The Greater South Sound VISTA Program Is Seeking Host Organizations

October 29, 2021, Olympia, Wash. The Greater South Sound VISTA program is seeking applications from organizations interested in hosting a full-time AmeriCorps member for one year, starting in either August 2022 or November 2022.

Greater South Sound Volunteers in Service to America (GSSVISTA) provides talented, passionate AmeriCorps members to nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and tribal governments. Its goal is to help create or enhance anti-poverty programs by expanding the capacity of local organizations. We work with organizations in seven Washington state counties (Thurston, Pierce, Clallam, Lewis, Mason, Jefferson, and Grays Harbor County) from headquarters at United Way of Thurston County in Olympia, WA. 

AmeriCorps members in the GSSVISTA program serve full-time in an office setting and gain experience and leadership skills. Organizations can assign a range of capacity-building activities to the member. These include fundraising, program design, grant writing, communications, research, and volunteer recruitment.    

How to Apply

Applications are due January 31, 2022. For application instructions and more information about hosting, please see the Request for Applications. For additional assistance regarding the application, please contact Sarah McWilliams, Greater South Sound VISTA Program Manager, at smcwilliams@unitedway-thurston.org or call (360) 943-2773 x122. For eligibility requirements, please see the Request for Applications. 

NEW Focus Area! - AmeriCorps has added Environmental Stewardship as a Focus Area for the VISTA program. “The AmeriCorps VISTA program will support anti-poverty initiatives that focus on environmental stewardship and climate change in low-income communities. Priority areas include: 1) Renewable energy and energy efficiency 2) Building community resilience 3) Conservation and habitat preservation.” - VISTA Program Guidance 

The above was provided to The JOLT by United Way of Thurston County.