Related Pages in this Manual
- Pesticides Reduction Internship
- Construction and Demolition Waste Management Internship
- Internship Projects by Funding Arrangement
Other Webpages
Multiple Sponsors
It is possible that more than one group will decide to fund your project. In this case, carefully review the missions of the potential sponsors to make sure they converge on the proposed project. The last thing you want is an intern caught in a game of tug-of-war between conflicting sponsor expectations. Being accountable to several different groups requires good communication, documentation and forethought.
The Harvard Green Campus Initiative (HGCI) successfully ran a pesticide reduction internship that was co-sponsored by the university’s day care centers and the grounds department. Similarly, the HGCI ran a construction waste recycling internship that was co-sponsored by Harvard Real Estate Services and University Operations Services.
Although multiple sponsorship can be difficult, it does have distinct advantages. For example, it helps ensure full funding of your project if each department is only able to give a partial amount. It provides a more complete knowledge base and broader range of committed advisors. It increases the chances of continued funding because those initially involved are more likely to feel partial ownership of the project concept and want to ensure its continued success. Generally, stakeholders are more likely to come on board if there is a diversity of perspectives because this is often perceived as contributing to a better end product.
If you decide that multilateral sponsorship is not desirable for a particular internship project, consider re-pitching the idea to interested parties as a full-fledged program as soon as the potential for this becomes clear.