AmeriCorps VISTA

College for Social Innovation is looking for two Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA members for a year-long service term starting in August: one Fellow Financial Support VISTA and one Equitable Service Expansion VISTA

The Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA program places AmeriCorps VISTA members in full service with our campus and community partners for a one-year period. During this year, members spend 35 hours per week on their host site’s campus or with one of that campus’s community partners to work on building systems and programs that support low-income college students and community members. The VISTA member’s work is to build capacity, meaning that rather than directly serving the community, they’re enhancing or creating systems, structures, and resources that support the direct anti-poverty work. Campus Compact functions as the central VISTA program hub, performing program administration, offering training and support to VISTA members and their projects, and connecting the work happening in individual projects both to similar work happening nationwide and back to AmeriCorps. For detailed program information and FAQs, please visit our website. 

Service Term: 

August 11 2025 - August 10, 2026

Please note that this start date is subject to change. Start dates are based on a federal calendar and are not flexible. Regardless of start date, the term of service lasts exactly one year. 

Requirements for all positions

• BA/BS or equivalent experience
• US Citizen, national, DACA status, or legal permanent resident
• Must be able to complete federal background check

Logistics for all positions

• Status: Hybrid
• Note: This role is hybrid and the VISTA member is expected to be present in the office 2-3 days a week and can work remotely on the other days. VISTA members must be located within commuting distance of their host site. 
• Hours
• M – F; 9 AM - 5 PM
• With flexibility depending on the preference of the VISTA member 

Please see the full positions descriptions for both roles below:

Equitable Service Expansion Position:

Summary of Position Details:

The Equitable Service Expansion VISTA will play a key role in CFSI’s Recruitment and Marketing team, helping raise CFSI’s public profile and connect more low-income students with impactful internships that increase job readiness.

Semester in the City is a study away program in which students complete a mentored internship at a Boston-based social impact organization for full college credit. Since students on gap years or at non-partner colleges may not be eligible to receive financial aid, it is mission-critical that CFSI’s efforts to expand in these markets include scholarship opportunities, flexible pricing, and clear communication about the costs and benefits of participating in our programs.

The VISTA will work to engage in partnership development, research, and outreach work to increase access to CFSI programs, raise CFSI’s profile and attractiveness to funders and prospective students, and ensure that students have access to high-quality internship placements that increase job readiness.

This role is ideal for someone interested in marketing, communications, recruitment, and partnership development. The VISTA will help grow CFSI’s reach by developing public relations strategies, strengthening relationships with colleges, high schools, and scholarship programs, and ensuring more students—especially those from low-income backgrounds—have access to high-quality, mission-driven internships.

Responsibilities

• Research and conduct outreach to potential scholarship providers, funders, and internship access programs to identify partnerships and opportunities that would support enrollment for low-income students
• Develop materials and public relations strategies to support low-income student enrollment
• Research ways to use media outlets and other platforms to increase low-income student enrollment
• Create guides, resources, and document student stories to support marketing campaigns to low-income students
• Distribute materials to campus partners, post on social media, and support email campaigns to maximize engagement with prospective students
• Conduct research and collect feedback to identify factors that make internships attractive and successful for students in the program
• Implement marketing materials and strategies to increase the number of internship placements that result in improved job readiness for low-income students
• Attend orientation, weekly meetings, days of service, and trainings/retreats coordinated by Campus Compact
• Complete data collection and reporting activities required by Campus Compact and AmeriCorps

Preferred Qualifications 

• You have exceptional research and writing skills
• You have strong organizational skills and a human-centered approach to problem-solving
• You have outstanding interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders
• You have experience or interest in generating marketing materials, social media materials, and public relations activities
• Experience with Canva, Salesforce, or Squarespace a plus

Fellow Financial Support Position:

Summary of Position Details:

The Fellow Financial Support VISTA will play a key role in building capacity for College for Social Innovation to enhance financial support for Pell-eligible students attending our programs. CFSI has two core programs, Semester in the City and Semester for Impact, in which students complete a mentored internship at a social impact organization for full college credit. 

Working closely with the Operations and Program teams, the VISTA will work to enhance and streamline the financial support strategies and resources available for low-income college students enrolled in CFSI’s programs. This will include implementing an improved process for managing emergency funds, expanding access to financial resources, and developing comprehensive resource guides and materials to improve financial literacy, job readiness, and degree attainment for program participants.

The Fellow Financial Support VISTA will report to the Manager of Operations and work closely with the Operations Team and Program and Internships team, which support the enrollment and program experience for students. By expanding financial support and accessibility, the VISTA will directly contribute to CFSI’s mission of eliminating barriers to experiential learning for low-income students and cultivating the next generation of social sector leaders.

Responsibilities

• Document and facilitate implementation of CFSI’s emergency fund process, including analyzing and collecting student feedback and results 
• Conduct outreach to external organizations that could provide additional financial support or funding opportunities for low-income students
• Streamline and improve the student reimbursement process for food and health costs to reduce processing time and increase accessibility for low-income students
• Create and compile comprehensive financial resource guides to support students in navigating financial aid, food assistance, and job resources
• Update and refine financial literacy sessions for students to build skills in budgeting, accessing resources, and other topics relevant to financial literacy for young adults
• Attend orientation, weekly meetings, days of service, and trainings/retreats coordinated by Campus Compact
• Complete data collection and reporting activities required by Campus Compact and AmeriCorps

Preferred Qualifications 

• You have strong organizational and research skills
• You are a systems thinker who loves to solve puzzles using people-centered design
• You have excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to connect with a wide range of people
• You have some experience working with or supporting young adults
• You have experience using Google Suite and spreadsheets to track and create documentation
• You are tech-savvy and able to learn new software quickly; a plus if you already have experience with Salesforce, FormAssembly, or Quickbooks

---------------------------

Benefits

AmeriCorps VISTA Benefits:

●  Bi-weekly living allowance of $1,320.06 

●  End of service award (AmeriCorps member must choose one of two options; requires completion of full term of service to receive)

○  Segal AmeriCorps Education Award ($7,395)

○  End-of-Service Cash Stipend ($1,803.10)

●  Relocation stipend for candidates moving more than 50 miles ($750)

●  Mileage reimbursement for candidate moving more than 50 miles ($0.40/mile)

●  Healthcare benefits (AmeriCorps member must choose one of two options)

○  Healthcare allowance for out-of-pocket expenses

○  Basic healthcare coverage

●  10 Days Personal Leave

●  10 Days Sick Leave

●  14 Days Holiday Leave

●  Child care assistance for children under 13 years of age (income dependent)

●  Student loan forbearance or deferment for certain loans

●  1 year of noncompetitive eligibility for federal positions*

●  Access to professional development opportunities provided by Campus Compact & AmeriCorps

Additional Host-Site Benefits:

●  $45 per month to reimburse public transportation or parking costs

●  $100 per month in telecommunications reimbursement for cell phone plans or wifi costs

●  $250 rental assistance monthly paid directly to landlord