AmeriCorps VISTA Program
Purpose
Since 2014, CRC has hosted the Rural VISTA Intermediary Project. The goal of the project is to provide national service members the opportunity to deliver indirect services to build the organizational, administrative, and financial capacity of nonprofit organizations. AmeriCorps VISTA members work in direct partnership with CRC and non-profits located across Colorado. CRC brings the experience and connections necessary to effectively create systemic change in the non-profit landscape.
To address emergent needs of organizations across Colorado, CRC launched GrantCorps in 2022. GrantCorps AmeriCorps VISTA Members provide information, training and 1:1 technical support to nonprofit organizations in grant development across Colorado. Nonprofit organizations are defined as those with 501(c)3 status and/or working under the fiscal sponsorship of a 501(c)3 organization. GrantCorps focuses on working with small, rural, and systemically marginalized communities, as well as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-led organizations, with an annual budget of less than $1M, and that are currently experiencing challenges accessing private and government grant funding.
By focusing on high-demand career pathways in the non-profit sector, such as Data Analysts and Grant Writers, CRC helps prepare VISTA members with the tools they need to succeed in the areas of non-profit fund development.
Impact
Over the past two years, seven VISTA Members have served in GrantCorps, with the first four members beginning in October 2022, and a second cohort of three in August 2023. Since June of 2022, GrantCorps has reached 160 partner organizations with information, training, and technical support. Of these organizations, 118 participated in training, and over 325 hours of 1:1 coaching, and consultation was provided which resulted in $1,189,297 in grant dollars applied for.
Moving forward, CRC’s goal is to build on the success of the GrantCorps project by continuing to host GrantCorps VISTA Members, and work alongside small, rural, or BIPOC-led organizations to increase their grant development capacity, and to build greater grant equity across Colorado.
Opportunities to Get Involved
At this time, CRC is not actively recruiting AmeriCorps VISTA Member positions or organization host-sites. We anticipate having more information about upcoming opportunities in the summer of 2024, and will post information here.
CRC currently hosts AmeriCorps VISTA Members that work alongside organizations across rural Colorado as part of the GrantCorps program and Rural VISTA Intermediary Project. This has been a 10-year project from 2014-2024. These Members will complete their terms in 2024-2025. Future opportunities for AmeriCorps VISTA Members to serve with CRC and partner organizations are in development, and our goal is to host up to five AmeriCorps VISTA Members, serving in the GrantCorps project, beginning in early 2025.
- More information on VISTA can be found here: AmeriCorps VISTA | AmeriCorps
- To apply for open VISTA Member positions across the country, visit: https://my.americorps.gov/
- Or contact AmeriCorps VISTA Headquarters at: email hidden; JavaScript is required
For questions about CRC’s AmeriCorps GrantCorps VISTA project, please contact:
Katy Pepinsky | Director of Grant Services, email hidden; JavaScript is required, Pronouns: she/her/ella (What’s this?). Hablo español