Skip to content

Student Activity Fund

Internships That Make a Difference

The SAF program encourages young Unitarian Universalists from Long Island to live their religious values through internships at nonprofits dedicated to social action, advocacy, or service.

Applications for 2025 SAF Internships are open through May 4.

Please complete the application before that time to be considered for the program.

Apply now

50 Years of Faith in Action

Student Activity Fund is an internship grant program for Long Island UUs

SAF enables students from Nassau and Suffolk County Unitarian Universalist congregations to perform significant service to the community while earning money to help finance their education.

The program encourages young UUs to live their religious values and gain awareness of society's social, ecological, and economic problems through internships at nonprofit agencies that focus on social action, advocacy, environmental stewardship, and social services.

SAF is a program of its longtime sponsor, Long Island Area Council of UU Congregations (LIAC), and is funded by the Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock.

imogen parker drives a tractor with cloud skies behind

The Intern

Eligibility

To participate in the 2025-2026 SAF program, you must be:

  • Under age 25 on June 1, 2025
  • A member or child of a member in good standing at a LIAC UU congregation
  • And one of the following:
    • A high school senior in fall 2025
    • An undergraduate college or trade school student
    • A gap-year student
    • fall 2024 or spring/summer 2025 graduate
saf-intern-kasey-crowder-deeper-life fellowship-food-pantry

"At the food pantry, I helped clients and stocked shelves, and I was able to use my Spanish skills. My favorite part of my SAF internship was being able to speak with the guests.”

-SAF Intern

The Nonprofit

Eligibility

To be eligible for the SAF internship program, the nonprofit organization must have one or more of the following goals: 

  • Directly aimed at alleviating inequity, injustice, and discrimination
  • Encouraging the formulation and implementation of public policies that promote world peace or ecological responsibility
  • Designed to preserve and protect civil liberties
  • Related to the direct provision of needed services to disadvantaged sectors of society 

Note: Students cannot receive SAF award money as a volunteer for a political candidate or party campaign, according to SAF’s guidelines as a religious nonprofit program.

How It Works

If your organization has been chosen by an SAF intern and approved by the SAF Program Director, the SAF Program Director will then send you the Supervisor Service Agreement and the Hours Verification Form via email.

If your nonprofit is interested in being added to the list of approved SAF internship placement options, email the SAF Program Director.

The Internship

Ideas for Internships

  • Agencies advocating for social justice
  • Civil rights organizations
  • Soup kitchens & food pantries
  • Get Out the Vote initiatives
  • Sustainable-living think tanks
  • Environmental organizations
  • Nutrition & wellness services
  • Community gardens/farms
  • Community camp programs
  • Assisted living, hospice & community clinics 

Finding a Good Match

If SAF interns would like guidance in finding an appropriate nonprofit to approach, they are encouraged to contact the SAF Program Director. 

nyclu-logo book-fairies-logo long-island-wins-logo erase-racism-logo herstory-writers-workshop-logo cystic-fibrosis-foundation-logo alley-pond-environmental-center-logo nordoff-robbins-music-therapy-logo hobbs-farm-logo

SAF in Action

saf-intern-Erin
saf-intern-with-snake
saf-intern-Daniella
saf-intern-with-turtle
saf-intern-with-chicken
saf-intern-remote-environment
saf-intern-Danielle-kitchen
saf-intern-Daniella

Frequently Asked Questions

Please contact us at SAFdirector@liacuu.org with any additional questions.

Ginger O'Neill

Program Director

Ginger O'Neill joins the LIAC staff with over 20 years of combined experience in the nonprofit, finance, and education sectors. Ginger has also served LIAC as the Co-Director of the Sophia Fahs Camp since 2022 and as Communications Coordinator before that. She currently is the Grants/Development Manager at a local nonprofit organization, whose work assists migrants and vulnerable community members dealing with food insecurity, health, education, and workforce urgencies. Ginger is also a singer, a playwright, and a teacher on the weekends. Reach Ginger at SAFdirector@liacuu.org.

email Ginger

 

ginger smiles for the camera among blooming cherry blossoms

The Student Activity Fund is made possible by funding from the Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock.