Ready to apply? Click the button below to download the electronic application (doc format).
Selection Criteria
Application Process
To apply for funding from SPIF, please email the completed application form (linked on this page), your resume,
and the two required essays to Sonia Berlin (sberlin@wharton.upenn.edu).
Please also email an offer letter confirming your summer internship. If you have not finalized your summer plans,
please forward correspondence you have had with potential employers to demonstrate that you are in the late stages of the job-search process.
The deadline for first-round consideration is Sunday, April 3 at 9:00 PM. The deadline for second-round consideration
is Sunday, April 17 at 9:00 PM. Please include "SPIF Application" in the subject line of the email and keep a copy
of all materials for yourself.
Late applications will not be considered.
Selection Criteria
Applicants are selected primarily on their passion for public-interest work and on the content of their internship, as follows:
Service: Does the organization provide a clearly defined benefit or service to the public sphere?
Does the organization have a proven track record of impact or a compelling business model?
Commitment: Has the organization made a sufficient commitment to the summer job to ensure that both the
organization and the student will benefit from the student's work? Has the organization made adequate resources available to support the internship? Is the student committed to the cause of the organization?
Definition: Is the summer position clearly defined? What will the student accomplish?
Impact: Will the internship make a meaningful contribution to the organization?
Relevance: Will the student be using skills and approaches consistent with a management education?
Additional criteria, including qualifying organizations, internship length, and salary restrictions, are included in the
"Selection Criteria" document, downloadable above.
Some projects supported by SPIF in the past include:
Women's World Banking, which seeks to alleviate global poverty by expanding the economic assets, participation, and
power of the poor, especially women. A SPIF Fellow performed comparative analysis of debt- and loan-guarantee products, developed
financial models for analyzing bonds in Colombia, and updated equity ownership data of regulated microfinance institutions.
Friends of Cancer Research, which accelerates the United States' progress toward the prevention and treatment of cancer.
A SPIF Fellow developed a multi-phased Board restructuring plan, wrote a business plan, and provided senior management with a
methodology for long-term planning.
The School District of Philadelphia. A SPIF Fellow spearheaded research behind a real estate consolidation, which included
working with the CFO's office to develop accurate forecasting and budgeting plans for new expansion projects.
Who makes selection decisions?
The SPIF Evaluation Committee, which is comprised of administrators, faculty, and members of the Class of 2011, reads fellow
applications, interviews candidates, selects fellows, and determines the amount of funding fellows will receive.
Deadlines
Applications may be submitted for first-round or second-round consideration. The first-round deadline is Sunday, April 3
at 9:00 PM. The second-round deadline is Sunday, April 17 at 9:00 PM.
Financing Information
SPIF Fellows will receive funding in two parts: one-half before their summer internship begins, and one-half after their internship has ended.
SPIF's ability to provide funding is contingent on the degree of financial support pledged each year by Wharton students. Thus, SPIF
cannot confirm specific funding levels until our Pledge Week is complete. Pledge Week is April 18-22, 2011.
Historically, SPIF has awarded Fellows a minimum of $200/week and a maximum of $600/week, to make up the difference between the weekly
salary students receive from their non-profit employers and a ceiling of $1,000. For example, if a student received $700 per week from
their employer, SPIF supplemented that amount up to $300. SPIF has historically funded Fellows for a maximum of 10 weeks.
Obligations of SPIF Fellows
Every SPIF Fellow must write mid-summer and end-of-summer reports describing and evaluating their internship experiences.
These reports are intended to brief SPIF donors about the impact of their contributions, to increase awareness of SPIF, and to build
SPIF's institutional memory. SPIF Fellows must submit end-of-summer reports to receive their second salary installments.
In addition, Fellows will be asked to assist the SPIF Board in publicity initiatives during Pledge Week in April and in Fall 2011.
"I worked with the San Francisco Conservation Corps’ Zero Waste Urban Green Team to address quality, operations, and revenue.
I wrote a business plan, formalized and recommended the most efficient strategy and processes to operate special events, and
suggested new customers for special events. I also wrote and launched a customer satisfaction survey. The internship provided
an excellent way to learn about both venture philanthropy and social enterprise. It only increased my interest in contributing
to work that creates a positive social impact."
