Rural Partners Corps Fellow

Note: RPC placements are primarily in-person, full-time positions.

About the Rural Partners Corps:
Rural Partners Corps (RPC) places AmeriCorps service fellows with rural, place-based backbone organizations in the communities where Members already live. RPC Fellows serve as capacity-building partners within local Host Site organizations. They support “cradle-to-career” efforts that help rural young people access the relationships, resources, skills, education, and career opportunities needed to thrive.

Position Overview:
Rural Partner Corps is activating a talent pool of mission-driven who are motivated by service, community impact, and positive change and want to contribute their skills to a rural community. By joining our applicant pool, you'll be considered for placement opportunities that align with your skills, interests, and location preferences.

Strong candidates will demonstrate:

• A meaningful connection to or interest in the community they will serve
• Commitment to community service and economic mobility
• Initiative and ability to work independently
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to collaborate across organizations and perspectives
• Alignment with the Host Site's mission, values, and culture
• Interest in working with children, youth, families, education, workforce development, or community economic development
• Relevant skills or experience that can contribute to place-based capacity-building

What RPC Fellows Do:

Specific assignments will vary by Host Site and community. Typical activities may include:

• Community asset mapping and research
• Community convening and cross-sector engagement
• Strategic planning and implementation support
• Training and workshop development
• Volunteer recruitment and engagement
• Partnership and stakeholder engagement
• Project coordination and implementation
• Communications and outreach
• Developing tools, processes, and resources that strengthen Host Site capacity
• Supporting youth, education, workforce, career pathway, and economic mobility initiatives

Fellows do not need expertise in every area. The expectation is that they apply their existing skills and local knowledge to community-defined priorities while developing new skills through service.

Timeline:

We are currently recruiting Fellows to serve from December 2026 - August 2027. Fellows will serve full-time (approximately 40 hours per week), completing 1200 hours of service over the course of the term.

Application Process:

1. Submit Your Application: Complete the application on the next page to join our general talent pool.
2. Host Site Review: Our host site organizations will review your application, and invite those moving forward to interview.
3. Lead For America Interview: Finalist candidates will be invited to interview with the Lead For America team.

Requirements

We are recruiting people who already live in rural communities and want to serve, lead, and build capacity where they live.

A candidate's connection to the community may come through residence, family, education, employment, professional experience, volunteer or civic involvement, community organizations, or other meaningful relationships.

The candidate should be able to demonstrate their interest in knowing the community, care about the community, and intend to continue contributing to the community.

They do not need to know every organization or community leader. They should, however, understand the community as more than a geographic location and be able to build on existing local assets and relationships.

Eligibility:

• Be a U.S. Citizen, National, or Lawful Permanent Resident.
• Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Be 17 years of age or older by the start of service.
• Have not already served four (4) or more AmeriCorps State/National terms. 

Benefits

Full-time RPC Fellows receive: 

• A $23,300 living stipend (dispersed bi-weekly over the course of the service term)
• A $5,220 Segal Education Award through AmeriCorps, which can be applied to education-related expenses after the program concludes (including repayment of qualifying student loans).
• Healthcare coverage (if applicable).
• Access to childcare benefits.
• Student loan forbearance during your year of service.
• Fully-funded travel and trainings throughout the year.

**Non-Discrimination

**This institution operates in accordance with Federal and AmeriCorps civil rights and non-discrimination requirements. This program is available to all. All program documents, including compliance history information, may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact us at ACCinfo@leadforamerica.org

Note: The RPC program does not offer part-time or remote member positions at this time.