Social Impact Internship Funding

Is there a social impact issue that you'd love to engage with or a skill you'd like to master?

Design your own in-person internship experience around that aspiration! Work to support the mission of a remarkable nonprofit that serves an under-resourced community, advance yourself professionally, receive a living stipend from DCSI, and receive mentorship from an alumni mentor. 

For over 25 years, Dartmouth Partners in Community Service (DPCS) has provided funding and mentorship for students wishing to pursue unpaid internships with domestic nonprofits serving under-resourced communities. 

• Find a nonprofit: We suggest reaching out to an organization at least 3 weeks before the application deadline! Below are some helpful databases to find a nonprofit: 
  • DCSI database of nonprofits this is a list of nonprofits that our students have worked with in the past. 
  • Candid - Database of nonprofits to start your search! Use this link through Dartmouth Libraries and access the portal using eduroam wifi or the Dartmouth Global Protect VPN if away from campus. 
  • Some Helpful Tips: 
    • Reach out to more than one nonprofit organization in the city or topic area that you are interested in.  
    • If after reaching out you don't hear back from the nonprofit after a few days, follow-up via email. Calling the nonprofit directly is often helpful as well. 
• Meet with the nonprofit and develop an internship! The nonprofit may have an existing internship opening or you may work with their team to create a new one.
  •  The internship must meet the following guidelines to be eligible for our funding:
    • Completed over a leave term
    • 8 - 10 weeks in length for 40 hours per week 
    • In-person required. Hybrid internships will be considered on a case-by-case basis 
    • Unpaid  
    • With a registered nonpartisan nonprofit serving an under-resourced community in the U.S. or U.S. territories
  • You may consider referencing the University of Washington and Princeton Toolkits for designing an internship that supports your development AND the organization's work 
• Ask your supervisor to fill out and sign the Community Service Organization (CSO) Supervisor's Statement of Agreement. You will need to upload and submit this with your final application. 
• Ask a Dartmouth professor or previous supervisor to write you a recommendation letter using our Internship Recommendation Form. Your recommender should e-mail the completed form to Service.Internships@dartmouth.edu by the application deadline. 
  • We recommend that you ask your recommender at least two weeks in advance so they have enough time to thoughtfully craft a recommendation letter.  

ALL materials must be submitted by the due date. If you are concerned about your CSO form or letter of recommendation being submitted on time, please follow-up with your supervisor/recommender and then contact our office via email at service.internships@dartmouth.edu at least one week in advance.  

• Transcript
• Resume
• Community Organization Supervisor's Statement of Agreement (this should be submitted with your application) 
• Signed Dartmouth Risk Waiver (the link to this is in the application) 
• DCSI Budget Worksheet - DCSI will determine stipend amounts using the MIT Living Wage calculator. The stipend will be based on the prorated rates for food, transportation, and housing at the specific internship location.  
• A Letter of Recommendation from a Dartmouth professor or previous supervisor (this should be emailed to DCSI from the recommender directly) 
• Apply Here: DYO Application (you must use your Dartmouth Net ID to log in and submit your application) 
  • Here is a list of our DYO Application Questions. Feel free to copy this  document and use it to draft your answers. 

• Winter 2027 – October 14, 2026 at 3pm ET 

• Spring 2027 – February 3, 2027 at 3pm ET 

• Summer 2027 – April 28, 2027 at 3pm ET 

Not sure where to start or have questions? Meet with our staff or Student Director of Internships to build an effective project plan. Advising is highly recommended before submitting an application. Email the internships team or schedule an appointment here.  

• If you are offered funding for this internship from more than one source (such as the Center for Career Design, the Rockefeller Center, etc.), you can only choose one. 

• International Students should meet with their OVIS advisor early. Before accepting any funding, DCSI requires that international students schedule an advising appointment with an OVIS advisor to discuss how this opportunity may impact your visa status and learn more about your options for work authorization.