Ellen Schall Experience Fund (ESEF)

In Summer 2024, NYU Wagner will award 15 students with $7,500 stipends to take on unpaid, full-time, public service summer internships. This funding allows students to work in internships to achieve their career goals, regardless of compensation or financial need. In addition, awardees participate in professional development and networking events throughout the summer.

Past ESEF recipients have interned at public, nonprofit, and private organizations all over the world, working in many different fields and industries. Through these positions, more than 95% were able to clarify their career goals, expand their professional networks, gain important skills, and apply classroom learnings to the real world. What might ESEF help you accomplish?

2024 APPLICATION DATES 

• ESEF Application Opens: 9:00 am ET on Monday, March 25 
• ESEF Application Deadline: 12:00 pm (Noon) ET on Monday, April 22 (Extended Deadline)

Apply for the Ellen Schall Experience Fund

ELIGIBILITY

REQUIREMENTS

• Currently enrolled and taking classes in an MPA, MUP, or Executive MPA program at NYU Wagner.
• A continuing student who has completed at least six Wagner credits prior to April 2024.
• In good academic standing at NYU Wagner with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. (Students who have less than a 3.0 GPA may apply but will be waitlisted until Spring 2024 grades are finalized.)
• In good financial standing at NYU with no outstanding fees owed at time of application.
• Confirmed to work in an unpaid, degree relevant, full-time summer internship for at least 10 weeks between May 2024 and September 2024.
• Internships must meet the US Department of Labor’s criteria for defining an unpaid internship. Students may not work for themselves or in organizations of which they are the founder or a principal.

The ESEF is NOT open to:

• Students graduating before or in September 2024
• Students working in internships for fewer than 35 hours per week.
• BA/MPA and BA/MUP students who have not yet matriculated into Wagner.
• Students receiving compensation exceeding $500 for any summer 2024 internship.
• Students taking a leave of absence or maintenance of matriculation in academic year 2024-2025.
• Students who have already received a fellowship with a summer stipend internship.
   

IMPORTANT INFO

TAX INFORMATION: An ESEF stipend is considered an award/prize for tax purposes. Payments of this kind, which are issued for something other than an educational budget (tuition and fees), are taxable. 

• U.S. students do not pay taxes on the stipend when it is issued, but will owe taxes on the amount at the end of the year. U.S. students will receive a 1098 for the taxable amount since the ESEF stipends are not tied to tuition and fees. 
• International students will pay taxes on the stipend when it is issued and should not owe additional tax on the amount at year end. To learn more, visit http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf.

STUDENTS CONSIDERING NON-US INTERNSHIPS: All students traveling outside of the United States for their internship need to complete the Wagner Travel Form for the dates of their travel associated with their internship. If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, then you must make sure you have reviewed the travel information for students leaving the U.S. 

If you are an international student, you must be physically based in the same country as your employer, even if you are planning to work remotely. International students may not work for an employer outside of the U.S. if they are remaining in the U.S. for the summer.

ESEF AWARDS ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE: If you apply and are selected for an award, you cannot change internships and still retain your award.  Award decisions are based on funding students for specific opportunities and cannot be transferred to new positions.