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Though internships are a fantastic way to gain real-world experience, make connections and apply classroom learning, not every student can afford to take an unpaid opportunity. Thanks to the generosity of Ed and Ginny Mitchel as well as George (Geoie) and Judy Writer, the Center for Ethics and Sustainability (CESR) has a new Impact Internships program. It provides stipends for otherwise unpaid summer internships for students who want to explore the nonprofit sector.

The program offers an internship opportunity to Leeds students who are interested in gaining experience at 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that center on environmental or social issues. Up to four students can participate in the summer program and receive a $7,000 stipend from CESR, thanks to the generosity of alumni Ed and Ginny Mitchel, as well as Geoie and Judy Writer.

“Impact Internships give students the opportunity to see how skills in finance, accounting, marketing or operations can also benefit the nonprofit sector and local communities,” said Sarah Arney, CESR’s program coordinator. “CESR’s goal is to ignite students’ passion for positive impact, using their business skills to find creative solutions to tough social and environmental challenges,” Arney added.

��Impact Internships give students the opportunity to see how skills in finance, accounting, marketing or operations can also benefit the nonprofit sector and local communities.��

Sarah Arney, CESR program coordinator

“Our students are keenly aware that internships are an important way to develop new skills,” Arney explained. “CESR’s financial support makes it possible for them to consider opportunities with nonprofits that might not otherwise have the resources to support them.”

This full-time summer internship program was piloted last summer. Charlie Tell (Mktg’26) (pictured above), spent the summer at Greenhouse, a community that empowers young leaders from low-income areas to create positive changes, while Leah Kugel (Fin, StrEnt’27) joined the team at 350 Colorado, an organization devoted to stopping climate change.

Tell has been working with the organization’s alumni development program. He handled tasks ranging from system automation and data collection to event planning, and learned how to use the customer relationship management platform Salesforce. The experience shifted his mindset on nonprofit organizations as a whole, Tell said. “Seeing firsthand that the drive for the bottom line is not the only thing that can fuel an organization to its goals has been invaluable to me at this time in my life,” he added.