Apply: CivicSpark-AmeriCorps Fellow Application for 2025-2026

PHI’s CivicSpark places highly motivated emerging leaders with local organizations to support research, planning, and implementation projects for community resilience. Each placement provides an opportunity to serve communities while building connections and developing skills through a project-based experience.

Applications for CivicSpark-AmeriCorps Fellows are now open for the 2025-2026 service year. CivicSpark plans to place 150 Fellows with community partners across California, Colorado, and Washington. Full-time Fellows will serve for 11 months, from September 2025 to August 2026. Applications close on June 2, 2025.

More About CivicSpark:

CivicSpark offers a unique opportunity to gain professional experience and leadership skills while creating a lasting impact in local communities. Whether you’re passionate about disaster preparedness and response, water, natural resource management, housing, economic development, transportation and infrastructure, parks and recreation, public health and community engagement or related issues, you will gain direct technical experience and build a robust network in your field.

As AmeriCorps members, all CivicSpark Fellows focus on:

• Getting Things Done: Capacity building and support
• Professional Development: Training and service experiences
• Strengthening Communities: Volunteer mobilization

While all projects are unique, your service will include:

• Gap Assessments: Determine current needs and finalize project scope
• Service Projects: Research, planning, or implementation project
• Volunteer Engagement: Involve community members in local planning efforts
• Knowledge Sharing: Training to sustain progress beyond the service year

Qualifications:

AmeriCorps Requirements

• Be at least 17 years of age.
• Be a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States of America. At this time, we are unfortunately unable to accept applicants with work or student visas (such as F1 or F2 student visas, J1 or J2 exchange visitor visas, G series visas, etc.), or those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
• Must participate in a national service criminal history background check and satisfy NSCHC eligibility criteria pursuant to 45 CFR 2540.202 prior to starting service
• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

CivicSpark Requirements

• Minimum of a 2-year AA degree from an accredited college or university
• Commitment to the full term of service
• Ability to work in a professional office or virtual office setting
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• AmeriCorps Fellows should generally be providing service directly to the people and in the communities where they serve rather than serving remotely (outside of the community). Fellows are required to live within their state of service by their first day of service, and must live within a region no more than 50 miles from their service site’s office. Fellows are expected to serve in person and be physically present when requested at the service site and/or community events.

Recruitment Event Dates:

• CivicSpark 101 Webinar, 4/1/25 – Webinar Recording
• CivicSpark Alumni & Fellow Q&A Session, April 28th – Registration Link