Internships for the Common Good: Funding for Unpaid Internships

Internships open doors. They help students discover what drives them, apply their learning in real‑world settings, and build the confidence and competencies that shape meaningful careers. For many students, an internship is the moment when passion meets purpose.

But too many of our students never get that chance.

Financial barriers – like the need to work to afford college, the prevalence of unpaid or underpaid internships, and limited access to reliable transportation – often put these transformative experiences out of reach. These challenges disproportionately affect first‑generation and low-income students, who stand to gain the most from the mentoring, skills development, professional networks, and social capital that internships provide.

Your support can change that.

By giving to the Internships for the Common Good Fund, you ensure that students are paid Denver’s minimum wage ($19.21/hour) for a 120‑hour internship during the academic semester. Your gift directly removes financial obstacles and opens pathways to purposeful, community-focused careers.

Together, we can empower every student, regardless of background, to step into opportunities that shape their future and strengthen our shared community.