Summer Fellows | The Columbus Foundation

Summer Fellowship Program

Prepare to be a future nonprofit leader by gaining valuable, hands-on experience through our Summer Fellowship Program. Work with highly effective organizations that match your interests through a paid, career-focused program.

Watch past Summer Fellows describe their experience or read about it first-hand on the Fellows’ blog.

Read the Blog

Become a Summer Fellow

The Summer Fellowship Program places eligible students with Franklin County nonprofit organizations for a 10-week period. Students receive valuable experience and a paid stipend for their work, while nonprofits benefit from the additional support students provide to a specific program or objective.

Program

Details

The 10-week fellowship starts June 5, 2023 and ends August 11, 2023.

Fellows are matched with a nonprofit based on interests, skills, and the nonprofit’s specific needs or objectives, and are required to attend five professional development sessions culminating in a mandatory end-of-summer presentation on August 11.

Fellows will receive a stipend upon completing the program.

VIEW THE 2023 HOST SITES

Student

Eligibility

College junior, senior, May/June 2023 graduate, or a graduate student in the fall of 2023 and have graduated from a Franklin County high school.

OR College junior, senior, May/June 2023 graduate, or graduate student attending a Franklin County college or university.

Highly desired qualifications: A strong academic record (preferably a 3.0+ GPA); and strong English oral and written communication skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Application

Process

Applications for the 2024 Summer Fellowship Program will open in mid-November. View Deadlines and Open Houses for more information.

Read the Fellows' Blog

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply?

Individuals fitting the following criteria are eligible to apply for the program:

A college junior, senior, May or June 2022 graduate, or a graduate student; and
A graduate of a Franklin County high school attending any four-year college or university; or
A junior, senior, recent graduate, or a graduate student attending a Franklin County college or university.

How long is the Fellowship?

The Fellowship is a 10-week program running from June 6, 2022 to August 12, 2022. This would include the full-time work of the Fellow, Learning Circle meetings, and any opening and closing orientation sessions for both the Fellow and the selected organization.

How does the student selection process work?

Students meeting the minimum qualifications will send complete applications by the deadline.
Each application will be reviewed by members of the selection committee. The selection committee will give each applicant a numerical score based on a set of criteria.
These scores will be tallied. Foundation staff and the selection committee will move the top applicants into an interview phase. Each selected host organization will be sent information about two applicants.
Selected organizations will interview both applicants and choose the one who they believe will be the best fit.
Once the organization has chosen the best-fitting applicant, they will notify the Foundation.
Foundation staff will contact each potential Fellow to complete a background check.
Once the applicant’s background check is completed, the Foundation will notify the Fellow that he or she has been selected—and which organization they will be serving.

How much does the Fellowship pay? And how does the Fellow receive his or her stipend?

The Fellow will receive a stipend of $6,350. Each fellow is considered an employee of the host organization and will be paid through the organization’s payroll system.