Internship Stipend
Cooke Scholars are invited to apply for a one-time summer internship stipend to pursue an unpaid, full-time summer internship at a U.S.-based nonprofit or government organization. Summer Internships provide a wonderful opportunity to network, try out potential career paths, and gain valuable work experience.
The application for the Cooke Internship Stipend is now open. Scholars pursuing unpaid internships with nonprofit and government organizations during summer 2025, click here to apply.
Internship Stipend Information
Current Cooke Scholars are eligible to receive the Internship Stipend once during their scholarship program. Undergraduate Scholars may apply a second time for an internship in a subsequent summer if they can demonstrate that the internship will offer greater responsibility, development of additional skills, and a general progression in their career development.
Application Cycle:
- April 17, 2025 – All applications are due by 5:00 p.m. ET. No applications will be accepted after this time.
- May 2, 2025 – All applicants will be notified by 5:00 p.m. ET
Each year we receive an increased number of quality applications and the process is selective. To help you better prepare your application, please consider the following:
- Relevance to Major/Career: We are looking for well thought out applications with internships that align with academic and career goals.
- Depth of Proposed Experience and Goal Setting: Whether the internship is meant as a deeper pursuit of a previous similar internship or as an exploratory experience to help you narrow down your interests and goals, you should provide a thoughtful reflection of why you chose that particular internship.
- Evaluation and Evidence of Support: We are looking for clear descriptions of probable tasks and projects you have identified with your supervisor. Please do your best to accurately reflect what you will be working on for the summer; we do recognize that actual projects are likely to change slightly as you begin the internship and we will not penalize you for those changes.
- Scholar Standing: You must be in good academic standing with the Foundation. In addition, preference is given to those who have not received an internship stipend before.
Scholars are responsible for obtaining their own internships. Here are a few places you can find opportunities:
- Cooke Foundation Think Big About Internships campaign – log into your Canvas course for a full list of internships that Cooke Alums have shared with our community.
- Cooke Scholars & Alumni group on LinkedIn
- Higher Ed High Five monthly newsletter
- Your institution’s career center website or office
Feel free to peruse this list of organizations where Cooke Scholars who received the Internship Stipend have interned in the recent past.
Tips for Securing an Internship
-
- Identify why you want to apply for an internship
- Explore fields of interest, careers, or organizations where you might intern
- Consider application deadlines, compensation, length of the internship, location, and available academic credit for the program
- Create or update your resume and cover letter, and strengthen your professional writing skills (Click here for Six Tips for Resume Writing)
- Practice interviewing and gather references, recommendations, and transcripts
The “Steps to Finding Internships” download provides more detail for each suggestion.
Each internship stipend recipient must complete a Final Report about their internship and submit a Supervisor Completion Form. Both forms are due on September 11, 2025.
Internship Stipend Information
Current Cooke Scholars are eligible to receive the Internship Stipend once during their scholarship program. Undergraduate Scholars may apply a second time for an internship in a subsequent summer if they can demonstrate that the internship will offer greater responsibility, development of additional skills, and a general progression in their career development.
Application Cycle:
- April 17, 2025 – All applications are due by 5:00 p.m. ET. No applications will be accepted after this time.
- May 2, 2025 – All applicants will be notified by 5:00 p.m. ET
Each year we receive an increased number of quality applications and the process is selective. To help you better prepare your application, please consider the following:
- Relevance to Major/Career: We are looking for well thought out applications with internships that align with academic and career goals.
- Depth of Proposed Experience and Goal Setting: Whether the internship is meant as a deeper pursuit of a previous similar internship or as an exploratory experience to help you narrow down your interests and goals, you should provide a thoughtful reflection of why you chose that particular internship.
- Evaluation and Evidence of Support: We are looking for clear descriptions of probable tasks and projects you have identified with your supervisor. Please do your best to accurately reflect what you will be working on for the summer; we do recognize that actual projects are likely to change slightly as you begin the internship and we will not penalize you for those changes.
- Scholar Standing: You must be in good academic standing with the Foundation. In addition, preference is given to those who have not received an internship stipend before.
Scholars are responsible for obtaining their own internships. Here are a few places you can find opportunities:
- Cooke Foundation Think Big About Internships campaign – log into your Canvas course for a full list of internships that Cooke Alums have shared with our community.
- Cooke Scholars & Alumni group on LinkedIn
- Higher Ed High Five monthly newsletter
- Your institution’s career center website or office
Feel free to peruse this list of organizations where Cooke Scholars who received the Internship Stipend have interned in the recent past.
Tips for Securing an Internship
-
- Identify why you want to apply for an internship
- Explore fields of interest, careers, or organizations where you might intern
- Consider application deadlines, compensation, length of the internship, location, and available academic credit for the program
- Create or update your resume and cover letter, and strengthen your professional writing skills (Click here for Six Tips for Resume Writing)
- Practice interviewing and gather references, recommendations, and transcripts
The “Steps to Finding Internships” download provides more detail for each suggestion.
Each internship stipend recipient must complete a Final Report about their internship and submit a Supervisor Completion Form. Both forms are due on September 11, 2025.
Internship Stipend Amounts
| Cooke Scholarship Program | Internship Stipend Amount | |
| Young Scholars transitioning to College Scholars | $4,000 | |
| College Scholars | $6,000 | |
| Undergraduate Transfer Scholars | $6,000 | |
| Graduate Scholars | $6,000 |
*Cooke Scholars who are beginning their first scholarship with the Cooke Foundation in fall 2025 will not be eligible for the Internship Stipend until summer 2026.
Guidelines and Forms
Helpful Guidelines
Additional Resources
FAQs
Am I eligible for the stipend if I am receiving credit from my college or university for the internship?
Are international Scholars eligible to apply?
Contact Us
Email
Undergraduate Scholarship Programs: scholars@jkcf.org
Graduate Scholarship: gradscholars@jkcf.org
Award, bill, payment, or other finance inquiries: finances@jkcf.org
Phone
Toll-free: 800-846-9025
Receptionist: 571-799-8000
Fax
Main fax: 703-723-8030
Finance fax: 571-209-1775