Unpaid Internship Funding

Career Services is excited to offer internship funding up to $3,000 to students completing unpaid internships. These funds help defray the significant burden of unpaid internships. 

Summer 2025 Application Timeline

• March 30th at 11:55pm: Summer 2025 Internship Applications Due in Handshake 
• April 7-24th – Select candidates invited to interview
• May 2nd – Recipients Notified

Overall Eligibility Requirements

• The internship must be at least 200 hours.
• Unpaid internship funding is open to all majors who are enrolled in the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire during the semester they are completing an internship.
• Preference given to students with financial hardship.

Fund-Specific Eligibility Requirements

When completing the application, you may indicate which fund(s) you would like to be considered for.

• Eau Claire Internship Fund:
  • Unpaid Internship must be located within 30 miles of the UWEC campus. Available Spring, Summer and Fall terms.
• Shawn W. Pfaff Advocacy Internship Fund:
  • Internship must be unpaid and focused on advocacy work with a non-profit organization or governmental agency. First priority is given to internships within Wisconsin. Second priority is internships outside of the State of Wisconsin. Only available during summer terms.

Application Process

Students must apply for the job posting on Handshake. Students must submit a resume, two professional reference letters (references can be from faculty), and letter of application (no longer than two pages) that addresses each of the following questions:

• Describe your financial hardship and how it impacts your ability to participate in an unpaid internship.
• Why should you be selected as a recipient of this funding?
• What are your long-term goals and how will this internship help you achieve them?
• If you do have an internship confirmed: please include a job description and offer letter (this does not count towards the two-page maximum). Please save this as part of your letter of application.
• If you do not have an internship confirmed: what types of organization(s) would you like to work for, if selected for this program? Have you applied and/or interviewed for any positions? If so, please include information about each of those positions. Please save this as part of your letter of application.

Information for Students

1. Funding for unpaid internships is limited, so not all applicants can be awarded.
2. Students are responsible for finding and reporting their internship to receive their funds. They must secure the internship within 2 weeks of being awarded the internship funding if not yet secured.
3. Students will work with their internship supervisor to coordinate their start date and internship projects.
4. Students will work with Career Services to set internship goals before the start of their internship.
5. Students must complete necessary hiring paperwork to be paid by the Advising, Retention + Career Center (working with the Human Resources and ARCC staff)
6. Students commit to working 200 hours over the semester or summer at the internship.

Support the Eau Claire Internship Fund

Your gift in support of the Eau Claire Internship Fund lets undergraduate students learn valuable career skills, while exploring professions and industries that historically do not support paid internships. Students who complete internships are more likely to secure full-time employment than students without, but unpaid positions are out of reach for many students with financial limitations. You can help reduce financial pressure and increase career opportunities by supporting us here (be sure to select "Career Services Internship Fund (2944)").