Request for Proposals for New AmeriCorps VISTA Project(s) in Alaska Applications due April 6, 2012.

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1 DATE: SUBJECT: February 27, 2012 Request for Proposals for New AmeriCorps VISTA Project(s) in Alaska Applications due April 6, INTRODUCTION The Alaska Field Office of the Corporation for National and Community Service announces an opportunity, subject to availability of funds, to develop new AmeriCorps*VISTA projects to fill unmet needs. Depending on funding, we expect to fill approximately 15 new VISTA positions across the state. Please share this notice widely with your networks and contact the CNCS Alaska Field Office at with any questions. AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Authorized in 1964 and founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965, VISTA was incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 45 years. We are seeking partners to host full- time VISTA positions, at no cost to you, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, and strengthen community organizations, all dependent on your needs. AmeriCorps VISTA covers the cost of a series of benefits and services for the AmeriCorps VISTA members and your organization: A Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or post- service stipend. Health coverage for all members assigned to your project Payroll services: Members receive their paychecks directly from AmeriCorps VISTA. Training in project management and leadership for members and project supervisor. Travel costs associated with training. Moving allowance for members relocating to serve. Liability coverage for all members, under the Federal Employees Compensation Act and the Federal Torts Claims Act. Child care for income- eligible members. Assistance with recruiting members. Public organizations such as state and local government, Tribes, and non- profit private organizations can apply to be VISTA sponsors. Please note that eligible non- profit private organizations are not limited to those with IRS 501(c) (3) status, but rather all organizations with IRS 501(c) status that focus on anti- poverty community development; organizations that focus solely on advocacy and lobbying are not eligible. Applications that propose to address the following will be considered: Veterans: Engaging Veterans in service, service to Veterans and military families Healthy Futures: Reducing obesity rates, increasing health and wellness for all Americans, access to food and nutrition, access to health care

2 Economic Opportunity: Safe and affordable housing for vulnerable families and employment access and training Education: Increasing graduation rates in low- income communities, improving grade level performance, Turnaround School activities Environmental Stewardship: weatherization, energy efficiency, etc. for low income communities Eligible applicants interested in sponsoring an AmeriCorps VISTA project, for up to 3 members, are invited to submit an application (see attached template), via to ak@cns.gov by Friday, April 6, Any additional positions requested above 3; you are to reimburse CNCS for the living allowance paid to the member(s). The living allowances are based on where the member serves and are set as follows: $1,210/month ($14,520 annually) Locations not noted below $1,166/month ($13,992 annually) Sitka, Valdez, Cordova, SE Fairbanks, Mat- Su, and Ketchikan Census Areas $1,097/month ($13,164 annually) Skagway, Hoonah, and Angoon Census Areas Scope of Project Subject to availability of funds, up to 15 AmeriCorps*VISTA positions will be awarded on a full- time basis for one year of service to 5 or more new VISTA sponsoring organizations. The Corporation will make an award covering a period not to exceed one year with the potential for continuation. Ultimately selected by the host site, members will begin service in July or August of Assuming strong results, new sponsors may be extended for up to 3 years. Key Principles Each VISTA project must be developed in accordance with the parameters defined by law, federal regulations, and the key VISTA principles: Anti- Poverty Focus, Capacity Building, Sustainable Solutions, and Community Empowerment. Anti- Poverty Focus The purpose of VISTA is to support efforts to fight poverty. The goal of every project must be to help individuals and communities out of poverty, not to simply make poverty more tolerable. The project should focus on long- term solutions rather than short- term services. Capacity Building One way to achieve sustainable solutions is to strengthen the ability of local organizations to fight poverty. Through activities such as fundraising, establishment of volunteer recruitment and management systems, community outreach, and partnership development, VISTAs help sponsors to achieve lasting solutions to poverty. However, projects should focus their performance measures on achieving outcomes and impact on the community and/or beneficiary population. Sustainable Solutions VISTA members represent a short- term resource and work to build the long- term sustainability of anti- poverty programs. All VISTA projects should be developed with a goal of an eventual phase- out of the need for VISTA members and the ability of the project to continue without them. Unless it is an Intermediary style program, VISTA projects typically last three years. From the beginning of the project planning process, the sponsor and community must think about how to use the VISTA project to phase- in other resources and systems to replace the VISTA resource.

3 Community Empowerment All VISTA project sponsors must ensure that their project engages residents of the low- income community in planning, developing, implementing and evaluating the project. The project must be responsive and relevant to the lives of the community residents, and should tap into inherent community assets, strengths and resources. Applications addressing the following priority areas will be given special consideration: Veterans: VISTA resources should be used to increase economic opportunity for veterans and military families. All projects developed to serve veterans and military families should be developed under the Opportunity category, with special priority given to support the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness efforts to end homelessness among veterans. All VISTA projects are encouraged to recruit veterans, particularly those projects serving Veterans and military families. Healthy Futures: Access to Health Care Organizations that provide access to preventive services, insurance, health services and benefits for low- income individuals, particularly homeless and veteran populations as well as the families of enlisted military personnel are strongly encouraged to consider VISTA as a solution to enhancing the reach of their programming to under- served populations. VISTA also seeks projects that provide for the care and rehabilitation of mentally ill and individuals with disabilities. Of particular interest are programs that provide mental health services to the families of enlisted military personnel. Access to Food and Nutrition Programming areas include supporting projects that address significant problems, including obesity (especially children) and food for individuals (especially children) through community gardens, food bank, school based programs, access to the Commodity Supplemental Nutrition for Seniors Program and community- based activities. Economic Opportunity: Housing VISTA supports programming dedicated to connecting families and individuals to emergency housing and transitional services, providing affordable permanent housing, and encouraging advocacy with populations in need. Employment VISTA supports programming that enables individuals to obtain or train for employment that is sufficient to avoid or exit poverty, provide necessities, and allow individuals to save for the future, particularly veterans and the spouses of deployed, enlisted military personnel.

4 Education: Educational Advancement VISTAs continue to play a role in developing programs that promote education among at- risk children through early childhood education; educational access and assistance to youth; and connecting youth with the resources that will lead them to college or vocational education. The completion of high school greatly affects the chances of one s ability to provide sufficiently for him or herself and to gain a future of prosperity. Particular Interest is being placed on new project development with communities and schools who are participating in the Department of Education s Title I School Improvement Grants (Turnaround Schools). Environmental Stewardship: Provide services that contribute to increased energy efficiency, renewal energy use, and support increased citizen behavioral change leading to increased efficiency, and renewal energy use particularly for economically disadvantaged households and economically disadvantaged communities. TIMELINE February 27, 2012 NOFO Released Technical Assistance Webinars Not required but strongly recommended. Please RSVP to: ak@cns.gov Tuesday, March 13, :00am 11:30am (AK Time), Webinar General Information on Notice of Funding, review of NOFA, and opportunity to ask questions. To join webinar, go to: 1. Go to 2. Enter your name and address. 3. Enter the meeting password: Click "Join Now". To join voice part of webinar: Dial In: Participant passcode: Tuesday, March 20, :00am 11:30am (AK Time), Webinar How to create compelling AmeriCorps*VISTA work plans and Volunteer Assignment Descriptions (VADs). To join webinar: 1. Go to 2. Enter your name and address.

5 3. Enter the meeting password: Click "Join Now". To join voice part of webinar: Dial In: Participant passcode: April 6, 2012 April 20, 2012: May 20, 2012: Deadline for submitting application packet, send to CNCS Alaska State Office staff will review applications and notify organizations if they have been approved and full application requested Full application due to Alaska State Office via egrants on or before 5/20/2012, all supporting documentation and attachments must be mailed/ delivered and received on or before 1/25 to physical address: AK State Office- VISTA RFP nd Avenue Suite 3190 Seattle, WA Mid May: Successful applicants will begin recruitment of VISTA members for a July or August start date Mid June 2012: Deadline for projects to submit recommended VISTA candidates to CNCS Alaska State Office July/August 2012: VISTA candidates & VISTA Supervisor(s) to attend Pre- Service Orientation; VISTAs will start service (4 days, dates and location TBD, all costs covered by CNCS) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL Criteria for approval are based on whether the proposed project: Fits with one or more of the Corporation s strategic initiative focus areas, VISTA programming priorities, or priority areas listed in the introduction section of this document. This must be clearly documented in the Concept Paper. Addresses the needs of low- income communities. Leads to building organizational capacity so that the project can continue once the VISTA resources are withdrawn. Involves beneficiaries of the service and the low- income community in project development and implementation. This is required and must be noted in the Concept Paper. Is designed to generate public and/or private- sector resources. Promotes local volunteer service. Complies with the provisions of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended; 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, VISTA regulations; and VISTA policies. Further criteria for determining approval are based on whether the applicant: Is a local or state government agency, Tribe or a private organization designated as a non- profit by the Internal Revenue Service? Has resources available for VISTAs to perform their activities, such as space, supplies, and on- the- job transportation, and is able to provide emergency cash advances when needed. Has the management capacity and commitment to recruit, train, supervise, and otherwise support VISTAs recruited locally and nationally.

6 Understands and is committed to promoting national and community service. Has the capacity to build community partnerships and collaborative efforts to achieve project self- sufficiency. VISTA projects have an average lifecycle of three- to- five years unless the applicant is serving as an intermediary agency. New project development occurs annually and is always subject to availability of funds. The Washington Field Office strives to ensure that the portfolio of VISTA projects is diverse, both in terms of programmatic areas as well as geography. An additional factor we consider is the type of sponsors- from small grassroots organizations to large intermediary organizations. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Any interested organization or individual with additional questions not addressed by this NOFO may contact: Kirsten Franklin- Temple, Alaska State Director Corporation for National and Community Service nd Avenue suite 3190 Seattle, WA Kfranklin- temple@cns.gov or ak@cns.gov or Application Resources CNCS Strategic Plan FY12 AmeriCorps*VISTA Program Guidance VISTA Campus (can enter as guest, no need to create account) Life as a VISTA Supervisor National Service Resources