Proud to Be a RPCV: Honoring 65 Years of Service & Impact

For 65 years, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) have taken their service far beyond their close-of-service dates. Whether in overseas communities or right back home, that shared dedication to cross-cultural leadership and service stays with us for life.

At RPCVnexus, we ensure that RPCVs have the network, career transition support, mentorship, and resources needed to continue driving meaningful global and local impact.

This GivingTuesday, as we celebrate 65 years of Peace Corps legacy (1961–2026) and 250,000 total Volunteers, we are calling on our community to invest back into the network that shaped us.

Why Your Gift Matters Today

Transitioning back to life after Peace Corps service comes with unique challenges. Today, with over 3,500 Volunteers in the field and thousands more back home navigating their next steps, the need for career transition support and community connection has never been greater.

Volunteers are facing three major hurdles:

Reduced Peace Corps Support: More Volunteers are returning home amid reductions in Peace Corps resources and support, creating a greater need for community-based transition assistance.
A Changing Federal Job Market: Fewer government job opportunities and federal hiring freezes are limiting traditional pathways into federal employment, including the use of Noncompetitive Eligibility (NCE). Returned Volunteers increasingly need to explore alternative career paths.
An Evolving Job Market: AI-driven applicant screening and the decline of entry-level positions are making it increasingly difficult for new professionals to stand out and translate their service experience into marketable skills.

RPCVnexus bridges the gap between service and career success. Your support helps Volunteers navigate these challenges and find opportunities to continue making an impact.

Your gift directly supports:

Mentorship & Career Coaching: One-on-one connections between newly returned Volunteers and experienced RPCVs across industries.
Professional Development: Resume workshops, panel discussions, and career transition resources tailored specifically for RPCVs.
Community Connection: Local and national networking programs that keep our global community linked and active.

Celebrate 65 Years with Symbolic Giving

To honor 65 years of Peace Corps impact, choose a giving tier that reflects your journey or connection:

$6 (Number of Sectors): Celebrating the six sectors of Peace Corps service and the diverse experiences that shape who we are as RPCVs – supports professional development resources that help Volunteers translate their service into marketable career skills.
$19.61 (The 1961 Founder): Honoring the year JFK established the Peace Corps – helps fund regional community-building events and networking opportunities that keep RPCVs connected.
$27 (Duration of Service): $1 for every month of training and service – provides career transition toolkits to help newly returned Volunteers navigate their next steps.
$65 (65th Anniversary): $1 for every year of Peace Corps legacy – helps provide one-on-one career coaching and mentorship opportunities for RPCVs.
$144 (Countries Served): Honoring the 144 countries where Peace Corps Volunteers have served since 1961 – supports opportunities for RPCVs to connect, network, and build professional relationships.
$365 (Legacy Builder): $1 for every day of the year – helps sustain RPCVnexus's core platform infrastructure, career resources, and programs that connect thousands of RPCVs.

Prefer to give your own custom amount? Consider giving $1 for every year you have been an RPCV, or $65 in honor of our 65th anniversary!

Share Your RPCV Story

As you make your gift, we'd love for you to share a little about your Peace Corps journey in the optional message section of the donation form.

Tell us your country of service, years of service, and why you're proud to be an RPCV!

Join Us in Building the Next Chapter

Your generosity is already making a difference. With a 2026 operating budget of just $5,000, RPCVnexus has leveraged donations from last year's GivingTuesday campaign to support more than 1,500 Current and Returned Volunteers through career development, educational resources, and community-building initiatives.

Here are a few highlights of what we've accomplished together:

Welcome Back Package & (R)PCV Transition and Career Guide: Developed practical resources addressing common questions about returning home, navigating the transition, and exploring next steps after service.
Career Paths & Needs Survey: Launched a survey that received 530 responses from Current and Returned Volunteers, helping us better understand their career interests, challenges, and professional development needs. We're finalizing a report to share at our December 8 Town Hall.
Education Resource Hub: Created a centralized resource hub for RPCVs considering graduate school, connecting them with helpful articles, application guidance, and more than 350 scholarships and funding opportunities.
Professional Development Discussion Series: Continued hosting two discussions each month, giving RPCVs opportunities to explore career options, plan their next steps, and learn how to navigate graduate school applications.

And that's just the beginning!

With your continued support, we can expand these resources, strengthen our mentorship network, and create even more opportunities for RPCVs to thrive during and beyond their service.

Whether you served decades ago or recently finished your service, your gift ensures the next generation of RPCVs steps into a strong, supportive, and interconnected community.

Click "Donate" above to stand proud with your fellow RPCVs today.

To learn more about our programs, mentorship initiatives, and global network, visit us at rpcvnexus.org.

RPCVnexus GivingTuesday 2026

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