Apply to be an RFI Pro Forecaster

Be part of a team forecasting to aid U.S. policy research and analysis.

Applications to the Pro Forecaster Program are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the season. Pros are paid to contribute forecasts each month and collaborate with other forecasters on the site.

Apply now

Who Can Apply?

While most Pro Forecasters are selected based on past performance on RFI, we reserve a few spots in each season’s cohort for Open Call applicants who meet the following criteria:

  • Top-ranked forecasters on similar forecasting sites. Have you ranked in the Top 50 or better on a popular forecasting site, such as Metaculus and Good Judgment Open? Show us your track record to be considered as an RFI Pro Forecaster. Ideally, you can show forecasting skill in one or more of the topics we cover on RFI, including high-risk geopolitical events, science, and technology.

  • Anyone with a professional background or expertise in one of our priority forecasting topics. Are you an experienced practitioner, scientist, researcher, graduate student, or professor? U.S. policymakers want to get signals from you on future trends in these fields. Prior forecasting experience is not required.

About the Role of a Pro Forecaster 

The primary role of a Pro Forecaster is to provide regularly updated forecasts, committing 8-10 hours per month to the activity. Pros are asked to:

  • Forecast weekly (preferred) or bi-weekly (at a minimum) to ensure that they are generating timely forecasts: this includes submitting new forecasts and updating prior forecasts to indicate how their perspective has changed;

  • Write thoughtful rationales consistent with forecasting best practices;

  • Forecast on questions for which we need data: we might ask them to focus on specific questions in a given month. Be vigilant about forecasting on questions that have less activity or are closing soon;

  • Stay up to date on the questions that are active on RFI and proactively find relevant information to inform their forecasts; and

  • Attend occasional virtual meetings and events with other RFI Pro Forecasters.

Applications to the Pro Forecaster Program are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the season.


Maintaining Pro Forecaster Status

You will maintain Pro Forecaster status for the duration of the season so long as you continue to meet the monthly commitments as evidenced by your participation level. Pros who meet their commitment may be invited back for the next season. 


Why Become a Pro? 

  • Earned compensation - Pros earn USD 200 per month for every month they complete as a Pro. Payments are dispersed quarterly through Gusto (U.S.) or Veem (non-U.S.). 

  • Professional credentials - Experience as a Pro can be added to a resume, LinkedIn profile, and similar social platforms to boost professional credentials.

  • Community - Pros learn alongside a team of highly accurate and passionate forecasters and grow their professional network. Pros also collaborate as a cohort and within their smaller teams through dedicated channels, such as our Pro Discord server and forecasting meetups.

  • Contributions to government analysis and decisions - Forecasts will provide RAND researchers and the policymakers they support with predictive insights that inform decision making.

  • Invitations to exclusive Pro events - Pros are invited to attend exclusive virtual events and forecasting meetups with RAND researchers on various topics. 

How to Apply

Send an email to [email protected] that includes:

  • Your name

  • Brief explanation of why you want to be a Pro Forecaster

  • Your resume or link to your public LinkedIn profile

  • Brief description of your experience in the topics forecasted on RFI and proof of your accuracy and participation from a forecasting site similar to RFI. For example, send us a screenshot or report showing your accuracy score/ranking, screen name, and sample forecasts and commentary.

Apply now
If you have additional questions about the Pro Forecaster program, please email [email protected].

About RFI

The RAND Forecasting Initiative (RFI) is a new forecasting capability that aims to support policy analysis and decision making with crowdsourced predictions from RAND analysts and an external global community of forecasters. This collective intelligence generates predictive trends and early signals that augment traditional RAND research tools and expertise.

RFI is supported by Cultivate Labs.

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