More Information for Students

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following qualifications:

• Be a college junior or senior in fall of the current year, a graduate student, or a recent college graduate.
• Exhibit interest in the nonprofit or public sectors.
• If not a student of a local college or university, applicant must be a resident of Greater Cleveland (Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties).

Other highly desirable qualifications include:

• A strong academic record (preferably a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or above)
• Strong English verbal and written communications skills

More Information for Organizations

The foundation’s Summer Internship Program provides a limited number of college students or recent graduates an opportunity to work in Cleveland-area nonprofit organizations or governmental agencies during the summer months. All interns are required to work full-time as designated by their host organization. In addition, interns attend a weekly seminar highlighting key organizations and programs being conducted in the local nonprofit and public sectors.

Organizations are invited to apply as host sites during the fall months.

Eligibility

The following roles and responsibilities apply to host organizations:

• Appoint a senior staff member to serve as the intern’s supervisor.
• Provide ample supervision, feedback, and support to the intern.
• Provide meaningful work and learning experiences for the intern. Past interns have worked on projects such as event planning for a major fundraising event, designing an audience demographic survey, developing a marketing/outreach plan and revising training materials.
• Provide a workspace and other resources (access to computer, reference materials, telephone) needed for the intern to complete work assignments.
• Accept the intern as a temporary employee of your organization for the 11-week term of the internship program. This includes distributing the intern stipend in accordance with your organization’s normal payroll procedures.

To Apply:

Please submit a request in writing no later than November 30, 2012 addressing the following points:

• Briefly describe your organization in one or two paragraphs.
• Please describe the project(s) you would plan for an intern to undertake during the eleven-week summer internship program.
• Please share any additional information that you believe will be helpful to us in making a decision.

Please e-mail request to nBeckford@CleveFdn.org or send a hard copy to:
Attn: Ciba Jones
The Cleveland Foundation
1422 Euclid Avenue, Suite 1300
Cleveland, OH 44115

Still have questions? Please contact Nelson Beckford.

2013 Summer Internship Program Host Sites

Campus District, Inc., is a community development organization that is redefining itself, its role, and purpose within the educational and medical district anchored and guided by the top level leadership from Cleveland State University, Cuyahoga Community College, St. Vincent Medical Center, and the Plain Dealer.

City of Lakewood’s department of planning and development coordinates long-range planning, zoning, and economic development for the city as well as administers the federal Community Development Block Grant Funds awarded to Lakewood by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Cleveland Foundation is the world’s first community foundation and one of the largest today, with assets of $1.8 billion. Through the generosity of donors, the foundation improves the lives of Greater Clevelanders by building community endowment, addressing needs through grantmaking, and providing leadership on vital issues.

Cleveland Metroparks is Cleveland’s “Emerald Necklace,” an open space of natural beauty and diversity. The Metroparks is dedicated to conservation, education and recreation. It offers an array of facilities and opportunities from golfing and fishing, to water and winter recreation areas, wildlife areas, outdoor education, recreation programs, and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Cleveland Rowing Foundation promotes and shares the athletic, health, educational, and social benefits of rowing throughout Greater Cleveland. It works in concert with community partners to enhance the recreational quality of the Cuyahoga River.  Each year, it hosts more than 1,000 high-school, collegiate, and adult athletes on the banks of the Cuyahoga River in downtown Cleveland.

Economic and Community Development Institute’s mission is to invest in people to create measurable and enduring social and economic change. ECDI’s programs and services have grown into a comprehensive suite of programming designed to lead low-income Ohioans out of poverty. Program participants are given the training, tools, and assistance they need to earn living wage incomes in the short term and purchase and maintain assets for the future.

Famicos Foundation provides a broad range of services such as real-estate development and historic preservation, affordable and market-rate housing choices, community engagement, and sustainability programming to Greater Cleveland residents with targeted efforts in the southern Glenville-Wade Park neighborhood.

Foundation Center was established in 1956 and today is supported by close to 550 foundations. It is a leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. Thousands of people visit the center’s website each day and are served in its five regional library/learning centers and its network of 470 funding information centers located in public libraries, community foundations, and educational institutions nationwide and beyond.

GroundWork’s mission is to bring the passion and verve of modern and contemporary dance into the hearts and minds of the people of Northeast Ohio.

Lake Erie Ink provides creative writing programming to youth during after school, evening, and weekend programs in a large and engaging space in Cleveland Heights.

LAND Studio (LAND) is an acronym that describes the approach and focus of the organization, which is to: Green Cleveland’s Landscape with attractive, active, and accessible public parks; Inspire our city’s people with temporary, permanent, and performance public Art;  Unite Neighborhoods through collaborative planning and dynamic programming; and enrich communities by supporting and facilitating sustainable building and smart Development.

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center Community Center (LGBT) is working toward a society free of homophobia and gender identity oppression by advancing the respect, human rights, and dignity of the LGBT communities. Over the past 37 years, the center has grown to offer support, referral, social, health, and educational services to hundreds of LGBT individuals each month.

North Union Farmers Market’s mission is to champion local foods in Northeast Ohio and to promote its environmental, economic, and health benefits by connecting certified producers with consumers through a network of markets.

Open Doors Academy exists to protect, inspire, nurture, and challenge adolescents to reach their full potential through the provision of meaningful out-of-school enrichment activities in a safe and structured environment. ODA is the only program in Northeast Ohio to offer a year-round, seven-year continuum of academic, social, and emotional support for students and their families from middle school through high school graduation and beyond.

Seeds of Literacy provides free, one-to-one tutoring in basic education and GED preparation to adults in Cuyahoga County.

The Trust for Public Land was established with a mission to preserve and protect open spaces for public enjoyment.  In order to accomplish its mission, TPL works with a variety of agencies, both public and private. Typically, TPL purchases land and holds it until a suitable long-term landholder, in most cases a governmental agency, is in position to take title.  

West Side Community House is a neighborhood settlement house that has served the residents of Cleveland’s West Side since 1890. Its mission is to transform lives in the community with programs such as: Family-to-Family, Tapestry System of Care, a full array of Senior Services, and Youth Services Sisterhood program.