Corps Program

We are accepting applications for full-time and part-time AmeriCorps member positions

Apply Now

As our communities become more homogenous, it is easier to become isolated from many of the problems facing families and children today. Impact's initiatives provide an opportunity for college students and recent graduates to engage with individuals unlike themselves in a meaningful way, broadening their perspectives and making a real impact in their communities. – Channing Kennedy Bethke, AmeriCorps Member (2009-2010)

Our AmeriCorps members share their experiences:

AmeriCorps members discuss the professional skills they've gained during their Impact Year.

AmeriCorps members share their thoughts about empowering young people to learn about and solve problems.

AmeriCorps members discuss this generation's commitment to public service.

"We all need to be here for one another. We all need to make sure that everyone gets to where they need to be. This is one of the things that fuels me to serve on a daily basis. We need to take a little extra time to make sure we are looking out for one another, especially those in society who don't usually have anyone looking out for them." – Cameron Shevlin, 2012 – 2014

"The smartest – and in some ways, the scariest – decision I ever made was to take the leap to serve as an AmeriCorps member with Impact Alabama. After I graduated, I realized that no one is ever going to give me the answer sheet for how to be a successful, moral, thoughtful citizen. I came to understand that the onus is on me to seek experiences where I can learn about and gain the skills I need to support my community. Amidst the uncertainty, I knew in my gut that this would be a critical, formative experience to help me lead the kind of meaningful, valuable life I know I want – and I can say now, having completed my term of service, that my experience with Impact Alabama has not disappointed. My time with Impact Alabama has become central to the fabric of who I am and how I see the world, and I am forever grateful to this organization, the staff, and my fellow AmeriCorps members." – Linn Groft, 2011 – 2012

WHAT YOU’LL DO DURING YOUR IMPACT YEAR

Your year of service isn't about you—and yet, it is. Our primary purpose is to serve tens of thousands of families each year, but in the process you'll gain professional experience—and a new perspective on the world—unlike any other position right out of college.

What You'll Do:

AmeriCorps members plan and execute all initiatives that operate in your state of service, as well as recruit and manage the service of college students as they participate in those initiatives.

FocusFirst: Conduct vision screenings for preschoolers. Expand our network of child care centers receiving services. Assist in processing results so all kids get follow-up care.

SaveFirst: Obtain certification as an Advanced Volunteer Tax Preparer. Recruit and train college students on tax law, and manage their service at community-based sites. Implement marketing strategies to encourage families to receive free tax preparation. Develop community partnerships to establish free tax preparation sites.

Want to use your film and/or media experience in pursuit of our mission?  Apply for our Media Coordinator position!

Where You'll Work:

We are currently recruiting full-time AmeriCorps members to be based in Birmingham, AL; Memphis, TN; and Greenville, SC.

Who You'll Work With:

Our organizational structure relies on recruiting talented, intelligent, and socially conscious recent college graduates to serve as AmeriCorps members for one or two years following graduation. AmeriCorps members are in the community every day, collaborating with community partners and interacting with a diverse group of people ranging from preschoolers to college students to single mothers.

When You'll Start:

The 2023-24 Program begins in the fall and lasts for one year. Start dates will be in July or August 2023.

What You'll Gain:

We purposely design the Impact Year to enable our AmeriCorps members to both make a difference in their communities and gain valuable professional skills, from communication and public speaking to management and collaboration. In addition to implementing our signature initiatives, you will participate in a yearlong leadership development program—attending training sessions to augment your on-the-ground service, learning about the most pressing issues facing your state of service, and interacting with high-level community leaders.

"I am inspired to work for Impact because the problems Impact seeks to address are one hundred percent solvable with the dedication of motivated individuals. It is inspiring to work with other young individuals who share the drive to address these pressing issues."-Kelsey Groenke, AmeriCorps Member (2012-2015)

Are you ready to help change the statistics of poverty?

Apply Now

"I've learned so much about the education system and the educational disparities that exist in Alabama and across the country—the experience I had with our education initiatives really encouraged my passion for education and my desire to contribute in a positive way."

Jacqueline Cotter
2011 – 2016 corps member

Who Do We Look For?

Demonstrated Leadership Ability:

Successful Corps Members will generally have taken a leadership role in community service activities, honors organizations, or other student groups. This leadership experience strengthens our AmeriCorps members' ability to make reasoned decisions and successfully represent Impact in the community.

A Belief in the Potential of All to Succeed:

Our AmeriCorps members believe in their ability to make a real difference in the lives of those living in poverty. Their commitment to social justice guides their outlook and provides the foundation for their year of service.

Perseverance & Flexibility in the Face of Challenges:

A year of service can be challenging and sometimes exhausting. Successful AmeriCorps members are able to maintain a positive attitude through setbacks and demonstrate flexibility when situations change at the last minute.

Ability to Take Initiative & Think Creatively:

Our most successful AmeriCorps members think critically about every aspect of our program and bring ideas for how to improve our programs and better serve our communities. Impact's management staff wants to hear from AmeriCorps members and takes their suggestions seriously.

Life After Impact

Following their Impact Year, most AmeriCorps members attend graduate, law, or medical schools. Their experience with Impact inevitably enhances their education, and encourages them to remain connected and committed to improving their communities. The skills gained through a year of service provide an invaluable foundation for post-graduate coursework and a future career.

For example: Impact alumna Ynhi Thai earned her M.Sc. from Oxford University before returning to Alabama to UAB medical school; Alumnus Ben Harmon also returned to Alabama to work for the nonprofit Equal Justice Initiative after earning two degrees from Harvard; Carolyn Kerchof was awarded a Fulbright grant and is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Germany; and Steven Rocker's path after Impact took him to Washington, D.C., where he earned his Master's and worked at the prestigious Brookings Institution. Find out more about these alumni stories, and how their Impact year helped shape their paths.

We are accepting applications for full-time and part-time AmeriCorps member positions.

Apply Now

Impact is an AmeriCorps Program®. Benefits include the following: Monthly living stipend; education award (received upon completion of term of service); Health insurance; Meals when providing service out of your home county; Mileage reimbursement when driving your personal car for service; All travel costs during overnight trips (hotel, rental car, meals); Ongoing professional development and training

Eligibility Requirements: Documentation of status as a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or lawful permanent resident alien (this is an AmeriCorps eligibility requirement); Completion of a college degree (exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis with prior approval); Criminal background check, including an FBI check, NSOPW check, and a statewide check in the member's state of residence at the time of application and state of service (if different than state of residence); At least 18 years of age.

Equal Employment Opportunity / Nondiscrimination Policy

Reasonable Accommodations Policy for Individuals with Disabilities

Impact America is an AmeriCorps Program.