Application Guide

How to Apply for General Interest

at The Agency Fund

🏢 About The Agency Fund

The Agency Fund is a unique philanthropic organization that leverages technology, AI, and social science to expand human agency—the ability of individuals to shape their own lives. Unlike traditional nonprofits, they operate like a startup, funding and building scalable interventions that address poverty and inequality. Working here means joining a small, globally distributed team focused on measurable real-world impact.

About This Role

This General Interest role is an open application for mission-driven professionals across various disciplines—engineering, research, design, operations, and more—to contribute to projects that expand human agency. You'll collaborate with a distributed team to design and build interventions that use technology and behavioral science to help people improve their lives. The role offers autonomy and the chance to drive impact in a small, entrepreneurial environment.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day could start with a video call with team members across time zones to align on project goals. You might spend the morning coding a new feature for an intervention platform, analyzing data from a field experiment, or designing a user interface for a mobile app. Afternoon could involve writing a research brief or collaborating with a partner organization, with flexibility to work at your own pace.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who The Agency Fund Is Looking For

  • Passionate about mission-driven work and eager to apply their skills to real-world problems like poverty and inequality.
  • Comfortable with ambiguity and thrives in a small-team, startup-like environment where initiative and self-direction are key.
  • Strong communicator who can collaborate effectively across time zones and cultures in a globally distributed team.
  • Has expertise in one or more of the following: software engineering, AI/ML, research, behavioral science, product design, UX, people operations, finance, communications, or program management.

📝 Tips for Applying to The Agency Fund

1

Tailor your application to a specific area (e.g., AI/ML, research, design) and explain how your skills directly contribute to expanding human agency—don't just list generic accomplishments.

2

Show evidence of working autonomously: include examples of projects you initiated or led in ambiguous settings.

3

Highlight any experience with global or cross-cultural collaboration, as the team is distributed worldwide.

4

Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used (e.g., LLMs for social good, RCTs in behavioral science) that align with the company's focus on tech and social science.

5

In your cover letter, connect your personal values to the mission of expanding human agency—be genuine and specific about why this matters to you.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your motivation for mission-driven work and why expanding human agency resonates with you personally.', 'How your specific expertise (e.g., software engineering, research, design) can be applied to build scalable interventions for social impact.', 'Your experience working autonomously in small teams or ambiguous environments, with concrete examples.', 'Your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively in a globally distributed team, including any remote work or cross-cultural experience.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read about the concept of 'agency' in development economics—look at Amartya Sen's work and how it influences the fund's philosophy.
  • → Explore the fund's existing projects and blog posts on their website to understand the types of interventions they support.
  • → Research the founders and team members on LinkedIn to get a sense of the company culture and expertise.
  • → Look into how AI and behavioral science are currently being used in global development (e.g., by organizations like GiveDirectly or IDinsight).

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a project where you had to take initiative with little guidance. What was the outcome?
2 How would you apply your skills (e.g., AI/ML, UX design) to help someone in a low-income setting improve their life?
3 Tell us about a time you worked with a team across different time zones. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
4 What does 'human agency' mean to you, and why do you think technology can enhance it?
5 How do you measure impact in your work? Give an example of a metric you used to evaluate success.
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Sending a generic application that doesn't reference the mission of expanding human agency or the fund's specific approach.
  • Focusing too much on your own career advancement without showing genuine interest in the mission and impact.
  • Overlooking the need for autonomous work: don't ask for detailed instructions or express discomfort with ambiguity.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to The Agency Fund!

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