Program provides interns for nonprofit organizations

Barry Silverberg, president of the Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations, said there is currently an internship pilot program for nonprofits in Austin that, if successful, could extend to organizations across the state. While volunteers typically donate their services for tasks, internships are educational experiences, he said. They should teach the interns about how nonprofits operate and the challenges they face.

Interns should also gain understanding of how services impact a community, he said.

It can help launch people into careers at nonprofits.

"We need more of these quality experiences," he said. "If you give someone a good experience, they may decide 'I like this and I think I might want to spend every day of my life doing this.'"