FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

APPLY

Q: Is this a paid program?

A: Yes, Green Corps offers a yearlong, paid training program that will prepare you for a career in environmental organizing and the broader social change movement.

Q: What does the year look like? How often do organizers travel and to where?

A: There are eight weeks total of in-classroom training which occur throughout the year. Green Corps will cover the cost of travel to and from each training location. Organizers will work on a total of three to five campaigns throughout the year, for which you will move around the country.

Here is an example of a year-in-the-life of a Green Corps organizer.

AUGUST: SEPTEMBER: OCTOBER:
  • Three weeks of classroom training
  • Travel to fall campaign
  • Launch fall campaign
  • Launch recruitment campaign to find the next class of Green Corps
  • Fall campaign
  • One week of classroom training
  • Campus recruitment visit
  • Fundraising letters
NOVEMBER: DECEMBER: JANUARY:
  • Fall campaign
  • Culminating campaign events
  • Wrap up fall campaign
  • One week classroom training
  • Fundraising letters
  • Winter break
  • Travel to spring campaign location
  • Launch spring campaign
FEBURARY: MARCH: APRIL:
  • Spring campaign
  • One week of classroom training
  • Campus recruitment visit
  • Spring campaign
  • Organize a fundraising event to benefit Green Corps
  • Culminating campaign events
  • Wrap up spring campaign
  • Two weeks of training
  • Travel to summer canvass location
MAY: JUNE/JULY: AUGUST:
  • Launch summer canvass campaign
  • Summer canvass campaign
  • Wrap up summer canvass campaign
  • Green Corps graduation

 

Q: How does housing work while at training and while working on campaigns?

A: Green Corps will provide transportation to and from trainings after August training, as well as free housing during all classroom trainings. During training, organizers will either be staying with their own friends or family if they live nearby or will stay with a Green Corps staff member, alumnus or friend of Green Corps in the area.

While working on campaigns, organizers are responsible for arranging their own housing, although Green Corps will help provide temporary housing through its network for organizers’ first week on the ground. Green Corps will put you in contact with our extensive network to try to help you find free or low cost housing. That being said, organizers are bottom line responsible for finding housing and paying rent if free housing is not available.

Q: What type of oversight do organizers receive during the year?

A: Each organizer has a Green Corps staff director whose job is to work with the four to eight organizers they oversee to make sure they have the resources, support and tools they need to be successful. Additionally, each campaign has a campaign partner who will be involved in developing the campaign plan and providing regular updates to organizers. We also set organizers up with an alumni mentor who can provide additional advice.

Q: How can I support Green Corps?

A: The best way to support Green Corps is to make a tax-deductible donation here!

Q: Do you have to be a graduating senior from college to apply?

A: No. Most of our applicants are recent college graduates because the program is for those who are ready to launch their environmental careers. However, there is no age limit to the program.

Q: Do you need to have environmental experience in order to apply?

A: Not necessarily. Our applicants have a diversity of interests and experiences. We are looking for people who are serious about saving the planet, have experience working with environmental or social change issues, and have demonstrated leadership experience.

Q: Does Green Corps hire international candidates?

A: Green Corps hires qualified individuals who are authorized to work in the United States. International students who have work authorization are invited to apply. Green Corps does not arrange for work permits or act as a sponsor through any governmental or private job or training program. As a nonprofit organization, Green Corps is unable to devote financial and staff resources in assisting applicants to obtain work authorization.

Q: How is Green Corps funded?

A: Green Corps is supported by grassroots donations, grants and campaign partners.

Q: How competitive is the program?

A: Similar to other post-graduate fellowships, the Green Corps program attracts many qualified candidates — typically over 1,000 per program year. While we are unable to offer positions to all qualified candidates, we do offer a unique referral program where we recommend some of our candidates to other environmental and social change organizations that may be a better fit.

Q: When will I know if I am accepted into Green Corps?

A: We will inform candidates within a week of attending a second round interview if we have a position for them or if we would like to put them on our waitlist.

Q: What are the benefits?

A: For positions starting in August 2024, the target annual compensation is $32,500 (but compensation may range between $32,500 and $39,000 depending on location). Green Corps offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, paid sick time (60-72 hours/year depending on location), accrued paid vacation time (accruing 10 days over year 1), our commuter benefit program, and may include needs-based student loan assistance. We also offer additional short-term campaign and training opportunities, as well as opportunities for advancement. Compensation and benefits will vary for short-term campaign positions.

Q: Can I choose my campaign or location?

A: Green Corps organizers go where the environment needs them and wherever they can make the biggest impact. They could work on campaigns almost anywhere in the country, and while location preferences are considered for placements, we require all organizers to be geographically flexible.

Green Corps is part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change.