Deadline: August 15, 2018
Applications are open for the Atlas Corps Fellowship 2019. Atlas Corps is an overseas fellowship for the world’s best social change leaders. Their mission is to address critical social issues by developing leaders, strengthening organizations, and promoting innovation through an overseas fellowship of skilled social sector professionals.
The Atlas Corps Fellowship typically lasts 12-18 months. For those serving in the United States, they will be bringing in new classes every 2 to 4 months. Fellows serve full-time at Host Organizations, develop leadership skills, and learn best practices through the Atlas Corps Global Leadership Lab professional development series and networking opportunities with other Fellows who are talented professionals from around the world.
Benefits
This prestigious fellowship includes health insurance, enrollment in the Atlas Corps Global Leadership Lab, flight and visa costs, and a living stipend to cover basic expenses (groceries, local transportation, and shared housing).
Fellows – but not their dependents – receive:
- Program-related international travel (U.S. Fellows only)
- Program-related domestic travel
- Basic health insurance
- Monthly stipend for basic living expenses (shared housing, food, local transportation)
- Documentation (DS-2019) that enables the Fellow to obtain a J-1 visa.
- Placement at a Host Organization
- Participation in the Atlas Corps Global Leadership Lab (nonprofit management training series)
Eligibility
You can apply to become a Fellow if you meet the following minimum requirements:
- Two or more years of professional experience
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
- English proficiency (oral, writing, reading)
- Age 35 or younger
- Apply to serve in a country other than where you are from (U.S. citizens are not eligible for the U.S. Fellowship – check out the Fellowship in Colombia!)
- Commitment to return to your home country after the 12-18 month Fellowship
- Commitment to living on a basic stipend that only covers groceries, shared housing, and local transportation to and from the Host Organization
Application
They will consider applications on a rolling basis. You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to be considered for Host Organization placements, which in 2018 begin in January, March, May, July, September, or November. The application is a multi-step process.
- Online Application – Part 1: You will need to create a login and you can save your responses so you can return to the application at any time. In Part 1 of the application (known as the “short form”), you provide contact information and complete the initial eligibility test, and if you pass the eligibility test, you’ll complete additional background questions and one short essay.NOTE: In order to sponsor candidates to come to the United States for one year as a Fellow, we require detailed information about each applicant. Please answer each question honestly and thoroughly. If you are found to be dishonest in the application, you will NOT be accepted as a Fellow and you will be sent home if you have been accepted.
- Online Application – Part 2 (by invitation only): Atlas Corps will review Part 1 applications and invite eligible candidates to complete Part 2 of the application (known as the “long form”), which includes additional questions about your skills and interests and several short essay questions. You will also be required to submit contact information for at least two references who know you in a professional capacity and will write a letter of recommendation about your skills and experiences as well as your potential for success as an Atlas Corps Fellow. You will need to send your requests for letter of recommendation directly through the application system. Your recommenders will receive an email that asks for a recommendation. More detailed instructions can be found in the online application form.
- Atlas Corps Review and Interview Process (by invitation only): Atlas Corps will review Part 2 applications and select top candidates to interview via Skype with the Atlas Corps Selection Board, including Atlas Corps staff and nonprofit sector, government, and business leaders from multiple countries.
- Host Organization Review Process (by invitation only): Candidates who pass the Atlas Corps interview stage will be designated as Semi-Finalists, which means they are eligible to be reviewed by potential Host Organizations . Atlas Corps determines which of our Semi-Finalists may be a good fit for specific positions at potential Host Organizations based on their interests and skill set and the organization’s needs, and forwards those applications to the organizations.
- Host Organization Interview Process (by invitation only): Host Organizations conduct Skype video interviews with selected Semi- Finalists.
- Selection and Visa Process: Host Organizations will make their final recommendations to Atlas Corps, and Atlas Corps will notify the selected candidates. After being selected, Fellows will go to the U.S. Embassy in their respective countries to apply for a J-1 visa. Atlas Corps will provide support in obtaining this visa.
- Semi-Finalists who are not selected by a Host Organization will be notified and may be given the option to keep their application on file for consideration for the next class of the Fellowship.
If you submit Part 1 of the application by August 15, 2018:
- September 30, 2018 – Approximate priority deadline to submit Part 2 of the application. Only eligible Part 1 applicants will be invited to Part 2 of the application, and the exact deadline will be listed in your invitation. If you miss this deadline, you can still submit Part 2 of the application later and be considered during the next review period.
- October – December 2018: Atlas Corps reviews applications and conducts Skype interviews. Atlas Corps will notify candidates whether they have advanced to the Semi-Finalist stage and are eligible for placement with Host Organizations.
- Host Organization review process: Semi-Finalists will considered for placements beginning in mid to late 2019. Semi-Finalists who are not selected by a Host Organization in that class will be invited to keep their application on file for future classes.
Read tips for applying to the Atlas Corps Fellowship by Oyindamola Johnson.
For more information, visit Atlas Corps Fellowship.
