» Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Eligibility Requirements

Can I apply to become a Fellow? What are the eligibility requirements?

You can apply to become a Fellow if you meet the following minimum requirements:

♦ Bachelor’s degree or equivalent;

♦ English proficiency (oral, writing, reading);

♦ Age 35 or younger when the Fellowship begins;

♦ Citizens from most countries (except the U.S.) are eligible to apply to the Fellowship. Please see information on current country restrictions below;

♦ Commitment to return to your home country after the 12-month US-based Fellowship or 14-month Blended Fellowship;

♦ Commitment to addressing critical social issues in your country or region;

♦ Commitment to living on a basic stipend that covers food, shared housing, and local transportation;

♦ Received a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the World Health Organization by the program start date.

Additionally, candidates should have two or more years of full-time experience in at least one of the following skill areas:

♦ Communications & Marketing
♦ Journalism & Media
♦ Event Planning
♦ Consulting
♦ Partnership-Building & Business Development
♦ Program Management & Project Management
♦ Finance & Accounting
♦ Fundraising & Proposal Writing

♦ Technology & Engineering
♦ Monitoring & Evaluation & Data Analysis
♦ Operations & Human Resources
♦ Curriculum Writing & Training Development
♦ Research & Report Writing
♦ Volunteer Recruitment & Volunteer Management
♦ Policy & Advocacy

Does Atlas Corps accept applications from citizens of any country?

All Fellows are required by the United States Government to apply for a J-1 exchange visitor visa for the U.S.-based component of the Fellowship. Candidates are eligible to participate in the Atlas Corps Fellowship if they are a legal resident and/or citizen of a country that has a currently active U.S. diplomatic post that is issuing J-1 visas.

Atlas Corps will determine whether a candidate is able to obtain a J-1 visa in their country by following the information provided by U.S. Embassies on their respective websites and our State Department partners. Some embassies and consulates are temporarily closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, while in other countries the U.S. has not had an active U.S. diplomatic post for several years. Since the operating status of many embassies and consulates changes quickly, we still encourage you to apply to the Atlas Corps Fellowship. During each placement cycle where we match semi-finalists with Host Organizations, we will only consider semi-finalists who have an active US embassy issuing J1 visas during that specific timeframe.

I am a U.S. citizen or green-card holder (Legal Permanent Resident); can I apply?

U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents are NOT eligible for the U.S. Fellowship. Currently, we are not accepting applications for Fellowships outside the U.S.

Why do I need 2 to 10 years of experience?

Atlas Corps is dedicated to providing rising social change leaders with opportunities to obtain additional skills those leaders will require to have an even greater impact. Atlas Corps does not want to take highly experienced senior-level directors away from the important work they are doing and does not want to recruit students to participate in this program since they may not have enough relevant experience to share with organizations.

Do I need to work in the nonprofit sector?

The Atlas Corps Fellowship is designed for mission-driven individuals seeking social change. Competitive applicants will have 2-10 years of experience, and most tend to be in the nonprofit/NGO sector. However, the Atlas Corps Fellowship also includes individuals in business, technology, media, government, and other sectors. Those who are not in the nonprofit/NGO sector should provide examples of how they have integrated their desire for social change into their career. For example, a candidate in the business sector may be using information and communication technology to achieve social missions, bringing entrepreneurship programs to marginalized communities, or doing volunteer work.

I’ve mostly done volunteer work and/or internships. Can I still apply if I do not have two years of full-time work experience?

Our average Fellow is 29 years old and has 2-10 years of full-time work experience. Although we have admitted Fellows as young as 22 years of age before, these individuals demonstrated extraordinary dedication to mission-driven work through various volunteer and service opportunities. If you have had similar experiences, we encourage you to apply. Otherwise, the Fellowship is designed to be of greatest benefit to those with at least two years of full-time work experience. If you choose not to apply for this round of applications, we do hope you will consider doing so in the near future.

I’m older than 35 years old. Can I still apply?

Applicants must be age 35 or younger at the beginning of the Fellowship (Fellows can turn 36 during the Fellowship). Our general age range has been from 23-35 with an average age of 29 years old. Our research and experience indicate that the Fellowship is best suited for young, rising, skilled professionals as opposed to professionals older than 35 years old. The reason for this is that our host organization placements are more appropriate for someone with some experience, but generally not 12+ years of experience. In addition, by having a maximum age limit of 35 we are able to tailor our training program to a more specific age group and skill set. The compensation, the network, and the training are all geared more towards individuals who are approximately 23-35 years old, not older than 35.

What do you mean when you say a Bachelor’s degree is required? I don’t have a bachelor’s degree; can I still apply?

We require all our Fellows to have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent. We say “equivalent” because education systems vary between different countries and the degree may be called different names. In the U.S., a Bachelor’s degree is a diploma awarded for successful completion of 4 years of a higher education (post-secondary school). In many countries, the equivalent degree is higher education of 3-5 years, depending on the educational system. At any rate, applicants must have a higher educational degree beyond the compulsory secondary school education.

I have a medical condition; should I still apply?

Yes, please apply to be considered for the Fellowship. Atlas Corps places a high value on inclusivity across multiple dimensions․ We encourage candidates of all abilities to apply. On the application’s question about accommodations, please describe the accommodations you may need to serve full-time in an office environment if selected to be a Fellow. Your answer will not affect your eligibility for the program․ Atlas Corps will work with selected Fellows to develop a strategy on a case-by-case basis. Please note that the travel insurance plan that the Atlas Corps Fellowship provides only covers new injuries and new illnesses that arise during the Fellowship, not pre-existing conditions, so Fellows are responsible for any costs related to the treatment of those conditions, including doctor visits and prescriptions.

Do I need to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19?

All adult foreign national travelers arriving in the US must be fully vaccinated per CDC regulations. Therefore, beginning November 1, 2021, Atlas Corps semi-finalists must be fully vaccinated OR partially vaccinated with the intent to fully vaccinate prior to US arrival to be eligible for interviewing and accepting a 2022 or 2023 Fellowship opportunity. Only certain vaccines are approved for entry to the U.S. (see the CDC’s webpage for the full list), and you will be asked to provide proof of vaccination if you are designated as a Semi-Finalist.

One exception to this requirement is if the Semi-Finalist is from a country with limited COVID-19 vaccine as defined by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (see Table 4). As of April 2022, 26 countries have less than 10% vaccination coverage (with any vaccine). CDC will update this list every 90 days. Atlas Corps may consider unvaccinated semi-finalists from countries on this approved list at their discretion and based on the anticipated US arrival for a Fellowship opportunity.

You may still apply for the Fellowship if you are not yet vaccinated but intend to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at the earliest possibility. Please complete all application questions regarding vaccination honestly and completely. Once you are vaccinated, you will be able to update your application at any time with your proof of vaccination and become eligible for matching with a Host Organization for a Fellowship position.

Application/Selection Process

How does the COVID-19 outbreak affect Atlas Corps applicants and Semi-Finalists?

Atlas Corps is currently accepting and reviewing applications for our Blended Fellowship from candidates who meet the guidelines of our COVID-19 and J1-Visa policies (see below for more information). Since many US Embassies around the world are still operating at a reduced capacity, we will continue running our Blended Fellowship model in 2022 where Fellows begin full-time (40 hours per week) remotely in their home countries before US arrival for the remainder of the 14-month Fellowship. There will be 3 different US arrival dates for each Fellow class, and Fellows will be scheduled for the earliest date based on their flight and visa availability. However, in some instances with advanced notice, we may be able to offer the 12-month US Fellowship option. The specific Fellowship model for each opportunity will be communicated to semi-finalists when they are invited to interview with a Host Organization.

The application and selection process to become a Fellow is a multi-step process. It takes about 2-4 months to be vetted internally by Atlas Corps and deemed a Semi-Finalist. It can take 6-12 months, and sometimes even longer, for a Host Organization to interview and extend a Fellowship offer to a candidate. We encourage you to invest in your future by applying now with a complete and thorough application.

Atlas Corps also launched the Virtual Leadership Institute, an online Atlas Corps community that brings the professional development and networking strengths of our classic model to a greater number of emerging social impact leaders around the world, including our Atlas Corps applicants.

We will continue to monitor guidance from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and U.S. Department of State about international travel. The safety, health, and well-being of our Fellows is our top priority.

When is the next application deadline and how long does it take for Atlas Corps to review my application?

Atlas Corps considers applications on a rolling basis and year-round, but often launches special recruitment campaigns that prioritize the review of candidates with specific backgrounds in high demand. Please visit apply.atlascorps.org for updated information on deadlines and opportunities.

Since Atlas Corps receives hundreds of applications each month, the overall vetting process may take 1 – 3 months to complete. For a timely consideration of their application, it’s recommended that candidates apply by a priority deadline if one is listed on the website for a specific opportunity.

What are some tips for a great application?

1. Context and Plain Language. Avoid the use of jargon and assume that the application reviewer does not know anything about your professional background, industry, and why the work you do is important. Include relevant background details and historical information to help the reader understand your background, and don’t use acronyms without first spelling out the full meaning.

2. Details and Results. Avoid vague responses that lack clarity. Instead, provide detailed and concrete examples that demonstrate the results you have achieved in your professional career. We want to know about your individual contributions to the goals and objectives of a team or organization. When appropriate, use statistics and numbers to support these claims.

3. Consistency. Highlight professional expertise, including social issue areas and skill sets, throughout your entire application, such as in the biography, essays, social issue areas and skills sections. Your application should tell a consistent story about your professional experience and what you’re passionate about. Ask yourself if there is a clear connection between your work and your goals in the Fellowship. If you have changed fields or career paths, ensure that your application clearly communicates this change.

4. Keywords and Statistics. Please answer application questions thoroughly, as using statistics and keywords in your response will ensure that your application is matched with appropriate roles. In the skills section, you should write out technical terms describing your expertise and the proper names of the software you are proficient in.

5. Passion and Social impact. Communicate your passion for one or more social issue(s) by describing what inspired you to address this social issue and why it is important to you. Connect your passion to the impact you’ve achieved so far in the social issue area and your intended future impact. We especially want to know how the Fellowship will help you address social issues and achieve impact after the program.

6. Tell the Truth. Make sure your application is truthful, complete, and accurate. In interviews, Host Organizations test the skills (including softwares) listed in your application.

7. Write a Strong Biography. Your biography is very important as it builds the first impression of your overall qualifications for the Fellowship. Be sure that it reflects your professional skills and relevant experience as well as social issues you’re passionate about.

8. Skill expertise. The most successful candidates demonstrate their expertise in a specific skill area throughout the entire application, including the resume, biography, employment history, and short essay section. If your application does not demonstrate at least two years of experience in one skill area, then it is unlikely that your application will be successful. Keep in mind the following when filling out the skills section:

Give specific details and examples when you’re describing your skills and interests. If you say you manage volunteers, how many volunteers do you manage? If you work in fundraising, how much money have you raised or how many successful grant applications have you worked on?
In your application, you can choose up to 3 skills that best represent your professional experience. The first skill you list (Skill 1) should be your primary skill-set in which you have the most education and experience (think what does my role title communicate?). Do you have other professional skills and experience complementing your primary skill? They could be marked as your Skill 2 or Skill 3.

9. Additional Guidance. Atlas Corps has developed additional tips for filling out your application’s biography and skills section. Please see this guidance below.

Biography Section Guidance: bit.ly/AtlasCorpsFellowBioTemplate

Skills Section Guidance: bit.ly/AtlasCorpsFellowSkillsTemplate

10. Understand the Terms and Conditions. Review our current Fellow agreement for the In-Person Fellowship to better understand the benefits and responsibilities of becoming a Fellow. You can access it here: bit.ly/InPersonFellowAgreement. You can also access our Blended Fellowship (remote and in-person service) Agreement here: bit.ly/BlendedFellowAgreement2021.

How does the placement process with Host Organizations work?

Applicants apply not to a specific Host Organization, but rather the opportunity to be placed at one of our partner organizations. Matching Semi-Finalists with Host Organizations is a multi-step process. Once we receive a position description from a Host Organization, we send them the profiles of several candidates that could be a good match. They then pick candidates to interview and may assign tasks such as a writing sample, portfolio, or an assignment, after which they may pick a candidate for the Fellowship, or choose not to host a Fellow at that time.

Candidates should have two or more years of full-time experience in select skill areas (refer to eligibility requirements for an overview of those skills).

How long does the placement process take?

Atlas Corps receives a high volume of applications each year, and to give each candidate a thorough review, it may take up to a few months for our team to complete each stage of the review process. We review candidates based not just on eligibility and quality of their applications, but also on how well they fit with the desired profiles our potential Host Organizations are looking for at any given time, so some candidates may advance more quickly through the process than others.

In some cases, strong applicants may be selected for the Fellowship in as little as 3-4 months after they submitted their application. In other cases, strong applicants may be considered for multiple classes, potentially longer than a year, before matching with a Host Organization placement.

If you are offered a Fellowship after interviewing with a Host Organization, there may be a quick turnaround time between your acceptance and the beginning of the Fellowship. You would typically have around 4-6 weeks to give notice to your current employer before starting the Fellowship.

Can I request a specific Host Organization?

Applicants may indicate in their application or interview which organizations most interest them. However, we cannot guarantee placement at any particular organization, and in many cases, those organizations may be looking for a very specific candidate profile.

Can I contact potential Host Organizations?

Candidates should NOT contact potential or current Host Organizations unless they have been contacted by the Host Organization first. Atlas Corps is best able to explain the benefits and responsibilities of hosting a Fellow to potential Host Organizations. Contacting Host Organizations directly will jeopardize your candidacy for the Fellowship. If you already do work with an organization based in the U.S. and would like us to send a U.S.-based staff member information on hosting a Fellow, please send us their contact information (at apply@atlascorps.org); do NOT contact them yourself about hosting you.

I applied before September 2019; do I need to re-apply on the new application form that Atlas Corps launched in September 2019?

All applications from before September 2019 have been archived. If you want to be considered for upcoming classes, you must re-apply on the application form we launched in September 2019 (see apply.atlascorps.org for instructions). You will still have access to your old applications if you use the same login, so you can re-use some of your answers on the old form, but please read the instructions and questions carefully to take note of changes on the new application form.

I’m a Semi-Finalist but was not matched for the most recent class. What should I do?

After Atlas Corps completes placement for each class, we email instructions to Semi-Finalists who were not matched for that class, but are still eligible for placement, on what are their next steps to remain in consideration for the Fellowship. Usually, these instructions include updating your availability for the next class(es), and occasionally filling out a new application form. You must update your availability through your account every 2-4 months in order to have your application considered for placement with prospective Hosts. Don’t forget to also update your application with any new and relevant information. Atlas Corps will continually reassess Semi-Finalists to determine if they are still being considered for future Fellowship placements. In some cases, Atlas Corps may ask for additional information or another interview.

I was not a Semi-Finalist – can I apply again?

If you applied in a previous application cycle and were NOT designated as a Semi-Finalist, you may reapply, but you should only apply once a year. We recommend, however, that you take your time and fill out the application completely, with detailed and thorough answers. In most cases, you will need to start a new application. See apply.atlascorps.org for the most up-to-date information on how to apply. Please review the eligibility requirements before applying.

What documents or attachments should I prepare for my application?

The application process requires:

♦ A copy of your undergraduate transcript or diploma: You will be able to submit your application without this attachment, but you won’t be able to move on to the final stages of the selection process until you submit it.

♦ Two references: You will also need to submit contact information for two references as part of the application. Once you enter their contact information, the system will send your references an email with instructions on how to fill out our reference form. The reference forms do not need to be completed in order for you to submit your application, but you won’t be able to move on to the final stages of the selection process until your reference forms are submitted. Please choose someone who can comment in detail on your professional abilities․ Strong applicants choose supervisors/managers who can speak to their professional performance.

♦ Samples of your work: You may be asked to submit samples of your work to provide evidence of your professional skills. See the Skills section (Part 8) of the application for instructions.

Attaching a resume/CV is strongly encouraged but not required. Test scores or certificates from past training are not required at this time. You will also need to have a valid passport, but you do not need to attach it to your application.

I’m having trouble submitting my recommendations. What should I do?

Within the application form, you can resend the reference form to your recommenders, and edit or delete the contact information for your recommenders. If you are still experiencing issues, email apply@atlascorps.org with the subject line “Recommendation Issue,” and explain exactly the problem you’re experiencing.

My recommender is not fluent in English. Can I send you a recommendation in a different language?

Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to translate letters of recommendation. Letters in English are required.

Fellow Experience

What is the “blended Fellowship”? How will Atlas Corps continue Fellowships while international travel is paused?

As the world adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic, Atlas Corps launched a blended Fellowship that combined virtual service from Fellows’ home countries with service in the United States. We first piloted this blended version of our classic Fellowship with our 39th Class in May 2020 and 40th Class in November 2020.

The total length of the Blended Fellowship (including the remote and in-person components) is typically 14 months but can be extended by agreement of the Fellow and Host. While the specific Fellowship structure for each placement will be defined based on the potential placement opportunity, the typical Blended Fellowship includes:

♦ Service from Fellows’ home countries: Fellows serve remotely full-time (an average of 40 hours a week) with U.S.-based Host Organizations until they can safely travel to the U.S. for in-person service. Fellows and Host Organizations determine a weekly schedule that makes sense for both of them, which usually includes at least 4 hours of daily overlap with U.S. business hours. During remote service, Fellows receive a stipend based on the local cost of living that would cover lodging for one person, basic utilities, food, local transportation, and financial support for the technology necessary to meet Host Organization requirements remotely. Atlas Corps would also support the Fellow in obtaining a U.S. visa during this time.

♦ Service in the U.S.: Following the remote service period, Fellows will arrive in the U.S. for in-person service with their Host Organizations. Since many US Embassies around the world are still operating at a reduced capacity, there will be 3 different US arrival dates based on flight and visa availability. While in the U.S., Fellows receive a basic stipend, more modest than that of the remote period relative to the local cost of living. The U.S. stipend is only meant to cover shared housing, basic utilities, food, and local transportation.

♦ Global Leadership Lab & Global Network: In addition to full-time service at their Host Organization, throughout the entire Fellowship, Fellows will also participate in over 200 hours of in-person and virtual training through our Global Leadership Lab, and join our global network of 1,200+ social change leaders in 112 countries.

Atlas Corps will reach out to individual Semi-Finalists who receive an invitation to interview for a Host Organization placement for a Blended Fellowship opportunity.

When does the program begin?

The U.S. Fellowship begins every three months. Typically Fellowships start in January, April, July, and October, but start dates may be modified based on health, visa, and travel guidelines. Each Fellowship begins with a one-week orientation program.

When does the program end?

Our In-Person Fellowships typically last 12 months. Our Blended Fellowships typically last 14 months. In rare cases related to certain Atlas Corps Special Initiatives, Fellows may do a six-month Fellowship. Fellows and Host Organizations may choose to extend the Fellowship, up to a total U.S.-based Fellowship length of 18 months. Fellows must return to their home countries immediately after the program ends.

How many hours am I expected to serve at a host organization each week?

Fellows are expected to serve at their Host Organization full-time, or an average of 40 hours per week. They could also have approximately 1-2 hours of study and/or participation related to the Atlas Corps Global Leadership Lab per week outside of business hours.

What does the Fellowship provide?

Fellows – but not their dependents – receive:

♦ Program-related international travel

♦ Program-related domestic travel

♦ Basic health insurance that covers new injuries and illnesses (or funds to purchase basic health insurance)

♦ Monthly stipend for basic living expenses in the city where the Fellow is placed (shared housing, food, local transportation, and a phone plan)

♦ Documentation (DS-2019) that enables the Fellow to obtain a J-1 visa

♦ Placement with a Host Organization

♦ Participation in the Atlas Corps Global Leadership Lab (leadership development training series)

♦ For Fellows serving in the Blended Fellowship, Atlas Corps will provide financial support for the technology necessary to complete Host Organization requirements remotely from their home countries.

Does Atlas Corps provide housing?

For Fellows serving in the U.S., Atlas Corps does not secure housing directly in most cases and instead provides Fellows with the resources necessary to help them secure their own housing. While we do hold the lease on some housing in Washington, D.C., those spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and not all DC Fellows will receive a room in Atlas Corps housing. Once accepted to the Fellowship, the Atlas Corps staff will help guide Fellows through the process of finding temporary and permanent housing. Atlas Corps provides a relocation stipend for Fellows in Satellite Cities outside of D.C. based on the cost of living. Atlas Corps has also recently partnered with a homestay program that provides optional temporary housing for Satellite Fellows. All Fellows are guaranteed housing for the first week of Orientation.

If a Fellow decides to take advantage of an Atlas Corps housing opportunity and consents to the rent amount and other fees, then funds will be deducted directly from the monthly stipend.

For Fellows serving remotely during the Blended Fellowship, Atlas Corps provides a basic stipend based on the local cost of living, which includes shared housing.

What is the Atlas Corps Global Leadership Lab?

The Atlas Corps Global Leadership Lab comprises more than 200 hours of experiential learning that is both theoretical and practical. At three, four-day training immersions convened over the course of the Fellowship in January, July, and October, Fellows participate in presentations and workshops led by innovative social change leaders who share practical strategies for social impact, as well as their own professional journeys. This professional development series intentionally combines hard skills like business planning and proposal writing with intensive workshops that explore critical soft skills like conflict resolution and leadership.

Helping develop the ability to see a better future, inspire others and implement innovative ideas requires a unique combination of awareness, knowledge, skill, and experience. Atlas Corps Global Leadership Lab complements the Host Organization experience with the opportunity to develop competencies in four key areas essential for the next generation of global changemakers. These core competencies are interwoven with an exploration of foundational skills of nonprofit leadership.

How do you determine the living stipend?

The amount of the living stipend is fixed and is determined through an assessment of the cost of shared housing, transportation, a phone plan and food in each city. Stipends do increase overtime to keep up with changes in the cost of living in each city. Here are the monthly stipend amounts by the city as of March 2022. (The cost of the phone plan is automatically deducted from the following stipend amounts each month.)

♦ Boston: $2,184

♦ Chicago: $1,456

♦ New York: $1,816

♦ San Francisco: $2,315

♦ Washington, DC: $1,776

What does the stipend cover?

As volunteers, Fellows receive a modest living stipend intended to cover only shared housing, food, and local public transportation. Atlas Corps also provides all incoming Atlas Corps Fellows with a SIM card and phone plan. The stipend is not intended to cover expenses you may have in your home country; eating out at restaurants; buying new clothes; or emergencies. While Fellows are able to keep their basic expenses (food, shared housing and local transportation) within the allotted stipend, many choose to bring additional funds for personal items, such as clothing, travel, or entertainment.

Monthly budgets vary from city to city, but a suggested monthly living budget for a Fellow in Washington, DC, is as follows:

♦ Rent & Utilities: $950

♦ Transportation: $150

♦ Food: $450

♦ Other small necessities: $226

Total $1,776/month

Upon authorization from the Fellow, Atlas Corps may also deduct money from the stipend each month to pay for any agreed-upon rent or housing deposit if the Fellow decides to stay in housing provided by Atlas Corps.

How much money should I bring with me?

Once Fellows arrive in the U․S․, we require that they deposit a minimum of $500, ideally more, into their U.S. bank accounts to help prepare them for expenses during the year that may not be covered by their stipend․ These expenses could include the security deposit on an apartment, furniture, clothing for cold weather, or medical expenses that are not covered by health insurance. A recent survey of Fellows suggested that incoming Fellows try to bring between $500 and $1,000 with you to meet common expenses that come up during the year that are not covered by the stipend. We only require that Fellows bring $500, but we are suggesting that Fellows try to bring as much as $1,000 with you if they can.

What kind of visa do I get?

Atlas Corps is a sponsor designated by the U.S. Department of State to operate a J-1 Visa Program and provides documentation to secure a J-1, Exchange Visitor visa under the trainee designation. The goal of the Exchange Visitor Program is to promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange. The Exchange Visitor Program provides foreign nationals opportunities to participate in exchange programs in the United States with the expectation that on completion of their exchange program, they will return home to share their experiences.

For more information on J-1 Visas, please visit j1 visa.state.gov.

What kind of issues or projects do Fellows work on at their Host Organizations?

Our Fellows work on a broad range of social issues, from education to the environment to human rights, and so on. The Fellow’s role and daily responsibilities at his or her Host Organization varies greatly from organization to organization. A Fellow typically deepens their professional growth in skill areas where they already have at least two years of experience. Before accepting the Fellowship role, candidates will be given a position description and an opportunity to ask questions to make the determination about whether or not a Host Organization placement is a good match for their skills, experience and professional development goals.

For some examples of what our current Fellows are doing at their Host Organizations, check out their biographies here.

Can I bring my family with me?

Atlas Corps discourages Fellows from bringing family members with them to the United States. Family members may visit the Fellow provided it does not interfere with work and fellowship responsibilities. Family members should not travel to the United States until the Fellow is well established in the Host organization. Atlas Corps does NOT provide financial support or visa sponsorship or documentation for spouses or other family members, and the living stipend and health insurance are only intended for one person. The Fellow is responsible for all costs incurred for and by family members, including the cost of securing a visa. Atlas Corps does not sponsor J-2 visas (non-immigrant visas). Most family members who visit Fellows in the U.S do so on a B-2 (visitor) visa since Atlas Corps is unable to provide documentation to secure a J-2 visa.

After the Fellowship, do I have to leave the United States?

Yes. One of the primary goals of Atlas Corps is to facilitate the exchange of ideas and best practices between social change leaders in the U.S. and in other countries. This exchange is completed once a Fellow returns home and is able to share and apply what he or she has learned. Fellows are expected to return to their country at the end of their Fellowship; typically this is for two years unless stated differently on the visa. The one-year requirement is an Atlas Corps requirement. Fellows are required to leave the U.S. within 30 days of the program ends. Fellows may not come to the United States to participate in the Fellowship and remain in the United States after the Fellowship has ended. Program participants are expected to fulfill not only the terms and conditions of the Fellowship but also the home residency requirement directly upon completion of the Fellowship.

What does Atlas Corps do to protect the digital privacy and safety of its Fellows and Alumni?

The safety and privacy of our Atlas Corps Fellows are our top priority. We want to proudly raise the profile of our Fellows, but we do not want additional media attention to increase security concerns you may have in your home country. Therefore, Fellows may opt-out of some of our public media efforts before, during, or after the Fellowship. If a Fellow is concerned about their security at any point during the Fellowship, they can elect to have their profiles removed from the Atlas Corps website and/or to blog under an alias to protect their identity. Fellows can also opt-out of being included in communications to your country’s embassy in the U.S. and being featured in other public promotional material.

What organizations does Atlas Corps partner with?

You can find a list of our past and current Atlas Corps Host Organizations here. Please note that this list is not exhaustive; some organizations have chosen not to be publicly announced. If you want to know the organizations that are not publicly announced, you may email apply@atlascorps.org. Atlas Corps also partners with the U.S. Government to support certain special initiatives; however, the majority of our Fellowships are privately funded.

Virtual Leadership Institute

What is the Virtual Leadership Institute?

The Atlas Corps Virtual Leadership Institute is an online learning community for global social change leaders based on the established Atlas Corps Global Leadership Lab. Participants, known as Atlas Corps Scholars, enhance their professional skills and build their global networks. Read more about our Virtual Leadership Institute here.

What are the benefits of participating in the Virtual Leadership Institute?

Atlas Corps Scholars will enhance their professional skills, build their global networks with other Scholars and Atlas Corps Fellows, gain access to selected trainings within the Atlas Corps Global Leadership Lab, and receive guidance on an individual project focused on their own professional development and/or on positive social impact for the community they serve.

What is the time commitment of the Virtual Leadership Institute?

Atlas Corps Scholars should expect to spend approximately 3 to 5 hours per week on online activities and assignments over 5 months. The activities will include a mix of live and asynchronous sessions.

How do I apply for the Virtual Leadership Institute?

Please visit apply.atlascorps.org to find out if Atlas Corps is accepting applications for the Virtual Leadership Institute. Atlas Corps implements a different selection process for the Virtual Leadership Institute with a shortened application and specific eligibility criteria that is highlighted on the web page of each opportunity.

Candidates for the Atlas Corps Fellowship that reach the Semi-Finalist stage may also be considered for the Virtual Leadership Institute and can indicate their interest in the Institute when filling out the Fellowship application. Atlas Corps will contact eligible Semi-Finalists when there are opportunities to join the Virtual Leadership Institute, and candidates may be requested to complete supplemental questions.

Can I be considered for the Virtual Leadership Institute and the Atlas Corps Fellowship at the same time?

Yes. On your application form for the Fellowship, you can indicate on your application whether you are interested in the Fellowship, the Virtual Leadership Institute, or both.

You can remain under consideration for the Fellowship while participating in the Virtual Leadership Institute. If you are selected for the Fellowship, you may choose to remain in the Virtual Leadership Institute, since the time commitment is only 3 to 5 hours per week.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Eligibility Requirements

Application/Selection Process

Fellow Experience

Virtual Leadership Institute

Eligibility Requirements

Application/Selection Process

Fellow Experience

Virtual Leadership Institute

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