AmeriCorps Volunteers In Service to America 94.013

 

AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program of AmeriCorps designed specifically to fight poverty. VISTA supports efforts to alleviate poverty by engaging individuals, 18 years and older, from all walks of life, in a year of full-time service with a sponsoring organization (sponsor) to create or expand programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
94.013
Federal Agency/Office
Corporation For National and Community Service
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
J - Provision of Specialized Services
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 7800 8051
Fiscal Year 2017 In FY 2017, 893 AmeriCorps VISTA projects were supported and over 8400 AmeriCorps VISTA members were placed throughout the U.S. Those VISTAs generated over $206M in cash and in-kind resources for anti-poverty projects.
Fiscal Year 2018 In the first half of FY 2018, 333 AmeriCorps VISTA projects were awarded.
Fiscal Year 2019 Accomplishments for FY2019 Total resources leveraged by VISTAs: $173,522,209 Total community volunteers mobilized: $550,502 Total volunteer hours mobilized: 3,908,327 Total individuals supported with opioid programming: 752,365
Fiscal Year 2020 AmeriCorps VISTA members serving in FY2020 were able to generate over $199M in cash and in-kind resources for their sponsoring organization’s anti-poverty programming, while mobilizing over 1.2M hours of community volunteer service to implement the programming and support the sponsoring organizations.
Fiscal Year 2021 VISTA projects operating in FY2021 were able to leverage over $199,000,000 dollars in cash and in-kind resources for their programming, as well as recruit over 310,000 community volunteers who served over 2.7 million hours.
Fiscal Year 2022 Established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 and reauthorized under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, the AmeriCorps VISTA (VISTA) program has been serving the American people in low-income communities for almost 60 years. AmeriCorps VISTA places its members with organizations focused on anti-poverty programming in economic opportunity, education, healthy futures, and other critical focus areas. In FY 2022, over 6,000 AmeriCorps members started service in the VISTA program at approximately 650 projects which reported VISTA members generating over $1.9 million in cash and in-kind resources and over 2 million hours of community volunteer service hours to build out their anti-poverty programming.
Authorization
Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended, Title I, Part A, Public Law 93-113, 42 U.S.C. 4951-49600, Statute 87,394
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
The proposed project must have a clear anti-poverty focus, include the involvement of the low-income community, and the activities must lead towards sustainability of the project. The activities of the VISTA members may not supplant staff or current volunteers. See program's Notice of Federal Funding for more information.
Beneficiary Eligibility
VISTA activities must benefit low-income persons and communities by building the capacity of the sponsoring organization to find permanent solutions to poverty. VISTAs live and serve in some of our nation's poorest areas. They receive a modest living allowance and other benefits during their service. After successfully completing a term of service, VISTAs and Summer Associates may receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, which can be used to pay for college or student loans, or an end-of-service cash stipend. Sponsors may contribute to the cost of a VISTA through "cost share," but are under no obligation to do so.
Credentials/Documentation
Various records and forms required for first time applicants, as well as a copy of the applicant's last audit, may be requested. First time applicants must certify financial systems. Continuing sponsors may be asked to update initial documentation.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. See program's Notice of Funding Opportunity and application instructions for information on other application procedures.
Award Procedure
See program's Notice of Funding Opportunity and application instructions for information on other application procedures.
Deadlines
Notice of Funding Opportunities, with important dates and deadlines, are listed here: https://americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 90 to 120 days. Eligible applicants may be public sector organizations or private nonprofits as designed by the IRS. For-profit entities are not eligible. Public sector organizations including state, local and Tribal entities as well as private non-profit organizations are eligible to apply. The beneficiaries of VISTA projects must be low-income communities or individuals within the United States and its territories.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
From 120 to 180 days. Renewal applications are required annually at least 120 days prior to the end of the project period. Renewals are subject to the same review procedures as new projects.
How are proposals selected?
All of the following elements must be found in the applicant's proposal for new or renewal projects. The project must: (1) be poverty oriented in scope and comply with the provisions of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 applicable to VISTA and all published regulations and AmeriCorps policies; (2) show that the project goals, objectives and Volunteer tasks are attainable within the time frame during which the Volunteers will be serving on the project and will produce a measurable result; (3) must recruit and involve low-income community residents in the planning, development and implementation of the VISTA project; (4) provide for frequent and effective supervision of the Volunteers; (5) identify resources needed and make them available for Volunteers to perform their tasks; and (6) have the management capability to carry out the project.
How may assistance be used?
See program's Notice of Funding Opportunity and Annual Program Guidance at https://americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities. This is not a grant-based program.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: AmeriCorps and its VISTA sponsors are required to practice risk-based monitoring and routine field and desk-based oversight of all project/grant awards and expenditures.
Auditing
Audits are required only for those projects receiving cash grants. AmeriCorps grants are subject to audit by AmeriCorps employees, the AmeriCorps Inspector General, the Government Accountability Office, and auditors contracted by AmeriCorps.
Records
Sponsors are expected to maintain records pertaining to volunteer assignments and training activities for 3 years after the end of the project year. Grant recipients must maintain all grant financial and program records for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final Federal Financial Report for the award. This includes but is not limited to all financial records including receipts, disbursements, and vouchers for federal and non-federal costs; time cards, copies of all contracts, personnel records, and job descriptions; program execution and performance records, criminal history checks, and similar records to reflect all activities and spending performed under the award. Note that all individuals receiving a salary, living allowance, stipend, National Trust Education Award or similar compensation through a national service program funded by AmeriCorps must first clear a National Service Criminal History Check and those check records must be maintained within grant records.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Assistance is awarded for approximately one year at a time, up to an average of 3-4 years total. Note that, with certain small exceptions, the VISTA program does not grant financial resources to organizations, but rather provides the resource through the placement of a VISTA member. VISTA slots are awarded upfront but placement of actual VISTA members may occur throughout the year.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
AmeriCorps maintains regional offices. Refer to the AmeriCorps website for address and contact information: http://www.americorps.gov/contact/region-offices. Notice of Funding Opportunities are listed here: https://americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities
Headquarters Office
Kelly L. Daly,
250 E Street SW
Washington, DC 20525 US
VISTA@americorps.gov
Phone: (202) 606-6849

Robert Cox
250 E Street SW
Washington, DC 20525 USA
VISTA@americorps.gov
Phone: 202-606-6851
Website Address
https://americorps.gov/partner/how-it-works/americorps-vista
Financial Information
Account Identification
95-2728-1-2-000
Obligations
(Provision of Specialized Services) FY 22$22,376,854.00; FY 23 est $44,239,706.00; FY 24 est $44,239,706.00; FY 21$26,655,270.00; FY 20$25,589,742.00; FY 19$91,097,526.00; FY 18$92,364,000.00; FY 17$92,364,000.00; FY 16 est $92,364,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
See program's Notice of Funding Opportunity for information.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
45 CFR 1201
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2023 The Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA Program places AmeriCorps members for year-long terms of service at colleges and universities and with their community partners. The AmeriCorps members build capacity for their host sites, working behind-the-scenes to expand and improve programs that impact low-income people on college campuses and in communities—helping to fulfill the public purposes of higher education and lift individuals and communities out of poverty.

 



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