The Maryland Nonprofit Leadership Program

Maryland Nonprofits, in partnership with The Shriver Center at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, is proud to announce that preparations are underway for the new Maryland Nonprofit Leadership Program. This innovative program provides high-achieving graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in paid, full-time summer work and attend professional development seminars focused on the leadership and management of nonprofit organizations. The program is an expansion of the Governor’s Summer Internship Program and is specifically supported by the Walter Sondheim Jr. Public Service Summer Internship Program.

Maryland’s nonprofit community keeps growing. We account for nearly 12% of all employment in the state, up 2% from 2005. With that growth comes increased demand for talented and dedicated leadership to provide both stability and direction for the sector. Encouraging promising student leaders to put their talents to use in the nonprofit sector is imperative to our success.

For 10 weeks this summer (June 2 to August 8, 2008), interns will work with nonprofit professionals (serving as assistants to executive directors, development directors, finance managers, HR managers, chief operating officers, etc.) who both supervise and accept the responsibility and challenge of serving as mentors and role models. The program allows organizations to tap the energy and skills of these burgeoning professionals while at the same time providing students the opportunity to gain experience in and knowledge about the leadership and management of public service organizations.

I encourage you to consider becoming a sponsoring agency. There is no direct financial cost to you for participating in this program other than the time and commitment of providing an enriching experience for these up-and-coming leaders.

Student applicants have the responsibility of identifying and connecting with potential sponsorship agencies. An agency directory will be provided to applicants to help them determine the best fit.

What you need to do:

1. Determine how your organization could benefit from a leadership intern and clearly articulate the benefits of the experience to your organization and the intern.
2. Select a Leadership Mentor.  In selecting a mentor, please be sure that this individual develops a clear description of the projects to be assigned to the intern and that these projects merit the talent and achievement of Maryland's brightest college students.
3. Complete the Intern Request Form to establish your organization as a potential sponsoring agency.

Completed 2008 Intern Request Forms can be submitted by mail, fax or e-mail to:

Ms. Christine Routzahn
The Shriver Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Attention:  MD Nonprofit Leadership Program
1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD 21250
Fax:  410-455-1074
Ms. Routzahn can be contacted at 410-455-2493 or routzahn@umbc.edu with any questions or concerns.

Request forms should be submitted no later than Friday, January 18, 2008 so that interested students have an opportunity to contact your office to discuss potential internships.  The positions will be distributed to colleges and universities in late January and students will be contacting organizations directly.  Once a partnership is formed between a potential intern and a nonprofit organization, the student indicates this information on his/her application for review by an application review committee.  Up to 35 students will be selected for these internship scholarships.  Student applicants along with their selected supervisors/mentors will be notified of their application status in late April.

Special Note:

Final funding still requires authorization from the General Assembly during the upcoming legislative session this spring. So, please advocate for it!
Thank you in advance for your consideration of this exciting new internship program.