Host an NYC VISTA Member
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Overview of NYC VISTA Program for Host Sites:
NYC VISTA, an AmeriCorps program administered by NYC Service since 2015, places NYC VISTA members at City agencies focused on lifting New Yorkers out of poverty for a year service term. NYC VISTA members expand the ability of City agency host sites to fight poverty by building infrastructure, expanding community partnerships, and securing long-term resources.
NYC VISTA Mission: NYC VISTA partners with City agencies to increase the agencies' capacity through innovating projects that are designed to serve New Yorkers experiencing poverty.
NYC VISTA Vision: New York City residents experiencing poverty are able to more easily access critical city services to help their economic condition.
Note: As members are not considered employees of the City of New York but rather are AmeriCorps members who are placed at agencies for their term of service, members do not count towards agency headcount.
NYC VISTA Host Site Applications are Currently Closed.
To learn more about NYC VISTA or if you need assistance during the application process, please contact servicerecruitment@cityhall.nyc.gov to schedule an information call.
Review our 2023-2024 Info Session Deck.
- Host Site Criteria and Eligibility
- Must be a NYC government agency.
- Must have a poverty-focused project for the duration of 365 days that is composed of solely capacity building activities and not direct service (please see more information below).
- Host site must be able to provide space and access to technology systems for each NYC VISTA member.
- Host site must provide a supervisor for their NYC VISTA member(s) who will be able to provide guidance, management, and coaching support.
- Supervisor must be able to attend a full-day orientation prior to the start of the NYC VISTA program.
- Supervisor must be able to attend three two-hour training sessions throughout the program year.
- What You'll Need
- VISTA Assignment Description (VAD) - Agencies are required to submit a proposal detailing each potential project the member will be serving on. If you are requesting more than one member for a project, then you only need to submit one VAD for that project
- VADs must be in the appropriate template (see the Resources Tab for templates, sample VADs, and guides to help applicants navigate VADs)
- Service Opportunity Listing (SOL) – Agencies are required to submit a brief, clear snapshot of the VISTA position for applicants to see when applying for positions.
- Your organization’s Sexual Harassment and/or Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) policy
- Host Site Application Process
Step 1: Review and collect all supplemental materials prior to submitting your application
- Financial Commitment: Agencies hosting an NYC VISTA member pay a host site fee and are expected to place their member on their payroll, submitting payroll records for reimbursed quarterly.
- Direct Supervisor Expectations
Step 2: Complete your VAD(s) and SOL(s) using the templates below
Step 3: Submit online application
- Make sure you have attached the following materials
- VADs and SOLs for all requested positions
Step 4: Interview with NYC Service
- If selected to move forward, supervisors will be invited to participate in an interview on a rolling basis starting in December. The interview will take approximately 30 minutes and is a time for NYC Service to learn more about your supervision experience, go over expectations for the upcoming program year, and discuss your proposed project(s).
- Note for returning host site applicants: Past performance as a host site will be discussed during the supervisor interview and taken into consideration when evaluating the overall application.
Step 5: Accept your Offer!
- If selected, each host site will sign an MOU agreeing to the terms of having an AmeriCorps member placed at your host site. This will include agreeing to the financial commitment. The MOU and a partial amount of the financial commitment is due before members will be able to start at the host site. (See payment schedule on sources of funding and commitment sheet)
- NYC Service will support accepted organizations with recruitment of NYC VISTA members, as well as provide a supervisor orientation, trainings, and ongoing support.
- Financial Commitment for Host Sites
The AmeriCorps VISTA Program at the federal level requires that programs of a certain size provide cost share to cover the living stipends for the additional member slots. If your agency is requesting more than one NYC VISTA member, you will be required to cost share each additional NYC VISTA member. See the below cost-share table to estimate how much your agency may pay. Current cost share/member is $29,123.56. (Note: VISTA typically increases the living stipend each July to keep pace with the cost of living. This amount may increase slightly, and NYC Service will inform host sites when more information is provided). Agency Budget Codes for cost-shares will be shared with NYC Service, and money will be transferred from your agency’s budget.
Each city agency is required to provide a monthly unlimited MetroCard for each member for the duration of service. ($127/month/per member; $1,524 total) Use the chart to calculate your cost share:
Review the host site fees and the financial commitment expected from a host site partner.
| Number of Members |
Number of Cost-Share(s) |
Total Amount Your Agency will Pay per Year* |
| 1 |
0 |
$0 |
| 2 |
1 |
$29,043.56 |
| 3-5 |
2 |
$58,087.12 |
| 6+ |
3 |
$87,130.68 |
* The cost-share amount is subject to change as AmeriCorps VISTA changes the member stipend slightly in July to keep up with the cost of living. This change will be communicated to all host sites once it takes effect.
- More Information on NYC VISTA
NYC VISTA members serve full time from August 2024 - August 2025.
Member benefits include:
- Living stipend - $24,669.12
- Relocation allowance if member is relocating more than 50 miles
- Education award – approx. $7,395 or end-of-service cash stipend of $1,800
- Monthly unlimited MetroCard
- Healthcare benefits
- Childcare (if eligible)
- Student loan forbearance
- Non-competitive eligibility for a federal government position, if qualified
The NYC VISTA Program (the “Program”) is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any program, activity, or service that it provides, including access to its services by individuals with Limited English Proficiency (“LEP”). To ensure no denial of access, the Program complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Local Law 30, including the setting forth a Language Access Implementation Plan by NYC Service, which is located here: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/immigrants/downloads/pdf/MO-LAIP-2020.pdf. Information on Local Law 30 is located here: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/immigrants/downloads/pdf/Local_Law_30.pdf.
For questions, please contact us:
NYC Service
c/o National Service Team
253 Broadway, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10007
E-mail: nycvista@cityhall.nyc.gov
Phone: 212-788-3209
- Resources
VAD and SOL Resources
NYC VISTA Information
Definitions
What does "Capacity-Building" mean?
As a general rule, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) considers capacity building activities to be indirect services that enable CNCS-supported organizations to provide more, better and sustained direct service. Capacity building activities must:
- Be intended to support or enhance the program delivery model;
- Respond to the organization’s goal of increasing, expanding or enhancing services in order to address the pressing needs identified in the community; and
- Enable the organization to provide a sustained level of more or better direct services after the VISTA member’s term of service has ended.
What does "Direct Service" mean?
Within the context of CNCS’s framework, direct service refers to any form of assistance provided directly by the individuals, targeted groups and communities that make up the beneficiary population. For example, direct service may entail face-to-face housing assistance, tutoring, or disaster response service. Direct service may also entail hands-on environmental improvements performed by the VISTA member.
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