Host an ENGAGECorps VISTA

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Who Can Be an Engage NJ VISTA Host Site?

As a sponsoring organization for AmeriCorps VISTA, Engage NJ supports VISTA members who serve as full-time, paid volunteers for one year, working on campus-community engagement projects aimed at alleviating poverty. EngageCorps VISTA members assist host sites in building capacity to advance these poverty-relief initiatives on campus or in the surrounding community over a three-year period, in line with Engage NJ's mission of empowering campuses to foster competencies that advance democracy and enable students to thrive in 21-st century life and work.

The AmeriCorps VISTA program is a benefit offered by Engage NJ to its member campuses. Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and higher education campuses are invited to apply.

Over the past decade in New Jersey, nearly 60 AmeriCorps members served in Engage NJ AmeriCorps programs, recruiting over 6,000 college volunteers who dedicated over 40,000 hours to fighting against inequality in historically disenfranchised communities, helping over 400 social good businesses, giving out over 12,000 pounds of food, and over 2,000 youths to succeed in school.

Engage NJ is the only higher education presidents’ coalition focused on civic engagement across all higher education sectors. We have a 10-year history of successfully managing multimillion-dollar AmeriCorps grants and, in early 2022, were awarded one of the largest AmeriCorps VISTA grants in New Jersey’s history.

As a key component of our new 5-year plan, ENGAGECorps will focus on:

Capacity Builders: Increasing an organization’s effectiveness, efficiency, and program reach
Skill Builders: Developing college students’ 21st-century skills for life and work
Community Resource Centers: Supporting Students’ Health and Food Security
Tutoring & Mentoring: Increasing high school completion and college access
Environmental Stewardship: Supporting High School Climate Change Education Standards

What sets the Engage NJ VISTA experience apart?

Subject to Climate, Margaret Wang, a NonProfit Partner

HIGHER EDUCATION

EngageCorps VISTA Program
Application Process

If you are a college, university, or nonprofit organization in New Jersey interested in applying for an EngageCorps VISTA project to host a VISTA member, please send an email of interest to info@engagenj.org.

Application Guidance

Host Site Application

Benefits of Hosting an EngageCorps VISTA Project

Engage NJ provides its member institutions the chance to host a full-time AmeriCorps VISTA position (for up to 3 years) to initiate or grow a community anti-poverty partnership. A full-time employee is currently valued at around $60,000 per year, or $180,000 over 3 years. The cost savings from this opportunity is just one of the many benefits of hosting an EngageCorps VISTA member.

Select your own VISTA! You have the opportunity to interview and choose the candidate who best fits your team and campus. Your staff can recruit and select a VISTA member from your graduating students, grad students, or through a national search.

Foster a Culture of Civic Engagement. This opportunity helps institutions cultivate a culture of civic and community involvement on campus while strengthening campus-community partnerships. It also offers experiential learning opportunities that support the career and personal development of your VISTA member.