Host an Intern

The 2025 internship will run from Monday, June 2 to Friday, August 8 (interns participate in an all-day orientation on Monday, June 2).

The internship is intended to be a 40-hour work week. However, the interns will also be attending paid DITA Learning Requirement events over the course of the summer, totaling from 2.5 to 5 hours each week. Expect your intern to be in the office approximately 35 hours a week.

Host sites will be required to pay interns Denver minimum wage as regular employees. Each host site will receive a grant from DITA based on their organization's full-time equivalent, covering some portion of the intern wages. Placing the intern on your payroll will also include payroll taxes which will vary from organization to organization.

The portion of the intern's wages covered by the grant is dependent on your organization's FTE. Please see the following scale: 1-3 FTEs will receive a grant of $6000 4-12 FTEs will receive a grant of $5500 13-20 FTES will receive a grant of $4500 Over 20 FTEs will receive a grant of $3000

When reviewing Host Site applications, the DITA team is searching for positions that provide interns with practical experience in the arts & culture nonprofit field. An emphasis on DEI work or the inclusion of DEI-focused projects are a beneficial inclusion in the intern's proposed job description. From an organizational standpoint, DITA is looking for Host Sites that want to further their ongoing DEI work. An organization that is at the beginning of their DEI journey is not a good fit for the program.

We do! Read the application prior to starting it so you have all required documents ready. Have an intern supervisor selected and informed about the program before completing the application. Provide intern supervisor with a copy of your application if they are not completing it themself. Create an internship position that can excite DITA intern applicants: Make sure your position focuses on providing practical hands-on experience in your organization’s mission Intern applicants love positions where they can experience more than one department. Are you planning to adjust the position based on your intern’s interests? Indicate that clearly on the job description. Interested in interns who have specialized skills like speaking a second language or graphic design? Indicate that interest clearly on the job description. Note: DITA interns are college students and should not be expected to perform a job that heavily relies on a specialized skillset and advanced training outside of your organization.

The program is open to students currently enrolled with at least one full year of college coursework completed and recent college graduates (Spring 2023). Although graduate students are not ineligible for the program, priority is given to undergraduate students. Students will need to have a 2.5 cumulative GPA, a background or demonstrated interest in the arts/culture, and a professional reference. Additionally, all of our interns will be from traditionally underrepresented communities in the arts (including race, disability, gender, etc.).

After reviewing the applications, our selection committee will conduct interviews with any applicants who we believe will be a good fit for the program. Interns will be matched with host entities based on the needs of the organization as well as the intern's personality. Each organization will have a chance to speak with the proposed intern, review their application, and request a different intern if it is deemed necessary. We will not be placing any interns that do not meet the needs/requirements of the host organization.

Host site orientation is mandatory for all participating organizations. At least one representative of your organization must be available to attend in order to be accepted into the program. Host site orientation for the 2025 program will take place on May 16.