Atlas Corps runs a unique fellowship program that reverses the traditional flow of the Peace Corps by bringing volunteers from around the world to volunteer in the U.S. (and sends some U.S. volunteer abroad).  This “reverse Peace Corps”, or two-way professional Peace Corps, believes that no one society has a monopoly on good ideas and when talented people and good ideas cross borders, we all benefit. 

About Atlas Corps

     Atlas Service Corps (“Atlas Corps”) is a new international nonprofit organization that is building a global partnership for development through an innovative and sustainable global fellowship program.  Atlas Corps sends mid-career nonprofit leaders overseas for one year to learn best practices, share unique insights, and return home to create a global network of leaders.  Our signature program brings nonprofit leaders from the global south (developing world) to volunteer in the U.S. for one year, and we also send some U.S. nonprofit leaders abroad.  All of our Fellows have 3-8 years of relevant nonprofit experience, and the average age of our Fellows is 29 years old. We place these Fellows at dynamic Host organizations such as the Grameen Foundation, Ashoka, and Oxfam. These Host organizations pay a cost share, or program fee, that covers 66% of the program expenses.  We currently operate in Washington, DC; Bogota, Colombia; and New Delhi, India.

Ø       Mission: To integrate a global nonprofit sector in order to create a global partnership for development.

Ø       Vision: A truly global nonprofit sector where best practices, talent, and services cross borders with ease to efficiently and effectively serve the needs of the world community through international partnerships and collaboration.  Atlas Corps seeks to strengthen the world’s nonprofit sector through international exchanges building global social capital.

Program Overview

     Atlas Corps is the first organization to recruit rising leaders from the developing world with 3+ years of experience to volunteer at a like-minded U.S. “Host” citizen sector organization.  These Fellows learn methods for evaluation and sustainability from the Host organizations and also share best practices from the global south world.  We started in 2007 with six Fellows (two from India and four from Colombia) who were placed at Host organizations in Washington, DC (such as the Grameen Foundation, TechnoServe, and Ashoka).  In 2008, we doubled the size of our program from six Fellows to twelve (5 from India, 4 from Colombia and 3 from the U.S. placed in Bogota).  The U.S. Host organizations each pay a $26,000 cost share that covers over 66% of the program expenses.  This innovative, sustainable model will eventually create a global network of citizen nonprofit leaders working together on major social issues such as poverty, hunger, education, women’s empowerment, health, and the environment (the U.N. Millennium Development Goals).

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