Request For Application: AmeriCorps VISTA Host Sites The Initiative Foundation, in partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), is requesting applications from organizations interested in hosting a full-time, AmeriCorps VISTA member from August 2014 to August 2015. The Initiative Foundation coordinates and supports 18 to 20 VISTA members across its 14-county Central Minnesota service area. VISTAs serve in 501(c) nonprofit organizations*, educational institutions, faithbased organizations, tribal and state and local government agencies to build organizational capacity for conducting anti-poverty work. Organizations that focus solely on advocacy and lobbying are not eligible. Typically, organizations are granted one VISTA position that is renewable for up to four years. *Host Site eligibility is open to 501(c) organizations and not limited to 501(c)(3)s only. Applications must be submitted to the Initiative Foundation by Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014. Application Process and Timeline (Dates subject to change) Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014 Wednesday, Feb. 12 Tuesday, Feb. 18, or Wednesday, Feb. 19 (you choose) Friday, March 7 Friday, March 14 Monday, March 17, 10 a.m., or Tuesday, March 18, 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 11 April and May Friday, June 6 Deadline for submitting Host Site application: Application form can be obtained at http://www.ifound.org/community/vista/ and emailed to AWhittemore@ifound.org upon completion Sites notified of conditional selection decisions (Final project site selection is based on submission of a thorough work plan) Full-day, mandatory work plan training for site supervisors conditionally accepted into the program (Hold one of these dates on your calendar as soon as you apply!) Deadline for sites to submit work plan to the Initiative Foundation Sites notified of final project selection decisions Supervisor webinars on VISTA recruiting VISTA member recruitment begins Cost share agreement and first payment of $1,000 due to the Initiative Foundation Host Sites work on recruiting, screening and selecting VISTA members Deadline for having VISTA member recruited and for submitting all required paperwork Half-day supervisor training Being Ready for Your VISTA Member Memo of Understanding due Second cost share payment of $1,500 due to the Initiative Foundation Tuesday, June 24 Friday, July 11 Friday, Aug. 1 1 st or 2 nd week of August VISTA member attends Pre-Service Orientation and begins service Application materials and information can be found on our website under community tab (http://www.ifound.org/community/vista/) Contact VISTA Program Associate Amanda Whittemore at (320) 631-2009 or mawhittemore@ifound.org before beginning your VISTA Host Site Application. Amanda also can help if you have questions about the process or whether a VISTA idea has merit and is worth pursuing.
Program Information AmeriCorps VISTA (founded as Volunteers In Service To America), often described as a domestic Peace Corps, is a national service program coordinated by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The VISTA program provides full-time, year-long service positions in eligible agencies to help them build their permanent infrastructure to more effectively bring individuals, families and communities out of poverty. The Initiative Foundation is a regional foundation whose mission is to unlock the power of Central Minnesota people to build and sustain thriving communities in our 14-county service area: Benton, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena and Wright). The Foundation s mission is fulfilled through a variety of community, organizational and economic development programs as well as through grants and business loans. For more than a dozen years the Initiative Foundation has served as a VISTA sponsoring organization supporting a total of more than 160 VISTA members placed at 70 Host Sites. These VISTA members have contributed to the poverty-fighting work of their Host Sites in a variety of ways. Collectively they have Raised nearly $2.3 million in cash and more than $1.3 million in in-kind resources. Helped recruit 7,800 new community volunteers. Building and sustaining thriving communities and alleviating and eliminating poverty drive each and every VISTA project. VISTA Duties The purpose of AmeriCorps VISTA members is to build capacity. This means VISTA members do not engage in direct service activities. Rather, their activities create a lasting effect on an organization s ability to serve low-income and disadvantaged people. Examples of this type of work are included at the end of these instructions. Additionally, VISTA members cannot be engaged in activities that could be considered replacement of paid staff. Initiative Foundation Goals for VISTA Projects Economic Stability To support low-income/disadvantaged individuals and families in meeting their basic economic security needs (food resources, housing, financial literacy), allowing them to better pursue economic opportunity. Economic Opportunity To provide access to quality early learning programs for young children to increase the number entering kindergarten ready to learn (focusing on areas of literacy, numeracy and social and emotional readiness). To help low-income/disadvantaged parents become more engaged in their children s academic readiness. To increase low-income/disadvantaged teens access to post-secondary education. To increase employability of low-income/disadvantaged adults via access to job training, job-seeking training, National Career Readiness Certification and core skills training (those basic life skills that
allow people to be successful at work: responsibility, adaptability, critical thinking/problem-solving, communication, conflict resolution, etc.) Economic Recovery To bolster broad community or region-wide economic recovery by supporting programs that aim to reduce the gap between skills of available workforce (particularly low-income/disadvantaged job seekers) and employer needs. Veterans and Military Families To help veterans transition back into the local workforce by supporting their retraining, gaining college credit for military skills training and addressing other barriers to employment. To support veteran and military families in meeting their basic economic needs. 2014-2015 VISTA Focus Areas Food Security - Emergency food assistance programs or assisting individuals and families in becoming more food secure. Financial Literacy - Personal financial management education programs. Housing - Homeless shelters, transitional housing programs, affordable housing developers, volunteerbased home repair programs, etc. Education - Early childhood programs aimed at increasing school readiness among disadvantaged children or assisting disadvantaged teens in accessing post-secondary education. Employment - Job training and/or job placement programs (including National Career Readiness Certification, job mentoring, technical and core/soft skills training, etc.) Workforce Development - Projects that bring employers, educators and job seekers together to address community-wide employment needs which, if met, would strengthen local economy for the long-term. Veterans and Military Families - Focus on areas that specifically target veterans, members of the military and their families. Priority consideration will be given to current Initiative Foundation program partners whose projects align with VISTA s antipoverty mission and goals: Financial Resiliency through Social Enterprise program participants (past, present and next round) Thriving Communities Initiative partners Region Five Development Commissions Resilient Regions Work Groups/partners Early Childhood Coalitions and member agencies Benefits And Expectations of VISTA Members VISTA members serve full-time (typically 40 hours per week) and should be available for evening and weekend project needs as necessary. Accordingly, they are not permitted to hold other jobs or attend school full-time while in service. To enable their service, VISTA members are provided a $927-$946 monthly living allowance and basic medical coverage, as well as professional training, guidance and support. Upon completion of a successful year of service, CNCS provides members a $1,500 cash
stipend OR a $5,550 education award. Members are required to attend regular (typically monthly) trainings/meetings at the Initiative Foundation. Host Site Requirements Financial Commitment Every VISTA Host Site makes a cost share contribution to the Initiative Foundation to support the VISTA program. The cost share amount increases each year of the VISTA project to help Host Sites build their financial capacity in a progressive manner to sustain this work. The graduated cost share structure is as follows (and is subject to change): Year 1 - $2,500 Year 2 - $5,000 Year 3 - $7,500 Years 4 & 5* - Full cost share * Most VISTA projects are able to attain sustainability by the third year of the project. However, under special circumstances, Host Sites are allowed up to two more years of the VISTA resource at full cost share rates (equal to the annual amount of a VISTA member s living allowance which is currently $11,352 and subject to a cost of living adjustment). Project Plan Sites must develop a clear, outcome-based plan of work for their VISTA member that details the antipoverty need for the project, intended outcomes, required action steps and intended results that can be tracked and measured to monitor progress. Host Sites MUST BE ABLE TO MEASURE AND DOCUMENT THE RESULTS of their efforts. Sites conditionally awarded a VISTA member must attend an all-day training (on Feb. 18 or 19) where they will be provided technical assistance to aid them in developing thorough project plans and appropriate performance measures. Submission of a detailed and thorough outcome-based work plan is the final step for potential Host Sites to be accepted into the VISTA program. Member Recruitment Host Sites are responsible for recruiting, screening and selecting VISTA applicants. This includes, but is not limited to, posting the position in the AmeriCorps online system, listing on e-job searches, putting ads in the local paper, recruiting from your current volunteer pool, etc. The Initiative Foundation supports the recruitment process by providing helpful resources and guidance. Host Sites recommend candidates to the Initiative Foundation but it is the state office of CNCS that makes final decisions regarding placement of candidates. The Foundation also conducts general statewide recruitment activities. However, the primary responsibility for filling the VISTA position rests with the Host Site. Sites should plan for an adequate amount of time in the months of April and May for recruiting, interviewing and selecting a VISTA member. Administrative Support Host Sites are expected to provide a supportive work environment including: reasonable office space, their own computer, internet access, fax, phone, professional development, service-related mileage reimbursement, etc., comparable to that of paid staff member.
Supervision Supervisors are expected to be actively and regularly involved in the VISTA member s work. Supervisor involvement is a key determinant of a successful VISTA placement. Expect that your site s VISTA Supervisor will spend an average of 10-12 hours per month supervising each VISTA member. Please take this into careful consideration when deciding whether or not to apply and when choosing a staff member for the VISTA Supervisor position. Reporting Site supervisors and VISTA members are required to complete four quarterly project progress reports per year according to Initiative Foundation guidelines. Training Attendance Site supervisors are required to attend two half-day and two full-day mandatory supervisor trainings/meetings over the course of the year. Sustainability Host Sites must ensure that the VISTA member s work is continually leading toward building organizational and/or community capacity to continue the efforts of the project once the VISTA resources are gone. Thus, all VISTA project plans must include steps to ensure the long-term viability of the project after the member is gone. VISTA Host Site Selection Host Site applications will be reviewed and recommended by a selection committee representing the interests of low-income/disadvantaged individuals, families and communities. Final decisions are made by the Initiative Foundation in consultation with CNCS staff. Applications are reviewed for The project s fit with program goals and CNCS priority focus areas (described on page 2 & 3). The project s innovative and impactful response to a substantiated community need. The organization s existing capacity to direct and support a VISTA member. The clarity and quality of work plan that clearly defines realistic/achievable goals and outcomes; responds to a real community need or opportunity; demonstrates measurable outcomes; and is logical and detailed. (Work plans are developed upon conditional selection as a VISTA Host Site with training and support provided by the Initiative Foundation and CNCS.) The organization s ability to measure and report on success. The fit with the Initiative Foundation s mission and goals (organizations accepted into the Foundation s Financial Resiliency through Social Enterprise program fitting VISTA s mission and goals will receive priority consideration). Note: Not every site accepted into the program finds a qualified VISTA candidate. As a result, more Host Sites are selected for the recruiting process than there are positions. VISTA positions are then filled on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached. As a result, it is typical that not every site recruiting ultimately hosts a VISTA member for lack of finding a qualified candidate in time.
Allowable Capacity-Building Activities Volunteer Development Create a volunteer recruitment plan Recruit program volunteers Create a volunteer management plan Implement a volunteer management plan Create volunteer policies Develop, pilot and revise volunteer training (including appreciation events) Develop a sustainability plan for passing volunteer activities onto agency staff Fund Development Create a revenue development plan Create a development calendar Conduct grant and/or donor research Develop grant application and/or donor request letter template Pursue new grant opportunities Implement donor tracking software or update donor database (for staff to maintain) Research and pilot methods for online giving including tailoring GiveMN.org webpage Develop and pilot new fundraising and/or donor recognition events (creating clear, detailed paper trail/plan) Provide revenue development training to staff Research and develop new avenues for creating revenue streams (i.e. thrift stores, organizational ebay account, fee for service opportunities, etc.) Program Development And Evaluation Research and develop new programs or services Take steps to expand current services to new geographic area Take steps to increase the effectiveness of existing services Take steps to increase the number of clients served in existing geographic area Take steps to increase the number or scope of services Take steps to reach an underserved population in existing geographic area Implement systems to gather and organize information related to client needs, referral sources, and services provided Create an outcome measurement plan where none exists Analyze outcome data/evaluate effectiveness of current services Develop and pilot methods for collecting information related to service recipient outcomes Develop and pilot methods for collecting information related to service recipient satisfaction Collect information related to service recipient satisfaction Implement systems to keep records on service recipient satisfaction and/or service recipient outcomes Analyze information related to service recipient outcomes and/or satisfaction and present conclusions to stakeholders Community Engagement/Awareness/Outreach Conduct assessment of community needs Create a map/inventory of community assets and gaps in service
Develop an organizational or program marketing plan Create or update marketing materials Create or update a website Identify areas for collaborating with partners Make presentations to community groups Determine proper use of/pilot use of social media Key Capacity-Building Questions Who would be doing this work if you had no VISTA? Who will be doing it after they re gone? Is this type of activity typically done by paid staff in other similar organizations? (VISTA members are intended to create something new and/or enhance existing efforts and not to deliver core organizational functions.) What will remain after your VISTA member is done with his/her term of service? (If nothing remains but a hole in your human resources that a VISTA member previously filled, capacity was not built.) How will the work be sustained? (Creating new programs and/or systems that cannot be sustained after the VISTA is gone is counterproductive and a waste of time and resources. Sustainability planning is an essential element of VISTA project planning.)