AmeriCorps*VISTA Request for Concept Papers

Posted by on October 22, 2012

The Pennsylvania State Office of the Corporation for National and Community Service announces an opportunity, subject to availability of resources, to develop new AmeriCorps*VISTA projects in Pennsylvania. This Request for Concept Papers is open to organizations that are NOT current VISTA sponsors.  Please share this notice with your networks, and contact the CNCS Pennsylvania State Office at PAOutreach@cns.gov with any questions.

AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is a full-time, national service program for individuals interested in developing lasting solutions to the problems of poverty in the United States.  AmeriCorps*VISTA members serve in community and faith-based non-profit organizations, Indian Tribes, and with local governments to develop and expand services and programs that help bring low-income individuals out of poverty.

Public organizations such as state and local governments, Indian Tribes, and non-profit private organizations can apply to be VISTA sponsors. Please note that eligible non-profit private organizations are not limited to those with IRS 501(c) (3) status, but rather all organizations with IRS 501(c) status that focus on anti-poverty community development; organizations that focus solely on advocacy and lobbying are not eligible.

The Pennsylvania State Office is accepting Concept Papers that propose to address the following focus areas from the Corporation’s 2011-2015 Strategic Plan:

Economic Opportunity: Safe and affordable housing for vulnerable families, enhanced financial literacy, and employment training and access
Education: Improved school readiness and academic performance in K-12 schools, increased graduation rates and college enrollment and retention, and activities related to Turnaround Schools, School Improvement Grant (SIG) programs, and Together for Tomorrow
Healthy Futures: Improved access to nutritious foods and health care
Veterans and Military Families: Engaging veterans in service, providing service to veterans and military families

The Pennsylvania State Office will give priority to projects of at least three VISTA members. If your agency cannot program or administratively support this number of full-time members, collaborative partnerships that have similar programmatic focus will be considered. To learn more about this process and express an interest in pursuing potential partnerships, please contact the Pennsylvania State Office.

For more information and to obtain the actual Request For Concept Papers (RFCP), please email PAOutreach@cns.gov.  Note, the RFCP is due December 3, 2012.