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The Summer Public Interest Fund (SPIF) wwas established at Wharton in 1998. Over the past 12 years,
SPIF Fellows have worked in a wide range of fields, including urban education, international development, microfinance, and global health.
They have transformed nascent non-profits into growing organizations, helped established organizations thrive, and transformed lives in the process.
SPIF Fellows have worked to slow the spread of HIV and malaria, to reform schools, and to build critical public infrastructure.
What are SPIF’s primary goals?
- To enable students to use their MBA skills to help grow, improve the performance of, or otherwise assist social enterprises
- To narrow the financial differences between students pursuing internships in the public, social, and private sectors
- To enhance the diversity of professional experience within the Wharton community
How is the program funded?
The success of SPIF depends almost entirely on the support and generosity of the Wharton student body. SPIF is financed by students
who voluntarily pledge to support their fellow classmates. Historically, first-year students have donated 1% of their summer salaries to
SPIF, which is equivalent to half a day’s pay of a 10-week internship.
This year, for the first time in SPIF’s history, Wharton will match every dollar donated up to $30,000.
Why should I donate money?
- Help your fellow classmates. SPIF is about peers supporting peers.
- Support organizations that change the world. Contribute to efforts that reduce poverty,
stop disease, improve schools, and help rural and inner-city entrepreneurs make a living.
- Empower your classmates to serve as ambassadors for the Wharton brand.
- Reduce your tax burden. All donations to SPIF are tax-deductible.
Who runs SPIF?
SPIF has two organizational components: a Board comprised of members of the Class of 2011 and an Evaluation Committee comprised of
administrators, faculty, and members of the Class of 2010.
The SPIF Board handles all administrative functions of SPIF, including running Pledge Week in April. The SPIF Board also coordinates
the fellow-selection process (e.g., collecting applications, conducting due diligence to ensure the accuracy of applications).
The SPIF Evaluation Committee reads fellow applications, interviews candidates, selects fellows, and determines the amount of funding
to provide fellows.
How do I make a pledge?
Donors may give through the following channels:
- WGA Store
- Directly to a SPIF Board member (email Jeff Thelen at jthelen@wharton.upenn.edu)
- Through your cohort’s SPIF ambassador (beginning in April)
Pledge your support now
- Your donation is tax deductible. Checks can be made to "WGA – Summer Public Interest Fund".
- See FAQs for more information about SPIF.
- Thank you for your support!
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