The John R. Gentille Foundation (JRGF) recently opened applications for 2026 Internship Grants.
| Student Chapters | Due January 15, 2026 | Up to $500 per intern / $1,000 per new hire |
| Employers | Due April 1, 2026 | $1,000 (25 total grants available) |
| Affiliated Associations | Due April 1, 2026 | $5,000 (5 total grants available) |
Student Chapter Internship Grants
Grants are intended to offer additional support to student chapters that are successfully connecting students with internship and full-time employment in the mechanical contracting industry. Chapters are encouraged to use this funding to bring additional students to future mechanical education conferences such as the GreatFutures Forum or MCAA Convention.
Grants Details:
- Interns – Up to $500 each
- Full-Time New Hires – Up to $1,000 each
- Submitted by the Faculty or Industry Advisor.
- Based on 2025 employment.
- One application will be accepted per school, per grant type.
- Interns/New Hires must be active participants in an eligible student chapter.
- Distributed in March 2026.
Employer Internship Grants
Employer internship grants are intended to offer support to mechanical contracting companies that are new to offering internships, small companies, or those that are looking to grow their internship program in the mechanical industry.
Grant Details:
- $1,000 grant – 1 per company (25 total grants available)
- Submitted by the company.
- Interns may be from any 4-year accredited college or university.
- Planned internship (8-week minimum) may occur any time during the 2026 calendar year.
- Internship must be in the mechanical contracting industry.
- Distributed in May 2026.
Affiliated Association Internship Grants
Affiliated Association internship 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/new resources for student chapters.
Grant Details:
- $5,000 grant – 1 per association, inclusive of all student chapters (5 total grants available)
- Submitted by the Affiliated Association Executive or Staff.
- Include new/upgraded student chapter programming plans for the 2026 calendar year.
- Distributed in May 2026.
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.