Davidson Stapleton student poses by painted wall

Summer Internships & Fellowships

The Davidson College Chaplains' Office provides funding for select students to complete summer internships as a means of helping students integrate their spiritual commitments with their professional aspirations.

These internships are intended to deepen students' faith or spirituality in a tangible way and to provide opportunities to work in a field of service that they are considering as a vocation.

All opportunities are open to first-years, sophomores, and juniors. Students may submit their applications on WildcatSync. The priority deadline to apply for all summer internships is February 15 at the end of the day.

Religious Nonprofit Fellowship

Religious Nonprofit Fellowships are awarded for self-designed summer internships in non-profit organizations (including churches) that demonstrate religious commitments through their mission statement, their stated goals and objectives, or their embodiment of values that they distinctly associate with a particular religious tradition.

While these fellowships may be awarded for nonprofit placements related to any religious or spiritual tradition, a portion of the funds are earmarked (by wishes of the donors) for work with nonprofits related to specific traditions, as follows:

Cook Family Fellowship - for Christian mission-oriented nonprofits
Shapiro Fellowship - for Jewish mission-oriented nonprofits

The program entails the following:

Duration: 8-10 weeks (summer dates are flexible)
Provisions: $4,000 for the summer, plus up to $1,000 in grant funds to reimburse the student for qualified summer expenses (e.g. housing, food, travel, etc.)

Congregational Leadership and Service Fellowship

Fellowships to explore religious leadership and service in any tradition are available to students with a strong record of academic achievement, campus leadership, and concern for others. Applicants may or may not be considering a religious occupation (as a clergyperson or professional lay leader).

Fellows take part in a supervised, congregation-based summer internship under the mentorship of a seasoned clergyperson. Over the summer, they gather as a cohort with college chaplains to reflect on what they are learning about congregational leadership and about their own sense of calling or career direction.

Duration: 8 weeks (summer dates are flexible).
Provisions: $4,000 for the summer, plus funds for vocational exploration during senior year.

Stapleton/Davidson Faith & Justice Internship

This summer internship engages a cohort of students in full-time placements with Charlotte-based non-profits serving people experiencing homelessness and deep poverty. Students of any religious or spiritual background may apply, with the understanding that they will integrate their experience in urban service with learning about social justice through a Christian lens. Interns participate in regular opportunities for continuing education and meet in person weekly with the college chaplain and local religious leaders to reflect on their experiences.

Duration: 10 weeks (Memorial Day – early August)
Provisions: $4,000 stipend, plus housing

Opportunities for Graduates

Post-Graduate Fellowships

A number of faith-based organizations offer year-long fellowships for college graduates. These opportunities generally integrate hands-on service, spirituality, simple living in community, and social justice.