2016 Diversity Internship Program

About the program

Thank you for your interest in serving as a Diversity Intern Host site during the summer of 2016. In 2008, the Conservation Trust for North Carolina (CTNC) established an internship program for students from communities that are underrepresented in conservation careers with our state’s 10 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In 2009 and 2010 we expanded our campus outreach to include the entire University of North Carolina system. Since the program’s inception, we have supported 73 interns at 18 land trusts and 10community partner organizations and one state agency. Through this program, CTNC and our local partners introduce promising students to careers in conservation and introduce conservation organizations to potential employees. Interns are placed with host organizations for full-time 10 week paid internships that provide hands on opportunities to gain the skills and experiences necessary for a successful career in conservation.

In 2012, CTNC renamed its Diversity Internship Program to be the Max Mukelabai Diversity Internship Program to honor former CTNC board member Max Mukelabai. Max was a dynamic young leader who joined CTNC’s board in 2008 and passed away suddenly on July 8, 2011 at the age of 36. Max was born in Zambia and raised in Zimbabwe. He co-founded the Middle East News Service Inc., a global media service provider and syndicator of news and information about the Middle East and North Africa in 1998. Max was the principal of Maximo Mukelabai, CPA, PC, in Durham, and had recently been elected chairman of the N.C. Association of Certified Public Accountants. He contributed greatly to CTNC in many ways, one being through his service on the finance committee. Max had a global perspective and was deeply committed to the CTNC’s Diversity Initiative.

Funding Sources

Funding for the 2016 interns is provided by private donations to the Conservation Trust for North Carolina.

Eligible Applicants

Members of the NC Land Trust Council and diversity program partners who operate in North Carolina and have a project that meets the eligibility guidelines listed below.

The Program

This grant program provides support for a summer intern. If your organization is selected to participate in this year’s program, you will receive a stipend upon receipt of your completed grant contract and selection of your intern. Stipends will be $4,000 for undergraduate students and $4,400 for recent graduates and graduate students. Interns should be set up on your organization’s payroll and paid on the same schedule as employees. According to the IRS guidelines, interns are required to pay social security. They can choose whether or not to have federal and state taxes withheld. Applicants may submit a maximum of two applications per cycle. If an organization submits more than one application, each application must be for a separate project. The applications will be reviewed and ranked separately by the review committee.

Application Review and Deadlines

Applications will be evaluated by a review committee consisting of CTNC staff and diversity program partners.

Requirements and Expectations

Our program has a goal of 100% retention over the course of the summer. This is not possible without strong support and supervision from all of our host sites. Each intern is expected to complete 400 hours of work for their host site in addition to the training provided by CTNC at intern orientation, cohort workdays, and the final event. Host sites are essential in helping us meet our retention goals and providing interns with enough work to serve 400 hours over the course of the summer.

Recruitment

The aim of this program is to increase racial and ethnic diversity in conservation organizations, so special effort will be made to recruit applicants from communities that are underrepresented in conservation careers. According to the recent Green 2.0 report from the University of Michigan, members of these groups are those of Asian, Black, Hispanic, Multi-Racial, and Native American background.

While CTNC will manage the HiringThing recruitment portal and post intern positions at targeted schools, each host site is expected to publicize their intern position in their local community.

Intern Support Responsibilities

*Provide a meaningful work experience that enables interns to apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations and develop new skills relevant to a career in conservation

*Assist the intern with goal setting and professional development

*Provide suitable work space as well as necessary equipment and supplies to complete their assigned project

*Release the intern from the site for participation in one cohort workday and one professional development training (2 days during the summer)

*Promote intern and intern’s work in the local media, share any earned, owned, or paid media with program staff

*Assist the member and program staff in collecting data for program performance measures including changes in audience knowledge, attitudes, or behavior

*Share work produced by intern with program staff

*Have a representative at the intern final event

Intern Supervision Responsibilities

*Designate one staff person to serve as the direct manager for the intern and primary contact for the Diversity Internship Program. This person will set goals for the intern with measurable outcomes and oversee the intern’s progress towards these goals.

*Verify, sign, and submit intern timesheets

*Complete intern performance evaluations and other required reporting.

*Sit down with intern and review mid-term and final evaluations.

*Document in writing and communicate immediately to the program director any member performance issues or program concerns.

Financial Responsibilities

*Grant funds may only be used for intern stipend.

*CTNC will pay for all expenses associated with interns attending the intern orientation, cohort workdays, and the closing event.

*If an internship position requires significant travel, host organizations are expected to reimburse intern for project related travel

Eligible Projects

The goal of CTNC’s Diversity Internship Program is to expose a diverse group of students to the array of careers available in the field of conservation and to introduce host organizations to a group of promising potential employees. Grants may be awarded for projects that meet the goals of the diversity program and demonstrate a combination of the following:

*clear purpose

*potential for intern to gain skills and experiences relevant to a career in conservation

*opportunity to contribute to the development or implementation of a specific project

*meaningful learning and work experience for interns

Application Deadline

Completed applications must be postmarked or received by email no later than Monday, November 23, 2015 at 5:00 PM EST.

Application Submittal

Emailapplications to or mail to:

Conservation Trust for North Carolina

Attn: Melanie Allen

1028 Washington St

Raleigh, NC 27605

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to Melanie Allen or 919-828-4199, ext 21.

Application Format

Each applicant is asked to submit one copy of the application in either Microsoft Word or PDF format.

Notification

Grant awards will be announced no later than December 8, 2015.

Grant Agreement

At the time of notification, a grant agreement will be sent to grant recipients. Funds will be made available prior to the start of the internship.

Reporting Requirement

A standardized reporting form will be included with grant agreements. The completed form will be due 30 days after completion of the project and no later than nine months from the date of contract signing. Failure to provide the completed report in a timely manner will preclude the organization’s eligibility for future grants. Supervisors and interns will also be required to complete mid-term and final evaluations.

Application Requirements

1)Application Form

2)Intern Job Description

3)The following financial information (separate pages):

a)summary of the organization’s current and previous year’s annual budget

b)list of existing or pledged matching funds (or value of in-kindcontributions)

c)a copy of the organization’s IRS 501(c)(3) certification if you are a non-profit organization (non-profit applicants only)

2016 Diversity Internship Program Application Form

Submit, preferably by email to , one copy of this form and all attachments as outlined in the application requirements by Monday, November 23, 2015 at 5:00 PM EST.

Organization: ______EIN number ______

Address: ______

Telephone: ______Fax: ______e-mail: ______

Primary Contact:

  1. Organization of Program Mission Statement
  1. Have you hosted a CTNC Diversity Intern in the past? ____Yes____No

If yes, list year(s). ______

Did you submit a final report? ____Yes____No

  1. Proposed Internship Position Title:
  2. Which of these categories best describes the focus of your internship? If other, please clarify.

Land Protection

Environmental Education

Stewardship

Communications

Outreach

Agriculture/Community Garden

Other, ______

  1. Proposed Internship Start Date:
  2. Proposed Internship End Date:
  3. Are these dates flexible? ____Yes____No
  4. Intern Supervisor: ______Title:______
  5. Describe the supervisor’s major projects. Include a list of expected projects the intern will be involved in.
  6. Desired intern qualifications (Does your position require GIS or other skills, would a graduate student be more suited for this position? Does the position require a great deal of travel?)
  7. What will the intern learn in this position? (Please include an explanation and a list of specific skills)
  8. Describe the experience your organization will provide. (Will the intern have the opportunity to engage in field work, or conferences? What kind and how often? )
  9. What kind of training will you provide?
  10. Please describe how you plan to monitor your intern’s progress throughout the summer.
  1. If your position requires a great deal of travel, how will travel costs be handled?
  2. What was your general revenue in your last fiscal year: $ ______

Anticipated general revenue in the current fiscal year: $ ______

  1. Job Description and Responsibilities (Use the attached template to create a job description for your position. The job description should not exceed 2 pages.)

Signature: ______Title: ______

Date: ______

Job Description

(Not to exceed 2 pages)

{Insert host organization’s name.)

Location: {Insert internship location.}

Duration: {insert preferred start date-preferred end date.}

Position Summary:

This should be a brief paragraph that states the purpose of the position, responsibilities of the position, and how it will relate to the broader work of the organization or other employees.

{Insert broad function i.e. Land Protection.}:

  • {Insert specific task i.e. Assists in performing initial site assessments for landowners.}

{Insert broad function i.eCommunications.}:

  • {Insert specific task i.e. Assists in the development and marketing of a corporate sponsorship program.}

Qualifications:

This area should outline the skills and experience necessary to successful perform the job outlined above.

Special Requirements:

This area should outline any unique considerations that this position demands, i.e. weekend work hours or use of the applicants private vehicle for a significant amount of travel.

If you have questions or require more information about this position, contact {insert primary contact who will field questions} at {insert phone number and email address of primary contact|.Learn more {insert organization’s name} at {insert organization’s web address}