Individual Internship Application and Costs
Thank you for your interest in the LEAPNOW internship program. This page contains important information about the placement process, as well the application. Please take a few minutes to review the following information, which is repeated on the application itself.
LEAPNOW has made over 1500 individual internship placements since 1994. Our current offerings are opportunities that:
a.) have been tested over time and through the participation of many previous volunteers and,
b.) are communities and organizations that we feel can benefit from the time, energy, and creative resources that a volunteer brings.
Placement Process:
- After reading about the internships on our website (our list of internships can be found here), tell us about yourself and indicate the internship(s) that you are interested in. To do this, submit the internship application, your resume, and the $50 application fee. Payment can be made by check, MasterCard, or Visa.
- Once we receive your application and fee, we will contact you for an interview. The interview is a 20-40 minute conversation that evaluates your preparation and goals. The objective of this conversation is to ascertain that the program you have applied for is the best program for you. It is important to us that you have the necessary preparation to succeed in your chosen internship.
- Once interviewed and accepted, we will contact the internship sponsor and ensure that they can accommodate you. Following this, we will notify you of the result by telephone or email. Please note that we do not directly administer these internships; although we may recommend you to a sponsor, the organization decides which volunteers they will accept.
- If the internship is NOT available, the application fee is refunded.
- If space IS available and you accept the internship, the
remainder of the placement fee ($700) is due. We will
confirm your participation with the sponsor. If YOU choose
NOT to accept the internship, the application fee will NOT
be refunded.
- Once you have accepted an internship, we will provide you the full contact information so that you can make the necessary arrangements to prepare for and travel to your internship. Please note that in order to protect our relationship with these organizations, we cannot give you full contact information prior to ensuring that the placement is a mutual match.
- Once you have accepted an internship, the full placement fee is non-refundable.
- You will be responsible for making transportation arrangements, getting visas and immunizations, and paying for any further program costs, including room and board, medical care, and other personal expenses.
If you are interested in receiving college credit for your internship, we are happy to suggest possibilities to you.
As you are responsible for independently preparing for and traveling to your internship, it is important to understand that these internships are designed for the independent traveler. They are most appropriate for the individual who wants the opportunity to step into the world and stand on their own two feet, while supporting a community or organization that truly can benefit from the time, energy, and creative resources that a volunteer brings. To help you prepare for your work and travel, we created Resources for Travelers package that you can download here.
If you prefer to travel with a group, we encourage you to check out our LEAPYEAR, Semester or Latitudes programs, which you can visit from our home page.
Through our work and travel, we are reminded daily that we live in an incredible world – diverse cultures, exotic animals, and spectacular landscapes. We are also aware that that the world is rapidly transforming. There are fewer languages, less biodiversity, and more economic stratification. We encourage you to get out there and expand your world: make a contribution, learn a language, and challenge yourself! Our staff will be honored to assist you on your journey.
If you have questions that are not answered on this page, please check out our FAQ.