Securing Employment for Graduates While Meeting Local Business Needs: MPC Internship Endowment

Internships help students clarify their career goals, gain valuable experience, develop skills and professional networks, and ultimately lead to improved employment prospects. Many nonprofits and small businesses in Monterey County cannot afford to pay interns, leading to untapped opportunities, particularly for lower-income students, and the organizations who miss out on hosting interns.

To facilitate these mutually beneficial experiences for our students and local nonprofits and small businesses, the MPC Foundation is building an endowment to support lower-income students to complete internships aligned with their educational and career goals.

Gifts to the MPC Internship Endowment will be doubled by a Federal matching grant!

Read more below, or contact Beccie Michael or Gina Bianchi with any questions (831.655.5507)

Who?

The MPC Internship Endowment will benefit low-income students at MPC, as well as non-profit organizations and small/start-up business owners who will have the opportunity to host interns.

MPC is a great starting point for many local students, particularly first-generation college students and those from socioeconomically challenged families.

MPC’s internship program allows students to gain valuable experience, develop skills and professional networks, and leads students to future employment. At the same time, it provides local nonprofits and small businesses with an opportunity to build relationships with interns who may become their future employees.

What?

The MPC Internship Endowment is a permanent fund that will generate approximately $25,000 each year, in perpetuity, to support MPC students participating in internships related to their career interests. Stipends will be provided to financially needy students who have an opportunity to intern at a qualifying non-profit, small business, government agency, or start-up company that is not able to offer paid internships. 

When?

Gifts made to the MPC Internship Endowment before September 30, 2025 will be matched by a Federal grant, dollar for dollar, up to $300,000.

Annual income from the endowment will begin funding internship stipends in 2026.

Where?

All funds will stay local, benefiting students at Monterey Peninsula College.

The MPC Foundation will manage the endowment, and has a proven track record of successfully managing funds of this nature.

Why?

The benefits of internships are well documented and include helping students clarify career goals, gain valuable job-related skills, build professional networks, strengthen their resumes and college transfer applications, secure employment upon graduation, and earn higher starting salaries.

At the same time, employers hosting interns are able to identify and build relationships with future employees, increase productivity, assist in closing skills gaps, enhance outreach and visibility, foster leadership and mentoring skills in current employees, and improve the overall work environment. 

How?

Gifts can be made online, by mail, via phone, or in person. Click on the button below to make a one-time or recurring tax-deductible gift.