Penn State Abington Economic Development Internship Fund
Through the generosity of multiple alumni donors, in partnership with Alumni Relations & Development, the Center for Career & Professional Development is pleased to offer financial support for students completing economic development internship experiences. The Penn State Abington Economic Development Internship Fund (PSAEDIF) will sponsor select internships at start-ups, companies/corporations, and not-for-profit organizations that enhance business activity in Pennsylvania, with a preference for those internships located in the Greater Philadelphia Region (Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware Counties).
Funding of up to $4,000 is available for each student chosen through a competitive application process. Funds are not guaranteed. The number of stipends and dollar amounts will be based upon available program funds and demonstrated student interest.
This internship funding is not intended to replace wages. Instead, it is meant to help alleviate supplemental costs associated with pursuing an internship including housing, transportation, and food.
| Student Criteria | Employer Criteria | Student Commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Students must be enrolled in a degree program and in good academic standing. | The employer must be located in Pennsylvania with a preference for those located in the Greater Philadelphia Region. | Students must successfully complete the internship, as defined by their employer, and receive a satisfactory grade in the internship course. |
| Students must intend to receive credit during the semester in which their internship course occurs. | The employer must demonstrate commitment to job creation, business development, and/or the internship must be working on a project that grows the business in a demonstrable way. | Students must submit a post-internship reflection summarizing their experience. |
| Students must have secured an internship that meets the professional standards established by CPD and their respective academic department. | Students must write a thank you letter to the donor. | |
| Students must have initiated the process for registering their internship for credit. | ||
| Students cannot be a previous economic development internship fund recipient or a Germer-Taub Scholar. |
To apply for the Economic Development Internship Fund:
The Spring 2024 Application and the Summer 2024 Application are now open.
The deadline for Spring 2024 is December 1, 2023
The deadline for Summer 2024 is April 12, 2024
Apply hereFor the next steps, see the FAQs below:
What is the Economic Development Fund?
Through the generosity of multiple alumni donors, the Center for Career and Professional Development is pleased to offer financial support for students completing internship experiences with employers that are creating new business development and jobs.
You must have secured and registered an internship for credit. The internship can be a Required internship (required for these 9 Abington degree programs Internship Application Process | Penn State Abington (psu.edu) or can be an Exploratory internship (completed by any major).
Your internship employer must be located in Pennsylvania, with a preference given to those internships located in the Greater Philadelphia Region (Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware Counties).
The employer must demonstrate commitment to job creation, business development and/or the internship must be working on a project that grows business in a demonstrable way.
This may include companies in various stages of development, including start-ups and not-for-profits, which may be fledgling, growing quickly, or more established. In cases of established companies, they may be considered if the intern would be working on initiating new products, repositioning product lines, transforming technology, or initiating a transformation of the company’s entire business.
Preference may be given to those in unpaid or low-paid internships.
What are the steps to apply?
1. You must have an internship to submit an application.
Interested in applying but haven’t secured an internship yet? Use the resources located on CPDs website, and meet with a Career Counselor to get personalized guidance on internship searching and creating a resume and cover letter. See more information here: How to Find an Internship | Penn State Abington (psu.edu) and here: Make an Appointment | Penn State Abington (psu.edu)
2. Register your internship for credit using the instruction on this page: Internship Application Process | Penn State Abington (psu.edu)
3. Submit the EDF application found here.
This includes a 250 word essay or a video submission detailing 1) how the internship will positively impact the student’s career exploration and goals for their career and 2) how these funds will benefit you. Please be thoughtful in your responses.
How will I know if I have been awarded funds?
All applicants will receive notification within 3 weeks after the submission deadline.
How much will be awarded?
Several criteria will be weighed to determine the award amount, with amounts ranging from $500 to $4000. These criteria include but are not limited to number of hours required at your internship, if your internship is unpaid or low paid, and if your semester is during the summer (due to added expense of paying for summer credits).
This internship funding is not intended to replace wages. Instead, it is meant to help alleviate supplemental costs associated with pursuing an internship including housing, transportation, and food.
How will I receive the internship funds?
Once you have been chosen to be awarded funds, you will receive an award letter with instructions on how to register on PaymentWorks: the University’s third-party vendor for providing secure and compliant payments.
You will then receive 2 installments of direct payment to your student account. The first installment will be at the midpoint of your internship, and second and final payment upon successful evaluation by your internship supervisor.
The Economic Development Internship Award may be taxable for federal, state, and/or local tax purposes. Please seek advice from a qualified and reputable financial or tax professional, as the University cannot provide individual tax advice.
When is the deadline to apply?
The deadlines to apply will coincide with the internship application deadlines for each semester:
- Spring Internships: December 1
- Summer Internships: April 12
More information can be found here: Internship Application Process | Penn State Abington (psu.edu)
What happens if I don’t have an internship by the deadlines?
Unfortunately, we cannot accept incomplete or late applications. Please plan your internship search keeping these deadlines in mind. We encourage students to start their internship search at least 6 months in advance.
