Atlas Corps invites social change leaders from around the world to apply for our 12-month and 14-month in-person fellowships in the United States and the Virtual Leadership Institute, beginning in late 2022 and 2023.
Learn more about our leadership development programs at programs.atlascorps.org and review more information about the application process below.
Please note that Atlas Corps is currently recruiting candidates only for the virtual fellowship and leadership opportunities listed below.
Opportunities at the Virtual Leadership Institute
(Click the buttons to go to the related pages)
Candidates for Atlas Corps: Spain & Andorra Climate Resilience Leadership Initiative They must register by October 31, 2022 Candidates for Atlas Corps: Nicaragua Professional Development Initiative They must register by November 15, 2022 The candidates for Atlas Corps: Pakistan Emerging Leaders Initiative They must register by November 30, 2022 Special initiatives for the Atlas Corps Virtual Leadership Institute will require applicants to complete a separate, abbreviated form available on these web pages.
Eligibility for the Schedule of the Application Process to the Professional Development Programs of Atlas Corps
Eligibility for Atlas Corps Professional Development Programs
Two or more years of full-time professional experience;
Bachelor's degree or equivalent;
— Proficiency in English (speaking, writing, reading);
— 35 years old or younger;
— Commitment to addressing critical social issues in your country or region.
Additional requirements for the 12-month US-based or 14-month US-based mixed fellowship:
— Commitment to return to your country of origin after the 12-month or 14-month mixed fellowship based in the US;
— Commitment to living on a basic allowance that covers only food, shared housing, and local transportation;
— Received a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the World Health Organization by the start date of the program;
Citizens of most countries (except the USA) are eligible to apply for the Fellowship.
Please see our frequently asked questions section. here For more information on a country's eligibility for the scholarship.
Additional requirements for the Virtual Leadership Institute:
— Technological capacity to participate in video calls (1-2 per month);
— Availability to commit to 2-3 hours of online activity and tasks per week for 8 months.
Citizens of all countries can apply, but certain special initiatives are open only to citizens of selected countries.
For more details on qualification requirements and a full list of skill sets for which we are recruiting, please see our [link to relevant documentation]. Frequently Asked Questions page .
Application process
Atlas Corps considers applications on a rolling basis throughout the year, although we encourage you to apply within the priority deadlines for special initiatives listed in [link/reference]. apply.atlascorps.org For a timely review of your application. The application process involves several steps.
Atlas Corps implements a different selection process for the Virtual Leadership Institute with an abbreviated application and specific eligibility highlighted on web pages dedicated to each opportunity. See [link/reference]. apply.atlascorps.org To get the most up-to-date information on deadlines and opportunities.
Atlas Corps Fellowship applicants who reach the semi-finalist stage may also be considered for an invitation to the Virtual Leadership Institute and may indicate their interest in applying for the fellowship. They may be asked to answer supplementary questions specifically for the Virtual Leadership Institute.
1. Review by the application and selection jury
Candidates must register for an account and save your login information through our online registration system so you can return to registration at any time.
The application includes a brief eligibility test to determine if candidates meet the basic requirements of our programs. After candidates pass the initial eligibility test, they will be asked to provide information about their passport, travel/visa history, language skills, employment history, professional skills, and areas of social concern. They will also be asked to complete three short essay questions.
The scholarship application also requires additional attachments:
A. An official transcript or diploma. from universities previously attended.
B. Two Recommendations: Applicants are required to submit contact information for at least two recommenders who know them professionally. Applicants will need to submit their applications directly through the application system. Their recommenders will receive an email requesting a recommendation. More detailed instructions can be found on the online application form.
Applicants may submit their application online before submitting their transcript/diploma and before recommenders complete their forms. However, applicants will not be able to proceed to later stages of the selection process until the entire application is complete. At this stage, the Atlas Corps Selection Board will review applications to determine the selection of strong candidates to move on to the Fellowship program interview phase. The Atlas Corps Selection Board includes Atlas Corps staff and leaders from the nonprofit, government, and business sectors from various countries.
2. Jury interview (by invitation only)
Atlas Corps selects top candidates who have the potential to match possible placements at the Host Organization and/or qualify for the Virtual Leadership Institute for a Skype interview with the Atlas Corps Selection Board.
3. Semifinalist Status
Candidates who pass the interview phase will be designated as semifinalists for the Atlas Corps Fellowship and/or Virtual Leadership Institute. Fellowship semifinalists are eligible to be evaluated by potential Host Organizations for placements based on their interests and skills and the organization's needs. Virtual Leadership Institute semifinalists may be invited to participate in the program.
4a. Review of the Host Organization and Interview for the Fellowship
Potential Host Organizations submit job descriptions for their available Fellowship positions to Atlas Corps. We search our pool of semifinalists for the best candidates who best fit these positions and forward their applications to potential host organizations for review.
Potential Host Organizations invite Semifinalists who best match their positions to conduct Skype video interviews with them, moving on to the Finalist stage. The Host Organization may request additional information from Finalists, such as examples of responsibilities.
4b. Invitation to the Virtual Leadership Institute
Atlas Corps will contact qualified semifinalists when opportunities arise to join the Virtual Leadership Institute, and candidates may be asked to answer supplementary questions. Candidates must confirm that they possess the technological skills and availability to commit 2–3 hours per week of active online participation over 5 months. Semifinalists may be considered for both the Virtual Leadership Institute and the Atlas Corps Fellowship simultaneously.
5th Selection for the scholarship
Host Organizations will make their final recommendations to Atlas Corps, and Atlas Corps will notify selected candidates. After selection, Atlas Corps will support fellows by making the necessary logistical arrangements to prepare for the fellowship. For the online component of the Blended Fellowship, Atlas Corps will support fellows in acquiring the technological capabilities needed to meet the Host Organization's requirements. For the In-Person Fellowship and the US-based component of the Blended Fellowship, Atlas Corps will support fellows in applying for a J-1 visa in their respective countries.
Semifinalists who are not selected by a host organization will be notified and may have the option to keep their application on file for consideration for the next fellowship cohort. Atlas Corps will continually reassess Semifinalists to determine if they are still being considered for future placements in the Fellowship. Semifinalists MUST update their availability through their account every 2-4 months to remain under consideration for the Fellowship and be eligible for their application to be sent to potential hosts. Semifinalists will periodically receive a reminder email to do so.
5b. Selection for the Virtual Leadership Institute
Atlas Corps selects Semifinalists who have successfully confirmed their interest and availability to participate in the Virtual Leadership Institute as Atlas Corps Scholars. Atlas Corps facilitates the enrollment of scholarship recipients in the training program.
Timeline
Atlas Corps considers applications on a rolling basis throughout the year, although we encourage you to apply within the priority deadlines for special initiatives listed in [link/reference]. apply.atlascorps.org For timely review of your application. When you apply to our programs, you are not applying for a specific start date or a specific host organization. You are applying for the opportunity to be considered by Atlas Corps (and potential Host Organizations) for leadership development programs that begin throughout the year.
Our Fellowship Classes begin approximately four times a year (typically in January, April, July, and October). Placement cycles, in which we match top semifinalists with our submitted host roles, occur approximately 2–4 months prior to the next fellowship start date. For example, we place Fellows in our January class from September to November and our July class from March to May. If it is not possible to bring individual Fellows to the U.S. due to travel, visas, or security guidelines, we will discuss alternative program options with those Fellows individually (which may include our blended fellowship, combining remote service with in-person attendance).
We notify selected fellows and fellows approximately 4-6 weeks prior to the start of any program. Acceptance into an Institute Fellowship or cohort class cannot be postponed to a future start date. In the case of the Fellowship, you would typically have about 4-6 weeks to notify your current employer before commencing the Fellowship.
Questions? Learn more about our current programs at apply.atlascorps.org and check out our Frequently Asked Questions page to obtain program details. If your question is not answered there, please send an email to apply@atlascorps.org.
