Placements

How do I find CSWS opportunities?
What should I consider when researching and approaching an organization?
How do I first approach an organization about creating a work-study placement?
What organizations qualify as potential placement sites?
What are examples of previous CSWS placement sites?
Are there CSWS placements available on campus?

How do I find CSWS opportunities?
Most CSWS placements are developed by the applicant, with the assistance of their host community agency and Haas Center staff. As you begin researching potential placement opportunities, consider established opportunities, particularly internships, that are being advertised as either paid or unpaid. Don't limit your search to only published internships, however; other organizations may be interested in developing a Community Service Work-Study opportunity that matches your interest with their needs. Some resources for you to utilize include:

Haas Center Resources

Other Campus Resources

  • Faculty and Staff within your academic department. They may have suggestions and/or information on former student internship placements.

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What should I consider when researching and approaching an organization?

  • Think "jobs," "internships," or "volunteer opportunities" in your search, since any may qualify as Community Service Work-Study positions as long as your position would not be displacing current employees.
  • Don't limit your search to what you see in print: create your own experience. Many organizations are interested in working with this program and hosting a student placement when they are asked.
  • Explore organizations that interest you and could provide a valuable learning and skill building experience. Some questions for you to consider as you begin your search process:
    • When do you want to take part in this program? (academic year, summer)
    • Where do you want your placement to be? (summer: must be within the U.S., academic year: local)
    • What type of organization would you like to work with? (non-profit organization, government agency)
    • What type of work would you like to do?
    • What do you hope to gain from the experience?
    • What types of skills do you possess?
    • What types of skills would you like to develop?
    • What population would you like to work with and/or serve?
    • How many hours a week do you want to work?
    • If you're working during the academic year, which hours can you work?
    • What modes of transportation do you have available to you?
  • Once you have identified a potential placement opportunity that interests you, contact the organization for more information. When evaluating a possible placement, the type of questions you will want to find answers to include:
    • What is the mission and philosophy of the organization?
    • Is the organization affiliated with a particular religious, political, governmental, or civic group?
    • What are the expectations and the specific responsibilities of the placement?
    • What skills or experience are required or preferred?
    • What is the time commitment requested?
    • How are hours scheduled?
    • Who will you be working with and in what capacity?
    • Does the organization have experience working with students/interns; currently or in the past?
    • What type of orientation/training and on-going supervision/support is provided?
  • For assistance with this process,
    Contact: Yvette Zepeda at the Haas Center,     yvetteg@stanford.edu, (650) 725-7407, or drop by the Bing Resource & Information Center (the "BIRC") on the 1st floor of the Haas Center.

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How do I first approach an organization about creating a work-study placement?
If you're having trouble initiating a conversation with an organization of interest, here is a sample email correspondence you can modify and personalize:

Dear Ms./Mr._______________,

I am a _______________ at Stanford University, and this summer I have the opportunity through the university's Community Service Work-Study program to earn a portion of my financial aid award while working for a non-profit or governmental organization somewhere in the U.S. ____(Name of Organization)____'s work relates to my personal and academic interests in _________________. Would it be possible for me to give you a call to talk more about your organization and the possibility of working with you this summer?

Of the organizations I'm exploring right now, I'm particularly interested in ___(Name of Organization)_____ because _________. If we do find a meaningful way for me to contribute to your organization this summer, the work-study program will support up to 400 hours of work between June 16 and September 15, providing your organization can contribute 10% of my wages and benefits. Stanford University and the federal government cover the other 90%. The total cost to your organization for 400 hours of work is just under $520. This would be a great opportunity for me to learn about an organization such as yours while helping to advance your mission. I hope we will be able to talk further soon.

Best,
(Your name)
(Your contact info)

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What organizations qualify as potential placement sites?
The following federal requirements outline the type of opportunities that could qualify for the CSWS program. Proposed placement opportunities/job descriptions must meet these guidelines and be approved by the program administrators at the Haas Center.

The community organization must be a U.S. federal, state, county or municipal public agency or private non-profit organization as certified by the IRS. All organizations and job descriptions will be screened by the Haas Center.

Community service is defined as service designed to improve the quality of life for community residents, particularly low-income individuals, or to solve particular problems related to their needs, including:

  • such fields as health care, child care, literacy training, education (including tutorial services), welfare, social services, transportation, housing and neighborhood improvement, public safety, crime prevention and control, recreation, rural development and community improvement;
  • support services for students with disabilities;
  • activities in which a student serves as a mentor for such purposes as tutoring; supporting educational and recreational activities; and counseling, including career counseling.

Although the following jobs may be in the nonprofit sector, for the purpose of this program they are not considered in the public interest, and work-study funds may not be used to pay students employed in them:

  • jobs that primarily benefit the members of an organization that has membership limits, such as a credit union, fraternal or religious order, or a cooperative;
  • jobs involving any partisan or nonpartisan political activity or association with a faction in an election for public or party office;
  • jobs working for an elected official;
  • jobs working as a political aide for any elected official;
  • jobs that consider the student’s political affiliation for hiring purposes;
  • jobs that involve lobbying on the federal, state, or local level.
  • jobs that involve international related work, even with a U.S.-based organization.
  • research positions.

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What are examples of previous CSWS placement sites?
PLEASE NOTE: This list is provided to help you think about the different types of organizations that can qualify for the program. The inclusion of any particular organization does not necessarily indicate a current interest in working with students.

Local Placements – Academic Year
  • Boys & Girls Club of the Mid-Peninsula
  • City of East Palo Alto
  • City of Palo Alto Recreation
  • College Trak
  • Community Association for Rehab.
  • Dispute Resolution Program Services
  • Ecumenical Hunger Program
  • Environmental Volunteers
  • ELLIPSE Peninsula AIDS Services
  • EPA CAN DO
  • Free At Last
  • Family Support Center
  • Global Exchange
  • Korean American Community Services
  • Mayview Community Health Center
  • Palo Alto Housing Corp.
  • Peninsula Peace & Justice Center
  • Plugged In
  • San Francisco 49ers Academy
  • The Children's Health Council
  • The Health Trust
  • Urban Ministries
  • YUCA

National Placements - Summer

  • Museum of Science - Buffalo, NY
  • Family YMCA - Chandler, AZ
  • Southwest Organizing Project - Albuquerque, NM
  • AIDS Project - Brattleboro, VT
  • Jobs with Justice - Chicago, IL
  • American Red Cross - Chicago, IL
  • Border Rights Coalition - El Paso, TX
  • Native American Women's Health & Education Center - Lake Andes, SD
  • Whitaker Elementary School - Eugene, OR
  • Coalition for Clean Air - Los Angeles, CA
  • Child Crisis Center - Mesa, AZ
  • Chelsea Fund for Education - New York, NY
  • Refugee & Immigration - Norfolk, VA
  • Californians for Justice - Oakland, CA
  • Three Affiliated Tribes Museum - New Town, ND
  • Pasadena Legal Aid - Pasadena, CA
  • Sierra Club - San Francisco, CA
  • Pacific Northwest Ballet - Seattle, WA
  • Catholic Charities - Santa Barbara, CA
  • Wider Opportunities for Women - Washington, DC
  • Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning - Washington, DC

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Are there CSWS placements available on campus?
Yes, please see Campus-based Programs.

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