Social Impact Internship Fund

Context

Established in 2015, the Social Impact Internship Fund (SIIF) at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management provides funding to Johnson MBA students who take a low- or no-compensation summer internship directly involved in social or environmental impact. Administered by the Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise (CSGE), the fund supports students seeking internship opportunities in organizations dedicated to addressing critical social and environmental challenges. Funding for the SIIF is made possible by the generosity of fellow Johnson students and alumni.

SIIF Supports: Yimi Zhao, MBA ’22

Preparing for the Greener Future of Electric Garbage Trucks

Gap

As most of our MBA students arrive seeking a career transition, their summer internship is a critical stepping-stone into a new direction, giving them a story to tell when looking for full-time employment. For students looking for mission-driven career opportunities, it is often the case that these roles do not offer competitive compensation and it may not even be sufficient to cover their living expenses. The SIIF enables these students to embrace these impactful opportunities every year.

“My summer working as a Societal Risk Analyst at Quantum Risk Analytics would have been impossible without the invaluable support of the Social Impact Internship Fund. The fund didn't just provide the necessary financial impetus but also served as acknowledgement of the societal impact work undertaken during my internship” - Marcus Le, MBA '24

When the economy is not as strong, such as in the current fiscal climate, well-paying internships are sparsely available, and more students seek non-traditional MBA summer internships with non-profits and smaller mission-driven companies. During such years, the SIIF becomes a critical component of Johnson’s support for even more students to find meaningful internship opportunities that would otherwise be financially out of reach. A well-funded SIIF ensures the resiliency of internship opportunities for Johnson students through all economic climates.

SIIF Supports: Masahiro Yoshida, MBA '23

Growing a New Future for Wagyu

Priority and Impact

The SIIF has a direct impact on MBA students’ career placements after graduation by:

1. Enabling students to gain experience in socially or environmentally impactful organizations or roles.
2. Ensuring students are financially supported while interning in any economic environment.

For the class of 2023, the range of internship compensation was $2,600 - $16,700/month with the average compensation being around $11,400/month.

SIIF Supports: Rahul Singh, MBA ’21

Medical Group Benefits from MBA Skills During the Pandemic

Read these and other SIIF stories here.