Everett Public Service Internship Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Important Program Update:

Due to the current economic climate, the Everett Internship Program is being suspended indefinitely.

Over the past 18 years, the Everett Program has introduced 3,000 students to the challenges and opportunities that come with a career in public service. These students have inspired creativity and furthered missions at over 65 leading non-profit organizations.

It is with a heavy heart that the Everett Family brings this successful program to a close. We wish you the best of luck in your pursuit of an enriching internship experience.

When will organizations be notified on whether or not they have been accepted to be a participating organization in the Everett Program?

Everett Organizations:

Acceptance and rejection letters will be mailed out the first week of December. Any changes to this schedule will be posted on this webpage.

Who is the National Coordinator of the Everett Public Service Internship Program?

The National Coordinator is Samantha Saarionand her contact information is: Samantha Saarion, Everett Public Service Internship Program, c/o Co-op America, 1612 K Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006. Phone: 202-872-5307. Fax: 202-331-8166; Email: samantha@coopamerica.org

What is the weekly stipend Everett Interns receive?

The stipend for the summer of 2008 is $280 per week. Organizations pay Interns weekly or bi-weekly.

What are our obligations to the Everett Internship Program?

1) May 2, 2008, Internship Coordinators are required to submit to the National Coordinator:

A copy of each Everett Intern's resume.
A job description for each Everett Intern and the name, title and phone number of his or her supervisor.
The starting and ending dates for each Everett Intern.
The estimated number of written and oral applicants you received this year. (click here for the form)

2) August 1, 2008, Internship Coordinators are responsible for implementing the evaluation process:

Each Everett Intern completes a confidential evaluation online.
Each Everett Intern also completes an events evaluation and submits it to the National Coordinator via the online evaluation.
Each Intern Supervisor completes an evaluation for each intern under his or her supervision and submits it to the National Coordinator via the online evaluation.
Click here for the forms

3) Please be sure to enroll Edith Everett as a donor to your organization at the appropriate level. Send donor-related mailings to: 150 E 69th Street, New York, NY 10021-5704.

What are our obligations to Everett Interns?

You are expected to give Interns the quality of supervision and guidance that ensures a positive experience. First-rate supervision can make the difference between an excellent or mediocre internship.

What tasks are appropriate for Everett Interns?

Interns are expected to perform substantive and meaningful assignments. Clerical tasks can be part of their internship, but should comprise no more than 20% of their time.

Organizations are highly discouraged in assigning internship in development and/or fundraising. While these two areas are extremely important to a non-profit, they are the areas with the highest level of intern dissatisfaction.

What kind of hours do Everett Interns work?

Interns should work on a schedule similar to your organization's standard hours. If everyone at your office goes home by 5 pm, Interns should not be expected to stay longer. On the other hand, if people at your office normally work long days, it is appropriate for Interns to work corresponding hours, although interns should not be mandated to work more than 40 hours a week. Please keep in mind that Everett Interns in Washington, DC and New York are obligated to attend the weekly special events, which are prized as an essential part of each Intern's total experience.

Who is eligible to be an Everett Intern?

All Everett Interns must meet the following qualifications:

Have completed at least two semesters of college education.
Be current undergraduate or graduate students attending a United States university, or have just graduated in the spring immediately preceding the summer of the Internship. (Recipients of post-graduate fellowships are not eligible.)
Be available to work full-time for the entire length of the 10-week Internship.
Be new to the organization. Applicants may not have served as Everett Interns at the same organization more than once.
Be able to attend the Internship Program's weekly lectures and events (for Interns in New York City and Washington, DC only).

In addition to diligence, commitment and creativity, what are the Everett Interns' obligations to the program?

Interns are required to attend the weekly events and to complete the Everett Evaluation in the final week of their internship. Schedules are posted in the Intern Information section of this website.

NYC Event Coordinator is Brigitte Watson: bwatson@legalmomentum.org
DC Event Coordinator is Samantha Saarion: samantha@coopamerica.org

How do Everett Intern candidates learn about our organization?

Interns find out about the program through this Web site and the thousands of brochures we mail to hundreds of colleges, plus schools of law, business, social work and education. Intern candidates apply directly to your organization. Applicants need to state specifically that they are applying for the Everett Internship position. You are responsible for carefully selecting Interns and making all arrangements with them.

How do I hire Everett Interns?

Each organization formulates its own hiring process and how to best use resumes, interviews, writing samples and references.

When do Everett Interns start?

Interns generally begin work in late May or early June. Your organization arranges the starting and ending dates with each Intern. Interns may start no earlier than May 26th and no later than June 16th, 2008.

How long can Everett Interns stay with us?

The period paid for by the Program is ten weeks. Some organizations choose to pay for additional weeks.

How does the payment work?

Funding for Intern stipends is sent directly to your organization. At the beginning of the summer, once the National Coordinator receives ALL the Intern resumes, job descriptions and starting dates, we will approve an 80% payment. (Please see above "What are our obligations to the Everett Internship Program?"). At the end of the summer, once we have received ALL the evaluations from the organizations, you will receive the remaining 20%. Payments are made by check from The New York Community Trust. (Please see above "What are our obligations to the Everett Internship Program?").

Are payroll taxes taken out of Everett Interns' pay?

Your organization may choose either to place Everett Interns on the payroll or to regard them as contract employees. If you choose to place Interns on your payroll, Interns will need to fill out a W-2 form, and taxes will be automatically deducted from the total amount of the stipend for each pay period. Your organization will be responsible for covering the costs associated with placing Interns on the payroll. If you choose to regard Interns as contract employees, Interns will need to fill out a 1099 form. At the end of the year, Interns should receive a 1099 from your organization, not a W-2. No deductions are made from their stipend; payment of taxes by any Intern is dependent on his or her total earnings for the year.

Do we pay interns when they start or when we receive the check from New York Community Trust?

It is your responsibility to pay interns weekly or bi-weekly when they start their work. The money from the Everett Program is a reimbursement to your organization.

Can Everett Interns be placed somewhere other than the organization's headquarters?

We generally require interns to be placed at the headquarters. Any plans to place Interns in another office must be submitted in writing to Samantha Saarion, National Coordinator, for approval by Edith Everett at the beginning of each year.