Summer Experience Funding Sources

250+ Grants & Fellowships Available
A comprehensive, searchable list of student grants and fellowships funded and/or administered by Yale. Most of these are available from Yale’s schools, departments, programs and councils and are open only to Yale students, while others are national competitions to which Yale nominates candidates. For more information, please visit the Yale Student Grants and Fellowships Database. Deadlines to apply vary based on the award/fellowship process.

The YSE Supplementary Fund provides partial funding to Yale School of the Environment students to support their required (ENV 006) summer experience. These supplements are made possible by a handful of donors and are administered through a Yale School of the Environment committee consisting of faculty and staff.

Students can apply for this support through the Yale Student Grants Database.

The deadline to apply for the YSE Supplementary Fund is  Friday, April 3, 2026, 4 p.m. EST (unless otherwise noted). The application can be completed as soon as a summer experience in accepted. We encourage students to apply as early as possible. Please note that while the YSE Supplementary Fund application does not require an advisor / faculty recommendation letter, it DOES require digital approval from an academic advisor or faculty supervisor through the Student Grants Database application portal. Please plan to submit your application well before the deadline and provide your advisor/supervisor at least 1-2 weeks of lead time when you request their required approval. Delay in advisor approval may impact funding allocation.

(YSE supplementary funds include, but are not limited to those listed in the Yale Students Grants Database. Questions? Please e-mail Sulaiman Jenkins at sulaiman.jenkins@yale.edu).

Here is a list of general questions and answers that should help you navigate the YSE Supplementary Fund.

Q:    What exactly is needed to apply to the YSE Supplementary Fund?  

A:    Applicants to the YSE Supplementary Fund must answer the questions and provide the materials requested by the Fund, including (but not limited to) the required budget form.  To review those questions and materials, go to the Fund in the Yale Student Grants Database.  Click on “Apply Now” as though you are already ready to apply and scroll down through the questions and requests to familiarize yourself with what you’ll be asked for.  The deadline to apply is April 3, but you can start your application anytime.

Q:    Is there a limit to how much I can ask for from the YSE Supplementary Fund?

A:    Not exactly.  To create your required budget, using the form requested, you’re asked to do four things.  First, calculate your total budget request using the line items and limitations on the form.  Second, describe any requests you’ve made from other funds, whether you’ve heard back or not.  Third, describe any financial contribution being made by an “employer host” of your Summer Experience.  Fourth, calculate the difference between your total budget and funding you expect/hope for from the YSE Supplemental Fund.  We always hope that there will be other financial contributors to your total budget, and that the YSE Supplemental Fund can be …. well … “supplemental”.

Q:    Can MEM students create “independent projects”, funded by YSE/CPD, for their required Summer Experience (ENV006)?

A:    MEM students cannot develop projects on their own, by themselves, to be “supervised” and “evaluated” by themselves alone.  However! Students can co-create projects with willing employer hosts. If you have a creative idea that you would like to turn into an approved – and funded – Summer Experience, follow the steps below.

First, identify and secure an employer host who has an interest in your project idea, and/or an interest in working with you to co-create a summer project together which is at least 10-12 weeks requiring at least 30 hours of work each week.  Second, prepare a mutually agreed upon project description, including a budget (using the budget form).  Third, for projects with employer hosts, determine whether cost sharing from the employer host is possible, and in what amount.  Fourth, check to see if there are any other funding sources available through the CPD website list and/or the Yale Student Grants Database that you should apply to.  Fifth, apply to the Supplementary Fund for the difference needed to meet your budget. Sixth, make sure your faculty advisor is on board and approves your project.

Q:    Can MEM students create “independent research” projects with an YSE academic advisor alone, funded by YSE/CPD, for their required Summer Experience (ENV006)?

A:    In rare cases, this is possible.  Share your idea with a CPD team member for a quick review first, and then with your YSE faculty academic advisor.  You can expect a series of questions to verify that your project idea meets the definition of the word “research” as it’s understood in YSE’s MESc and MFs community.  

For these students, the ENV006 Summer Experience requirement assumes that the student has an overall research project which began before the summer portion, and will proceed after it, ending in a thesis.  In usual cases, the summer portion is devoted to data gathering or other activities that are part of that larger effort.  MESc and MFs students develop and improve their research efforts with faculty assistance, and through the required “methods class”.

With this in mind, it’s often difficult to imagine scenarios in which a 10-12 week independent project can really be rigorous enough to be approved as “research”. In many cases, we find that summer projects put forward by MEM students as “research” are often better defined with terms like information gathering, journalistic investigations, product/start-up trials, creative learning adventures, active career networking, artistic endeavors, subsidized international travel, social media efforts, or unpaid client projects.  If this turns out to be the case, MEM students will be asked to secure an internship-style employer host, following the guidance about “independent projects” directly above this Q&A.

If, however, the proposed project is rigorous enough to be categorized as academic-level research (albeit short!), and if the proposal includes an active YSE academic advisor, it can be advanced for funding through the YSE Supplementary Fund and other funding sources.  Use the steps below.

First, identify and secure a YSE academic advisor who has an interest in your project idea, and/or an interest in working with you to co-create a summer research project together which is at least 10-12 weeks requiring at least 30 hours of work each week.  Second, prepare a mutually agreed upon project description, including a budget (using the budget form).  Third, check to see if there are any other funding sources available through the CPD website list and/or the Yale Student Grants Database that you should apply to.  Fourth, apply to the Supplementary Fund for the difference needed to meet your budget. Fifth, make sure your formal faculty advisor (if different from your project advisor) is on board and approves your project.

Q:    When will I know if my request to the YSE Supplementary Fund has been approved?

A:    We cannot give you a formal, final approval until after the university-wide “Overlap Meeting” involving all funders, on April 10.  However, if you are working with Sulaiman, Maya or Kevin, and we know the details of your request, we can give you a good sense of your approval chances in advance.

Q:    When will I receive my money?

A:    It can take as long as 6-8 weeks after approval of the award to get funds transferred to your account.  You can expect YSE Supplementary Funds to be available no later than June 15.  

Q:    Can I combine YSE Supplementary Funds with other named and funded internship programs?

A:    The summer programs named below are “stand alone” summer offerings and you cannot apply for or receive Supplementary Fund awards if you accept an offer to be part of them.  These include:

• Bekenstein Climate Leaders Program Summer Internships
• Berkley Conservation Scholars awards
• Wyss Fellowships
• Cameron Speth internships
• Moran internship
• EDF Climate Corps
• Environmental Fellowship Program
• Clean Energy Internships (CBEY)
• Forest Crew (at Yale Myers)
• URI internships

Q:    When applying to the YSE Supplementary Fund, should I make reference to one or more of the named funds mentioned in the description (e.g. Armbrecht, Jubitz, etc.)?  Should my application match the focus areas in those funds?

A:    No.  The YSE Supplementary Fund is one fund to assist all YSE 1st year students in the completion of the Summer Experience graduation requirement (ENV006) if funding cannot be found from an employer host or other source.  The “subfunds” are mentioned for illustrative purposes only, and to express our gratitude to our generous donors.

The Yale Center for Environmental Justice awards student fellowships to support Masters and Doctoral research focused on environmental justice. Grants of up to $5000 are awarded competitively each year to eligible students. Recognizing that the field of environmental justice is broad and multidisciplinary, we welcome proposals from students across disciplines interested in researching a range of issues significant to social and environmental justice. Environmental Justice Student Research Fellowships are open to Masters or Doctoral students at the Yale School of the Environment or a joint program with YSE.

Applications due Monday, March 11, 2026 by 1 p.m. EST through Yale Student Grants Database. 

Funding is provided to Yale School of the Environment students with a focus in engaging new communities in conservation; expanding the conservation toolkit; and ensuring the permanence of conservation gains. Preferred locations in U.S. land conservation organizations.

The average award is $9,000, and there are 10 students who are recipients of the award (5 institutional arrangements and 5 independent arrangements). The award process is managed by the Office of Career and Professional Development.

2026 Participating Institutions

Trust Public Land (2 positions) Due Date: March 23, 2026 Apply Here!

New Canaan Land Trust Due Date: March 23, 2026 Apply Here!

New York City Parks Due Date: March 23, 2026 Apply Here!

Ecological Health Network Due Date: March 23, 2026 Apply Here!

Please download the Berkley Scholars Internship Award Application 2026 to learn more.

How to apply: This application is NOT posted in the Student Grant Database. Please send the completed application to sulaiman.jenkins@yale.edu.

The deadline to apply for these funds is Monday, March 23, 2026, 4 pm EST (unless otherwise specified). The application can be completed as soon as a summer experience is accepted.

THE 2026 CAMERON SPETH FELLOWSHIPS

Summer Stipend: ~$10,000 (depending on WRI and NRDC decisions)

The Cameron Speth Fellowship provides funding for students from developing nations and Japan to carry out summer internships at the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the World Resources Institute (WRI), two institutions founded by former YSE Dean Gus Speth. Speth received the Blue Planet Prize from the Asahi Glass Foundation of Japan in 2002 and donated part of his award to the NRDC and WRI in honor of his wife, Cameron.

One student at each organization will be awarded a fellowship for a 10 to 12 week internship over the summer. Fellowship award amounts are determined by and paid by each host organization, but are expected to be around $10,000 for the summer.

Candidate eligibility and selection criteria:

• Master’s degree students are to come from developing countries or Japan.
• Likely to contribute to environmental policy and program development in developing countries, and (have the) potential to reach others through future teaching and research, or as policymakers and/or program managers.

Please note that both positions require direct applications, and are not through the Students Grants Database.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

WRI: February 23, 2026

Apply Here

NRDC: TBD

In summer 2026, the Hixon Center will fund four Fellows to pursue 10-12 week projects with its partners in (1) Boston, (2) Washington, D.C., (3) Mexico City, and (4) Freetown, Sierra Leone. Fellowships are open to Yale students across all schools, and applications are due by Friday, February 13th at 5:00pm. Fellows will receive a $7,500 stipend. For Fellowship descriptions and requirements, please see the application form: https://hixon.yale.edu/engage-us

The process is managed by Colleen Murphy-Dunning.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Yale Environmental Protection Clinic jointly organize the Moran Environmental Fellowship, which supports a paid summer internship with the NRDC, and is open to students at the Yale School of the Environment. This fellowship funds summer work across NRDC. The Moran / NRDC Fellowship stipend for 2026 is $10,000. $4,000 with be paid by NRDC; $6000 will be paid through YSE.

Once a YSE student has accepted the Moran / NRDC 2026 fellowship, the fellow must apply for the YSE part of the summer fund through the Yale Student Grants Database.

The deadline to apply for YSE funding is Monday, March 16, 2026, 4.00 pm EST. Please email Sulaiman Jenkins at sulaiman.jenkins@yale.edu.

The MacMillan Center’s Fellowship, grant and award opportunities are available to Yale graduate students and are typically grouped by geographic area of proposed summer experience, with some exceptions. Application deadlines are based on the award and begin in mid-February. Students can apply through the Yale Student Grants Database.

The Mobley Family Environmental Humanities Program in YSE is pleased to invite proposals for student research projects to be carried out in Summer 2026. These grants are intended to support research on the humanistic dimensions of human-environment relations, which might otherwise not be supported by funding sources either within YSE or elsewhere on campus. Projects involving film, photography, performing arts, visual arts, audio/podcasts, online communication, etc. also will be considered. The Program typically awards a half dozen fellowships of $2,000 – $4,000. Applicants are expected to apply to other funding sources as well.

The deadline to apply is Monday, March, 2 2026, 11.59 p.m. EST. Proposals are accepted through the Yale Student Grants Database. Please contact Michael Dove (michael.dove@yale.edu) or Kristin Floyd (kristin.floyd@yale.edu) with questions.

TRI’s Endowed Fellowship Program provides funding for currently enrolled YSE masters and doctoral students to conduct research in tropical countries. These projects are interdisciplinary in nature and cover a wide range of issues that surround the study, management, and conservation of tropical resources. TRI supports both natural and social science research projects.

Awards range from $2,000 to $5,000 and approx. 20-30 awards are granted each cycle. The award process is managed by Simon Queenborough.

Additional fellowships are available that are dedicated to particular tropical regions. For more information go to the TRI Fellowships webpage.

The deadline to apply is Thursday, March 6 2026, 1 p.m. EST.

Each summer, URI’s Community Greenspace program hires five to seven Yale students as Community Foresters. Each Community Forester provides technical and material support to six or seven community groups engaged in environmental rehabilitation projects, such as tree planting, vacant lot restoration, and invasive species removal. The Community Greenspace program’s goals are to conduct resident-led environmental restoration, to build community, and to foster stewardship and civic empowerment.

Applicants should have a passion for (and ideally, but not necessarily, education and experience in) environmental management and community-building. Interns must also have an ability to take on physically challenging tasks and to work with varied organizations and individuals. Excellent communication and writing skills also are important, as documentation is an integral component of this project.

A valid U.S. driver’s license is required (though we can accommodate up to one intern without one). Weekends for this internship are Sundays and Mondays; interns work Tuesday through Saturday.

The awardee(s) will receive $9,600 for 12 weeks. The deadline to apply is February 3rd, 2026 or until positions are filled.

For more information and to apply, email our Associate Director, Chris Ozyck (christopher.ozyck@yale.edu).

This fellowship is a student-driven query involving research, an internship, or management project during the summer. Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative at YSE provides fellows with a financial award, logistical assistance, and mentorship to aid with a summer experience that will have a high impact on conservation, stewardship, or management of natural resources in the Rocky Mountain or High Plains regions. This program supports Yale graduate and undergraduate students completing a summer work that will provide them with practical experience, leadership skills, and/or research experience that will prepare fellows for their future careers. A financial award of up to $9,000 will be granted to each fellow.

Please visit the Ucross High Plains Stewardship website (please scroll down to the “Summer” section) to learn more about student expectations, application materials, and evaluation criteria.

Funding is provided to YSE plus Yale “at-large” graduate students that have a preferred focus in land conservation in the following locations: Intermountain West; Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and Oregon.

The number of awards are 2 plus 1 ‘at large.’

Students can apply directly through the Yale Student Grants Database.

Please contact Lisa Bassani in Development and Alumni Relations for more information.

The Global Food Fellowship sponsors the academic and extracurricular study of food systems beyond Yale University’s campus. It offers the opportunity to bring place-based practice and participant observation into examining multiple levels of food systems.

All Global Food Fellowships should be grounded in a guiding question, which seeks to explore ideas that could overturn the ecological, social and economic deficiencies of today’s predominant food systems. Inquiries should engage critically with approach and methodology, reflect upon the student’s positioning in the research, acknowledge the context-dependency of the place and topic, and prioritize “principles over recipes” for food systems solutions.

Recipients are required to write a one-page reflective essay and present their work as a part of the YSFP’s knead 2 know series. Graduating seniors who cannot return to campus will prepare a 10-slide photo essay, or other agreed upon deliverable in lieu of a presentation. All fellowships come with mentorship and support from YSFP staff and our extended community of friends and alumni.

Fellowship applications are open from January 1st through March 4th. All Yale undergraduate and graduate students, including graduating seniors, are welcome to apply. To do so, please search “Global Food Fellowship” in the Yale Center for International and Professional Experience Student Grants Database.

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 4 2026, 3 p.m. EST.

For more info about Yale Sustainable Food Program, visit their website.

Questions? Please contact Jacqueline Munno (Jacqueline.lewin@yale.edu)

Outside Resources for Summer and Other Funds

The YSE External Funds Database website has hundreds of external funding opportunities for students at the School.