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Pottruck/Simmons College The Foundation coordinates an annual summer internship for a student from Boston-based Simmons College. The internship provides each participant with meaningful work experience in the nonprofit sector, and seeks to develop the participant's understanding of, and commitment to, the sector. While each internship is tailored to the individual needs of the student, the overall goals are:
Select a year for more details on that internship: The quality of each internship experience is dependent on the hard work of multiple partners – Simmons College, the host organizations, PFF board and staff, and the student(s) themselves. The Foundation sincerely appreciates the time and effort that goes into the planning and supervision of an intern. Our thanks to everyone at the organizations below for their participation and contribution to the success of this program: List of Host Organizations (2000 - present)
2007 Internship The three women began together at the Pottruck Family Foundation where they worked through the Foundation’s Intro to Philanthropy Curriculum with Executive Director Nancy Wiltsek. The intent was to understand how foundations work, including how foundations are managed, the role of board and staff, what’s involved in the grantmaking process, what are best/smart practices in the field of philanthropy, perspectives on grantor/grantee relationships etc. After that initial week together, each intern then spent time at different organizations, primarily foster care agencies, in the community. Jacqui Lantagne came to the Pottruck Family Foundation as an Arts Administration major, having graduated from Simmons in May. Jacqui’s first three week assignment was at A Home Within where her primary project was creating a manual for replicating the Fostering Art program beyond San Francisco. She then spent four weeks at San Francisco CASA where she assisted the Development Department by drafting client profiles and helped prepare a grant proposal. In addition, Jacqui created an Internet Recruitment manual for SFCASA staff members and interns in order to centralize and simplify their internet recruitment efforts. Jacqui found that this “dynamic experience showed me that there are endless career opportunities in the nonprofit sector that present interesting challenges.” A graduate student at Simmons College, Roxane Perez is working towards her Masters of Arts in Teaching and Masters of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language. Her first three week assignment was at 826 Valencia where she updated their volunteer handbook, created a “treasure chest” of warm-up activities for their summer English language learner program, and crafted biographies for their “100 Club” tutors. Roxane’s second placement was at California Youth Connection (CYC) where she worked on their annual statewide policy conference. Specifically Roxane created a lesson plan and writing template to help CYC members explore how their personal narratives can be used, not only to empower themselves, but to help make policy change within the foster care system. Roxane describes her intern experience as “Life-changing! This summer internship helped me put my educational career into perspective. At the end of the seven weeks I felt charged and ready to return to Boston. I want to create social change by being a mentor, teaching, and empowering youth especially those from disadvantage backgrounds.” As a graduate student working toward her masters in Social Work with a specialty in Urban Leadership, Alexandria Schepens came to the PFF internship with the goal to utilize her love of writing and research to address societal problems through grant writing, and policy evaluation and recommendation. The Foundation took this opportunity to place Alexandra at Foster a Dream for a seven week assignment. While there, she created “The ABC’s of College Planning for Youth,” a packet for mentors to use with their foster youth mentees to discuss college options; she created lesson plans around such issues as respect, work ethics, and college options for foster youth, and created a tool for evaluating student progress in the GetSet Summer Career Camp; and she researched and identified 10 new potential foundation partners to support Foster a Dream’s development efforts. Alexandra’s take-away from the internship is that “We often believe that we cannot make change as an individual. However, I saw this summer that change is facilitated not just through financial means, but through communities and groups of people dedicated to a mission.” These experiences would not be possible without the energy, enthusiasm and openness of our host organizations. The Pottruck Family Foundation board and staff wishes to thank each of you who welcomed an intern into your organization, and came up with substantive projects that supported meaningful learning. We sincerely hope the experience was as beneficial to you and to your organization, as they clearly were to Jacqui, Roxane and Alexandra! 2006 Internship While in San Francisco, Alexis spent two weeks at the Pottruck Family Foundation where she tested the Foundation’s Intro to Philanthropy Curriculum, providing feedback on content, pacing and suggestions for improvement. She had a three week assignment at Honoring Emancipated Youth (HEY) where she was responsible for re-vamping the HEY brochure and attended the HEY Board retreat. She then worked at California Youth Connection (CYC) where she took on a key role in preparing for CYC’s statewide policy conference. Her duties included coordinating guest registration, providing support to the youth facilitators and researching background information for policy staff to present at a hearing by the Select Committee on Foster Care during the conference. Alexis also spent time with A Home Within where she reviewed the organization’s Policies and Procedures manual, researched manuals from similar organizations, and made suggestions on how A Home Within could improve their manual. 2005 Internship Tibrine da Fonseca applied as a rising senior majoring in International Relations and Spanish, with a minor in Economics. Born in Brazil, Tibrine is passionate about supporting immigrant families and hopes to one day start or lead a community-based organization that assists immigrants and refugees in the resettlement process. While in San Francisco, Tribrine spent three weeks at GirlSource where she helped organize their foundation fundraising files and tools, and researched and compiled comprehensive information on new government, foundation and corporate grants. She then spent one week at the Pottruck Family Foundation learning about the funding side of the nonprofit sector. Tibrine became acquainted with the challenges of discernment and decision-making in family foundations, and participated in meetings with PFF board and staff. The final four weeks were spent at the Volunteer Center of San Francisco where she worked closely with the executive team to strategize and develop an understanding of why institutional funders support management support organizations, and with that knowledge, how the Volunteer Center might improve development messages and ultimately, development success. Sara Bursac is a graduate student in the Urban Leadership Program of the School of Social Work at Simmons. Sara’s passion is around empowering young people, particularly young women, through community organizing and involvement. She came to San Francisco with the desire to improve her management, communication, and development skills. Sara spent the first week of her internship at At The Crossroads developing subject-specific referral binders for ATC’s counselors and clients, and researching speaking engagement opportunities for ATC staff to increase visibility and awareness of ATC among the local community. She then spent 6 weeks at the Center for Young Women’s Development (CYWD) in the development department researching funding prospects, organizing files, editing grant reports and proposals, and coordinating the distribution of the Know Justice Handbook. The final week was spent at the Pottruck Family Foundation learning about foundations and grantmaking, and conducting an assessment of the first five years of the internship program. Sara interviewed previous participants and came to the conclusion that the experience was transformational, that the program’s purpose and goals were achieved, and that they continue to be relevant. As a result of Sara’s findings, the Foundation will continue to offer this important program. 2004 Internship 2003 Internship 2002 Internship 2001 Internship 2000 Internship
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