The GRO offers three classes of membership: interns, junior trustees, and senior trustees. Interns are selected through a competitive application process conducted periodically on a rolling basis. The application includes basic personal information, short-answer questions and essays, a list of qualifications, and an optional standardized test. We don’t necessarily prioritize the highest-achieving applicants—instead, we look for those who we believe will genuinely contribute to the GRO and are truly committed to its mission. Passionate candidates often stand out more than those with impressive achievements, because they show us that the GRO isn’t just another line on their résumé (though it certainly is a wonderful and unique one!), but a cause they sincerely care about.

Interns typically begin by assisting on existing projects, gaining experience and learning how the GRO operates. As they accumulate experience, measured through a point system, they are automatically promoted to junior trustees, who have the ability to propose and lead their own initiatives. Advancement to senior trusteeship is based on nomination by other members of the Board of Trustees and requires approval through a vote held by current senior trustees.