VISTA - often referred to as the domestic Peace Corps - is a national service program whose members serve full time for a year in eligible host sites to create and strengthen services and programs that help to alleviate and eliminate poverty.
As an AmeriCorps VISTA sponsoring organization, the Initiative Foundation oversees the recruiting, placement, training and supervision of 20 VISTA members across central MN. Host sites interview and select their own VISTAs from a pool of local and national candidates.
VISTA members receive an $927 monthly living allowance, medical coverage and professional training to help enable them to serve. Upon successful completion of a year of service, VISTA members can choose between a $5,550 education award or a $1,500 cash stipend. VISTA host sites support the program by paying a graduated cost share contribution each year of their VISTA project.
Over the past ten years Initiative Foundation VISTAs have contributed in a wide variety of ways including:
Raising over $1.6 million in cash resources.
Securing nearly $1.1 million in in-kind resources.
Helping their host sites manage over 21,000 volunteers who provided over 234,000 hours of community service.
