New Year & New Grants Available for Supporting Internship Programs & Student Chapters

The John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) Internship Grant program has been upgraded for 2025 to offer a new level of support for the multiple entities involved with developing the future talent of our industry.

Student Chapter Forms: Due January 15^th

Student Chapter Internship Grants are intended to offer additional support to student chapters that are 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 conferences such as the GreatFutures Forum or MCAA Convention.

• Due January 15, 2025 for calendar year 2024 interns, funds distributed in March.
• Submitted by the Faculty or Industry Advisor – one application per chapter.
• Up to $500 per intern (8-week internship minimum)
• Photo must be submitted with the intern on the jobsite, at the office, by a company sign, or in branded swag.

• Due January 15, 2025 for calendar year 2024 full-time new hires, funds distributed in March.
• Submitted by the Faculty or Industry Advisor – one application per chapter.
• Up to $1,000 per full-time new hire. 
• Photo must be submitted with the new hire on the jobsite, at the office, by a company sign, or in branded swag.

Affiliated Associations Forms: Due April 1, 2025

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, mentoring programs, or new student-focused resources.

• Due April 1, 2025 for 2025 plans, notifications in May.
• Submitted by the Affiliated Association Executives. One application per Affiliated Association, covering all related student chapters.
• $5,000 grant (5 available).  

Employer Forms: Due April 1, 2025

These internship grants are intended to offer support to companies that are new to offering internships, small companies, or those that are looking to grow their internship program.

• Due April 1, 2025, for 2025 planned internships, notifications in May.
• Submitted by the company. One application per company location.
• $1,000 grant (25 available)
  • 8-week internship minimum may occur anytime during 2025.
  • Intern may be from any 2- or 4-year accredited college or university.
  • Following the internship, a photo must be submitted with the intern on the jobsite, at the office, by a company sign, or in branded swag.

2024 ‘Legacy’ Internship Grants

• Due by January 31, 2025, and then will be discontinued.
• Companies with 1 intern are eligible for a $1,000 grant. Companies with 2 or more interns may receive a $2,000 grant.  Submit one form for each intern to ensure all interns are eligible for Part 2 upon graduation (full-time new hires).

• Due by December 31, 2025, and then will be discontinued.
• For companies successfully converting an intern from their Part 1 list to a full-time new hire, a $500 check will be mailed to the company, to present to their new hire. New hire conversions are unlimited, but the name must be included from a Part 1 list.

Visit MCAA’s Career Development Initiative page to learn more about student chapter programming or the JRGF website to explore the work JRGF is doing to further education in the mechanical industry.