Appendix B
Applying for a VISTA Project
Before a VISTA is assigned to a sponsor, the organization must have in place an VISTA project that addresses the needs of a low-income community. The community and sponsoring organization work collaboratively to design the project. The sponsor must design a VISTA’s assignment so that when the project is completed, the lowincome community is better equipped to solve its own problems, and the systems, services, funding, and personnel remain in the community to continue the efforts initiated by the project. The low-income beneficiary community must be involved in the planning and development of the VISTA project. The VISTA project sponsored by your organization parallels a concept paper and application developed and submitted to the Corporation State Office in your state. The application details the specific problem the project addresses in the low-income community. It includes a project plan that describes the activities the VISTAs are undertaking and a set of goals and objectives for the overall project.
Project Application The project application details the specific problem the project will address in the low-income community, provides a set of goals and objectives for the overall project, and includes a project plan that describes the activities the VISTA will undertake. The project application also serves important assessment and recruitment purposes. The project plan portion of the application is the basis of subsequent Project Progress Reports, which Corporation staff uses to monitor the achievement of project goals.
Primary Emphasis Areas The VISTA program’s overall mission is to assist local communities in the fight against poverty; however, each year specific program initiatives are highlighted for new project development. These initiatives may be set by the Corporation, the U.S. President, or Congress. Your Corporation State Office will provide information about the key program elements highlighted each year. Although specific initiatives are emphasized annually, VISTA projects need to contain the following elements:
Anti-Poverty Focus — The purpose of VISTA is to support efforts to fight poverty. Any nonprofit organization, educational institution, tribal or public agency with a program that is poverty-related in scope can apply to sponsor a VISTA project. The project’s goal should address helping individuals and communities overcome poverty through long-term solutions rather than through short-term services.
59