Princeton Internships in Civic Service

PICS Intern Zachary Johnson at a desk looking away from a computer.

Princeton Internships in Civic Service (PICS) is an alumni-founded program with the John H. Pace, Jr. '39 Center for Civic Engagement that provides Princeton undergraduates paid summer internships in nonprofit organizations. As PICS interns, students engage in meaningful service opportunities, serve with community partner organizations in the U.S., connect academic lessons to real-world problems, and develop leadership skills.

The PICS Model

PICS joined the University through the Pace Center for Civic Engagement in 2019. It was founded as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 1996 by Princeton University alumni from the Class of 1969 at their 25th reunion.

PICS is a transformative experience that thrives at the intersection of students, community, and alumni. Students benefit from immersive summer internship opportunities in collaboration with community partners serving on the front lines of healthcare, education, the environment, and more. Alumni partners guide students as they grow from these professional experiences and introduce students to the Princeton alumni network. Many PICS students, community partners, and alumni form relationships that extend years beyond the initial internship experience.

Explore Internships

Explore PICS summer internship opportunities through Princeton University's Global Programs System (GPS). All PICS internships begin with prefix of "pics."

For Students

PICS offers 8-10 week paid summer internships at nonprofit organizations across the United States, along with a few international locations. Paired with an alumni mentor, PICS students explore opportunities in research, data analytics, environmental sustainability, energy policy, communications/marketing, community outreach, arts and culture, legal services, youth development, and global health. Several PICS internships fulfill requirements of certificate programs. Many PICS interns have found their internships have influenced their career goals and learning paths. After graduating, former interns have worked for their nonprofits, started their own nonprofits, become alumni partners, and connected PICS with new internship opportunities.

Explore Internships

You may apply for a maximum of two PICS internships. Summer 2023 opportunities can be found on Princeton University's Global Programs System (GPS); by searching "PICS" in the Program Search box, you can sort by various factors such as location, internship format, organization sector or job function. For a list of all available PICS opportunities, check out this list; this running list of available opportunities for round 3 will be updated on a regular basis. If you need help narrowing down which two PICS internships are the best fit for you, feel free to make an appointment with PICS Program Coordinator Rose Holton at [email protected].

Critical Dates

Monday, 12/5/22, Student application, Round 1, opens. See link in section below.
Monday,1/9/23, Student application, Round 1, deadline at 5 PM EST
Monday- Friday, 1/23 - 27, Interview Week
Monday, 2/6/23, Final decisions about Round 1 from PICS Internship Partners due
Monday, 2/20/23, Final decisions about Round 1 from students due
Tuesday, 1/17/23, Student application, Round 2, opens. See application link below.
Friday, 2/24/23, Student application, Round 2, deadline at 11:59 PM EST
Friday - Friday 3/3 - 3/17/23 Round 2 interviews and decisions
Friday, 3/24/23, Student application, Round 3, opens. See application link below.
Tuesday, 4/4/23, Student application, Round 3, deadline at 5:00 PM EST
Early-mid May, Internship Orientation
Friday, 5/19/23, Students may begin internships
Summer - Networking and professional development events
August - Fall Capstone projects and evaluations due
September - Fall Reception

Apply to PICS

For Summer 2023, the Pace Center introduced a joint application for all its summer opportunities for the first two rounds. Round 1 and 2 are closed, but Round 3 is a completely separate application and can be accessed via this Round 3 application form. Be sure to carefully read through the Eligibility and Program Requirements prior to submitting your application.

For Alumni

Alumni play an important role in helping students envision how they can live lives of meaning and service while at Princeton and beyond. With PICS, alumni are an integral part of students’ learning and growth. Learn how you can support the PICS program as a mentor or regional volunteer on our Alumni Support page.

For Partners

Internship partners play an important role in not only facilitating students’ summer experiences, but also serving as guides and educators along the way. Learn how you can become an internship partner with PICS on the Internship Collaboration page.