Table of Contents
2023 AmeriCorps VISTA Priorities
VISTA Concept Paper and Application Process
Deadlines
Guidance and Instructions
Resources for Applicants
Training and Technical Assistance
 

Founded in 1965, Volunteers in Service to America, known as "VISTA," is a federal anti-poverty national service program designed to provide resources to nonprofit organizations and public agencies to address poverty and poverty-related problems in the United States.

Through this opportunity, AmeriCorps seeks concept papers for the AmeriCorps VISTA program from outcome-driven organizations that share the AmeriCorps VISTA mission.

2023 AmeriCorps VISTA Priorities

AmeriCorps VISTA seeks to prioritize investment of national service resources in the following areas:

  • Economic Opportunity
  • Healthy Futures
  • Education
  • Veterans and Military Families
  • Environmental Stewardship
  • Priority Populations: Areas of Deep Poverty, Rural Communities, and Indian Country.
  • Additional priority consideration for projects that work in the above areas and populations that address issues of racial equity

VISTA Concept Paper and Application Process

  • Step 1: AmeriCorps VISTA Concept Paper
    Organizations submit an AmeriCorps VISTA concept paper via eGrants. The concept paper is a preliminary screening tool that AmeriCorps uses to evaluate whether the organization would be an appropriate VISTA sponsor and if the proposed project meets core criteria.
  • Step 2: AmeriCorps VISTA Project Application
    If the concept paper is accepted, the organization is invited to submit a full AmeriCorps VISTA Project Application, which includes additional narratives and performance measures.

Concept Paper Deadline

AmeriCorps will accept concept papers at four times during the fiscal year The deadline for the current cycle is Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Review the Annual Guidance, for additional cycles and their corresponding deadlines. 

Guidance and Instructions

2023 Annual Program Guidance for Current and Potential Project Sponsors (PDF)
AmeriCorps VISTA Concept Paper Instructions (PDF)
AmeriCorps VISTA Application Instructions (PDF)
AmeriCorps VISTA Standard Budget Instructions (PDF)
AmeriCorps VISTA Support Budget Instructions (PDF)
AmeriCorps VISTA Performance Measure Instructions (PDF) 

Resources for Applicants

VISTA Program Regulations
Create and Manage an eGrants account 

Training and Technical Assistance Calls & Webinars

The video recordings include external links to YouTube’s video platform. YouTube’s privacy and security practices and policies may differ from AmeriCorps’. AmeriCorps is not responsible for these links nor does it endorse the content of the third-party website.

2023 Request for Concept Papers

All live session conducted by AmeriCorps VISTA have concluded for FY 2023, live session slide decks and session recordings are available below. We encourage potential sponsor to reach out to your local AmeriCorps Regional Office for additional information on VISTA. To email local Regional Office staff handling programming in your state, email the two-letter state abbreviation followed by @cns.gov (for example if California is CA@cns.gov or Nebraska is NE@cns.gov).

Live Call Dates and Time:

How to Prepare an AmeriCorps VISTA Project Application 

This OnDemand webinar provides tips and best practices in preparing an AmeriCorps VISTA Project Application (Step 2 of the Request for Concept Paper process). 

AmeriCorps National Performance Measurement Core Curriculum

This OnDemand series will help you understand Performance Measurement in the context of AmeriCorps programming. You will learn AmeriCorps approach to performance measurement and how performance measures will be used to tell the National Service story.    

Please note that local AmeriCorps Regional Offices may conduct additional webinars. To email staff handling programming in your state, email the two-letter state abbreviation followed by @cns.gov (e.g., MD@cns.gov or CA@cns.gov).

If you are having technical difficulties with creating an account or preparing or submitting the Concept Paper in eGrants, please contact the AmeriCorps Hotline at (800)942-2677 or via Questions.

For all other application questions, please contact VISTA@americorps.gov.

Further information

Status
Open