What is Intern Foundry (IF)(thefoundry.co), and how does it make an impact? The IF program is an intentionally designed partnership between the Foundry and the Nebraska Universities’ Honors Programs to address the “brain drain” happening across Nebraska. According to the Askarben Foundation, as of 2024, Nebraska’s net migration of people 25 years and older with a bachelor’s degree or more was at 4,610. This makes Nebraska’s brain drain percentage the third highest in the United States.
IF recognizes this dilemma and strives to mitigate the consequences by pairing the Universities’ highest achieving students with meaningful work-based learning opportunities, thereby addressing critical areas of high community need. By building the critical bridge between high-achieving talent and local organizations in need of capacity, the IF program helps build a strong pipeline of future talent, capacity and quality work needed to complete essential projects across Nebraska.
Community Impact
“The Foundry Internship Program has been an incredible asset to Nebraskans for the Arts and has made a real difference in advancing our mission of arts advocacy. As a small statewide nonprofit, we rely on strong partnerships and innovative programs like IF to expand our capacity and reach. Through this program, we’ve had the opportunity to work with talented and motivated interns who bring fresh ideas, new skills, and valuable energy to our work. They have supported a wide range of projects from communications and advocacy initiatives to research and program development, all of which have strengthened our ability to serve artists, arts educators, and communities across Nebraska.” -Dr. Lance D. Nielsen, Executive Director, Nebraskans for the ArtsIF’s sponsors and donors make opportunities for purpose-driven strength in Nebraska communities like this possible. Consider donating to the Foundry’s programs, such as IF, on The Foundry Community’s website, thefoundry.co.