Winston-Salem, NC (June 15, 2018) – The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation has announced the participants of its 2018 Non-Profit Internship Program (NPIP).
Established in 2011 by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, and to diversify the pool of aspiring, young nonprofit professionals, the Non-Profit Internship Program (NPIP) awards college students paid summer internships and matches them with organizations that participating foundations have funded across the state. NPIP addresses inequities in the pipeline of future nonprofit professionals by removing barriers for talented young people who otherwise could not take an unpaid position.
In 2016, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation expanded NPIP by partnering with five additional funders – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, Foundation for a Healthy High Point, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, Weaver Foundation, and The Winston-Salem Foundation. In 2018, Democracy Fund, a national foundation, joined the group.
“The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation established the Non-Profit Internship Program as a way to provide college students with an opportunity to explore a possible career within this dynamic sector,” said Maurice “Mo” Green, executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. “We are thrilled to continue to have other foundations joining us in this effort so that we can provide even more paid internships to students across the state. Our hope is that by removing financial constraints that might prevent students from gaining exposure to this sector, we can help them gain the experience and credentials they need to better position themselves for a potential career with a nonprofit organization after graduation.”
“Democracy Fund is pleased to join and support interns through the Non-Profit Internship Program in North Carolina,” said Democracy Fund Local News Associate Teresa Gorman. “We believe that nonprofit news and information organizations can only truly serve their communities if their staff reflects those communities, by recruiting, retaining, and promoting diverse staff, including leadership. Providing paid internships is an important part of the puzzle to achieve this goal. We’re thankful for the leadership of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and other foundations who have led the way on this with the NPIP program."
“Nonprofits are the heart and soul of our great state. And so it is critical that that we invest in and support the next generation of those who will become part of and grow the sector,” said Kathy Higgins, president and CEO of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. “The Non-Profit Internship Program plays an important role in introducing emerging leaders to the sector and to helping them realize how their passion and skills can contribute to a greater good.”
Students are selected through a competitive application process. Eligible students must be: enrolled full time in a four-year college or university; a resident of North Carolina or an out-of-state resident attending an institution in North Carolina; and a recipient of a Pell grant during the academic year in which they submit the application.
Host organizations, all of which are based in-state, must also meet a set of criteria to participate.
Internships offer a range of exposure and skill-building opportunities in the areas of research, community outreach, public policy, communications, fundraising and social media.
The Foundation hosted an orientation session for host organizations and their summer interns on May 24, 2018 in Greensboro, NC.
This year, more than 360 students applied for NPIP; 36 students were matched with an organization. Below are the organizations that were selected this year and their 2018 summer interns:
| Funder |
Nonprofit Host Organization |
Intern Name |
Intern School |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation |
NC Child |
Pearl "Amaka" Imoh |
Appalachian State University |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation |
Rural Forward North Carolina |
Lynn Lumens |
NC State University |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation |
North Carolina PTA |
Molly Palmer |
Salem College |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation |
North Carolina Community Health Center Association (NCCHCA) |
Amelia Bass |
Appalachian State University |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation |
North Carolina Institute of Medicine |
Eduardo Fernandez |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation |
Center for Environmental Farming Systems |
Derrice Haynes |
NC State University |
| Democracy Fund |
EducationNC |
Sarah Aislinn Antrim |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Democracy Fund |
North Carolina Justice Center/NC Policy Watch |
Rahkia Bass |
North Carolina A&T |
| Foundation for a Healthy High Point |
YWCA High Point #1 |
Briana Garcia |
NC State University |
| Foundation for a Healthy High Point |
YWCA High Point #2 |
Cynthia Loredo |
University of North Carolina at Greensboro |
| Foundation for a Healthy High Point |
SHIFT NC (Sexual Health Initiatives for Teens) |
Jmiaya Wright |
University of North Carolina at Greensboro |
| Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust |
El Futuro |
Odaly Rivas |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust |
L.O.T. 2540 Inc. |
Sean Damrel |
Appalachian State University |
| Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust |
Franklinton Center at Bricks |
Tykeshia Daniel |
North Carolina Wesleyan College |
| Weaver Foundation |
YMCA Camp Weaver (YMCA of Greensboro) |
Mahlik Conley |
University of North Carolina at Greensboro |
| Weaver Foundation |
Out of the Garden Project |
Wilson Haworth |
Guilford College |
| Weaver Foundation |
A Simple Gesture- Greensboro |
Kristina Kirchner |
University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
| Winston-Salem Foundation |
The Enrichment Center |
Maria Rivera |
Salem College |
| Winston-Salem Foundation |
Forsyth Humane Society |
Lauren Brache |
NC State University |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
Yadkin Riverkeeper |
Tymber Felts |
NC State University |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
The Nature Conservancy |
Kelly Hoeltzel |
Appalachian State University |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
North Carolina Coastal Federation |
Casey White |
NC State University |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry, Inc. |
Kierra Dunston |
University of North Carolina at Greensboro |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
Environmental Defense Fund |
Alexus Berndt |
NC State University |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy (formerly Legal Services of Southern Piedmont) |
Huda Tauseef |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
Go Global NC |
Junie Burke |
Elon University |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
Asheville GreenWorks |
Nallah Muhammad |
North Carolina A&T |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina Foundation |
Emily Bullins |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault |
Diona Boone |
University of North Carolina at Greensboro |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
SHIFT NC (Sexual Health Initiatives For Teens) |
Lauren Shumpert |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
Institute for Emerging Issues |
Haley Boram |
University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
Appalachian Voices |
Laurel Roser |
Appalachian State University |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
Women AdvaNCe |
Joy Ayioka |
University of North Carolina at Pembroke |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
Sustainable Sandhills |
Anayancy Estacio |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
East Coast Greenway Alliance |
Anne Wong |
NC State University |
| Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation |
Center for Responsible Lending |
Pedro Segundo |
Appalachian State University |