Request for Proposals: new AmeriCorps VISTA projects

Posted by Corporation for National and Community Service on September 25, 2017

Founded in 1965, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) is a federal national service program designed to provide needed resources to nonprofit organizations and public agencies to increase their capacity to lift Americans out of poverty. In 1993, VISTA was incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs, housed at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). AmeriCorps VISTA supports efforts to alleviate poverty by recruiting Americans 18 years and older from a diverse range of backgrounds to dedicate a year of full-time service with a sponsoring organization (“sponsor”) to create or expand programs designed to empower individuals and communities in overcoming poverty. While strong progress has been made in lifting Americans out of poverty since the inception of VISTA, recent data from the United States Census Bureau identifies more than 45 million Americans still living below the poverty line.

Programming Priorities for 2018
We are looking to support new projects that address the following CNCS focus areas:
 Economic Opportunity: Safe and affordable housing, 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
 Healthy Futures: Improved access to nutritious foods and health care, and response to the opioid epidemic
 Veterans and Military Families: Providing service to veterans and military families

Project Development Process and Timeline
To start the process of seeking support for a VISTA project with your organization, please email us at PAOutreach@cns.gov to express your interest. We will follow up to discuss your project ideas, explain the concept paper and application process, and answer any questions you have. Please email us by October 20, 2017.