Post a Project-based Internship
Project-based internships offer organizations the opportunity to engage student talent on short-term, outcome-driven assignments. These internships are centered around a clearly scoped project – with defined goals, deliverables, and timelines – typically lasting 2-6 weeks.
- Efficient and Impactful: Advance a priority initiative that needs fresh thinking or extra capacity.
- Flexible Format: These experiences can be remote, hybrid, or in-person and designed to fit academic calendars.
- Mentor-Led: Students receive guidance and feedback from a staff member throughout the experience.
This is an ideal option for companies, nonprofits, or alumni looking to give back by mentoring students while making progress on meaningful work.
Dartmouth students are uniquely positioned to take on project-based internships year-round, thanks to the flexibility of the Dartmouth academic calendar and off-term structure.
Students may pursue projects during:
- An academic term, when they are enrolled in classes and seeking part-time, flexible experience
- An off-term, when they are not enrolled in classes and often available for more hours
- Academic breaks, such as the month of December or summer, when short-term projects are ideal
This flexibility allows you to engage students on
Project-based internships can be paid or unpaid. Before posting an unpaid position, please check all applicable regulations, including the US Department of Labor internship guidelines
Offering a project-based internship is extremely straightforward. Here’s how to get started:
1. Identify a Meaningful Project
Think of a real business need that could benefit from focused, short-term support. Good projects are:
- Scoped to be completed in 2–6 weeks
- Measurable and outcome-oriented (ex: create a report, design a prototype, analyze data)
- Not mission-critical, but still valuable to the organization
2. Define the Scope
Clearly outline:
- Project Description: What is the student being asked to accomplish?
- Timeline: When should the project start/end? Are there key milestones?
- Deliverables: What should the student produce or present by the end?
- Skills Needed: What background or competencies would be helpful?
- Skills Gained: What skills will the student have gained by completing the project?
3. Assign a Point of Contact or Mentor
Designate someone on your team to serve as a guide. Their role may include:
- Providing context and direction
- Offering feedback at checkpoints
- Supporting the student’s learning and engagement
Weekly check-ins (even brief!) go a long way in making this experience successful.
4. Decide on Format and Logistics
Project-based internships are often:
- Remote-friendly: Students can contribute from anywhere
- Part-time: Ideal during academic terms or short breaks
- Compensation: Determine the project wage. Employers are expected to offer pay when possible; if budget constraints exist, the Center for Career Design may be able to provide funding support to the student.
We can advise on what format best fits your goals and the student population you’d like to reach.
5. Submit Your Project
Once your project is ready, submit it through our website. The team will review your submission to ensure the opportunity aligns with our learning objectives and student engagement standards. Anticipate up to five business days to review the project proposal.
Please note: All submissions are subject to approval by the Center
1. Digital Marketing Campaign
Students will create a three-month digital marketing campaign that includes branded content for social media and Google Ads. The campaign will include scheduled posts, recommendations for paid promotion, and advertising strategies designed to help a nonprofit expand its reach and engagement.
2. Community Stories & Testimonial Library
Students will collect and curate stories from clients, families, volunteers, and staff to build a versatile content library. These testimonials will support fundraising, marketing, events, and ongoing communications while preserving authentic voices from the community.
3. Outdoor Trail Exploration
Students will experience local trails as first-time visitors and document their journeys through photos, videos, and written reflections. The resulting content will help make outdoor recreation more approachable for newcomers while promoting community engagement and storytelling.
4. Educational Board Game Development
Students will design and prototype a customizable educational board game that appeals to a range of age groups. The project will explore game design, visual development, and production options while creating a tool for outreach, education, and community engagement.
5. Organizational History & Legacy Project
Students will research archival materials, conduct interviews, and develop a narrative that captures an organization’s history, growth, and impact. This project combines research, storytelling, and digital media skills to preserve and share institutional knowledge.
6. Community Engagement Program Development
Students will help design, launch, and evaluate community engagement initiatives such as a walking club and Community Chats. The project focuses on participant recruitment, program planning, and impact measurement to support future growth and sustainability.
7. Website & Marketing Refresh
Students will assess and enhance an organization’s website and social media presence through updated content and design recommendations. By engaging and reviewing communications, they will help strengthen messaging, showcase impact, and increase audience engagement.
8. AI Chatbot for Youth Resource Navigation
Students will design and implement an AI-powered chatbot that helps youth access important resources and information online. The project provides hands-on experience with AI technology, digital accessibility, and solutions that support young people transitioning to independence.
9. National Security Market Intelligence
Students will analyze federal procurement data to identify underserved markets with strong growth potential and limited competition. They will also test and evaluate proprietary market intelligence tools that integrate with federal contracting data sources to support strategic decision-making.
Testimonials from former project hosts:
- [The students] were truly exceptional students. It was a pleasure to work with them and learn from them. They really took Foster Nation’s proposal and ran with it. They pushed and surpassed what the organization thought would initially be possible to achieve over a 4 week program. We look forward to exploring how we, as an organization, can grow from their project. – Foster Nation
- It is valuable to get a young professional’s perspective on how best to convey energy and excitement to a cultural topic. –Franco-American Centre