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UT System develops innovative summer internship program to explore careers in philanthropy

AUSTIN — Philanthropic gifts and engaged donors are valuable resources in advancing the mission and institutional priorities of colleges and universities. But the national shortage of development officers to boost institutional fundraising makes competition fierce for such talent.

That’s why The University of Texas System’s Center for Enhancing Philanthropy (CEP) and its UT institutional partners have created the Summer Internship in Philanthropy as part of its “Grow Our Own” strategy to produce more development officers. This inaugural internship — the first system-led program of its kind — will be held May 23 to July 29.

The UT System Board of Regents demonstrated its ongoing support for philanthropy by establishing CEP in 2008 and more recently expanding its role to include an Advancement Academy and Talent Management program. CEP serves as a resource for the System’s 14 academic and health institutions by helping to recruit, train and retain philanthropy professionals. The center has been a recipient of numerous Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) awards.

“A career in academic philanthropy is where passion and profession come together to help universities succeed in their mission to educate, conduct research and provide patient care,” said Randa Safady, Ph.D., UT System’s vice chancellor for external relations. “Our summer internship program will help prepare students for a stable career in this field by providing them with the opportunity to explore philanthropy as a profession, and hopefully to put their skills to work at a UT institution.” 

The internship will provide students with an in-depth exposure to all facets of a university or health institution’s development function, and they’ll also receive hands-on experience in engaging with donors and volunteers, analyzing data, developing cases for private support, and making strategic decisions that advance institutional priorities.

“Although philanthropy is a critical component for higher education, few individuals understand what a career in academic philanthropy entails,” said Jim Noffke, CEP’s founding director. “This is a rewarding career where you work with good people who are motivated to do great things at exceptional institutions.” 

The summer internship program will place students at UT Austin, UT El Paso, UT Rio Grande Valley, UT MD Anderson, UT Southwestern, UT Medical Branch in Galveston, UTHealth in Houston and UT Health Science Center at San Antonio.

To be eligible for this paid internship, students must be enrolled in one of the UT System’s 14 institutions. Students may apply now through the Center for Enhancing Philanthropy’s (CEP) website. The deadline is Feb. 19.

For more information, please contact Michelle Baehl, CEP’s director of talent management, at (512) 499-4780 or devtalent@utsystem.edu

About The University of Texas System

Educating students, providing care for patients, conducting groundbreaking basic, applied and clinical research, and serving the needs of Texans and the nation for more than 130 years, The University of Texas System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States. With 14 institutions and an enrollment of more than 217,000, the UT System confers more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees, educates almost two-thirds of the state’s health care professionals annually and accounts for almost 70 percent of all research funds awarded to public institutions in Texas. The UT System has an annual operating budget of $16.9 billion (FY 2016) including $3 billion in sponsored programs funded by federal, state, local and private sources. With about 20,000 faculty – including Nobel laureates – and more than 70,000 health care professionals, researchers, student advisors and support staff, the UT System is one of the largest employers in the state.

News Contact Information

Ken Ma: kma@utsystem.edu   • 512-499-4778 (direct) • 954-621-7961 (cell) 
Jenny LaCoste-Caputo: jcaputo@utsystem.edu  • 512-499-4361(direct) • 512-574-5777 (cell)