Request for Application: AmeriCorps VISTA Host Sites

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1 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 2015 to August The Initiative Foundation coordinates and supports VISTA members across its 14-county Central Minnesota service area. VISTAs serve in 501(c) nonprofit organizations*, educational institutions, faith-based 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, Feb. 4, Application Process and Timeline (Dates subject to change) Wednesday, Feb. 4 Deadline for submitting Host Site application: Application form can be obtained at and ed to AWhittemore@ifound.org upon completion Wednesday, Feb. 18 Sites notified of conditional selection decisions (Final project site selection is based on submission of a thorough work plan) Tuesday, Feb. 24 Full-day, mandatory work plan training for site supervisors conditionally accepted into the program; hold this date on your calendar as soon as you apply! Friday, March 13 Deadline for sites to submit work plan to the Initiative Foundation Wednesday, March 18 Sites notified of final project selection decisions Mid/Late-March Supervisor webinars on VISTA recruiting; VISTA member recruitment begins Friday, April 10 Cost-share agreement and first payment of $1,000 due to the Initiative Foundation April and May Host Sites work on recruiting, screening and selecting VISTA members Friday, June 5 Deadline for having VISTA member recruited and for submitting all required paperwork Tuesday, June 23 Half-day supervisor training Being Ready for Your VISTA Member Friday, July 11 Memorandum of Understanding due Monday, Aug. 3 Second cost-share payment of $1,500 due to the Initiative Foundation 1 st or 2 nd week of Aug. VISTA member attends Pre-Service Orientation and begins service Application materials and information can be found on our website under community tab ( Contact VISTA Program Associate Amanda Whittemore at (320) or AWhittemore@ifound.org before beginning your VISTA Host Site Application. Amanda also can assist if you have questions about the process or whether a VISTA project idea has merit and is worth pursuing.

2 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 to 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 counties. 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 15 years, the Initiative Foundation has served as a VISTA sponsoring organization supporting a total of more than 170 VISTA members placed at over 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 over $2.3 million in cash resources, leveraged more than $1.3 million in in-kind resource, and helped recruit over 8,200 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 impact on an organization s ability to serve low-income and disadvantaged people (examples of this type of work are included on page five). 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.

3 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, volunteer-based 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 anti-poverty mission and goals: Renewing Host Sites with demonstrated project success Early Childhood Initiative, Early Childhood Dental Network and Inside-Out Connection programs, Coalitions, or member agencies Financial Resiliency through Social Enterprise program participants (past, present and next round) 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 $973 monthly living allowance, a Healthcare Allowance or Health Benefit Plan, 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 $5,730 education award. Members are required to attend regular (typically monthly) trainings 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 $11,676 and subject to a cost-of-living adjustment).

4 Project Plan Sites must develop a clear, outcome-based plan of work for their VISTA member that details the anti-poverty 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. 24) 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 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.

5 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 and the Initiative Foundation s mission and goals. The project s innovative and impactful response to a substantiated community need. The organization s capacity to direct and support a VISTA member and ability to measure and report on success. 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.) 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. Examples of Allowable Capacity-Building Activities Volunteer Development Create a volunteer recruitment plan, volunteer policies, and/or recruit program volunteers Create and/or implement a volunteer management plan Develop, pilot and revise volunteer trainings (including appreciation events) Develop a sustainability plan for passing volunteer activities onto agency staff Fund Development Create a revenue development plan and development calendar; provide revenue development training to staff Conduct grant/donor research, pursue new grant opportunities and develop new avenues for creating revenue streams Implement donor tracking software or update donor database (for staff to maintain) Develop and pilot new fundraising and/or donor recognition events Program Development and Evaluation Research and develop new programs or services and/or evaluate and increase effectiveness of current services Take steps to expand current services or reach an underserved population in existing geographic area Develop and pilot methods for collecting information related to service recipient outcomes and satisfaction Analyze information related to service recipient outcomes and/or satisfaction and present conclusions to stakeholders Community Engagement/Awareness/Outreach Conduct assessment of community needs and create a map/inventory of community assets and gaps in service Develop an organizational or program marketing plan and create or update marketing materials and website Identify areas for collaborating with partners and make presentations to community groups Determine proper use of/pilot use of social media Key Capacity-Building Questions to Consider 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 systems that cannot be sustained after the VISTA is gone is counterproductive and a waste of resources. Sustainability planning is an essential element of VISTA project planning.