APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE 2025-2026 SERVICE YEAR! 

a

Host site application and guidelines: RYY 2025-2026 Proposals

   **Additional resources: VISTA Assignment Description (VAD) template & Example VAD

 

Please email hgbaguid@ur.rochester.edu indicating your intent to apply by Monday, January 20th.

Final project proposals due via our application form by Monday, February 10th.

 

Rochester Youth Year AmeriCorps VISTA members engage in capacity-building service: tasks and activities that enhance or expand the scale, reach, and/or effectiveness of a program or organization. VISTA members are short-term resources to help organizations develop long-term, sustainable solution to poverty.

Common capacity-building activities that a VISTA member might engage in are fundraising, partnership development, community outreach, donor stewardship, etc. Below is a list of some capacity-building activities and similar direct service activities to demonstrate the large range of capacity-building activities that an RYY member might engage in and how they might be supplemented by direct service activities from other individuals — please keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive!

 

 

 

 

Examples of capacity-building service activities that are appropriate for RYY members:

  • Writing grants to fund the construction of affordable housing units
  • Organizing a fundraiser to help establish a new community garden
  • Planning an event to educate community members about protecting the environment
  • Creating the curriculum for a financial education workshop and training facilitators to run it

Examples of direct service activities that are inappropriate for RYY members:

  • Building new affordable housing units
  • Growing produce in a community garden
  • Giving a presentation about environmental protection to community members
  • Leading a financial education workshop for community members

 

*There are direct service opportunities for VISTA members to engage in, such as national days of service or external community events!

*VISTA members should not be responsible for completing core administrative tasks for their host organizations! (e.g. reception duties, office supply ordering, compliance monitoring, etc.)