Community-Based Internship Program
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Community-Based Internship Program offers undergraduate students enrolled in a CLAS degree program or those who are federal work-study eligible the opportunity to gain meaningful, paid experience in their field. Through hands-on work with local nonprofit partners, students develop professional skills while making a positive impact in their community.
Students from all majors are encouraged to apply (see specific eligibility requirements below). Internship opportunities span a wide range of roles, including social media, human resources, youth development, and more—allowing students to explore career interests, build transferable skills, and strengthen their professional networks.
For Employers
The Community-Based Internship Program offers community partners the opportunity to engage motivated students while receiving financial support to offset staffing costs. This partnership allows organizations to expand capacity, advance their mission, and invest in the development of future professionals.
Community partners contribute just 25% of student wages (up to the award amount), with the remaining 75% funded through federal work-study or scholarships provided by the CLAS Center for Experiential Learning. Internship placements can span a wide range of majors and project areas, including youth development, social media, fundraising, education, and more.
Interested in joining the program or learning more? Please contact Dana Hebreard at [email protected].
Employer FAQ's
For this program, any community-based nonprofit employers are eligible to participate!
For more information, please contact Dana Hebreard at [email protected]
Students will be paid directly by GVSU, with 75% covered by either federal work-study or CCEL scholarships, and 25% by the employer-partner. An invoice will be sent at the end of the semester.
Award amounts are tracked throughout the semester to show the total amount of student funding left and the total amount owed by community partners.
Students employed through the Community-Based Internship Program who work for a community organization are considered employees of Grand Valley State University. GVSU issues student paychecks and W-2's and handles I9 documentation before students are allowed to work at their placements. Students coordinate schedules and report to supervisors at the community organization.
Unfortunately, no. Students in the Community-Based Internship Program are only able to receive their awards in the fall and winter semesters.
If you have a student who would like to continue working with you for the summer semester, encourage them to explore other funding options for experiential learning, otherwise you would need to cover 100% of their pay.
Our Community Partners
- Boys and Girls Club
- Children's Healing Center
- Community Action House
- Community Food Club
- Family Promise
- First Tee
- Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore
- Hope Gardens
- IKUS
- Kids Food Basket
- Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation
- Paws With A Cause
- Revive and Thrive Project
- Ronald McDonald House Charities
- Senior Neighbors
- STEM Greenhouse
Are you currently working with a non-profit partner in the community? We are happy to connect with them to grow our list.
Community Partner Spotlight
Tony Clementi
Staff Development and Education Officer, Paws with a Cause
"The GVSU Community-Based Work-Study program provides Paws With A Cause with dedicated student talent that brings fresh energy, curiosity, and a genuine commitment to service. Their contributions strengthen our mission by expanding our capacity to support more clients, dogs, and volunteers, and by enabling us to take on projects we otherwise couldn’t pursue. We are grateful for this partnership and proud to help students grow through meaningful, hands-on service. Their professionalism and eagerness to learn bring tremendous value to our teams."
Annmarie Ventura
Advancement Events Manager, Grand Rapids Art Museum
"Partnering with GVSU's Community-Based Work-Study program has been a meaningful experience for our team at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Our intern, Rosie, brought genuine enthusiasm and versatility to the role — supporting event planning, conducting prospect research, creating reports, and even contributing creative touches to our events. This program has allowed us to offer a truly hands-on experience while benefiting from the fresh energy and enthusiasm these students bring. We're thankful for the opportunity to be part of this program and look forward to continuing this partnership with GVSU."
Student Spotlight
Maida Mesinovic
Senior Neighbors
"This internship was far more fulfilling than I had even expected. I was trusted to lead a lapsed donor campaign, initiate sponsorship outreach, support event planning and social media content, and collaborate across departments on launching a free tax assistance program for seniors. Beyond the skills I gained, what stood out most was being part of a team that believed in me, supported me, and included me in as many projects as they could during my time there. I was especially proud to be part of a mission-driven organization where I felt deeply connected to the community while gaining real-world experience, strengthening my communication skills, and taking creative initiative."
Rosie Caldwell
Grand Rapids Art Museum
"Working at the Grand Rapids Art Museum has been such a rewarding experience. I’ve had the chance to be involved in everything from planning events and working with different parts of the advancement team to attending events like GRAM FAM. I’ve also been able to create reports, do prospect research, and even create centerpieces for events. It’s been a really fun, hands-on opportunity that’s helped me build valuable skills."
Abby Stoel
Paws With A Cause
"My internship experience at Paws With A Cause was incredibly meaningful and made me even more excited about pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. Working in the veterinary clinic allowed me to learn from both the veterinary technicians and the veterinarian. I gained so much hands-on experience assisting with dogs, running diagnostics, and observing clinical procedures. I loved being able to witness the profound impact these dogs have on the lives of the individuals they serve, reinforcing why I love this field. Each day brought new learning opportunities, and new skills to learn. The PAWS team leads with compassion and dedication, creating an environment you want to be in. This experience not only expanded my knowledge and skills but also solidified my commitment to this career path."
Katherine Darling
Paws With A Cause
"Being in the program and getting the chance to work in the veterinary department for Paws With A Cause has widened my knowledge of veterinary medicine. I have been able to ask a lot of questions about veterinary medicine, procedures, and steps that I should take to further my academic career in graduate school. I have also been able to gain hands-on experiences working with the dogs and observing surgeries. Getting the chance to work with a veterinarian and other vet technicians has helped validate my goal of wanting to become a veterinarian."