The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) seeks to improve the treatment of animals everywhere—in the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild. Over the seven decades that AWI has been advocating for animals, much progress has been made, but there is so much more work to do, and we need dedicated people to help. In order to broaden the scope of representation in the animal protection movement and make participation in AWI’s intern program accessible to all, AWI is offering a limited number of paid summer, fall, and spring internships to students who demonstrate commitment to AWI’s mission, need or special circumstances warranting support, and dedication to advancing the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn more about how to apply below.
Who can apply?
The Paid Internship Program is available to candidates who have been accepted for summer, fall, and spring internships with AWI. Eligible candidates should be enrolled at an accredited institution for higher learning or be a recent graduate (one year or less following graduation) and must be a US citizen or authorized to work in the United States. Candidates applying for a fall or spring semester paid internship must ensure that they are permitted to receive compensation for their work under the policies and regulations established by the institution in which they are enrolled.
How do I apply?
AWI offers internships in each of its six program areas every summer, fall, and spring. You may apply for a paid summer internship with one or more of these six program by following the steps described below:
- Apply for and be accepted by one or more of the six program internships by following the standard application instructions for the program in which you are interested. The full list of internship opportunities and corresponding standard application instructions can be found here.
- In addition to application materials that were required by the specific program internship to which you were accepted, candidates should submit a personal statement addressing the following four questions:
- How have you demonstrated commitment to AWI’s mission or animal advocacy through your professional, academic, and/or personal life? (500 word minimum)
- How would financial support make a meaningful difference in your ability to pursue a career in animal advocacy? Relevant information you may wish to provide could include whether you are receiving financial aid and/or scholarships, engaging in work study, working to cover expenses, experiencing exceptionally high living costs, fulfilling caretaker responsibilities, etc. (250 word minimum)
- How have you advanced principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in your career, academics, or leadership experience? (250 word minimum)
- How would your selection as a paid intern contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion within AWI and the animal protection movement? (250 word minimum)
- Candidates should submit contact information for 2–3 professional or academic references, including at least one who can speak to your commitment to animal welfare and one who can speak to your abilities as a student.
- Candidates applying for a fall or spring semester paid internship must provide written documentation from the institution in which they are enrolled that they are permitted to receive compensation for their work under the policies and regulations established by the institution. This documentation may consist of a letter or email.
Candidates who are not selected for a paid internship are still eligible for an unpaid internship with the program to which their application was already accepted.
When is the deadline?
After you have been accepted for an internship by an AWI program, you may then submit an application for the stipend. For summer 2024 internships, a first round of selections was made from applications received on or before March 1. A final round of selections will be made from applications received on or before May 10. For fall and spring internships, applications for the stipend will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
How will applications be reviewed?
Candidates accepted by an AWI program for an internship who also wish to apply for the stipend will submit their application materials to their internship supervisor, who will forward them to a selection committee for consideration. Candidates will be evaluated by the committee in accordance with scoring criteria consistent with the objectives of the Paid Internship Program. Successful candidates will clearly articulate their response to the four questions posed above. Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously served in either a paid or unpaid AWI internship.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
What is the rate of compensation?
Candidates selected for a summer internship will receive a stipend of $7,500 for a full-time, 10-week internship. This rate would be pro-rated for other summer schedules, as well as fall or spring semester internships.