Note: This application is for Rural Partners Corps (RPC) host sites for the 2026–27 Program Year, featuring a December 2026 - August 2027 term of service. We welcome applications from partners nationwide. Submitting this form is a way to indicate general interest only—organizations are not committing to participate by applying. We encourage interested partners to complete this form as soon as possible.

About the Rural Partners Corps

Rural Partners Corps (RPC) is a new AmeriCorps service fellowship from Lead For America (LFA) that places locally rooted Members with rural, place-based backbone organizations.

Members already live in or near the communities they serve. They bring local knowledge, transferable skills, relationships, and a commitment to making their communities stronger.

RPC Members serve 40 hours per week from December through August, working alongside Host Site staff and community partners to build organizational and community capacity and advance cradle-to-career economic mobility for rural young people.

Who Should Apply?

RPC Host Sites are place-based backbone organizations serving rural communities or regions. Eligible entities include:

• Regional or community-based nonprofits
• Community Development Corporations (CDCs) & Economic Development Organizations (EDOs)
• Cradle-to-career partnerships & collective impact initiatives
• Community foundations & philanthropic organizations
• Tribal governments & Native-led organizations
• Local government agencies & regional councils of government
• Education organizations (K12 through Higher Education Institutions)

What Does Your Organization Gain?

Dedicated Capacity: A full-time Member focused on meaningful projects that advance your organization's priorities.

Stronger Partnerships: Additional capacity to build relationships, convene partners, and connect community assets.

Organizational Infrastructure: Tools, systems, research, processes, volunteer infrastructure, and other resources that strengthen your organization's capacity.

Local Talent: A motivated community member who already knows and cares about the place—and wants to contribute to its future.

LFA Support: Your Member receives ongoing coaching and professional development through LFA, while your organization has a dedicated LFA Program Coordinator as an additional source of support.

What Will an RPC Member Do?

An RPC Member joins your organization as a locally rooted capacity-building partner.

They are not an intern, temporary worker, outside consultant, or replacement for existing staff. Instead, they bring their skills, relationships, local knowledge, and initiative to help your organization move important community priorities forward.

Members will typically:

1. Know the Place

• Conduct community asset mapping and listening
• Learn the community's strengths, priorities, relationships, and existing initiatives

2. Build Relationships

• Engage community stakeholders and partners
• Support cross-sector collaboration and community convenings
• Connect people, organizations, and resources

3. Understand & Advance Priorities

• Support strategic planning and implementation
• Coordinate projects and initiatives
• Conduct research and organize information
• Help move locally defined priorities from ideas to action

4. Build Capacity

• Develop tools, processes, resources, and systems
• Strengthen partnership, communication, or volunteer infrastructure and engagement
• Support training, workshops, outreach, and community engagement

5. Support Cradle-to-Career & Economic Mobility

• Contribute to initiatives involving youth, education, workforce development, career pathways, and economic mobility
• Help strengthen connections across schools, nonprofits, employers, government, higher education, and other community partners

The Member's approach is: Know the Place → Build Relationships → Understand Priorities → Organize → Connect → Execute → Build Capacity

Specific assignments will be shaped by your organization's priorities and your community's needs.

Requirements

Host Organization Criteria:

1. Organizational Eligibility:

• RPC Host Organizations must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, a government entity (local, tribal, state, or federal), or a faith-based organization (focused on non-religious activities).

2. Site Capacity & Supervision:

• Dedicated Supervision: Provide a designated host site supervisor for weekly 1:1 check-ins, day-to-day guidance, and project support.
• Tools & Workspace: Provide a dedicated workspace and necessary operational tools/equipment for the fellow.
• Compliant Position Description (PD): Draft a PD focused on building organizational and community capacity to advance cradle-to-career economic mobility for rural young people.
• Local Sourcing: Partners are expected to actively leverage their local networks to recruit candidate referrals who possess strong lived experience in the community. LFA Recruitment and Onboarding Managers will also source candidates locally via LFA's internal ATS to ensure the pool of candidates is robust.

3. Financial Partnership

• Hosting an RPC Member requires a financial partnership. Host sites provide a local match to federal AmeriCorps and philanthropic contributions. This fee supports member stipends, training, supervision, and national program infrastructure.

Next Steps

Once you submit this form, a member of our partnership team will reach out within one week to schedule a 30–45 minute discovery call.