MCF NEWS ARCHIVES
2/15/05 

Initiative Foundation Seeks Nonprofits for VISTA Program

To help reduce poverty in central Minnesota, the Initiative Foundation, Little Falls, is seeking nonprofits interested in having a full-time VISTA volunteer on their staff for at least one year.

In partnership with the AmeriCorps national service program, the foundation will place 12 Volunteers in Service to America (VISTAs) in charitable nonprofit organizations serving Benton, Cass, Crow Wing, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena or Wright Counties.

Nonprofits are invited to submit VISTA project inquiries. Those selected as finalists will be invited to submit a full application. VISTAs are scheduled to begin work in August. According to Dan Frank, the foundation’s community development specialist, the following project types will be given highest consideration:

• Faith-based initiatives.

• Youth development and community service efforts.

• Mentorship programs.

• Local job training programs.

• Family support programs for inmates.

"Our strategy is to place VISTAs in those nonprofits that give them the best opportunity to work themselves out of a job within three years," Frank said.

Nonprofits interview and select their own VISTA volunteers from a pool of local and national candidates. VISTAs receive training, health insurance and an $816 monthly living allowance from the AmeriCorps program. The program also provides a $4,725 education award or $1,200 cash stipend at the end of each year of service. Nonprofits must share the cost of VISTA employment for service beyond one year.

Nonprofits must submit project inquiries by February 28.

For more information or a project inquiry application, contact Dan Foster, Initiative Foundation VISTA leader, at 877.632.9255 toll-free or dfoster@ifound.org.

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