2018 AmeriCorps VISTA participants
AmeriCorps VISTA Program
Since 2018, APCF has been in partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to host AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members to help build an “API Nonprofit Workforce."
The APCF AmeriCorps VISTA Program places full-time, paid fellows with APCF member organizations to build or enhance critical infrastructure systems including volunteer recruitment and management procedures, donor solicitation processes, and outreach programs. These enhancements are of particular importance to APCF's API nonprofit members, as these organizations face the unique challenges of serving linguistically and culturally diverse communities speaking over 40 languages and representing dozens of ethnicities. VISTA's enrolled in this program have assisted APCF member organizations with creating streamlined processes for recruiting, onboarding, and tracking volunteer contributions, translating outreach materials, building donor management systems, and building partnerships with community based organizations to improve outcomes. Contributions by VISTAs in the program's inaugural year accounted for hundreds of additional volunteers recruited, thousands of dollars of financial resources raised, and many key partnerships. AmeriCorps VISTA fellows are paid in large part by the U.S. federal government and are an affordable, effective deployment of the host organization's resources. This program advances APCF's mission by enhancing the capacity of its member organizations to do good in local service communities through improved efficacy, extended reach, and increased awareness of available services.
Testimonials
“Korean American Family Services (KFAM) has been working with APCF’s VISTA program for 2 years and the experience has been wonderful. APCF works closely with KFAM and each VISTA to help ensure the best match for both sides. KFAM’s VISTAs have been compassionate and dedicated to our organization and our mission. Our VISTAs are really just part of KFAM’s staff.”
- Katherine Yeom, Executive Director of Korean American Family Services
“AmeriCorps VISTA was a great experience! Through my project I was able to gain skills for my career and also contribute in a meaningful way to the organization I was with. APCF was a great help in organizing professional opportunities and all of the social elements of the VISTA group that made the program fun and fulfilling on a personal level as well as a professional one.”
- Sean McCullough, 2019 VISTA Member
