Frequently Asked Questions from Host Organizations
Kellogg Corps Basics
- What is Kellogg Corps?
- What help can Kellogg Corps provide us with?
- What type of organizations does Kellogg Corps work with?
- What are the typical backgrounds of the volunteers?
- What type of work do Kellogg Corps volunteers do?
- How much will this cost us? Do we need to provide the volunteers with a stipend?
- Do we need to provide lodging (food and accommodations) to the volunteers?
- How many volunteers can we get and how long do they typically stay with us?
- Do we need to provide them with office space and other necessary equipment?
- Will volunteers be able to speak the local language? If not, will they have translators with them?
- Do we need to provide assistance with securing the proper travel documents for volunteers?
Application Process
- How do we initiate our application?
- What are the timelines for the application?
- Are all applications approved?
- Why was my application rejected?
- If my application is approved, am I sure to get volunteers for the summer?
- How do you select volunteers? Will I get involved in the selection process?
- When do we begin contact with the volunteers?
- We would like to apply again for next year. How do we do this?
- I would like to visit Kellogg and speak with students. Is this possible?
What is Kellogg Corps?[top]
Kellogg Corps is a student volunteer organization that places teams of recently-graduated MBA students in developing communities to provide management expertise to not-for-profit and non-governmental organizations that could otherwise not afford these services.
What help can Kellogg Corps provide us with?[top]
Kellogg Corps will help you find the right team of volunteers to work on some of your most critical business issues spanning the wide range of business functions from marketing, finance and accounting, operational efficiencies, organizational change and the like.
What type of organizations does Kellogg Corps work with?[top]
Kellogg Corps works with non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations in the developing areas outside the United States. Examples of these include the World Wildlife Fund, Room to Read (Asia), and Women in Progress (Ghana). A list of our previous work is available in the Projects section of our website.
What are the typical backgrounds of the volunteers?[top]
Kellogg Corps volunteers are all recently-graduated MBA students from the Kellogg School of Management in Chicago, USA. Students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and have had significant professional experience prior to matriculating at the Kellogg School. Volunteers may also have different nationalities, providing you with diverse insights.
What type of work do Kellogg Corps volunteers do?[top]
Volunteers work with host organizations on a range of projects, such as developing business plans for micro-enterprises, designing marketing strategies, assessing business opportunities and streamlining operational processes.
How much will this cost us? Do we need to provide the volunteers with a stipend?[top]
Depending on your circumstances, you may provide volunteers with lodging; however, this is not required. You are however encouraged to assist volunteers in finding reasonably priced and acceptable accommodations.
Do we need to provide lodging (food and accommodations) to the volunteers?[top]
Depending on your circumstances, you may provide volunteers with lodging; however, this is not required. You are however encouraged to assist volunteers in finding reasonably-priced and acceptable accommodations.
How many volunteers can we get and how long do they typically stay with us?[top]
A team is normally comprised of 4 to 6 volunteers and they are usually available to work with you from 4 to 6 weeks. In some cases, volunteers choose to stay for longer periods of time. This may be discussed between the host organization and the volunteer.
Do we need to provide them with office space and other necessary equipment?[top]
Volunteers will need sufficient space where they can work. This may be any space that you have available in your facilities (e.g. conference room or vacant desks). Volunteers may be requested to bring their own equipment and this should be discussed between the host organization and the team prior to their arrival on-site.
Will volunteers be able to speak the local language? If not, will they have translators with them?[top]
Volunteers may or may not be able to speak the local language. All volunteers can speak English and many can speak other major languages. In the event that they do no speak the local language, we do not provide a translator.
Do we need to provide assistance with securing the proper travel documents for volunteers?[top]
You may be asked to provide supporting documents for volunteers' visa application. Volunteers will be primarily responsible for working with the respective consular representatives in Chicago.
How do we initiate our application?[top]
E-mail us at kelloggcorps@kellogg.northwestern.edu so that we can speak with you and send you the application packet.
What are the timelines for the application?[top]
Once the application is sent to you, they are typically due two weeks later. In some rare instances, we give an allowance to applicants to give them the opportunity to come up with quality application.
Are all applications approved?[top]
No. We can only accommodate a certain number of projects per year, so we select the host organizations that have projects that best fit our mission.
Why was my application rejected?[top]
The application is competitive and we can only approve a certain number of projects per year depending on the number of prospective volunteers. Likewise, an application may be rejected due to incomplete information or unclear project objectives. We, however, try our best to work with host organizations to make sure that they provide us with the appropriate information.
If my application is approved, am I sure to get volunteers for the summer?[top]
No. Prospective volunteers are given the chance to select the projects they would like to work on. In the event that nobody selects your project, we will not be able to place volunteers for your organization. This emphasizes the need for host organizations to provide us with the appropriate information about their organization and project.
Likewise, a country may be downgraded on the US travel advisory level and this may prohibit us from sending volunteers to your project site.
How do you select volunteers? Will I get involved in the selection process?[top]
Volunteers are high-caliber MBA students who have a dedication to making an impact on society. Nonetheless, they are asked to go through a rigorous selection process, and are selected based on their motivation and suitability to the project being applied for.
The selection process is comprehensive and we ensure that you receive the best volunteers for your projects. Therefore, host organizations are not involved in the selection process but will have the chance to meet their volunteer team once they are selected.
When do we begin contact with the volunteers?[top]
Kellogg Corps will put you into contact with your volunteer team by early spring (mid-April). In some cases, this may be done earlier. From then on, you and your volunteer team are responsible for communicating with each other.
We would like to apply again for next year. How do we do this?[top]
If you applied this year, we will certainly be in touch with you whether you were approved or not.
I would like to visit Kellogg and speak with students. Is this possible?[top]
This is very possible and we encourage you to come to campus to encourage people to become more involved in international development work. If this is something that you would like to do, please contact us at: kelloggcorps@kellogg.northwestern.edu so that we can make the appropriate arrangements.