AmeriCorps Vista - Fact Sheets

AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) taps the skills, talents, and passion of more than 7,000 Americans annually to support community efforts to overcome poverty. The program's nationwide corps of VISTAs commits full-time for a year at nonprofit organizations or local government agencies to build the capacity of these organizations to carry out programs that fight poverty. VISTAs recruit and manage community volunteers, raise funds, and help manage projects. VISTAs support programs that improve academic performance, expand job opportunities, develop financial assets, reduce homelessness, and improve health services. They also support programs that increase housing opportunities, increase economic opportunities for low-income veterans and military families, and expand access to technology for those living in rural and urban areas of poverty across America.

Core Principles of AmeriCorps VISTA

Anti-Poverty Focus: AmeriCorps VISTA supports community efforts to overcome poverty. Any nonprofit organization, educational institution, or tribal or public agency with a project explicitly designed to alleviate poverty may sponsor a VISTA.

Community Empowerment: AmeriCorps VISTA values the inherent strengths and resources of the community. VISTA expects project sponsors to involve residents of the community in planning, developing, and implementing the VISTA project. This approach allows low-income individuals the freedom to speak for themselves in determining the projects that suit their specific needs.

Capacity Building: AmeriCorps VISTA expands the ability of sponsor organizations to fight poverty. VISTAs strengthen and support organizations by building infrastructure, expanding community partnerships, securing long-term resources, coordinating training for participants, and much more. These capacity-building activities enable organizations to provide better services to low-income individuals and communities.

Sustainable Solutions: VISTAs serve as a shortterm resource to help sponsor organizations achieve lasting solutions to poverty.

Become an AmeriCorps VISTA

AmeriCorps VISTA is open to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents age 18 and older. Based on their skills and interests, VISTAs choose from projects throughout the country or in their own communities and serve full time for one year with communitybased organizations. During their service, VISTAs receive a living allowance, as well as health care, child care, training, relocation expenses, and liability insurance. After a successful year of service, VISTAs receive either a $1,500 stipend or a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award equal to the maximum amount of the federal Pell Grant. The award can be used to pay for educational expenses at qualified institutions of higher education, or to pay back qualified student loans. For VISTA service approved in fiscal year 2012, the education award is $5,550.*

Find out more at AmeriCorps.gov
Or call 800-942-2677
TTY 800-833-3722

Sponsor a Project

Any nonprofit organization or public agency involved in alleviating poverty may partner with AmeriCorps VISTA to develop a project and host VISTAs. Potential sponsors must have the capacity and commitment to recruit, train, supervise, and support VISTAs.

Contact the local CNCS State Office
Or call 202-606-5000 TTY 800-833-3722
Email: vista@americorps.gov

Corporation for National and Community Service

AmeriCorps VISTA is an anti-poverty program created by the federal government in 1964. The first class of VISTAs began serving in 1965. In 1993, VISTA became part of AmeriCorps, a network of national and community service programs that engages more than 80,000 members annually in intensive service to meet critical needs in disaster services, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, health, and veterans and military affairs. AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. Each year CNCS engages more than five million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet local needs through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information on CNCS and to find contact information for CNCS State Offices, visit www.NationalService.gov

February 2012