CNCS New Mexico Seeks Applications from Nonprofits for AmeriCorps VISTA Program

 

SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service New Mexico State Program Office seeks applications for the AmeriCorps VISTA program from innovative, high-performing and outcome driven organizations that share the VISTA mission to provide long term solutions to poverty. This Request for Concept Paper (RFCP) is for placement of VISTA members contingent on FY14 federal budget decisions. Organizations interested in sponsoring an AmeriCorps VISTA project in New Mexico are invited to submit a concept paper to the Corporation for National and Community Service New Mexico State Office no later than April 11, 2014 or by emailing the concept paper to [email protected].

 

AGENCY DESCRIPTION: The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) (www.nationalservice.gov) is the federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its core programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and the Social Innovation Fund. As the nation’s largest grant-maker for service and volunteering, CNCS plays a critical role in strengthening America’s nonprofit sector and addressing our nation’s challenges through service. The mission of CNCS is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.

 

PROGRAM TITLE: AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America)

 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Authorized in the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, VISTA is a highly professional and rigorous volunteer service program, through which national service members serve with organizations full time for one year. VISTA projects focus on building permanent capacity and infrastructure in nonprofit and other organizations to help more effectively bring individuals and communities out of poverty.

 

The AmeriCorps VISTA program places AmeriCorps VISTA members at sponsoring organizations that absorb most of the costs related to project supervision and logistical support. CNCS provides a modest living allowance and certain benefits for members. Investment by the sponsoring organization and the community is fundamental to the VISTA program, as the VISTA resources are intended to be short-term.  To achieve its program purpose, VISTA operates under the following core principles:

 

The purpose of VISTA is to support efforts to fight poverty. Any nonprofit organization, educational institution, or tribal or public agency with a program that is poverty-related in scope may be considered for VISTA project sponsorship. The project should address helping individuals and communities out of poverty, not simply making poverty more tolerable through short-term services.

 

Sponsoring organizations ensure that the project engages residents of low-income communities in planning, developing and implementing the project. The project must be responsive and relevant to the lives of the community residents, and should tap into inherent community assets, strengths, and resources.

 

VISTA members provide short-term human resources to build long-term sustainability of anti-poverty programs. All VISTA projects should be developed with the goal to phase out the need for VISTA members and strengthen the ability of the project to continue indefinitely.

 

VISTA members do not provide direct services to low-income individuals; rather, they work to increase the capacity of organizations to fight poverty. Through activities such as fundraising, establishment of community volunteer recruitment and management systems, community outreach, and collaborative development, VISTA members mobilize local resources to achieve lasting solutions to poverty. Projects focus on achieving impactful outcomes on the community and/or beneficiary population.

 

Public organizations such as state and local government organizations, Indian Tribes, and nonprofit private organizations may apply to be VISTA sponsors. Please note that eligible nonprofit 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. Organizations may be local, state, or national. Sponsors must be able to direct the project, recruit and supervise the VISTA members, and provide necessary administrative support to complete the goals of the project. Organizations that have previously sponsored VISTA projects for more than 3 years may apply only with a new project and program emphasis and must demonstrate a prior successful record in project management and achieving results.

 

The New Mexico State Office will select applications from those organizations that demonstrate the greatest ability to effectively manage the project with a high probability of success; have the greatest impact on low-income communities; and address the Corporation’s focus areas outlined in the 2011-2015 Strategic Plan. A VISTA project may be continued for up to three years; however, projects are considered for renewal on a year-to-year basis, depending on the availability of resources, program performance, and the priorities of CNCS.

 

The New Mexico State Program Office seeks applications for VISTA projects with a minimum of five full time VISTA members. If an applicant is unable to administratively support at least 5 full time members, the applicant may collaborate partnering organizations and consider applying as an intermediary for multiple sites that can host members. The New Mexico State Office will consider requests for up to $20,000 to support supervision and transportation expenses related to managing the VISTA members for projects that mobilize more than ten members.

 

Applying to sponsor an AmeriCorps VISTA project is a two part process. First, an organization must submit a concept paper to the CNCS New Mexico State Office. Directions to do so are outlined in this PDF. Upon approval of the concept paper, the organization will then be invited to submit a full length application. Details for submitting the full length application will be provided to the organization upon approval of the concept paper.

 

Organizations interested in sponsoring an AmeriCorps VISTA project in New Mexico with five or more AmeriCorps VISTA members are invited to submit a concept paper to the Corporation for National and Community Service New Mexico State Office no later than April 11, 2014 by emailing the concept paper to [email protected]. You will also need to upload the concept paper through the CNCS eGrants system.