Climate Corps AmeriCorps

Climate Corps AmeriCorps (CCAC) is a specialized track in the Climate Corps Fellowship program that utilizes AmeriCorps funding to serve environmentally and economically underserved communities across California. This program provides municipalities and nonprofits with cost-effective, high quality Fellows that advance sustainability programs relating to resource reduction, K-12 education, and community outreach. Fellows that serve in CCAC are mission driven, emerging climate protection leaders who gain career experience while meaningfully contributing to the environmental field. CCAC is a program of Bay Area Community Resources in collaboration with Strategic Energy Innovations.

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Key Program Differences

Climate Corps AmeriCorps fellows will commit to 11 months of service with their host organizations, under the same successful model as the Climate Corps program. There are several key differences between the two programs, outlined here.

• Fellows will be on the payroll and officially employed by Bay Area Community Resources
• Fellows will officially serve in a National Service Program as AmeriCorps Members
• Program specifically targets underserved, high-need communities
• Program partners are limited to non-profits, municipalities, and educational institutes – no for-profit companies
• Program partners pay a 30% discounted rate due to federal subsidies - see Program Partner Requirements for details
• Fellows receive an end-of-program Education Award at the completion of their service of $6,345

Partner Contact

If you are interested in hosting a Fellow at your organization, please contact Program Manager Zoe Laventhol at zlaventhol@bacr.org​.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Climate Corps Americorps?

Climate Corps AmeriCorps (CCAC) is a California state AmeriCorps program supported by a partnership between Bay Area Community Resources and Strategic Energy Innovations. CCAC fellows serve 10.5 months in a sustainability-related role at one of our host organizations across the state of California.

What is BACR?

Bay Area Community Resources (BACR) is a nonprofit dedicated to developing individuals and families, encouraging volunteerism, and building community. BACR has been an AmeriCorps program provider for over two decades, including Climate Corps AmeriCorps, BAYAC, and Public Allies.

What is AmeriCorps?

AmeriCorps is a civil service program that recruits Members to commit to and serve their local communities. Over 1 million AmeriCorps Members have served since 1994, and it can be described as a “domestic Peace Corps”. To learn more, visit the official AmeriCorps website here.

What kind of projects will AmeriCorps fellows work on / what training will they receive?

The specific projects Fellows will complete depend on the Host organization’s needs, but will typically revolve around direct resource reduction, K-12 education, or community outreach. Fellows receive monthly training in a variety of sustainability areas, including but not limited to: clean energy, water conservation, waste reduction, state/local policy, and communications.

What are the prerequisites to become a Ccac fellow?

Fellows must be US citizens or legal permanent residents, have a high school diploma or GED, be 17 years old or older, and pass criminal background checks. Fellows should generally be in the early stages of their career development, and most (but not all) positions require an undergraduate degree. See desired qualifications under "Become a Fellow" on the main Climate Corps page.

Why become a CCAC fellow?

Climate Corps is a “bridge-to-career” program that provides essential training and the unique opportunity to gain work experience in the sustainability field with one of our respected host organizations. This fellowship is an excellent resume builder and "bridge to career" opportunity, and leads to 80% of alumni beginning their career path or graduate school within two months of completing the program. To support our Fellows, we offer a monthly living stipend of $2,115, healthcare, childcare if applicable, and end-of-program Segal Education Awards of up to $6,195.

Where are CCAC fellows located?

CCAC strives to reach underserved, high need communities all over the state of California. Most fellows will be in three California regions: the Bay Area, Central Valley, and Greater Los Angeles Area.

What are the program Goals?

Climate Corps AmeriCorps was created in part due to growing environmental needs in the areas of water conservation, clean energy, and waste reduction. CCAC will target California communities in high need to meet the Governor’s executive orders to reduce water usage by 25% and greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.​

What is the Pay for these positions?

Climate Corps fellows in our program receive a living stipend of $2,255 per month.

Are there any other benefits of being a CCAC fellow?

At the end of program completion, AmeriCorps Fellows receive an AmeriCorps Term of Service Completion Certificate. They also receive health care coverage and child care (if applicable) throughout the duration of their service, and end-of-program Segal Education Awards of up to $6,345.

What is the deadline to apply?

We typically recruit Fellows in the summer before the cycle starts in early September. However, we have late start fellowships and half-cycle fellowships positions that may be posted throughout the year. Check our current list of open positions here.

Are there any Part-time positions?

There are no part-time positions at this time, but we do have half-cycle fellowships that last for five months instead of ten. Half-cycle Fellows are still full-time (40 hr/week) positions.

How many CCAC candidates will be accepted?

We aim to host 45 full-cycle CCAC Fellows per program year.

Does the program require a set number of hours for Climate Corps AmeriCorps fellows to complete?

Yes, Fellows are expected to complete 11 months of full time service at their host organization, amounting to 1,700 hours. A certain amount of these hours (roughly 10%) will be dedicated to fellowship trainings, including one 2-day retreat and a week-long orientation. Our program cycle runs from early September to late July each year. However, we have late start fellowships and half-cycle fellowships positions that may be posted throughout the year. Check our current list of open positions here.

Who can become a host organization?

The CCAC program is an opportunity for municipalities, nonprofits, and educational institutions to host a Fellow full-time at a subsidized rate. For-profit companies are not eligible to host AmeriCorps Fellows at this time. For more information on hosting an AmeriCorps Fellow, email Program Director Zoe Laventhol at zlaventhol@bacr.org.

Do fellows get to choose which organization they're assigned to?

Fellows may indicate a preference for certain positions, but it is ultimately up to the host organization to choose the best fit. Fellows will complete an initial phone screening for the CCAC program, and host organizations will then choose from that pool of applicants the fellows that they decide to interview.