Commonwealth Corps

Program Type: State-funded service internship program

Geographic Scope: Massachusetts

Established: 2007 by Governor Deval Patrick

Program Description: The Commonwealth Corps engages Massachusetts residents of all ages and backgrounds in direct service to strengthen communities, address critical needs, and increase volunteerism. The program fosters skill-building, leadership development, and lifelong civic vocation.

Service Model

Members serve 10 months in either full-time or half-time positions at nonprofit host sites. Members provide:

• Direct service to communities
• Capacity building for host organizations
• Recruitment, organization, and mobilization of additional volunteers
• Grassroots volunteer movement building

Focus Areas

• Workforce Development
• Education
• Health & Nutrition
• Youth Development
• Veterans Support

Impact (All-Time)

• 798,000+ hours served by members in their communities
• 105+ host site agencies participating
• 642,000+ people directly benefited from member service
• 37,300+ volunteers leveraged by members in service

Host Sites

Currently serving organizations include:

• Friends of the Rafael Hernández Dual Language School (Boston)
• Gould Farm (therapeutic community for adults with mental health challenges)
• Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI)
• New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
• Project Citizenship
• Regional Environmental Council (REC)
• THRIVE (restorative justice, returning citizens)
• Whale & Dolphin Conservation (WDC)

Administration: The Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA) administers the Commonwealth Corps program, including selecting host sites each year.

Alumni Network: Commonwealth Corps alumni can join the alumni email list to stay connected.

Becoming a Commonwealth Corps Host Site

Application Process:

1. Review RFP (Request for Proposals)
   • The 2024-2025 Commonwealth Corps Full RFP has been released
   • RFP includes Performance Measure Worksheet
2. Attend Info Session (Recommended)
   • Info session on November 27th for organizations interested in hosting Commonwealth Corps members
   • Register via online link
3. Submit Application
   • Submit through the RFP process outlined in the 2024-2025 RFP document

Resources Provided:

• Full RFP document
• Performance Measure Worksheet
• Information about current host sites and their programs

For More Information:

• Contact MSA about Commonwealth Corps opportunities
• Email: Use contact form on mass-service.org