2026 Internship Grants – Now Available for Student Chapters, Employers and Affiliated Associations

The 2026 JRGF Internship Grant program provides valuable support directly to MCAA student chapters, employers and affiliated associations. Applications are currently available for all three categories. Click the corresponding link, fill out the form and apply for a grant to help support internship programming.

Student Chapters – Due January 15^th

What are the 2026 Internship Grant Details for Student Chapters?

Student Chapter Internship Grants are intended to offer additional support to MCAA student chapters that are successfully connecting students with internship and full-time employment in the mechanical contracting industry.  Chapters are encouraged to utilize this funding to bring additional students to future mechanical educational conferences such as the MCAA Convention, MCAA GreatFutures Forum, or one of the five Attendance Scholarship Conferences (WiMI, Fabrication Conference, MEP Innovation Conference, Safety & Health Conference, or MSCA). 

• Up to $500 per mechanical intern from the 2025 calendar year.
• Up to $1,000 per full-time new hire in mechanical from the 2025 calendar year.
• Submitted by the Faculty Advisor or Industry Advisor.
• One application will be accepted per school, per grant type.
• Must be submitted with a photo of the intern/new hire on the jobsite, at the office, by a company logo, or in company swag.
  • Interns and full-time new hires must be active participants in a student chapter at a four-year college or university, or previous participants who recently graduated.
  • The minimum eligible internship duration is eight weeks and may have occurred at any time during the 2025 calendar year.

What’s the timeline for the Student Chapter Form?

• Both the intern form and new hire forms are due by January 15, 2026.
• Chapters will be notified of grant awards in March 2026.

Employers – Due April 1^st 

What are the 2026 Internship Grant Details for Employers?

These grants are Intended to offer support to mechanical contracting companies that are new to offering internships, are small companies, or are looking to grow their internship programs in the mechanical industry.

• $1,000 grant (25 total selected, based on application).
• Submitted by the company.
• One application per company location.
  • Intern may be from any 4-year accredited college or university. The internship must be in the mechanical contracting industry.
  • The minimum eligible internship duration is eight weeks and may be planned to occur at any time during 2026.  

What’s the timeline for the Employer Form?

• Forms are due by April 1, 2026, for planned 2026 internships.
• Employers will be notified of grant awards in May 2026.

Affiliated Associations – Due April 1^st 

What are the 2026 Internship Grant Details for Affiliated Associations?

These grants are intended to offer support for the development and growth of local student chapter programming that creates new employment opportunities or student inclusivity at events with potential employers and/or mentoring programs or new resources for student chapters.

• $5,000 grant (5 total selected, based on application).
• Submitted by the Affiliated Association Executive or Staff Member.
• One application per Affiliated Association, covering all related 4-year schools with student chapters. 

What’s the timeline for the Affiliated Association Form?

• Forms are due by April 1, 2026, for 2026 calendar year plans.
• Affiliated Associations will be notified of grant awards in May 2026.

Looking for more info on the MCAA Career Development Initiative?

Contact Michele Hoffman (mhoffman@mcaa.org) or visit MCAA’s Career Development Initiative page to learn more about student chapter programming. 

Also, be sure to check out the JRGF website to explore the work the John R. Gentille Foundation is doing to further education and research in the mechanical industry.