Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
VISTA Program
Host Site Application Proposal – 2016
Due: Friday, January 15, 2016
Section I: Organization Information
Organization Name:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Phone:
Web Address:
Executive Director Name, Title:
E-mail Address:
Phone:
List the staff person who will act as the VISTA Supervisor. Note: this person must be available for daily
supervision and frequent communication with the VISTA member to discuss projects, goals and actions.
VISTA Supervisor Name, Title:
E-mail Address:
Phone:
Does this individual work full-time at your organization?
If the proposed supervisor does not work full-time, please provide the name and title of at least
one other staff person who works full-time and will be available to support the VISTA member as
necessary:
Section II: VISTA Project Narrative
1. Please describe your organization’s mission, vision and key programs.
2. Please describe the community your organization serves. Are senior leaders of your organization members
of that community? If not, how do you ensure that the community’s voice guides your work?
3. Have you ever hosted a VISTA member before? If so, please give a brief description of when you had a
VISTA, and the work your VISTA(s) completed for your organization.
4. Identify and discuss the specific community need(s) your VISTA project will address. Use current statistical
data, citing sources where possible, to substantiate the need and include information on the number of low
income people directly affected. Include information on the population(s) served by your organization and
your proposed VISTA project.
5. Describe your organization's goals and strategies for improving its services to the community. How did you
determine that these goals and strategies were well suited to your organization and the population you
serve? What challenges currently hinder your ability to realize these goals?
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6. What are the specific capacity-building activities that an MCN VISTA member would carry out during the
2016-17 program year? What additional activities do you anticipate if a VISTA member continued to build
capacity at your organization in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 program years? How do the activities align with
your goals and strategies described in the previous section?
7. VISTAs work to build capacity within their assigned organizations. The systems and partnerships developed
by VISTA members should lead to sustainable changes within organizations and communities.
Describe steps your organization will take to ensure the sustainability of the VISTA project, both from yearto-year and beyond the 3-year VISTA Project Plan. How will your VISTA project’s achievements and
community impact outlive your partnership with the MCN VISTA Program?
8. What skills and knowledge would you seek in prospective VISTA members?
7. Describe the qualifications, availability and management style of the VISTA Supervisor, as well as the
physical environment your organization will provide for the VISTA. How much time will the Supervisor
spend with the VISTA member on a daily/weekly/monthly basis?
Section III: Next Steps
Please review the following for information on what to expect after application submission.
1. The contact person listed on this application will receive an email by February 12, 2016 with
notification as to whether the project is selected.
2. MCN VISTA staff will work with new projects to develop the Project Plan and VISTA Assignment
Description, but ultimately it is the responsibility of the site to complete this document by March 4,
2016. The Project Plan outlines the goals and objectives for the 3-year VISTA project and is a working
document that should guide your VISTA member and the parallel work of your organization. This
document must be approved by MCN and the Corporation for National and Community Service in order
to move forward with VISTA placement.
3. Candidates must be approved by MCN and the Corporation for National and Community Service by
early June 2016.
4. All VISTA members must attend a pre-service orientation and will begin service in early August 2016.
For more information, contact Paul Vliem, Development and Project Manager, at 651.757.3073 or
[email protected].
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