zoom, or Skype interview with both Forest Foundation and host non-profit may be required
Availability for Zoom Q&A post acceptance
Writing samples from prospective interns may be required by the non-profit host agency
Host Agency placement matching process occurs February through May
