A. Impact is a non-profit project of leading advocacy organizations, including Environment America and U.S. PIRG, that creates the grassroots action and power it takes to make an impact on issues that matter. We work in states where we can win positive change for our environment, our democracy and our future.

A. Once you submit your application, you’ll receive an email and/or a phone call from one of our staff if we are interested in scheduling an interview with you. After completing the first interview, the top candidates will be invited to a second round group interview.

The daylong second round group interview is a ton of fun and offers you an opportunity to learn more about our organization, campaigns, strategies and philosophy. You will complete at least two one-on-one interviews and have the chance to meet some of the Impact leadership, as well as senior staff from our partner organizations like Environment America and the Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs).

You will also hear from a panel of current campaign organizers and practice some of the activities you would perform as a campaign organizer, like petitioning, public speaking and planning a press conference. The second round group interviews also provide the Impact leadership team with the opportunity to learn more about you and whether you’d be a good fit for the program.

For folks flying in, the interview locations are all accessible by public transportation. We can also connect candidates coming from the same area to arrange carpools. We will help identify free housing options if you are not able to arrange your own (where available, housing is limited and may not be available for all candidates).

A. No, sorry. We’re organizers. We strive to make every dollar go to social change. And we’re happy to help you carpool or find a couch. We can connect candidates from the same area to coordinate carpools, and we will ask other candidates and friends of Impact if they have a couch if you need a place to crash. That being said, we can’t guarantee we’ll have enough spots for everyone, so please do your best to arrange your own lodging through your extended network of family and friends.

A. It is business casual dress, but please wear comfortable shoes for petitioning.

A. Please either bring your own lunch or bring money to purchase lunch (~$10).

A. We are hiring campaign organizers in 25 cities across the country. You will be able to apply to any of these locations when you submit our application.

A. Most campaign organizer positions begin in August, though a limited number are available on a rolling basis throughout the year. For August starts, we may offer opportunities to start earlier in the summer, organizing on some of our top priority summer campaigns.

A. The target annual compensation for this position is $26,000 in the first year. Impact offers a competitive benefits package. Eligible staff receive healthcare, paid holidays, sick days, and vacation days; and the opportunity to enroll in our college loan assistance, and 401(k) programs. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement.

A. You can apply for our loan assistance program after your third month on staff. Once enrolled, you pay the first $50 of your monthly payments. The Public Interest Network pays up to an additional $200 monthly — up to $1,800 your first year and $2,400 each year after. We were actually among the first organizations in the country to offer a program to help offset the cost of college loans. The plan is designed to help make non-profit and public interest jobs viable for everyone, even those with hefty loan burdens.

A. The program is competitive. We typically receive between 2,000-3,000 applications per year and our goal is to hire 50 candidates. If you’re not offered a job with us, we encourage you to stay involved, and to continue working to make an impact. We’ll be referring appropriate candidates to other positions within our network, including positions with Fund for the Public Interest as canvass directors and positions with the Public Interest Research Group (Student PIRGs) as campus organizers. These are great opportunities that we only offer to top candidates. If you are referred to another organization, we encourage you to pursue the opportunity!

A. Our goal is to have two organizers in 25 states across the country.

A. Impact currently runs offices in: Portland, ME; Concord, NH; Boston, MA; Hartford, CT; New York, NY; New Brunswick, NJ; Baltimore, MD; Richmond, VA; Atlanta, GA; St. Petersburg, FL; Columbus, OH; Ann Arbor, MI; Chicago, IL; Madison, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Des Moines, IA; St. Louis, MO; Austin, TX; Albuquerque, NM; Phoenix, AZ; Denver, CO; Missoula, MT; Las Vegas, NV; Seattle, WA; Los Angeles, CA; and Sacramento, CA.

A. No. Your field assignment will depend in part on what issue we can make the biggest difference on at any given time in your state. For example, you might build the coalition that convinces a wavering senator in your state to vote the right way on a vote to empower small donors and limit the influence of big money in politics. Or you could organize the news event that convinces the governor in your state that “going big on solar” is an opportunity to be a hero with the public. Our campaign organizers work on some of the most timely and important issues we’re facing, like global warming and getting big money out of politics. You’ll work on up to six campaigns throughout the two-year program. We'll place you on the campaign teams where we think you can have the biggest impact. For each campaign, you’ll work with an experienced organizing director and a team of other organizers across the country.

A. There really is no typical day. You’re planning and running grassroots campaigns, organizing town hall meetings, building powerful coalitions of groups, setting up and speaking at news conferences, lobbying lawmakers and much more. The cool part about organizing is that you’re working with regular people and thus there’s never a dull moment. During the week you might be attending an evening coalition meeting. Over the weekend you might be organizing a community meeting or driving to attend a regional training with your colleagues.

A. You’ll work alongside a staff person with five to 40 years of experience year-round and participate in classroom trainings a few times a year to complement what you learn in the field. These trainings will feature briefings by experienced campaigners, group discussions and practice sessions. But you’ll learn the most by doing.

A. As a campaign organizer, you’ll assistant direct a summer canvass office your first summer and then lead direct a summer canvass office your second summer. As a canvass director, you’re out in the field yourself three to four days a week — knocking on doors or stopping people on busy street corners, and then recruiting, training, and managing a staff of 10-60 people to canvass alongside you to hit your campaign goals. Canvassing, along with donor fundraising, grant fundraising and staff recruitment, represent the kind of institution-building you’ll learn as a campaign organizer — the institution-building that allows us to sustain long-term battles.

A. After two years as a campaign organizer, you’ll have learned the ropes, gained invaluable hands-on experience and you’ll have made a real difference. Best of all, you’ll be on a track to become a state director, program director, or digital organizer with Environment America or PIRG. Your staff director will work with you to find the best position for you coming out of the program.

A. Depending on which organization you work for, you may take part in an election campaign. For example, Environment America staff organized support for pro-environment candidates — including President Obama — and mobilized voters in key districts in critical states to help them win. In addition, many of our staff take leaves of absence to do personal political work that they care deeply about.