Fostering Future Fundraisers through a Model Undergraduate Internship Program

Although fundraising has become essential for public universities, the development profession lacks a defined pipeline. The University of Michigan created the Development Summer Internship Program (D-SIP) to expose undergraduates to fundraising careers and to foster a culture of philanthropy on campus. Outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of exposing a diverse group of students to fundraising careers through D-SIP's three components (experiential, educational, and professional development). Results also show an impact on the campus philanthropic culture and behavioral changes in participants' giving habits. In the classroom, theories of fundraising and philanthropy come alive for the students when development officers act as educators.