Internship Funding
WHAT does the CLS fund?
CLS internship funding supports summer experiences that are:
- Unpaid or low-paid (less than minimum wage at the location of the internship).
- At least six weeks long with a minimum of 30 hours of work per week.
- Secured—offered and accepted—at the time of application.
- Not sponsored by Grinnell College faculty or staff.
- In-person, remote, or hybrid—there are no restrictions on location or format.
Internship funding is competitive and not guaranteed. While we try to fund as many student experiences as possible, demand exceeds available funds each year.
WHO is eligible for funding?
Applicants must:
- Be enrolled full-time at Grinnell (or in an approved off-campus study program) in both the spring semester when the application is submitted and the fall semester after the internship.
- Have had at least one meeting with a CLS adviser.
- Be in good conduct standing with the Division of Student Affairs. If you are not sure about your standing, contact the Dean of Students.
Students who are on leave the semester before or after the internship, transferring to another institution after the internship, or participating in Grinnell’s summer MAP program are not eligible.
✅ Review the full list of eligibility requirements here.
WHEN are applications due?
The funding application opens February 2, 2026. There are two deadlines for application:
- April 5, 2026 for general CLS funding (most applicants)
- March 1, 2026 for applicants to The Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, International Relations, and Human Rights
- The Rosenfield Program funds internships that align with their work. You can learn more about the kinds of experiences funded by Rosenfield on their website.
- Applicants to Rosenfield funding must meet with program director Ed Cohn before the March 1 deadline. Not sure if your internship is a good fit for Rosenfield funding? Chat with Prof. Cohn to find out.
- Rosenfield’s funding decisions are made before Spring Break. Applicants who apply but are not accepted for Rosenfield funding will be considered for general CLS funding.
Applicants are notified of funding decisions by the end of April. Funds are distributed to student accounts by the end of the spring semester.
HOW MUCH funding is available?
Funding is awarded as a flat stipend based on applicants’ level of financial need:
- High/very high need: $6,000
- Moderate/low need: $4,000
- No need: $2,000
These funds can be applied to any expense associated with the internship: housing, transportation, food, attire, etc. If you are not sure what your need level is, contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Think carefully about your budget for the summer: if you receive CLS funding, will the stipend amount be sufficient to cover your anticipated expenses? Consider your costs for:
- Travel to your internship site
- Housing and utilities for the summer
- Transportation/daily commuting
- Groceries & meals out
Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete this budget planning worksheet to determine whether their summer plan is feasible with CLS funding. Resources like the Family Budget Calculator can help you estimate costs for your internship location. The CLS has lots of additional financial literacy resources to help you plan.
WHAT is in an application?
The funding application consists of:
- An online application form
- An internship confirmation form completed and signed by your supervisor
- This form includes the duration of the internship, the anticipated number of hours per week, the format (in-person, remote, or hybrid), and a description of your job duties
- Your current résumé
The same application is used for both Rosenfield Program funding and general CLS funding. Rosenfield applicants will additionally be asked to interview with a panel of Rosenfield Committee members during the first week of March.
WOO HOO, I got CLS internship funding! Now what?
If your application is successful, you’ll be asked to accept or decline your funding award. If you accept, you’ll need to attend an orientation session with the CLS before the end of the spring semester. Things to keep in mind:
- You’ll have some work to complete with the CLS during the summer, including meetings with a CLS adviser. We do this to help you get the most out of your summer experience and leverage it for your next steps.
- You’ll be asked to complete a thank-you for the donor(s) who supported your internship.
- Some students will need to enroll in INT-300, which carries a tuition cost of approximately $500. This is a requirement for students on F-1 visas who are working in the United States and for students working at organizations that require their interns to receive academic credit.
- Recipients of funding from the Rosenfield Program will be asked to deliver a presentation on campus about their internship experience in Fall 2026.
If your summer plans change, you may not keep your CLS funding. Your funding is specific to the internship you apply with. If you decide to pursue a different internship or do something else with your summer instead, you will not receive funds. If your plans change after funds have been disbursed, you’ll be asked to return the money.
Failure to complete these requirements will result in loss of eligibility for any CLS funding for one year.
