VISTA members generally do not provide direct services, such as tutoring children or building homes. Instead, they focus their efforts on building the organizational, administrative, and financial capacity of organizations that fight illiteracy, improve health services, foster economic develop, and otherwise assist low-income communities. VISTAs develop programs to meet a need, write grants, and recruit and train volunteers.
More information about AmeriCorps VISTA
Minnesota VISTA Programs (select list)
College Possible
VISTAs provide structural support to help low-income students get into college by working behind-the-scenes in programming, communications, external relations, and development. (Multiple deadlines throughout Fall and Winter.)
— Twin Cities, Milwaukee, Omaha, Portland, Philadelphia, and Chicago
Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration
MAVA VISTAs serve at nonprofits across the state, developing, expanding, or improving volunteer programming that connects Minnesotans to the resources they need to move out of poverty. 10 positions. (Applications available late February-March.)
Minnesota College Health Corps
VISTAs are dedicated to improving, expanding, or creating campus-community partnerships that help to provide low-income populations statewide with greater access to healthcare and health education. Eleven sites across Minnesota.
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
VISTAs will strengthen, inform, and connect nonprofits working with immigrant and refugee communities and communities of color to overcome the multiple determinants of poverty. Members are placed with various nonprofits to provide resources, capacity, and connections community-based organizations need to ensure the sustainability of their operations and increase their impact in the community. (Applications available late February-March.)
Minnesota Literacy Council
VISTAs create programs, recruit volunteers, and develop community partnerships through literacy intervention. Summer Reads VISTAs serve for eight weeks from June to August. Literacy VISTAs serve for one year from July to July. (Applications available late February-March.)
C3 Twin Cities VISTA
C3 VISTAs serve full time in nonprofit organizations to connect career, cause, and community through a service year that elevates the skills and professional relationships of the next generation of community leaders. C3 Twin Cities VISTA Positions fall into three main areas: Marketing and Communications, Outreach and Relational Development, Program Evaluation and Development. (Applications available late February-March.)
EMERGE*VISTA
EMERGE VISTA is a year-long opportunity where volunteers help to build the capacity of a local organization to carry out programs that fight poverty by recruiting and managing community volunteers, raising funds, and helping to manage projects. VISTAs also expand job opportunities, develop financial assets, reduce homelessness, reduce unemployment, increase housing opportunities, and reduce recidivism for those living in rural and urban areas of poverty across the U.S. (Deadline: Rolling April to June)
St. Paul VISTA
Saint Paul VISTA Program members work to close the education opportunity gap and support the education goals of the City of Saint Paul. VISTA members are placed at partner organizations across Saint Paul, where they build capacity for programs that support educational opportunities for young people and families. While VISTAs serve at partner host sites, members are engaged as a cohort in frequent trainings and shared time and are closely supported by Saint Paul VISTA Program staff. (Applications available late February-March.)
VISTA Opportunities in Other States
Connecticut Campus Compact VISTA
VISTAs create sustainable programs that will become institutionalized on their campus after the VISTA project period has expired. The projects focus on programs for at-risk youth, community partnerships fighting poverty, and campus-community capacity building.
Illinois Campus Compact VISTA
VISTAS work under the umbrella of increasing civic engagement on college and university campuses.
Iowa Campus Compact VISTA Project
VISTAs build organizational capacity to meet community needs, assist in creating sustainable systems, and help meet the communities’ greatest needs with a focus on eliminating poverty. Twelve placements sites with colleges or nonprofit organizations.
Maine Campus Compact VISTA
VISTAs spend a year of service on college campuses in Maine. Their work entails 1) collaborating with students, faculty, staff, and community partners, 2) supporting community service and service-learning programs, 3) developing strong campus-community partnerships focused on anti-poverty outcomes, and 4) improving access to college for low-income individuals.
Oregon VISTA Programs
A list of all the current VISTA positions in the state of Oregon with a variety of locations and application deadlines.
Serve New York VISTA
Serve New York sponsors 40+ VISTA members at community organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies across New York State. They serve agencies and organizations in behind-the-scenes roles, including program development, fundraising, volunteer recruitment and coordination, and outreach. (Applications available January)
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction VISTA Project
VISTAs build capacity through the CESAs to better serve homeless students in Wisconsin. This includes building awareness of homelessness and coordinating service providers and public schools. The VISTAs work with community partners in their region to determine what services are available and where needs exist for homeless students, keeping a focus on academic support programs for students.
Vermont Campus Compact VISTA
VISTAs help higher education institutions build capacity for the purpose of bringing individuals and communities out of poverty.
*This is not a comprehensive list of all VISTA programs.