Internship FAQs
- After the Internship
- Is there an active alumni network?
There is an active Clinton Intern Alumni Network through which we share job opportunities within and outside the Foundation and also ways to get involved in one time events through volunteering or advance work. We have had interns volunteering at the Clinton Global Initiative, President Clinton’s 60th Birthday, and a host of other events. New opportunities arise a few times a year and we try to include everyone.
- Does the internship increase my chances of getting a job in the Foundation?
The Clinton Foundation makes no promises or commitments of employment after the internship.
Many interns express interest in continuing to work at the Clinton Foundation in a paid capacity. We can’t hire everyone, but we do have over 50 former interns on our New York and Boston staffs, so it does happen. In order to be considered for a position you need to receive at least an excellent on your mid-term intern evaluation (for Harlem interns only) and your supervisor’s support. In addition, of course, we need to have an opening posted on our website that you are qualified for. During your term we encourage you to keep an eye on the website and bulletin boards for new jobs and to let the intern program staff know that you are interested in one of the openings. We will help guide you through the process.
We also have a few events geared towards employment: We hold a Career Day in New York City during the term, during which you have the opportunity to meet with staff from the Harlem and CGI offices to discuss your career interests. Also, many of our Brown Bag Lectures show you some of the different choices out there, from jobs to schools.
- Is there an active alumni network?
- Application Process
- Are there any software programs that I should highlight in my application?
The Clinton Foundation uses the Raiser’s Edge database extensively, particularly at CGI and in the Development Department in Harlem. Any experience you have with RE should be highlighted in your application. We recommend jumping on any opportunities you have to learn RE before you get here.
- Will you help to find housing?
New York City - Housing is expensive in NYC and you won’t get what you are used to for your dollar. When you are accepted we send you a document listing some websites to find housing including Craigslist and some student housing websites. Most interns who move here rent an extra bedroom in an apartment share, find a studio or one bedroom in Harlem or one of the outer boroughs (Queens is the least expensive, Brooklyn is more fun than Queens for students and cheaper than Manhattan), or get student housing. Our interns have access to Columbia and NYU housing for summers as long as they apply early.
- Do I have to be a United States citizen to apply for an internship in the U.S.?
We accept many international students from all around the world. If you are an international applicant living outside the U.S. and you are accepted to our program, we will supply you with a letter that qualifies you for a B1 visa. Beyond that, procuring the B1 visa is your responsibility. If you are an international applicant studying in the US your F1 visa is sufficient for our internship. Either way we will need a copy of the visa.
- Does the Foundation provide any financial assistance?
We realize it is expensive to be in New York City, especially if you relocate for the internship. That said, we do not have the means to help every intern or even every intern who moves here. Stipends are available to those with a financial need based on a combination of family income, moving and housing costs, and your history of holding a job to help yourself. In order to evaluate your need we require a copy of your FAFSA or SAR showing the expected family contribution amount or your and your parents' IRS statements. If you are an international applicant who is studying in the US, we need some documentation showing the financial need as well as a copy of your F-1 visa. We are unable to offer stipends to international applicants who are not studying here unless they have a visa that enables them to receive a check from us.
- Are there any software programs that I should highlight in my application?
- Working as an Intern
- What if I need to get/keep a job in order to do this internship?
We will work with your schedule so that you can get/keep a job as long as you fulfill our minimum requirements of 20 hours per week during the fall and spring and 30 hours per week during the summer. Your intern hours need to be between 9:30 and 6, Monday through Friday. Some interns work 5 short days and some work 2, 3, or 4 longer days in order to achieve their hours requirement.
Finding a part-time job is your responsibility, but we will help where we can.
- Is there a community service component in this internship?
We have a community service requirement for each intern at the Clinton Foundation New York Offices which consists of 3 hours of service during your scheduled intern time. We have several organizations with whom we work including the YMCA, a local soup kitchen, and the Harlem Storefront School. Among those organizations it is easy to find one near where you live or work. Additionally, as they come up, we offer other opportunities to give back to our community; for example, we help plant flowers on Earth Day and we have helped residents of NYC fill out the Earned Income Tax Credit. We also have a 6 week summer program for a few local high school students. Our college interns have the opportunity to be active in the training and mentoring of these interns.
- What if I need to get/keep a job in order to do this internship?
