The Externship Experience Grant

Please note: Externship Experience Grants apply exclusively to Externship Experiences listed through this website. If you have any questions, please contact externships@grinnell.edu. The CLS encourages students to pursue all manner of job shadows and informational interview experiences; however, this grant does not apply to opportunities you arrange outside of this program.

Upon matching with an externship experience, students may apply for a grant to help defray costs for their externship.

The CLS offers grants for all students participating in externships, while funds are available, based on limited per diem expenses and the distance between the starting point (typically home or campus) and the host site. Students don’t need to submit receipts—we’ll grant a flat amount based on distance and the established level of financial need (confirmed by the Office of Financial Aid). While students may complete more than one Externship Experience across their first through third years at Grinnell, students may only qualify for funding once. (Students who participated in the previous externship program (March 2025 or before) may apply for an externship experience grant; hosts are requested to prioritize first-time externs.)

Note: Students must complete all requirements of the externship experience. An extern who fails to comply may be required to refund the grant money and/or may receive a one-year CLS funding hold.

Grant money may be used to defray travel expenses, meals, incidentals, and entertainment. The grant is not intended to cover the entire experience, but to make the experience accessible for all students. If you have questions about how much an externship experience might cost, please make an appointment with a CLS adviser.

Required:

• Student must have a CLS greenlight.
• Student must be in good standing with the College (as approved by DSA).
• Student need level will be verified by Financial Aid.
• Student must have turned in to the CLS the signed It’s a Match form and completed the CLS Externship Experience Waiver.
• Students who participate in extracurriculars on campus will have permission from their coach/director/employer/professor approve their availability for their participation in the Externship Experience.

Apply for funding using the funding request form. The Grant will open in late January 2026. Note that the form will require a proposed travel itinerary and a google map that confirms distance student will travel to externship location. Student options are to start from campus or from home. Another reasonable starting location (a relative’s house for example) will be considered with explanation.

Students will need to agree to the following language on the funding application: CLS funding is limited and intended to ensure access to externships for all students. I understand that funding is based on my stated departure location and established level of need and that misrepresentation could affect my eligibility. I understand that funding is not guaranteed, that when the grants are closed or the deadline has passed, no externship experience funding will be available.

Externship Experience Grants may take up to 15 business days to process.

Funding for Externship Experience Grants