As summer approaches with the first tantalising signs of sun, now is the time to start planning for summer internships. Despite controversy about pay, charity summer internships can be a brilliant exchange of experience, skills and work between charity and intern. At nfpSynergy, a regular intake of summer interns and research assistants provides both a brilliant environment for gaining experience and, crucially, a culture of innovation and fresh insight within the company.

Drawing from my own eight weeks last summer working with a small charity, I’ll suggest a few steps for making the internship work for both the charity and the intern.

1. Have clear tasks and goals, achievable within their timeframe

The most basic rule to a successful internship is defining your realistic expectations of the intern. Whether this is organising an event, taking on communications responsibilities or writing a report, it is both most satisfying for the intern and most productive for the charity to ensure that goals are clearly defined. They can also be defined in discussion with the intern, and in these cases can be structured to reflect the intern’s skills and aspirations.

2. Be honest about your ability to fund their internship

It is important for internships to be open to anyone regardless of the person’s financial situation, but equally charities must be accountable for the money they spend. It may well be the case that you are unable to justify spending on an intern's pay.

The charity I interned for was run entirely on a voluntary basis, and therefore the internship was unpaid. However, all measures were taken by the charity to ensure I did not make a loss from the summer – lunches were provided (and delicious!), free accommodation offered, and a grant made to assist with expenses. I was also given the option to work a four day week, leaving me time to find paid work to help support my summer.

Furthermore, other sources of funding may well be available, for example through university career service schemes. Throughout the process, the charity made it clear they were conscious of my expenses and regularly discussed this openly with me, ensuring my time and work did not feel taken for granted.

3. Don’t be afraid to throw them in at the deep end

A challenging internship might sound daunting, but for the intern it is these challenging experiences which may prove to be the most useful. During the first week of my internship, I was asked if I would like to help run a stall for the charity at a local summer festival. Taking part in leading a stall early on not only built my confidence in how I could contribute to the charity’s work, it was also useful to the charity and set a precedent to include the intern in future similar tasks, including attending the AGM.

4. Don't be put off if you are a small charity

Though taking on an intern might seem something that suits larger organisations, smaller charities may even be in the position to offer the most fruitful internships for both parties involved. The smaller charities may benefit the most from an additional member of the team, and the intern will be able to see the impact of their work more clearly.

For me, working with a small and growing charity allowed me to understand all the aspects which went into running it, and help out with a range of activities that a larger charity may not have been able to offer.

5. Inspire them!

Interns might already be passionate about your cause, but often they are at a stage of life where they will be deciding on the initial direction of their career. This is your opportunity not only to gain an enthusiastic new member of your team for a summer, but to inspire an individual’s career which could help bring about a positive impact on your cause. 

Tell us about your intern experiences in the comments box below.