Update on our Volunteer Community

Last updated: June 10, 2026.

Since it's first launched in February 2022, our formal volunteer program has grown significantly and turned into what Bellingcat Volunteer Community is today. It is truly inspiring to see how the program has evolved, fuelled by a shared passion for open-source research and Bellingcat’s mission. As interest continues to rise, we are proud to sustain a vibrant, engaged community of over 100 active members who bring a diverse range of skills and global perspectives to our work.

We just completed our Spring 2026 Cohort intake (June), welcoming a group of inspiring and passionate volunteer researchers to our community!

We are incredibly honoured and grateful for a high interest from many open source research professionals and enthusiast signing up through our waitlist. We want to continue growing our community in a steady and sustainable way, and regular cohort-based onboarding helps us achieve that.

Important:

If you are interested in joining, we ask that you pay extra attention to our updated Volunteer FAQ before reapplying. In particular, please review the following sections to ensure our community is the right fit for your current capacity:

About Bellingcat's Volunteer Community

What is Bellingcat Volunteer Community?

Also known as Bellingcat’s Global Authentication Project (originally launched in 2022), this initiative has evolved into a broader volunteer community experience. Today, the Bellingcat Volunteer Community collaborates to explore, verify, and uncover stories using open-source information and tools. From human rights and financial investigations to wildlife research, conflict monitoring, event authentication, and developing investigative technology, our community tackles a wide range of topics. We welcome enthusiasts from all backgrounds to join us in this collective effort.

Connect, learn, and contribute to global transparency in an inclusive and collaborative environment!

What is Our Collective Mission?
At Bellingcat, our mission is to democratise open-source investigative work by creating a community where everyone, regardless of expertise, can actively participate. We're dedicated to building a network of authenticity and transparency.

Our focus is not just on investigations but also on fostering continuous learning. Through collaboration, we empower volunteers to expand their skills, contribute meaningfully, and together, we aim to make a positive impact on the world.

Join us on a mission of learning, collaboration, and building a more transparent global community!

Join Waitlist

Please note that we receive a high volume of applications and our capacity to onboard new members is limited.
As a result, we onboard small cohorts on regular basis. If you do not receive communication from us within the next few month from submitting your application, please understand that we may reach out to you at a later date.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we carefully review all submissions.

Recruitment Steps Breakdown

📝 Application

We onboard new members on cohort bases. Currently we do it twice a year - through Spring and Fall Cohorts.

Your waitlist application will be reviewed, and if shortlisted, we will reach out to you during one of those cycles (e.g. April-May or October-November).

📬 Outreach

If you don't receive communication from us in the upcoming cycle, there's a chance we may reach out to you at a later date, either for a specific project or as our capacity expands. Your information will be securely stored for 12 months, and we'll consider your profile in the next available cycle.

👋 Recruitment

If your profile aligns with our needs, we'll extend an invitation for a brief introductory call. This isn't a formal job interview; rather, it's a chance for authentic connection. Feel free to bring any questions you may have.

🚀 Onboarding

If your application is successful, you'll receive an invitation to proceed with a brief but mandatory security onboarding process. This step is designed to ensure a secure and welcoming environment for all our members.

*Please note that our cohort-based onboarding process does not impact the duration of your membership, which remains indefinite as long as you wish to remain an active member and your status aligns with our policies.

Questions?

To ask questions or get more information on the project, contact volunteer@bellingcat.com
or DM @viktorijabellingcat on Bellingcat's public server on Discord.

Join Waitlist

We look forward to welcoming you to our community!

Stay in touch with Bellingcat on Social Media.
And follow Volunteer Community–specific updates on LinkedIn to stay in the loop.