LEARNING WITH PURPOSE.
IMPACT WITH HEART.

GiGi’s Playhouse partners with colleges, universities, and students to create meaningful, real-world learning experiences that strengthen our Playhouses, programs, and the families we serve.

With 60+ brick-and-mortar Playhouse locations, a Virtual Playhouse serving participants in 95 countries, and a National Office, GiGi’s Playhouse offers universities a scalable partnership model with local and global reach.

Interested in partnering or getting involved? Our National Programs team is ready to help you find the right fit.

Get Started
What is University Partnership (1)

What's a University Partnership?

It’s a real-world learning experience that works.

Students can earn internships, practicum hours, service-learning, or volunteer credit, and placements can happen at a local Playhouse, our Virtual Playhouse, or the National Office. Every placement is designed to be practical, supported, and aligned with professional goals.

Why Should Universities Partner with GiGi’s?

Because we make it easy, meaningful, and scalable.

  • Access to a national network with local, virtual, and 
hybrid placements
  • Opportunities for clinical and non-clinical disciplines
  • Mission-driven work that aligns with inclusion and acceptance
  • Faculty engagement and support
  • Hands-on learning that students actually remember and 
benefit from

What Do Students Gain?

Hands-on, real-world experience that actually matters. 


  • Work directly with individuals with Down syndrome
  • Gain mentorship from GiGi’s staff
  • See how a mission-driven nonprofit operates locally, nationally, or virtually

Students work directly with individuals with Down syndrome, gain mentorship from GiGi’s staff, and see how a mission-driven nonprofit operates locally, nationally, or virtually.

Partner with GiGis (2) (1)

How Do You Get Started?

Reach out. We’ll handle the rest. 



The National Programs team works closely with students and universities to coordinate placements and assess partnership opportunities. Submit the form below, and our team will follow up with guidance and next steps.

Just answer a few quick questions, and we’ll guide you from there.

Get Started

If you have additional questions or would like to connect with us directly, please email us at [email protected]

About GiGi’s Playhouse

GiGi’s Playhouse is the only global network of achievement centers providing free educational, therapeutic, and career programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

  • 60+ Playhouses across the US and Mexico
  • 360+ new families join every month
  • 400,000+ hours of free programming annually
  • 95 countries where our programming is served virtually
  • $0 in government funding
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