Employer Partnerships
Build Your Early Talent Pipeline Without Building an Internship Program From Scratch
GardHouse helps Charlotte-area employers recruit, prepare, and support high-performing college interns for project-based work in operations, marketing, finance, technology, analytics, and more.
Our team manages sourcing, coaching, and ongoing support so employers can focus on meaningful work and long-term talent development.
HOW THE PARTNERSHIP WORKS
Step 1. Internship Planning
We help define internship responsibilities, deliverables, and project scope to ensure alignment and success.
Step 2. Candidate Matching
GardHouse sources and recommends qualified student candidates based on your organization’s goals and needs.
Step 3. Internship Launch
Students begin paid internship experiences with ongoing coaching and employer support from GardHouse throughout the semester.
Step 4. Performance & Pipeline Development
Employers evaluate intern performance and may continue engagement through future internships, employment opportunities, or ongoing partnerships.
Trusted by Charlotte Employers
WHY EMPLOYERS PARTNER WITH us
- Access Prepared Emerging Talent: GardHouse recruits and prepares motivated college students who are ready to contribute to real-world projects across multiple industries and departments.
- Reduce Hiring & Staffing Pressure: Employers gain project-based support without the long timelines and costs associated with traditional hiring.
- Save Management Time: GardHouse handles candidate sourcing, professional preparation, onboarding support, and ongoing coaching throughout the internship experience.
- Extend Team Capacity: Interns provide support in operations, communications, analytics, marketing, administration, finance, and technology projects.
- Build a Long-Term Talent Pipeline: Many employers use GardHouse internships as an opportunity to identify and develop future hires before graduation.
- Strengthen Charlotte’s Workforce: Employer partnerships help create meaningful paid opportunities for underserved college students while supporting local workforce development.
Investment levels
GardHouse offers flexible partnership opportunities designed to support both employers and student workforce development.
Employer partnership investments help fund:
- Student internship stipends
- Career coaching
- Professional development workshops
- Employer support services
- Internship preparation programming
For current partnership opportunities and internship timelines, contact Kelsey Boyd at
kelsey@gardhouse.org.
SUPPORTING CHARLOTTE'S SMALL BUSINESSES WHILE DEVELOPING FUTURE TALENT
EMERGING EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
GardHouse’s Emerging Employer Partnership Program is designed to support small businesses and nonprofit organizations that may not have the financial capacity to host a paid intern independently, but still want access to emerging talent and workforce support.
Eligible employers receive one fully subsidized intern through GardHouse at no cost to the organization.
Sample Projects
BUSINESS & BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Operations Improvement Project
Intern reviews existing workflows and recommends process improvements to increase efficiency.
Possible Deliverables
- Workflow documentation
- Standard operating procedures (SOPs)
- Internal process audit
- Staff resource guide
CRM & Client Management Support
Intern helps organize and maintain customer or stakeholder databases.
Possible Deliverables
- CRM cleanup and updates
- Client communication tracking
- Contact segmentation
- Pipeline reporting dashboard
Vendor & Market Research Project
Intern conducts research to support operational or strategic decision-making.
Possible Deliverables
- Competitor analysis
- Vendor comparison reports
- Pricing research
- Partnership prospect lists
COMPUTER SCIENCE / INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Data Dashboard Development
Intern organizes and visualizes company data for internal reporting.
Possible Deliverables
- Power BI dashboard
- Excel analytics tracker
- KPI reporting tool
- Data visualization presentation
Technology Systems Audit
Intern evaluates technology workflows and recommends improvements.
Possible Deliverables
- Software usage inventory
- Technology process recommendations
- Internal systems documentation
- Workflow automation ideas
Website Optimization Support
Intern assists with website maintenance and digital functionality improvements.
Possible Deliverables
- Website updates
- Accessibility improvements
- Plugin research
- Basic coding support
- UX testing feedback
FINANCE & ACCOUNTING
Financial Reporting Support
Intern assists with organizing and analyzing financial information.
Possible Deliverables
- Budget tracking spreadsheet
- Monthly expense reports
- Invoice reconciliation
- Financial data organization
Accounts Payable/Receivable Assistance
Intern supports basic accounting operations.
Possible Deliverables
- Invoice tracking logs
- Payment processing support
- Vendor payment organization
- Financial documentation updates
Grant & Funding Research
Intern identifies potential funding opportunities for organizational growth.
Possible Deliverables
- Grant opportunity tracker
- Funder database
- Research summaries
- Application preparation support
CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING
Project Coordination Support
Intern assists with project tracking and administrative coordination.
Possible Deliverables
- Project timeline updates
- Vendor communication logs
- Site documentation support
- Scheduling coordination
Safety & Compliance Documentation
Intern supports documentation and operational organization efforts.
Possible Deliverables
- Safety checklist templates
- Compliance tracking spreadsheets
- Training material organization
- Documentation audits
Facilities & Asset Tracking
Intern helps organize facility or equipment-related data.
Possible Deliverables
- Equipment inventory tracker
- Maintenance scheduling reports
- Facilities documentation
- Operational support tools
PUBLIC HEALTH, SOCIAL WORK & PSYCHOLOGY
Community Resource Mapping Project
Intern researches and organizes local community resources.
Possible Deliverables
- Community referral database
- Outreach contact lists
- Resource guides
- Stakeholder mapping
Program Evaluation Support
Intern assists with measuring organizational impact.
Possible Deliverables
- Survey creation
- Participant feedback analysis
- Program outcome reporting
- Data collection support
Client Engagement & Outreach Support
Intern supports community engagement initiatives.
Possible Deliverables
- Workshop coordination
- Outreach communication materials
- Event support
- Community engagement tracking
Submitting your Application
THE INSTRUCTIONS
In addition to completing the fields below, all partners must complete and upload the GardHouse Internship Plan as part of the application process. This document helps GardHouse better understand your organization’s needs, define meaningful internship projects, and recruit the strongest candidates for your opportunity.
The Internship Plan should reflect:
- Clear project goals
- Realistic student responsibilities
- Meaningful professional development opportunities
- Internship Supervision Expectations
Before submitting, please ensure the following:
- All sections are completed
- Goals are clear and realistic
- Responsibilities are clearly outlined
Upload Instructions
- Download the Internship Plan template below
- Complete all required sections
- Save the document as a PDF
- Upload the completed file within the application portal under:
- “Internship Plan Upload”
The Application
Frequently asked questions
How much supervision is required?
Employers provide project direction and mentorship while GardHouse supports student coaching, communication, and professional development throughout the internship.
What types of businesses can partner with GardHouse?
We partner with corporations, small businesses, nonprofits, startups, and government agencies across the Charlotte region.
Are internships paid?
Yes. GardHouse believes paid internships create more equitable access to workforce opportunities and stronger employer engagement.
What majors or backgrounds do students represent?
Students represent a variety of academic backgrounds including business, communications, finance, computer science, marketing, public health, psychology, engineering, and more.
Does GardHouse support employers during the internship?
Yes. Our team provides ongoing communication, coaching support, and troubleshooting throughout the semester.
