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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 will open on February 15.

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50 Years of Faith in Action

Student Activity Fund (SAF) 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. It is made possible by funding from the Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock and sponsorship from the Long Island Area Council of UU Congregations (LIAC).

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.

We thank the 2024 SAF interns for their great work this summer. Applications for next summer's program will be posted here on February 15—and it's never too early to start thinking about where you may want to intern!

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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 continuing-education student
    • A gap-year student
    • A spring 2025 college graduate
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Each project that I complete with the support of Student Activity Fund helps me realize more and more how valid and important the UU Principles are in our world.

-Former 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.

Access the Supervisor Service Agreement.

How It Works

If your organization has been chosen by an SAF intern and approved by SAF, please fill out the forms below (one before the internship and one after). 

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 SAF Program Director.

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SAF in Action

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

Karyn O’Beirne

Interim Program Director

Reverend Karyn O’Beirne is an ordained Interfaith Minister with over 15 years’ experience leading Unitarian Universalist worship services on Long Island. She was the SAF Program Director from 2019 to 2023, and was LIAC’s Communications Coordinator, Administrator & Financial Secretary from 2018 to 2020. Karyn is the author of the book Findings from the Hunting Party’s Scout, and is a certified Mindfulness Meditation teacher. Subscribe to her free Substack, Karyn’s Findings.

email Karyn

 

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