Get Paid $23 Per Hour to Learn Philanthropy: F. M. Kirby Foundation Summer Internship Program 2026 Guide

If you have ever wondered how big decisions get made behind the scenes in the nonprofit world—who gets funded, why one program grows while another stalls, and what “strategy” actually looks like when real communities are involved—this internship is a rare invitation to stop guessing and start watching the machinery run.

The F. M. Kirby Foundation Summer Internship Program 2026 is aimed at rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors who want an honest, practical look at philanthropy and nonprofit management. Not the glossy version. The working version—where someone has to read the reports, ask the uncomfortable questions, and write the crisp summary that makes a board member sit up and pay attention.

It’s also paid. $23/hour, plus a one-time travel stipend. That matters, because “unpaid internship” is often just a polite way of saying, “Only students with financial cushioning need apply.” Kirby goes in the opposite direction: you must have qualified for need-based financial aid last year, and you need a 3.2+ GPA. They’re explicitly trying to open doors for students who have earned them.

And here’s the best part: this internship isn’t designed like a rigid checklist. It can be tailored to your interests and skill set, while still giving you exposure across the Foundation’s program areas—health, arts, environment, human services, and education. If you’re curious and you can write, you’ll have plenty to do.

At a Glance: F. M. Kirby Foundation Summer Internship Program 2026

What This Internship Actually Offers (Beyond the Paycheck)

Let’s be blunt: plenty of internships promise “exposure.” This one promises work—the kind that builds career credibility because it’s tied to real institutional decisions.

You’ll spend your summer doing the kind of tasks that foundations and nonprofit leaders rely on but rarely have time to do thoughtfully: researching funding opportunities, supporting communications, editing grant-related materials, and helping staff analyze information for leadership decision-making. That’s not busywork; that’s the connective tissue of the sector.

You’ll also get something students often crave and rarely receive: proximity to professionals in motion. The program includes opportunities to attend site visits with nonprofit partners and program officers. Think of site visits as the “kitchen tour” of philanthropy. On paper, every organization looks composed. In person, you see how programs operate, how outcomes are discussed, and how funders ask questions without turning the meeting into an interrogation. Watching that dynamic is a masterclass in professional judgment.

There’s also a communications angle here that’s sneakily valuable. Many interns graduate with decent writing skills but little experience writing for audiences that matter—boards, partners, donors, and the public. Kirby’s internship includes working on website content, LinkedIn, and board mailings, which forces you to learn the art of clear, confident writing with consequences. One sloppy sentence in a board packet can cause confusion that takes 20 minutes of meeting time to repair. You’ll learn to prevent that.

Finally, you’ll come out with something that’s hard to manufacture later: a clearer understanding of whether you like this work. Philanthropy is not all inspirational speeches and oversized checks. It’s a lot of reading, assessing, prioritizing, and choosing—often with imperfect information. If that sounds energizing rather than exhausting, you’ve probably found a good direction.

Who Should Apply (And Who Should Probably Skip It)

This program is built for students who are curious about how social impact organizations run—and who don’t mind rolling up their sleeves. It’s not restricted to a specific major, which is a quiet signal that the Foundation values thinking and execution over academic labels.

You should strongly consider applying if you’re any of the following:

You’re a public policy student who wants to understand how private funding intersects with public systems—how a foundation decides what it can influence, what it won’t touch, and what it can pilot faster than government can move.

You’re in communications, English, journalism, or marketing, and you want to apply your writing to mission-driven work without living in the world of vague slogans. This internship rewards people who can write clearly, edit ruthlessly, and adjust tone for different audiences.

You’re a business, economics, or data-inclined student who likes research and analysis. Foundations need people who can look at information, spot patterns, and summarize the meaningful bits without drowning everyone in spreadsheets.

You’re a pre-med, environmental studies, sociology, education, or arts student who wants to see how funding decisions shape programs in your field. Even if you don’t plan to “work in philanthropy,” understanding how it works will make you better at navigating it later—whether you’re applying for grants, building programs, or partnering with funders.

You should skip it if you hate writing, dislike ambiguity, or need a summer that’s mostly independent with minimal collaboration. The Foundation describes a team environment, and the responsibilities (communications, research, editing, site visits) suggest you’ll be interacting regularly with staff and partners. If you prefer solitary work with few moving parts, this may not be your ideal fit.

Also, take the eligibility requirements seriously. This is not a “maybe they won’t notice” situation. The program explicitly requires that you qualified for need-based financial aid in the previous school year and that you maintain a 3.2+ GPA.

What You Will Likely Do Day to Day (Real Talk, Not Fantasy)

The official description lists responsibilities, but let’s translate them into what your days could actually feel like.

You might spend a morning researching potential funding opportunities in areas the Foundation supports. That doesn’t mean random Googling. It means learning how to quickly evaluate whether a nonprofit is credible, whether a program aligns with a foundation’s priorities, and what questions need answers before money moves.

In the afternoon, you could be editing a grant evaluation or report. Editing in philanthropy is its own sport: you’re tightening language, checking logic, ensuring claims are supported, and making sure the document tells the truth without sounding like a confession.

On another day, you might help with internal or external communications—drafting a web update, organizing a LinkedIn post, or assembling a board mailing. That work teaches you how institutions communicate when they need to be both accurate and concise.

And yes, there may be special projects tailored to your interests. If you come in with strong Excel skills, you may be asked to help organize or analyze information for leadership. If you’re a writer, you may get projects that involve synthesizing information and producing polished summaries.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application (This Is Where People Lose It)

This internship is competitive by nature: it’s paid, it’s meaningful, and it’s a doorway into a hard-to-access field. So your application needs to feel like you understand what you’re signing up for.

1) Write a cover letter that proves you know what foundations do

Don’t say you “want to help people.” Everyone wants to help people. Instead, show you understand the job: reading, researching, communicating, and making careful recommendations. Mention that you’re excited by work that blends writing and analysis, or that you want to understand how nonprofits are evaluated.

2) Show evidence of strong writing, not just “I am a strong writer”

Use your cover letter as a writing sample. Clean structure, sharp sentences, no filler. If you’ve written for a campus publication, worked in a writing center, produced policy memos, or edited a club newsletter, mention it. Foundations love people who can turn messy information into clear language.

3) Translate your experiences into foundation-relevant skills

Worked retail? Then you can handle deadlines, professionalism, and communication with different personalities. Led a student organization? Then you understand budgets, coordination, and accountability. Did research for a professor? Great—talk about methods, synthesis, and attention to detail.

4) Prove you can do research without getting lost in it

Research skills aren’t about collecting 40 tabs and calling it a day. In your cover letter, include one quick example: a time you investigated a question, found credible sources, and summarized findings for someone else. That’s the internship in miniature.

5) Handle the financial aid requirement confidently and briefly

You don’t need to write a memoir. But don’t dodge it either. If there’s a place to reference eligibility in your cover letter, a simple sentence can do the job: you qualified for need-based aid in the prior year and meet the GPA requirement.

6) Pick references who can speak to reliability and writing

A glamorous reference who barely knows you is less helpful than a supervisor or professor who can say, “They show up on time, take feedback well, and their writing improves fast.” This program values responsibility, integrity, and follow-through. Choose people who can confirm those traits with examples.

7) Apply early because rolling review is real

“Rolling basis” means they may review and narrow the pool before the final deadline. Submitting on February 27 is allowed, but it’s like arriving at a potluck after dessert: technically you showed up, but the best options might be gone.

Application Timeline: A Smart Schedule Backward From February 27, 2026

If you want to submit an application that doesn’t feel rushed, give yourself a runway. You’re sending a cover letter, a resume, a transcript, and references—simple list, deceptively easy to mess up.

Plan to start 4–6 weeks ahead. In mid-January, draft your cover letter and resume. Then do the unglamorous part: revise. Ask one person to read for clarity and one person to read for tone. You want “professional and human,” not “trying too hard.”

By early February, confirm your references. Don’t just list names and hope for the best—email each person, ask permission, and tell them what the internship is and what you’d like them to emphasize (writing, research, professionalism).

During the second week of February, request or download your unofficial transcript and double-check your GPA is visible.

Aim to submit by February 14–20. That gives you breathing room if you need to fix a PDF, clarify something, or re-send materials. The Foundation plans to notify the successful intern by April 3, so you won’t be left waiting until summer.

Required Materials (And How to Make Each One Pull Its Weight)

You’ll submit four items. None are exotic, which is exactly why execution matters.

• Cover letter: One page is plenty. Make it specific to philanthropy/nonprofit management and to the responsibilities listed (research, communications, writing, analysis). Make the opening strong, not generic.
• Resume: Keep it clean and readable. Highlight writing-heavy work, research projects, leadership, and any communications experience (web, newsletters, social media). Include software skills like Word and Excel if you have them.
• Unofficial transcript: Use the cleanest official download your school provides. Don’t screenshot a portal page unless that’s genuinely the only option.
• List of three references: Provide name, title, relationship to you, email, and phone. Give a one-line context for each (“Supervisor at X, managed weekly reports and communications”).

What Makes an Application Stand Out (What They Are Really Selecting For)

The Foundation lists qualities like responsibility, curiosity, strong ethics, and the ability to follow directions closely. Read that again: they’re telling you the evaluation criteria in plain English.

A standout application usually does three things well.

First, it demonstrates writing strength through writing—not through claims. If your cover letter is clear, structured, and specific, you’re already ahead.

Second, it signals professional maturity. This is a role where you’ll touch communications and materials that reflect on the Foundation. They need someone who can be trusted with details, deadlines, and discretion.

Third, it shows intellectual curiosity with restraint—the ability to ask good questions without turning every task into a philosophical debate. Foundations love thoughtful interns. They do not love chaos.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (Easy Fixes, Big Payoff)

A few predictable missteps can knock an otherwise solid applicant out of consideration.

One is the overly heartfelt, under-informed cover letter. Passion is nice. Clarity is better. Tie your interest to the actual work: research, evaluation, communications, and learning from program staff.

Another is treating “any major welcome” as “no need to be relevant.” You still need to connect your background to the role. If you’re a chemistry major, great—explain your research discipline, your data habits, and your writing experience. Make the bridge for them.

A third mistake is sloppy packaging: mismatched file names, missing attachments, transcripts that are unreadable. Foundations are detail-driven environments. If your application looks careless, they’ll assume your work will be too.

Also: ignoring the “rolling basis” factor. Waiting until the deadline can hurt you even if your materials are strong.

Finally, don’t choose references who can only say you’re “nice.” Nice is not a job qualification. Choose people who can speak to output: writing quality, reliability, follow-through, learning speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this internship only for specific majors like public policy or nonprofit management?

No. Students in any major can apply. What matters is whether you can handle the responsibilities—especially writing, research, and professional communication.

What does rising sophomore/junior/senior mean?

It means your status going into the next academic year. If you’re finishing your first year of college in spring 2026, you’re a rising sophomore.

Do I need previous nonprofit or foundation experience?

Not necessarily. Many strong candidates come from campus leadership, research roles, service work, or jobs that show responsibility. Your job is to translate your experience into relevant skills.

How strict is the 3.2 GPA requirement?

Treat it as firm. The eligibility criteria explicitly include a 3.2 or higher GPA, so don’t assume exceptions.

What counts as need-based financial aid qualification?

The posting states you must have qualified for need-based financial aid in the previous school year. If you’re unsure whether your aid package meets that definition, check your financial aid award documentation and consider asking the program contact (politely and briefly).

When will I hear back?

The Foundation indicates the successful intern will be notified by April 3, 2026.

Is there an interview?

The posting doesn’t specify, but many programs interview finalists. Prepare as if you’ll be asked about writing, research, and why philanthropy interests you.

Can I submit after February 27 if they are still reviewing?

Don’t plan on it. The listing is clear: all applications must be received by February 27, 2026.

How to Apply (Do This, Not That)

You’ll apply by emailing your materials. Before you hit send, do a quick professionalism sweep: convert documents to PDF, name files clearly (for example, LastName_FirstName_CoverLetter.pdf), and make sure your email is crisp and complete. Attach everything in one email unless the Foundation requests otherwise.

Send the following to Dave Cucchiara, Communications & Program Associate:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Unofficial transcript
• List of three references

Email: [email protected]

Because applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, submit earlier than the deadline if you can. It’s one of the few competitive advantages that costs nothing but planning.

Apply Now: Official Program Details

Ready to apply or want to confirm the latest instructions? Visit the official opportunity page here: https://fmkirbyfoundation.org/internship-program/