Update on our Volunteer Community

Last updated: June 19, 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 Volunteer Community

What is Bellingcat Volunteer Community?

Formely known as Bellingcat’s Global Authentication Project (originally launched in 2022), this initiative has evolved into a broader, highly collaborative community of practice. Today, the Bellingcat Volunteer Community brings together open-source research enthusiasts, tech-savvy individuals, freelance journalists, and investigators from all backgrounds to explore, verify, and uncover stories using open-source information and tools.

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

We come together to connect, learn, and contribute to global transparency in an inclusive, supportive, and secure environment. While we welcome people with a range of expertise levels, members are expected to maintain a professional, ethically rigorous, and collaborative mindset.

What is Our Collective Mission?
Our mission is to democratise open-source investigative work by creating a community where everyone can actively participate. We are dedicated to building a global network rooted in authenticity, transparency, and a strict commitment to harm-minimisation principles.

Our focus extends beyond formal investigations to foster a culture of continuous learning and mutual growth. We empower our members to expand their skills through official Bellingcat-led projects, joint member-led research and tool building initiatives, and dedicated peer-learning programs and events. Together, we aim to make a positive, real-world impact through collaboration and make the craft of open-source research accessible to all.

Key Participation Policies to Keep in Mind:

Indefinite Membership: There is no fixed expiration date for your membership. Once onboarded via our cohort-based recruitment (held twice a year), you are welcome to remain a member for as long as you find it valuable.
The 90-Day Active Rule: To maintain a functional and dynamic research environment, members are required to contribute or actively engage within our communication channels at least once every 90 days. Members who consistently remain passive beyond this window will be disaffiliated.
Security & Transparency: Because our the sensitive nature of our work, we prioritise digital security and provide concrete protocols to safeguard your digital environments. To keep our community secure, members are expected to follow our attribution/real-name byline policy and meet basic activity standards.

More information about BVC is provided in our FAQ page.

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 bi-annually during our Spring and Fall recruitment cycles. If you do not hear back from us during the upcoming onboarding cycle, please understand that we may still reach out to you for a future cohort. We deeply 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 bi-annual onboarding process does not impact the duration of your membership, which remains indefinite as
long as you wish to stay and your engagement aligns with our community policies (including our 90-day active participation standard).

Have 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

Stay Connected

We look forward to welcoming you to our community! In the meantime, you can stay a part of the wider Bellingcat community and help advance open-source research by visiting our Community Linktree. Through this Linktree, you can access the public Bellingcat Discord server, our open-source GitHub repositories, the Online Investigation Toolkit, official social media channels, and interactive community challenges designed to help you practice and sharpen your open-source investigation skills. Be sure to also follow our official homepage and the BVC LinkedIn page for Volunteer Community–specific updates to stay in the loop on future onboarding cycles.

Update on our Volunteer Community

About Bellingcat Volunteer Community

Key Participation Policies to Keep in Mind:

Recruitment Steps Breakdown

📝 Application

📬 Outreach

👋 Recruitment

🚀 Onboarding

*Please note that our bi-annual onboarding process does not impact the duration of your membership, which remains indefinite aslong as you wish to stay and your engagement aligns with our community policies (including our 90-day active participation standard).

Have Questions?

Stay Connected

*Please note that our bi-annual onboarding process does not impact the duration of your membership, which remains indefinite as
long as you wish to stay and your engagement aligns with our community policies (including our 90-day active participation standard).