In late spring-early summer of each year, the Initiative Foundation recruits and selects VISTA members to serve in a wide variety of poverty-fighting projects across central Minnesota. 

The VISTA program can be a great opportunity for young people who desire more professional experiences, casualties of downsizing who want to “try on” a new career path, retirees seeking to “give back” or just about any other adult with the desire to make a difference. 

Individuals interested in serving as potential VISTA members can review specific Initiative Foundation VISTA position descriptions by searching the database on the AmeriCorps website or by browsing the list below.  (Individuals must apply online via the national website.)

Read these step-by-step instructions for applying. If you still have questions, contact Chris Fastner, Initiative Foundation VISTA Program Manager for more information.

• Assumption Community Services/Rural Stearns Faith in Action (Cold Spring), Volunteer Development
• BiCounty Action Program (Walker), Program & Financial Development
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota (St. Cloud), Volunteer & Financial Development
  
• Braham Horizons Team/City of Braham (Braham), Community Development
  
• Catholic Charities - Legal Immigration Services/La Cruz (St Cloud), Volunteer & Program Development
  
• Central Lakes College/Upward Bound (Brainerd), Youth Program Development
  
• Changing Gaits, Inc. (Brook Park), Volunteer & Program Development
  
• Community Voice Mail (St. Cloud), Partner Development / Outreach
  
• Cuyuna Range Youth Center (Crosby), Volunteer & Program Development
• Functional Industries, Inc. (St Cloud), Program Development & Outreach
  
• Girl Scouts of MN & WI Lakes & Pines (Bemidji), Outreach & Partner Development
  
• Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project (Brainerd), Program Development
  
• Northland Area Family Center (Longville), Program Development
  
• Perseverancia (Cold Spring), Program Development
  
• Pine City & Horizons Team (Pine City), Community Development
  
• Pine Technical College - ETC (Pine City), Program Development
• Pregnancy Resource Center of Cambridge (Cambridge), Volunteer Development
  
• Region Five Local Foods Program (Staples), Program Development
  
• Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (Pine River), Technical Research & Development
  
• TriCounty Action Program (St Cloud), Program & Volunteer Development
  
• United Cerebral Palsy of Central MN (St. Cloud), Program & Fund Development
  
• Volunteers of America of Minnesota (Isle-Wahkon), Program & Volunteer Development

Project Sites:

VISTA Project Sites are normally selected through an RFI (Request for Inquiries) process in January each year. Selected sites, with the assistance of the Initiative Foundation, recruit qualified candidates in the spring and VISTAs typically begin their year of service in mid-August. In rare instances, sites and VISTAs may be allowed into the program outside of the timeline described above.

Nonprofits and government agencies interested in hosting a VISTA volunteer should contact Chris Fastner, VISTA Program Manager. Projects that focus on one or more of the following will be given highest priority in the annual selection process.

• Existing Initiative Foundation AmeriCorps*VISTA Project Sites that have demonstrated progress towards their identified work plan goals and that have successfully met the requirements of the program.
• Project Sites that are currently or have been active participants in other Initiative Foundation efforts (including the Healthy Organization Partnership, Healthy Community Partnership, Early Childhood or Methamphetamine Coalitions, etc.) and, within the context of these programs, want to more directly address the needs of community members in poverty.
• Faith-based initiatives, financial literacy and financial asset-building efforts, and projects designed to increase civic engagement of recent immigrants.
  

Project Site Application Forms:

>Request for Inquiries
>Project Site Inquiry Form

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