Yawkey Program: Employers
Boston University welcomes the opportunity to work with nonprofit organizations in the Boston area and beyond.
For questions about the Yawkey Program, contact program staff at 617-353-3590 or yawkey@bu.edu. For questions about recruiting at BU, browse options and policies or contact the Employer Engagement Team at 617-353-3590 or bucareer@bu.edu.
Program Overview
Funded by an endowed gift from the Yawkey Foundation and housed in the BU Center for Career Development, the Yawkey Nonprofit Internship Program supports eligible students with qualified nonprofit internships. Admitted applicants receive a living allowance stipend disbursed from Boston University and benefit from the program’s educational framework designed to help participants plan for, engage in, and reflect on their internship experience.
Applicants must secure an internship at a nonprofit BEFORE applying for funding through the Yawkey Nonprofit Internship Program.
Internship Eligibility
View the criteria for
internship eligibility.
Additionally, qualified internships should provide the Yawkey Intern with the following:
- Opportunities for intellectual growth and development of knowledge and skills specific to a career or career setting
- Exploration of career options and an understanding of career pathways
- Acquisition of transferable professional skills, such as communication, teamwork, time management, interpersonal skills, goal setting
- Opportunities to address identified learning goals, including as related to furthering career exploration and development, enhancing academic skills/knowledge, and advancing self-knowledge
- Expansion and development of professional networks
- Progression of career readiness compentencies, as promoted by the CCD and developed by NACE (the National Association of Colleges and Employers)
Student Eligibility
View the criteria for
student eligibility.
The Yawkey Program is a competitive program for which students must apply and be accepted in order to participate and receive funding.
Program Requirements: Students
Before the Program
Internship Preparation Workshop
Students attend an internship preparation workshop that focuses on professionalism and making the most of an internship experience.
During the Program
Learning Agreement
At the start of the internship, supervisors are asked to meet with their intern to discuss expectations, goals, learning objectives, and an action plan for achieving them. The learning agreement is an online form which will capture this information and be completed by the student through the Sonia platform.
Mid-internship Check-in
A staff member at the CCD will reach out at the midway point of the internship to schedule time to connect with the student. They will revisit the learning agreement and discuss the intern’s progress towards meeting the specific goals and learning objectives laid out in this document.
Monthly Timesheets
At the start of each month, interns will submit a timesheet on the Sonia platform for the hours they worked during the previous month. Supervisors have the ability to review these hours for accuracy.
After the Program
Post-internship Evaluation
At the conclusion of the internship, students are asked to evaluate their internship experience and provide overall feedback on the Yawkey Nonprofit Internship Program.
Reflective Essay
The student will submit a 3-5 page essay, reflecting on their internship experience.
In-Action Photo with Caption
The student will submit a photo and caption.
Program Requirements: Supervisors
During the Application Process
Employer Internship Confirmation Form
Completed by the employer, the Employer Internship Confirmation Form confirms key details about the organization and the internship.
This form must only be completed by a staff member at the organization. Any forms completed by the intern will not be accepted. Forms must be completed by the application deadline.
During the Program
Learning Agreement and Supervisor Agreement
Supervisors are asked to meet with their intern at the start of the internship to discuss expectations, goals, learning objectives, and an action plan for achieving them.
The learning agreement is an online form which will capture this information and be completed by the student through the Sonia platform. The supervisor agreement is an online form which will acknowledge these goals and be completed by the supervisor through the Sonia platform.
Mid-internship Check-in
A staff member at the CCD will reach out at the midway point of the internship to schedule time to connect. In addition to making sure the internship is going well for the supervisor, the conversation will include revisiting the learning agreement and discussing the intern’s progress towards meeting the specific goals and learning objectives identified in this document.
After the Program
Post-internship Evaluation
At the conclusion of the internship, supervisors are asked to evaluate their intern and provide overall feedback on the Yawkey Program. An online form, the evaluation will be completed and submitted through the Sonia platform.
We encourage employers to contact the Yawkey Internship Coordinator (yawkey@bu.edu) at any point with questions regarding the Yawkey Program in general, a specific internship in progress, or to participate in a wider array of recruiting activities at BU.
Recruiting at BU: How can I get a Yawkey Intern?
The Yawkey Nonprofit Internship Program is not a placement program. Students are required to seek and secure their own internships.
We encourage nonprofit organizations to post internship positions for BU students (whether eligible for the Yawkey Program or not) through our online recruiting system, Handshake. We also have a host of other opportunities to help you engage with talented BU students eager to intern or work for nonprofits. Learn more about recruiting at BU.