Atma Change Leader Fellowship 2023
Last date to apply is 15th Feb 23
Atma – An Accelerator for Education We are entrepreneurial and change-minded organizational consultants with a professional background in business or education. We are passionate about transforming the Indian education landscape into a place where every child really learns. We do that by empowering grassroots educational initiatives to grow, amplify and multiply their impact. And gradually change the future of education and India. We achieve these results by adopting a systematic management approach which leads NGOs to scale-up, expand their reach and dramatically increase student learning outcomes.
What is the Atma Change Leader Fellowship?Here is what you need to know
The Fellowship programme will place Paid Full Time Fellows with non-profit organisations for one year, during which the Fellows will engage a large number of volunteers for the host NGOs to enhance their volunteering engagement capacity and support the organisation to scale their impact!
Through the fellowship, we expect to engage around 1,000 volunteers during the year for the respective host organisation in ways that support significantly higher social impact efforts by the organisation. This can include a mix of one-time, short-term, and long-term volunteering opportunities or any specific ones that the host organisation may find important, to increase its programmatic impact.
Atma is launching a Volunteering Fellowship Programme for NGOs. The fellowship programme will place Full-Time Change Leader Fellows with non-profit organisations for one year, during which the Fellows will engage a large number of volunteers for the host NGOs to enhance their volunteering engagement capacity.
For the role of the Change Leader Fellow, we are looking for a person to join in our vision of enabling NGOs to achieve scale by leveraging volunteers’ support. Each fellow is expected to engage around 1,000 volunteers during the year, delivering a total of 100,000 volunteering hours for the respective host organisation in ways that support significantly higher social impact efforts by the organisation. This can include a mix of one-time, short-term, and long-term volunteering opportunities or any specific ones that the host organisation may find important, to increase its programmatic impact.
Some of the benefits of this programme include:
- Exploring the new “unexplored” non-profit volunteering vertical as a career.
- Capacity building through training & Bootcamp for managing to volunteer for nonprofits.
- Opportunity to work with dynamic NGO top leadership to drive volunteering vertical
- Leadership skills from leading and managing the volunteering needs and volunteer
- Joy and satisfaction of helping an NGO achieve their goal of helping their stakeholder
Do you want to be the next change leader to scale social impact?
MISSION We aim to train 10 Fellows to engage and manage volunteers for 10 host NGOs to help them scale their programmes by creating 1,00,000 volunteer hours each year
What are we looking for?
In our fellow we are looking for a person to join in our vision of enabling NGOs to achieve scale by leveraging volunteers’ support. Each fellow is expected to engage around 1,000 volunteers during the year for the respective host organisation in ways that support significantly higher social impact efforts by the organisation. This can include a mix of one-time, short-term, and long-term volunteering opportunities or any specific ones that the host organisation may find important, to increase its programmatic impact.
Specific Role-Related Requirements:
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Bachelor’s degree in any field
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Have some volunteering experience
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Readiness to be placed at the NGO based in Mumbai and willingness to work from and travel to the NGO location
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Strong interpersonal skills
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Excellent verbal and written communication skills
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Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Spreadsheets, PowerPoint etc.
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Excellent coordination skills
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Problem-solving approach
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Candidates should be open to working on weekends (can have a day off on a weekday) as a lot of volunteering is likely to happen on weekends.
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Experience with remote/virtual working and willingness to travel for meetings and organisation events/programmes
Key Responsibilities:
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Create an appetite for volunteering in the host NGO across levels
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Create systems and processes required to manage the volunteering vertical
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Creating and identifying volunteering opportunities
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Coordinating with stakeholders within and outside the host organisation (eg. working with the Partnerships team to engage CSR/corporate employees in volunteering)
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Sourcing and managing volunteers
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Planning and execution of volunteering projects
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Tracking of volunteer data and reporting of volunteer numbers, hours
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Documenting learnings, etc.
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Periodic reporting to Atma Fellowship Volunteer Manager
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Attending training & capacity building workshops & boot camps
Desired Qualities:
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A friendly and professional demeanour
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Keen to work in the development sector
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Sensitivity and empathy to the volunteer experience
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Self-starter with the ability to undertake projects independently
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A high level of goal and outcome orientation
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Loves interacting with people
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Ability to deal with ambiguity
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Maturity and a flexible mindset
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Team player
The Fellow will get to:
During the Fellowship the fellow will gain
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Great exposure to the social sector and all aspects of the organisation
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Gaining expertise in ‘Managing’ volunteers (recruiting and engaging volunteers; sourcing volunteers for events and planning volunteer activities)
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Opportunity to build great networks and connections in the sector
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Experience the joy and satisfaction of helping an NGO achieve their goal of helping their stakeholders
Additionally, after the fellowship you will gain:
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You will be absorbed into the organisation as full-time staff at the host organisation
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Opportunities to start a career in the social sector
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A valuable experience to have on your resume for college applications (your host organisation can provide you with a Letter of Recommendation if needed)
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Develop leadership, people management and organisational development skills
Your Journey at the Fellowship
If selected, you will be:
- Placed in a Mumbai-based host NGO as a Volunteer Manager
- Given access to regular training programs
- Receiving mentorships & guidance from Atma
- Paid a stipend of Rs.25,000 per month for 1 year
To develop your leadership skills, in order to enhance the volunteering engagement capacity at your host NGO
Why should you Apply?
Through this 1-year Fellowship, you will gain:
Timeline
25th December 2022 – Applications OPEN for Stage 1
9th January 2023 – Applications CLOSE for Stage 1
7th February 2023 – Applications OPEN for Stage 2
9th February 2023 – Ask us anything webinar (Register here)
15th February 2023 – Applications CLOSE for Stage 2
- Round 1: Phone Conversation: Clarification Call & Setting up round for round 2
- Round 2: Assignment
- Round 3: Interview
- Round 4: Placement & Offer Letter
20 March -31 March 2023 Induction Training by Sector Experts to help you be ready for the year
1st April 2023 – Fellowship Start Date with the NGO
31st March 2024 – Fellowship Ends
We are looking for a year-long (12 months) full-time commitment please assess if you are able to commit to the same before applying.
Would you like to know more about the Change Leader Fellowship?
Attend a webinar to know more about being the next Change Leader
Why have we designed this fellowship?
Research tells us that organisations that have used volunteers have been able to achieve the same impact as those that have not at half the cost. We designed this fellowship for the following reasons:
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Volunteer Management is a new and upcoming career which is not known to many. The fellowship will give a glimpse into what a career in volunteer management will entail, and provide a path for extroverted people-lovers to build a career in working with a large number of people, to create social impact.
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To enable NGOs to achieve their goals by leveraging volunteers at scale and in a structured manner. The lack of a dedicated Volunteer Manager is a key factor that prevents NGOs from realising the full potential of the scale and impact they can achieve through the talent that may not be looking to work in the social sector, but can contribute both time and skills.
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The Fellowship will train the fellows in all aspects of sourcing, engaging, retaining and motivating volunteers as well as engaging their organisation, thus building a cadre of highly skilled talent that will not only have great growth opportunities for themselves but also enhance the potential of the organisations they work for.
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The Fellowship will also build the internal capacity of the NGOs to engage Fellows and volunteers year after year with very high ROI in the form of actual value created
What does success mean for this Fellowship?
The success of the Fellowship is determined by the following factors:
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1,00,000 volunteering hours per NGO in Year 1 = 1 million volunteering hours created across 10 NGOs
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Built/Improved the capacity of 10 NGOs to engage volunteers
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10 Volunteer Fellows trained to be Volunteer Managers
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100% of the Fellows get absorbed in the NGO (or in other organisations in the sector) @ min salary of Rs. 30,000 p.m
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Articulation of an RoI for each NGO (Value of Volunteering hours in monetary terms)
What to expect from your host NGO?
The Fellowships expectations from the host NGO are:
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Onboarding and induction to the organisation’s culture and work
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A chance to interact with the staff and organisation’s stakeholders to understand the programme needs and plan volunteering activities
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All necessary tools and support to perform your role well
However, please be aware that nonprofits are not rich with funds and may not be able to provide a fancy workplace or benefits.
What career path can I expect post 1 year of Fellowship?
Here is what the Fellow can gain from the 1-Year Fellowship:
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The field of volunteering is upcoming and new and there are several job opportunities awaiting skilled people. On completing the fellowship successfully the Fellow will be offered a full-time payroll position in the NGO they have worked with an average 10% hike in salary, compared to the stipend.
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Atma and their partners will also enable placement in other nonprofits in India in roles where a skilled volunteer manager can be absorbed if the original NGO you did your Fellowship with isn’t able to absorb you. Between Atma and its partners, we offer a 100% guaranteed placement at a minimum salary of Rs.30,000 per month to those who successfully complete the Fellowship.
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Additionally, this Fellowship and the network access the Fellow gets will open up job opportunities for them in other organisations as well, including in corporates that seek volunteer management talent.
How will I be supported during the 1 year fellowship?
The Fellow will be supported in the following ways:
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Periodic training via boot camps, and learning sessions (both physical and online) to help understand and learn about all aspects of volunteer management (from recruiting to motivating to retaining, placing, engaging and upscaling volunteers)
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There is a dedicated, experienced Volunteer Manager from Atma who will support the Fellows on their daily operating challenges and enable them to make the most of the opportunities that come their way. The Atma VM will be a guide for the Fellows.
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Additionally, you will receive mentoring and guidance from the leadership of the NGO you are placed in.
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A panel of experts from the social sector will be available to provide training and also occasionally to have deep conversations with and learn from.
What is the role of a Change Fellow?
The role of the Volunteer Lead Fellow (one per organisation) will include:
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Full time one year commitment with the host NGO
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Creating and identifying volunteering opportunities
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Sourcing and managing volunteers
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Planning and executing volunteering projects
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Tracking volunteer data and reporting volunteering numbers and hours
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Conducting pre- and post-intervention baseline/end line to review the impact
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Create systems and processes required to manage the volunteering vertical
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Coordinating with stakeholders within and outside the host organisation (eg. working with the partnerships team to engage CSR/corporate employees in volunteering)
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Periodic reporting to Atma Fellowship Volunteer Manager
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Attending training & capacity-building workshops & boot-campsESIRABLE)
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Have been a volunteer manager/ leader. (Desirable)
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Bachelor’s degree or above in any field (Desirable)
There is no upper age limit to apply. However, candidates must be adults, i.e., at least 18 years completed as on April 1, 2023.
Who should apply for the role of a Change fellow?
You should apply if you relate to the following:
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You love interacting with people and are able to convince and excite people and enjoy building networks
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You are not easily fazed by challenges and believe in making things happen even if they seem difficult
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You want to bring a change on a large scale
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You love volunteering and believe that everyone should volunteer
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Keen to work in the development sector
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You wish to explore and gain experience at grassroots and field levels in the nonprofit sector
Where will the Volunteer Lead Fellow be working from?
Volunteer Lead Fellow will be placed in the NGO and will be required to work out of the NGO office in Mumbai. Some NGOs may offer partial WFH options.
What if you are not based in Mumbai?
Only apply if you are willing to relocate at your own expense to Mumbai. Please reach out to trupti@atma.org.in for any further queries”
What is the duration of the fellowship?
The Fellowship will run for one year i.e. 12 months. If selected, you are expected to join on the 01st of April 2023.
What is the selection process for this role?
The process consists of four major stages as listed below:
Stage 1- Application to fill out online
Stage 2- Task-based assessment (Participate in a volunteering event and bring 10 volunteers with you to it)
Stage 3- Personal Interview
Stage 4- Onboarding and placement with the NGO
What are the benefits for the Volunteer Lead fellow?
The benefits are:
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Explore the new “unexplored” non-profit volunteering vertical as a career
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Capacity building through training & boot camp for managing to volunteer for nonprofits
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Experience working with dynamic NGO top leadership to drive volunteering vertical
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Develop leadership skills and enhance your decision-making abilities by leading and managing the volunteering needs and volunteers
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Joy and satisfaction of helping an NGO achieve their goal of helping their stakeholders
How much will the Volunteer Lead Fellow get paid?
Fellows will be paid a stipend of INR 25,000 per month during the Fellowship period.
