Summer Associate Program

Introduction An exciting summer opportunity awaits outstanding graduate and undergraduate students who are interesting in making a difference in the nonprofit sector by working with United Way of America (UWA), one of the most recognized philanthropic nonprofit organizations in the nation. The United Way Summer Associate Program is a rigorous two-month project-oriented experience that allows participants to get valuable work experience while gaining insights about how the new mission of United Way, “to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities,” is making a difference in people’s lives across the nation. This is an exciting yet challenging time to be involved with United Way during its transformation from a fundraising organization to a leader in achieving community impact. As a Summer Associate, you will have the opportunity to become engaged in an exciting work and learning adventure that will help you build understanding of the United Way System and help inform your future decision-making about United Way as a career option.

Summer Associate Program Overview

Our deadline for accepting applications was 2/15/08 for the summer of 2008. We will be posting our summer positions for 2009 in December, 2008. Please check our website at that time.

As the national leadership organization for the United Way movement, UWA gives program participants the opportunity to work on high-profile projects that support the United Way System’s current transformation towards the community impact model. This work is critical to how United Way will grow and adapt to the changing philanthropic environment. Under the guidance and supervision of Senior Management, Summer Associates work on integrated project teams formed to support the alignment of the organization, staff, and resources with the System’s business plan. Past projects have included work on early childhood development initiatives Success By 6 and Born Learning, collaboration on a system-wide knowledge and best practices sharing portal, and the creation of the Standards of Excellence, the operating manual to becoming a high-performance local United Way.

Additional Details
Pay Range: Undergraduate = $12.00/hour and Graduate = $15.00/hour

The dates of the program are: June 6, 2008 to August 15, 2008

The work day consists of 7.50 hours and the work week is 37.5 hours
Interview Process: The interview process is conducted over the telephone. Decisions are currently scheduled to be made during the February/March timeframe.

Housing: Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation and housing.

UWA is located in beautiful Old Town Alexandria VA. We are located approximately 5 miles south of downtown Washington, D.C. We offer free parking, cafeteria and gym.

Local and National Opportunities
In 2008, UWA will be expanding its Summer Associate Program in partnership with several local United Ways across the country. Program participants will now have the opportunity to collaborate with local United Way professionals in five to ten cities throughout the nation as they work on key community issues.

What Our Program Alumni are Saying:
Patrick Ma- Yale School of Management, Class of 2008
I have learned so much over the course of my internship. I really appreciate the trust that you placed in me by allowing me to explore, manage, and shape my summer project. The opportunity to present to the leadership team was perhaps the highlight of my entire summer, and I can’t express how grateful I am for the level of responsibility.

Daniel Chu – Harvard Business School, Class of 2006
What I liked best about the United Way Summer Associate Program was the opportunity to make an impact at one of the world's largest nonprofits. The program allowed me to work in my areas of interest and learn from the hundreds of volunteers and staff that have made the United Way system so great.

Lonsdale Green- John F. Kennedy School of Government, Class of 2005
My internship at United Way of America provided me with an unparalleled opportunity to work inside America's largest nonprofit organization. The projects I worked on put me in touch with high-level staff members who gave me a chance to put into practice the skills and concepts I'm learning in my graduate program.

Erica Oppenheimer – Yale University, Class of 2007
As a Summer Associate, I the opportunity to analyze the economic success and community impact United Way has experienced as a result of its business model transformation. I quickly became part of the team, working on interesting projects that provided me with a whole range of opportunities to learn more about what makes United Way one of the oldest and most successful nonprofits in America.

Chris Ferreira – UC Davis Graduate School of Management, Class of 2006
The greatest part about working for UWA is the bottom line. UWA is run like a corporation in terms of organizational structure and accountability, but the bottom line, the measure of success, is ultimately the number of people you help, the communities you strengthen, and the lives you improve.

Vinice Davis – Yale School of Management, Class of 2006
It is clear that the people at United Way are very passionate about mobilizing the community to make lasting changes. United Way is involved in every aspect of the community, which gave me the opportunity to learn about every facet of the nonprofit sector.

About the United Way System
United Way organizations across America galvanize community resources to have the greatest possible impact on people’s lives. As a leader in communities, United Ways address the most critical local issues and mobilize resources beyond the dollars that are pledged through fund-raising efforts. To achieve community impact, often United Ways work with various community partners, which include schools, government policy makers, businesses, organized labor, financial institutions, voluntary and neighborhood associations, community development corporations and the faith community. To learn more about United Way, visit our website at www.liveunited.org

Qualifications:
The United Way of America Summer Associate opportunities are open to students of undergraduate or graduate programs. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical and communication skills along with demonstrated leadership ability. Must be able to work both independently and as part of a team.

Contact Us:
If you have any additional questions or comments, please contact:
Mary Lou Couvillion – Director, Leadership Development/Talent Management
(703) 836-7112 Ext. 544
summer.programs@unitedway.org