The Internship Grant Fund (IGF) provides financial support to Vassar students who are participating in low-pay and unpaid summer internship opportunities. View a list of IGF FAQs.

Deadline:
Rolling; application review begins in March

Eligibility Criteria:

• Current Vassar first year, sophomore, junior with an unpaid or low-pay internship secured
• Students who receive financial aid at Vassar receive priority consideration; certain funds that comprise the IGF are restricted to students who receive financial aid (see below)
• The proposed experience is an internship, research, or comparable experience with a designated supervisor who is an employee of the organization (and not a close family member)
• The proposed experience is a minimum of 20 hours/week and 6 weeks in length
• The proposed internship is not a Vassar-connected experience (eg, research with a faculty member, a project with an administrative office, etc.) or a fee-based program

Award Amounts:

• Typical grants range from $350–$4500
• Amounts range based on financial need, proposed budget, and time commitment (i.e., part-time vs. full-time, 6 weeks vs. 10 weeks)
• Available funds for students who do not receive financial aid are limited; typical awards are $750 or less

Application Process:

• Application components include the following: information about your secured internship(s), employer confirmation, resume, cover letter, budget, financial aid status, and contact information for 2 references, in addition to short answer questions
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in March and will continue until funds are depleted
• Applicants usually receive notification of their award status 2–3 weeks after their application is submitted

Evaluation Criteria:

In addition to demonstrated need, applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:

• Intentionality: The applicant shows evidence of thought around what they are searching for and how criteria for the summer experience have been determined.
• Clarity of learning objectives: The applicant clearly defines and articulates potential takeaways from the proposed summer experience(s).
• Relevance of experience: If the applicant proposes an experience that is exploratory in nature, the applicant provides evidence to explain why the proposed experience(s) allow exploration and reflection on these areas of interest. Alternatively, if the applicant is searching for an experience that is purposeful with regard to identified career goals, the applicant provides evidence for how proposed experiences are relevant to the student's future goals.
• The overall quality of the application: The applicant submits an application that is complete, detailed, and demonstrates attention to detail (eg, free of errors, typos, etc.).

Any questions: email igf@vassar.edu