Fellows serve for one year at nonprofit or public agencies while receiving professional development in bridge-building.
A P P L I C A T I O N O P E N S
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 7
Early Decision Candidates can apply here
FELLOWSHIP STRUCTURE
AMERICORPS provides Fellows a living stipend and other benefits.
CIVIC BRIDGERS provides Fellows with professional development in bridging.
HOSTS provide Fellows full-time jobs where they exercise bridging skills.
Hosts vary by year and include nonprofits and public agencies. The Hosts above are 26-27 partners.
The Fellowship offers an uncommon opportunity for early-career professionals to launch into civic service with the training and preparation to bridge divides.
The 2027-2028 Fellowship begins August 9, 2027.
The Fellowship begins with a one-week, overnight retreat August 9-13, 2027. Fellows learn the foundations of bridging, including evidence-based approaches to building understanding, fostering cooperation, and catalyzing community-driven change.
The following Monday, Fellows begin a year of service at their Hosts where they apply bridging mindsets, skills, and practices in service of their communities.
ELIGIBILITY
Must be 18 years old by service start date.
Must be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or DACA recipient.
Must be able to commit to a year-long program from August 2027 - August 2028, with a full-time work week (a typical workweek is 35 hours per week daytime hours, Monday-Friday, but individual host sites may have their own guidelines).
Live and work in Minnesota, within commuting distance of Host, during the 2027-28 term of service
QUALIFICATIONS
Academic Requirement: Applicants must have earned (or will earn by the start of the Fellowship) an associate’s or bachelor’s degree or trades certification from a recognized institution. In the absence of a degree or certification, equivalent workforce experience will be considered.
Eligible Degrees: We welcome a wide range of academic disciplines and trades.
Leadership: The Fellowship looks for applicants who have demonstrated leadership abilities in their academic, professional, or extracurricular pursuits.
Language: Applicants must be fluent in English, as all programs are conducted in English.
FELLOW SELECTION & ONBOARDING PROCESS
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Early Decision Candidates are applicants who accept their Fellowship offer and commit to the program before the standard application opens on February 1, 2027. In recognition of their early commitment, these candidates receive priority consideration when matching with Host organizations.
Standard Decision Candidates are applicants who participate in the regular Fellowship admissions process and receive consideration for Host organization matching following the Early Decision period. Placement is based on candidate qualifications, interests, and Host organization needs.
For all applicants, the Candidacy Process includes fours steps:
Application (closes May 17th, 2027)
Screener interview (must be complete by May 28th, 2027)
Reference checks (must be complete by June 11th, 2027)
Final interview (must be complete by June 11th, 2027)
Candidates who are accepted into the Fellowship move on to Stage 2: Host Matching.
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Fellowship Matching Process
Our matching process aligns each Fellow’s skills, interests, and goals with our Hosts’ needs and opportunities. This process is designed to eliminate redundancy (such as multiple interviews across Hosts) and avoid placing Fellows in competition for the same role.
How matching works:
Match Curation: Civic Bridgers identifies potential matches based on candidate qualifications, interests, and Host needs.
Match Reviews: Fellows and Hosts are presented with one or more proposed matches. Both parties may accept or decline these suggestions before proceeding to interviews.
Interviews: When both parties agree to move forward, we arrange an interview to explore mutual fit.
Final Decisions: By agreeing to interview, candidates commit to accepting an offer from that Host if one is extended. Hosts may decline a candidate following an interview, but are limited to one post-interview decline per matching cycle.
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Fellows attend an overnight, in-person, retreat-style orientation with their cohort.
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Fellows launch into service at their Host.
Application will open for standard applicants on February 1, 2027.
FELLOW BENEFITS
PAID, FULL TIME EXPERIENCE
Fellows receive an annual living stipend of $25,800 ($983.36 bi-weekly) from AmeriCorps for the service year.
EDUCATION AWARD
Fellows are eligible to earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award (approximately $7,395) after completing their year of service, which can be used toward student loans or future education OR opt for the end-of-service cash stipend benefit of $1,800.
ADDITIONAL AMERICORPS BENEFITS*
In addition to an annual living stipend and education award, Fellows may be eligible for additional AmeriCorps benefits:
Healthcare coverage or allowance for out-of-pocket costs
Free telehealth (virtual medical and mental health support)
Relocation reimbursement ($0.40 per mile) for Fellows who move more than 50 miles for their service + $750 settling-in allowance to help cover initial moving expenses
Childcare assistance (if eligible)
Non-competitive eligibility for federal jobs
Graduate school benefits through Schools of National Service partnerships, like application fee waivers
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Engage in monthly training and cohort sessions focused on leadership, dialogue, and bridging skills, with opportunities to apply your learning in real-world, practicum-based settings.
MENTORSHIP
Dedicated mentorship and networking through a pairing with a previous Fellow for guidance and support throughout the program year.
*Click here for the latest figures. AmeriCorps benefits, including stipends, education awards, and additional supports, are contingent on federal funding and program approval. Specific benefits and amounts may change based on federal policy, funding availability, and program requirements.
Prospective Fellows FAQs
Do you feel misunderstood, judged, condescended or marginalized for your viewpoints?
At Civic Bridgers, you'll experience the opposite: understanding, respect, and a space to stand on your values -- even when we disagree.
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Eligibility:
Must be 18 years old by service start date.
Must be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or DACA recipient.
Must be able to commit to a year-long program from August 2025 - August 2026, with a full-time work week (35 hours per week daytime hours, Monday-Friday).
Live and work in Minnesota during the 2025-26 term of service
Qualifications:
Academic Requirement: Applicants must have earned (or will earn by the start of the Fellowship) an associate’s or bachelor’s degree or trades certification from a recognized institution. In the absence of a degree or certification, equivalent workforce experience will be considered.
Eligible Degrees: All academic disciplines and trades.
Leadership: The Fellowship looks for applicants who have demonstrated leadership abilities in their academic, professional, or extracurricular pursuits. This can include leadership in student organizations, professional work, social impact projects, or other leadership roles where you made a meaningful difference.
Language: Applicants must be fluent in English, as all programs are conducted in English. This is a general requirement for our programs.
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The Civic Bridgers Fellowship is offered in partnership with AmeriCorps VISTA. AmeriCorps VISTA members are not employed by their matched organization. Rather, VISTA members serve to build capacity and eliminate poverty.
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$24,962 annual living stipend ($960.07 bi-weekly)
Up to $1,000 in relocation reimbursement assistance (based on the direct mileage between the ZIP code of your home of record and the ZIP code of your project site)
Earn a $6,895 education award for current/future education costs OR opt for the end-of-service cash stipend benefit of $1,800
And more!
Check out the full list of AmeriCorps VISTA Member benefits here.
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80+ hours of evidence-based training in bridge-building mindsets and practices
Professional and peer mentorship with alumni and industry leaders
Bi-weekly professional development meetings
Access to relevant conferences, events, webinars, and more
Commitment to Inclusion
To thrive as a diverse, plural society, communities throughout America must address local and national issues with compassionate dialogue, intercultural competency, and collective action. Civic Bridgers is designed to meet this need so that our diverse country can be an inclusive and thriving society where all voices matter and where no person is marginalized for their identity. This is an aspirational goal toward which we can contribute but not achieve alone. We commit to establishing partnerships that fuel the people, institutions, and collective movements that are catalyzing a more empathic, collaborative, and inclusive society. Additionally, we commit to elevating narratives that affirm the power and possibility of bridging divides, and counter narratives that seek to divide us.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
Civic Bridgers is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind in any part of our business and partnerships. Building a diverse and inclusive team is key central to our values and mission, and essential for our success. We humbly strive to ensure that the Civic Bridgers team environment is intentionally inclusive and reflective of the communities we serve. We hire talent with a transparent and equitable process for all who apply. All employment decisions are made without regard to age, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, medical history, or any other protected statuses. We believe our differences make us stronger and encourage all interested candidates to apply.
If you need application assistance or reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact jill@civicbridgers.org.