Together SC and Clemson University Launch Internship Program to Strengthen SC's Nonprofit Sector

Together SC and Clemson University Launch Internship Program to Strengthen South Carolina’s Nonprofit Workforce  

(COLUMBIA, S.C. - Jan TBD, 2026 — Together SC, in partnership with Clemson University, is launching a new initiative designed to expand internship opportunities within South Carolina’s nonprofit sector. The Clemson Nonprofit Internship Program will initially support Upstate nonprofits in hosting paid student interns during summer 2026, with the dual goals of strengthening the state’s nonprofit talent pipeline and providing organizations with temporary project support. 

This collaborative effort aims to ensure that nonprofits, particularly those with limited staff or specialized needs, have access to skilled, motivated Clemson students, while offering students meaningful hands-on experience in mission-driven work. The program seeks to match nonprofit needs with student abilities across key areas such as communications, program support, operations, research, fundraising, and more. 

As part of the program, participating Upstate organizations will commit to: 

• Attending a pre-internship workshop hosted by Together SC and Clemson University; 

• Hiring and supervising a Clemson student intern for 20 hours per week over an 8-week period (160 hours total) between May and August 2026; 

• Providing up to $1,000 in matching funds toward the intern’s wages. 

Clemson University will grant the remaining funding required to ensure all interns receive compensation of $12 per hour, affirming both partners’ commitment to expanding access to fair, paid internship opportunities. 

Together SC and Clemson will soon open an Interest Form for nonprofits in the Upstate region. Organizations will be asked to share basic information such as: 

• Name, address, and staffing levels; 

• Prior experience supervising interns or trainees; 

• A brief description of the organization and why it is seeking an intern; 

• Potential tasks or projects an intern might support; 

• Expected work format (on-site, or hybrid); 

• Supervisory structure for the intern. 

This information will help the program team assess readiness, support matching efforts, and determine whether additional slots or resources may be needed if interest exceeds initial expectations. Additional compliance statements, like those associated with federal internship guidance (e.g., Fact Sheet 71), may be included in the final intent-to-participate form. 

“We are very excited to launch the first phase of this important internship program with Clemson University.  We are committed to helping our nonprofit members in the SC network expand capacity for their work, while providing meaningful internship experiences for Clemson University undergraduate and graduate students,” said Karen Riordan, President and CEO of Together SC. 

More details, timelines, and application links will be shared in the coming months as the program moves forward.