2014 Summer Internship Application Packet
Deadline for submission of application materials:
Monday, February 17, 2014 by 5pm
To submit, email (cjacobs@brandeis.edu) your:
 completed application form & short-answer questions
 current résumé
 one faculty letter of recommendation
 one outside letter of recommendation
 unofficial transcript
2014 Summer Internship Application
Due by 5pm on Monday, February 17, 2012
Table of Contents
Guidelines & Policies………………………………………………………..…….1
Application Form …………………………………………………………………..4
Recommender Form……………………………………………………………….6
Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy’s mission is to strengthen social justice
philanthropy through research, education, leadership development and practice. One of the Center’s goals is
to develop leaders sophisticated in social justice philanthropy. Internships provide first hand experience
about how philanthropies operate and perform their grant making duties and provide a closer look at the
ability of philanthropy to impact policy and leverage benefits for vulnerable populations. Sillerman interns are
expected to attend Sillerman Center events and participate in Center activities through-out their time at the
Heller School. Internship stipends are supported by the Sillerman Center endowment at the Heller School.
2014 Summer Internship Application
Guidelines & Policies
Sillerman summer philanthropy internships are provided for Heller MPP and PhD students who
wish to spend their summer working at foundations, philanthropic organizations or affinity groups
anywhere in the U.S. Students apply to compete for a select number of paid internship slots.
Stipends are provided directly to the successful candidates during the summer in two $2500
payments. Typical placements are private, community and corporate foundations whose work has
a policy context and/or a social justice focus. This is a full-time internship for 8-10 weeks during the
summer. Placements are decided in partnership with the Sillerman Center, the student and host
organizations.
Eligibility
Fully matriculated Heller MPP and Heller PhD students who have completed at least one full
academic year of classes in the MPP or PhD programs and who have a complete application
submitted by the deadline
Stipends
Stipends of $5,000 will be awarded for the interns selected on a competitive basis by a Heller
review committee to support structured, supervised internship experiences that provide an
opportunity for students to participate in meaningful professional work at the organization. The
stipend will be disbursed in two payments over the summer. Stipends are considered taxable income.
Program Requirements
Before the internship begins:

1
Sillerman Center staff will work closely with accepted students to select a placement in the
student’s interest area. Students and the Sillerman Center may propose sites. The site can
be in any geographic area of the United States. If students locate their own placement site,
Sillerman staff will be in contact with the proposed site supervisor during the earliest stages
to ascertain whether adequate supervision and tasks appropriate to the Sillerman internship
criteria will be offered. The Sillerman Center has a potential list of sites. Sites require an
interview as in any employment situation; the fit for both parties has to work. Sites will also
receive a full copy of the intern’s application materials.

Internships must be full-time (40 hours per week) and last between 8-10 weeks anytime
between May and August.

Recipients may be required to attend a pre-internship meeting with Sillerman staff where the
student and staff can review learning objectives and expectations from the intern, host site
and the Sillerman Center.
2014 Summer Internship Application
During the internship:

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Recipients will have one mid-point check-in with the Associate Director at the Sillerman
Center to discuss progress towards personal and career goals as well as evaluate the
experience up until that point.
Sillerman staff will have one mid internship onsite meeting with the supervisor.
Recipients must write and submit a reflection paper (3-5 pages) due within two weeks of
completion of the internship.
After the internship:



Recipients’ final reflection paper submitted by August 23, 2014.
Recipients may be asked to present their experience to other Sillerman interns and fellows
during the fall term at a meeting set up by the Sillerman Center.
Recipients must commit to being active members of the Sillerman Center and participate in
events and activities as requested, as well as be on hand to inform other students about
applying for internships and what the experience was like.
Selection Process
Application deadline is 5pm, February 17, 2014. A committee consisting of faculty and staff will
review applications. The review committee reserves the right to interview applicants.
Finalists will be notified within a month of submission or sooner.
Internship Opportunities
As discussed previously, students will conduct their internships with organizations committed to
advancing social justice philanthropy and/or philanthropy directed toward social policy impact.
Sites are required to fill out a Site Agreement Form that includes an internship work plan.
2
2014 Summer Internship Application
Application Requirements
Students will submit via email attachment in a word document:


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Application and written answers to application questions.
Résumé
Recommendation from a Brandeis University/Heller School faculty member
Recommendation from an outside professional recommender, preferably a supervisor from
a previous job
Unofficial Transcript
Applicant Characteristics: Each Sillerman Fellow will be selected based on personal and
academic characteristics and their interest in the philanthropy field. This includes past work
experience in philanthropy and related areas and future interest in combining skills in this area with
a policy career. Internships are seen as an early career opportunity to network and gain
understanding of the philanthropy field.
Specific selection criteria are as follows:

Leadership potential (demonstrated in student essay and faculty/professional
recommendations).


Demonstration of related work in the field (recommendations, resume).

Interns must agree to presentations about their experience; a reflection paper at the end of
the experience that will be posted on the Sillerman web site as well as participate in brown
bag lunch exchanges with Sillerman fellows and interns. Participation in Sillerman Center
events and activities is expected through-out the intern’s enrollment at the Heller School.
Commitment to philanthropy that advances social justice and impacts public policy
(essay, past work experience, future career goals).
All application materials are due NO LATER than February 17, 2014
via email attachment to:
Claudia J. Jacobs
Associate Director, Sillerman Center
Email: cjacobs@brandeis.edu
Room 342 Heller/Brown Building
3
2014 Summer Internship Application Packet
Name:___________________________________ Email address_________________________
Cell Phone number:_______________________
Social Security Number (may wait to submit until selection): _____________________________
MPP Year of Graduation:________ Concentration__________________________________
PhD current status (year, completed proposal, etc.):
______________________________________________________________
Address (summer): ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Phone (summer):________________________________________________________________
Concentration):__________________________________________________________________
Preferred Internship Area of Interest:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Preferred Internship Geographic Location:_____________________________________________
Internship dates and work schedule will be negotiated directly with the site upon selection
Faculty recommender’s name: ____________________________________________________
Outside recommender’s name:____________________________________________________
Are there any special financial or other circumstances that you feel the committee should consider
when reviewing your application?____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4
2014 Summer Internship Application
Application Questions
On a separate page, complete the following short-answer questions (Maximum of 2-3
pages). Please remember to re-state the questions with your answers:
1). Philanthropy experience—please describe any experience either paid work or volunteer
in the field of philanthropy.
2). Describe in your own words, the meaning of the term: social justice philanthropy.
3). Career related goals—What is your goal for this internship? What do you need to learn
and how do you expect to learn it? What would be your “dream” internship? How do you
think this internship might dovetail with your career goals?
4) How can philanthropy contribute to policy change?
5) Please affirm your interest and availability to participate in Sillerman activities and events
as requested
Please submit your completed application, including all items listed on the checklist below:
Application Checklist
 (1) Application Page
 (2) Short-Answer Questions (3 page max total)
 (3) Transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
 (4) Brandeis Faculty and Outside Recommendations (in sealed envelope
or via email to cjacobs@brandeis.edu)
 (5) Résumé
All application materials are due NO LATER than FEBRUARY 17, 2014
via email attachment to:
Claudia J. Jacobs
Associate Director, Sillerman Center
Email: cjacobs@brandeis.edu
Room 342 Heller/Brown Building
5
2014 Summer Internship Recommender Form
Applicant: Please give this page to your faculty and outside recommenders.
Background
The Sillerman Center sponsors a summer internship opportunity for selected Heller MPP and PhD
students annually. Placements allow Heller students to experience work at a private, corporate and
community foundations or philanthropic advisory services. This experience on the “donor side” of
philanthropy has been very valuable for those who careers may take them to the non-profit sector
as it is helpful to gain the different perspective that grant makers have and the power of
philanthropy to make a difference. The Center provides stipends so that organizations that
generously open their doors to Heller students essentially get a paid employee for the summer.
This transaction is two way, the organization gains analysis and other task assistance, and the
student gains valuable insight, experience and professional recommendations for their post
graduation job search.
Faculty and Outside recommender’s instructions
In your recommendation, please indicate how you know the applicant, for how long, and provide an
evaluation of his/her work and/or academic work and potential. We are looking for students who
are committed to social justice philanthropy; particularly mature students who can prioritize
effectively, have skills valuable to organizations, follow through with commitments and who would
be excellent ambassadors for the Heller School, Brandeis University and the Sillerman Center.
Both concrete examples and general impressions/evaluations are useful to the selection
committee. Please comment on the applicant’s ability to flourish in a self-directed, professional
work environment. Please include the applicant’s name and your name on each page.
Your recommendation should be returned to the applicant in a sealed and signed envelope, to be
submitted by the student as part of a complete application package or submitted directly to Claudia
Jacobs ’70, Associate Director via email at cjacobs@brandeis.edu
The deadline for receipt of completed applications is Tuesday, 5 p.m., February 17,
2014
Questions? Please contact:
Claudia Jacobs ‘70
Associate Director
The Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy
MS 035—781-736-3806
cjacobs@brandeis.edu
Room 342 Heller/Brown