ImpACT Winterim Leadership Intensive

The ImpACT Winterim Leadership Intensive is a 3-week program during the November/December Dartmouth break that allows students to make an impact on a social challenge within their home or the Upper Valley community while learning about systems mapping, a practical tool for changemakers.  

  • two male students in front of an academic poster

    Students sharing their systems maps upon returning to campus

  • three women posing with books.

    A student with their community organization in the Upper Valley

  • two female students in front of academic poster

    Students sharing their systems maps at the final poster presentation after returning to campus.

  • student holding a flyer at an event

    Student at her community organization in her home community

Program Overview

In ImpACT, students build experience in community-engaged social impact work and strengthen thinking and communication skills that enable them to approach social challenges with curiosity, collaboration, and an overall appreciation of complexity.  

Over the course of the program, students will… 

  • Connect: Build relationships and networks with people at their community organization and with their ImpACT peers. 
  • Reflect: Gain a deeper understanding of their home community, including its strengths and challenges. Explore their own interests and leadership within social change work and within their community.
  • Develop leadership skills: Understand the basics of systems thinking and visualize a complex social challenge using systems mapping, a practical tool for changemakers. 

 Program details:  

  • $1,200 stipend 

  • Eligibility: ImpACT is open to Dartmouth undergraduate students from all classes. Priority will be given to students who have not completed the program in a previous year. Returning participants are required to complete a project with a different community organization from their prior experience. Participants must be "on" Fall, Winter, or both terms - you are not eligible if you are "off" both terms.  

  • Program components: Students attend an orientation Fall term. For 3 weeks over Winterim, students complete an in-person community project with a nonprofit, NGO, or school in their home community and participate in the remote ImpACT leadership curriculum to learn systems mapping. Students present their final Systems Map at a Poster Symposium Winter term. 

  • ImpACT community projects: Applicants identify a 3-week winterim project with a nonprofit, NGO, or school in their home community. For students remaining on campus, Upper Valley projects are accepted. 

  • ImpACT leadership curriculum: Learn the basics of systems mapping, connect with peers, and reflect on your social impact experience.  

Community Project Guidelines

  • 3 weeks over Winterim (11/30/26-12/18/26) for 20-25 hours per week.  

  • With a nonprofit, NGO, or school. Organizations must have at least 1 full-time paid staff member and a physical office space.  

  • In your home community (where you reside when not at Dartmouth) or the Upper Valley (for students already planning to remain on campus over Winterim).  

  • In-person required. 

  • Projects should have clearly defined activities that address community partner needs. Examples of possible activities you might include on your Community Organization Agreement Form:  

    • Providing a direct service that meets a community need -- tutoring, serving meals, etc. 

    • Helping plan and execute an event or initiative. 

    • Collecting and curating stories of impact for agency communications.  

    • Collecting and/or analyzing data for an agency evaluation project -- designing surveys, creating research briefs, analyzing or visualizing past data, etc. 

Program Application and Timeline

  • August, September, October - Review ImpACT Supportive Materials (linked below). Get DCSI advising. Contact potential nonprofits or schools to explore a partnership. Complete the application and Community Organization Agreement Form (linked below). 

  • Monday October 12, 2026 by 3pm ET - Application deadline. Apply here

  • October 23, 2025 - Participants notified of selection  

  • November 7, 2026 - Required Orientation 

  • November 30, 2026 - First day at community organization! 

  • December 18, 2026 - Last day at community organization 

  • January 15, 2027 - Required Final Poster Presentation  

Supportive Materials for Crafting Your Application

  • How to Design an ImpACT Project – Please review before starting your application!  

  • ImpACT Frequently Asked Questions – Please review before starting your application!  

  • Community Organization Agreement Form– Please complete with your supervisor and include with your application by the deadline.  

  • Information & Application Support Sessions: Ask questions, learn more about the program, and get support with your application. Participation in at least one session is highly encouraged and will increase your chances of being selected for the program. 

    • Friday, September 18, 4-5pm: South Fairbanks/DCSI 301 

    • Wednesday, September 23 10:30-11:30am - South Fairbanks 301

    • Friday, September 25 3:30-4:30pm - South Fairbanks 301

    • Monday, September 28 2:30-3:30pm - South Fairbanks 301

    • Wednesday, September 30 10:30-11:30am - South Fairbanks 301

    • Monday, October 5 2:30-3:30pm - South Fairbanks 301

    • Wednesday, October 7 10:30-11:30am - South Fairbanks 301

    • Friday, October 9 3:30-4:30pm - South Fairbanks 301

    • *Our elevator only reaches the South Fairbanks/DCSI second floor - please email and we will happily meet you on the first or second floor as needed. 

  • Email us with questions - social.impact.leadership.programs@dartmouth.edu