Nonprofit FAQ

What are the benefits of participating in Domestic Corps for a nonprofit organization?

Domestic Corps provides nonprofit organizations with direct access to the expertise, experience, and extensive resources of a top ranked business school. The work we do directly and significantly increases the capacity of the nonprofit organizations we work with by establishing best practices, teaching management skills, and applying business resources to improve organizations.

Are all nonprofit organizations eligible to participate?

Selection of nonprofit partners is based on a variety of criteria.  Please see Become a Nonprofit Partner for more details.

What should we do if we are interested in participating in Domestic Corps?

Please visit the Become a Nonprofit Partner and the Application Process sections of our website.

What can nonprofits expect in terms of results, deliverables, etc. at the end of the summer?

At the beginning of each project, interns work with their nonprofit site supervisors to create a letter of engagement that outlines the details of the project, including final deliverables.  Students are responsible for providing these deliverables at the end of the summer, which can include business plans, financial strategies, marketing plans, feasibility studies, organizational evaluations, and many other important pieces.  Interns are expected to be given the opportunity to present their work to the Board of Directors and executive staff, as appropriate.

As a nonprofit partner, may we participate in selecting an intern?

Yes. NPM staff review applications and conduct the initial interviews. Once we have identified a strong candidate, we will ask you to conduct a final interview. If the nonprofit agrees it is a good match, NPM will then make an offer to the student.

Who will supervise the students and their work?

The nonprofit organization is expected to designate a project supervisor to provide direction and supervision to the interns. The project supervisors are expected to hold regular meetings with interns regarding progress and will assist students in creating a letter of engagement within the first two weeks of the project. NPM staff is available to provide limited support.

What sort of schedule do interns keep?

Interns are expected to work a minimum of 40 hours per week. The duration of the internship is 11 weeks but the student will have 5 vacation days to take during that period of time.  Students are expected to meet all attendance and arrival requirements of the nonprofit. Some projects may require additional hours towards the end of the project.

What nonprofit organizations have you worked with in the past?

A complete list of our Nonprofit Partners is available on a separate page.

What are we expected to provide to our interns?

Nonprofit employers are expected to contribute $2,000 per intern with the remaining salary and travel expenses covered by NPM. Exceptions to this rule are made on a case by case basis. In addition, the organization must provide an appropriate working environment and adequate resources to complete their work.  This includes a desk, phone, internet connection, and computer. Some students may choose to bring their personal laptops.

If the site organization has an orientation program for employees or volunteers, we recommend the intern complete the program.  We also ask project supervisors to provide a local orientation to the greater community and to include the intern when meeting with professionals, community leaders, and other nonprofit organizations.  We encourage nonprofits to include interns in direct service or program activities when possible.

 

Should you have additional questions, please contact NPM at (734) 647-0279 or via email at nonprofit@umich.edu.

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