SELECTING WHICH A MERICORPS PROGR A M BEST FITS YOUR NEEDS
Use this chart to determine the AmeriCorps program that best fits your needs. CATEGORY
A MERICORPS
A MERICORPS
A MERICORPS
STATE AND NATIONAL
VISTA
NCCC
Direct service and some capacity-building activities.
Indirect service and capacitybuilding activities only.
Sample activities: tutor and mentor youth, restore parks and help recruit community volunteers to expand the reach and effectiveness of the organization where they serve.
Sample activities: create programs and systems, grant write and fundraise, plan events, recruit volunteers, research, and outreach.
Intensive short-term service for specific “hands on” projects provided by a team of AmeriCorps members.
Member Service Terms
Flexible Options: Full-time (1,700 hours), Three-quarter time (1,200 hours), Half-time (900 hours), Reduced Half-time (675 hours), Quarter-Time (450 hours), Minimum-Time (300 hours)
Full time only: 12 months (365 days), but existing VISTA projects can also apply for a VISTA Summer Associates program for short-term summer members on a case-by-case basis.
Project ‘spikes’ last between 3-13 weeks per location. Sponsors must provide 40 hours/week of service activities for the team to complete.
Training and Supervision
Host organization is responsible for all AmeriCorps member training, onboarding, and supervision, with some exceptions as provided by the state service commission.
Federal AmeriCorps agency provides a virtual Pre-Service Orientation (PSO) to all new VISTA members. Site-specific training and supervision is the responsibility of the grantee.
NCCC regional campus provides training, while the host organization provides on-site technical oversight and direction with the team each day.
Stipend, Benefits, and Support Costs
Living allowance/stipend and benefits (required for full-time members) are administered directly by the grantee/host organization. Programs can use federal AmeriCorps grant funds or match funding to cover member support costs.
Typically administered by the federal AmeriCorps agency (unless awarded a VISTA Program Grant).
Administered by the federal AmeriCorps agency, but hosting organizations must provide lodging and cooking facilities for AmeriCorps teams.
AmeriCorps Roles and Activities
Sample activities: summer camps, special event logistics, revitalization projects.
National Service 101
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