Overview

The Plano Mayor’s Summer Internship Program offers a $2,000 grant to qualified nonprofit organizations to support the hiring of a student intern for 20 hours per week over an 8-week period. This grant is designed to help nonprofits provide meaningful work experiences for students, fostering skill development and community engagement.

Grant Details

• Grant Amount: $2,000
• Internship Duration: 8 weeks or 160 hours
• Internship Hours: Minimum of 20 hours per week
• Intern Pay Rate: Minimum $13 per hour
• Nonprofit Contribution: Nonprofits are responsible for all costs exceeding the $2,000 grant (e.g., intern pay beyond 160 hours, offering a higher hourly pay rate, administrative fees, etc.).
• Grant Use: 100% of the grant funds must be used to pay the intern’s wages. No portion of the funds may be retained for administrative or other purposes.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for this grant, nonprofits must:

• Be a registered 501(c)(3) organization in good standing, have at least three years of IRS Form 990 returns available for review, and have a current annual operating budget of at least $100,000.
• Operate within the Plano, TX area.
• Have sufficient staff and organizational capacity to provide a structured internship with meaningful supervision, varied assignments, and opportunities to work with and learn from multiple professionals. Organizations with only one employee are not eligible to host an intern.
• Be able to host an intern for the full 8-week or 160-hour duration of the program.
• Be able to employ the intern through the organization’s payroll, pay wages on a regular schedule, and meet all applicable tax withholding and reporting requirements, including issuing a Form W-2.
• Offer meaningful and educational work experiences that align with the goals of the Plano Mayor’s Summer Internship Program.

PMSIP reserves the right to make final eligibility determinations based on the requirements outlined in these guidelines and consistent with applicable City of Plano policies, including consideration of organizational capacity and the ability to provide a meaningful, supportive internship experience.

Internship Requirements

• Pay: The intern must be compensated at a minimum of $13 per hour.
• Duration: 8 weeks or 160 hours
• Work Environment: The nonprofit must provide a safe, structured, and educational work environment.
• Supervision and Mentorship: Interns must have a designated supervisor and be provided with guidance and feedback throughout the internship.

Grant Application Process

• Application Submission: Nonprofits must complete the Grant Application Form and submit all required documentation by the deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
• Documentation Required:
• Proof of 501(c)(3) status.
• Certificate of Insurance verifying required general liability and workers’ compensation insurance coverage
• Detailed description of the proposed internship role and responsibilities.
• Statement of how the internship will provide educational and professional value to the student.
• Selection Criteria: Applications will be evaluated based on:
• Alignment of the internship role with the goals of the program.
• Educational value and skills the intern will gain.
• Organization’s ability to provide a structured and supportive internship experience.

Grant Award and Distribution

• Funding Availability: Grants will be awarded based on funding available. Application does not guarantee funding will be awarded.
• Notification of Award: Successful applicants will be notified via email by March 22, 2027.
• Distribution of Funds: The $2,000 grant will be disbursed to the nonprofit organization prior to the start of the internship.
• Use of Funds: Nonprofits must allocate the entire $2,000 toward intern wages. No portion of the grant can be used for administrative fees or other costs. All grant funds must be used exclusively to pay the intern’s wages.

Reporting and Compliance

• Insurance Requirements: The nonprofit must meet and maintain all required insurance coverage (e.g., general liability, workers’ compensation) for the duration of the internship.
• Mid-Internship Report: Nonprofits are required to submit a brief report halfway through the internship, due by July 9, 2027, detailing the intern’s progress and how the grant funds are being utilized.
• Final Report: At the conclusion of the internship by August 31, 2027, a final report must be submitted, including:
  • A summary of the intern’s accomplishments.
  • A breakdown of how the grant funds were spent.
  • Feedback on the overall internship experience.
• Unused Funds: Any funds not distributed to the intern must be returned to the Plano Improvement Corporation within 60 days of the final date of employment.
• Noncompliance: Failure to comply with the grant terms may result in the nonprofit being ineligible for future funding through the program.

Important Dates

• Application Opens: November 9, 2026
• Application Deadline: January 18, 2027
• Awards Announced: March 22, 2027
• Fund Distribution: June 4, 2027
• Internship Start: June 7, 2027
• Mid-Internship Report Due: July 9, 2027
• Internship End: July 30, 2027
• Final Report Due: August 31, 2027

Contact Information
For more information or to apply, visit planomayorsinterns.org or email Amber Zuckerman at [email protected].

By submitting this application, Applicant agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws for the duration of the internship, including any applicable employment laws. If a grant is awarded, Applicant acknowledges that it will have exclusive control over the details of the internship and is responsible for the acts and omissions of its officers, agents, employees, contractors, subcontractors, and consultants.