Advice for Building a Compensated Internship Program

The number one response for advice on building a compensated intern program was to prioritize the funding in the budget. Respondents said to work with senior leadership and other co-workers to advocate for funding. Several said to revisit the budget and determine how facilities could reallocate funds to the internship program. Facilities should reduce the number of internships available if they can only afford to pay a few. Others said to start compensating interns with what the budget allows, even if it is a small stipend.
Several facilities recommended surveying current interns or local college students to include their voices and get the conversation started. Students have demonstrated they are more interested in paid opportunities and can dedicate more time to learning from their internship if they do not have to work a second job for income. One respondent suggested using payourinterns.org for resources on talking to leaders and managers about funding an internship program.