VISTA members spend 90% on site doing a variety of activities, including, but not limited to, marketing and social media management, fundraising through events, donor development, and grants, developing programs to increase financial stability and access to healthcare, building partnerships in the community, recruiting and managing volunteers, and program assessment and management.
In addition to their onsite activities will also spend 10% of their time working with the other 17 V.I.P. members on community projects that may or may not relate to the work they are doing on site.
Service Activities
Marketing and social media management
Fundraising through events, donor development, and grants
Developing programs to increase financial stability and access to healthcare
Building partnerships in the community
Recruiting and managing volunteers
Program assessment and management
Community Need Addressed
The VISTAs in the Piedmont (V.I.P.) Program is a community-based program that focuses on building the capacity of nonprofit organizations to alleviate poverty in the Piedmont Region of South Carolina.
The team of 18 VISTAs will work to increase volunteerism, increase funding, and develop programs at one of 16 partner agencies. The VISTAs work, though behind the scenes, will increase the agencies ability to serve clients.
Position Outcomes
Increase funding through grants, increase funding through donors, increase volunteer engagement, increase programing, increase services, increase financial literacy, increase access to heath care, increase access to behavioral health services
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Relocation allowance (if applicable), Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Monthly shopping at United Way of the Piedmont's Gifts in Kind Center for household items, such as paper products and cleaning supplies
Education Benefits
College Degree
Skills you will gain
Public speaking, teamwork, conflict management, time management, professional communication
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Drive decision making, Set goals