Abstract

AmeriCorps*VISTA projects focus on capacity-building strategies to increase a sponsor organization’s overall resources and effectiveness toward achieving its mission. Capacity-building activities are intended to improve operational systems, expand the range of services provided by an organization, or improve external relations. This effective practice lists some possible outcomes that are a direct result of the capacity-building efforts of AmeriCorps*VISTA members. Knowing outcomes in advance can help organizations achieve goals and maintain a broad perspective. Donald Pratt of Project STAR submitted this effective practice in January 2006.

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Issue

Understanding possible outcomes can aid in developing capacity-building strategies, a major focus of AmeriCorps*VISTA programs.

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Action

Capacity-building activities are intended to improve operational systems, expand the range of services provided by an organization, or improve external relations. The following is a list of some possible outcomes stemming from the capacity-building efforts of AmeriCorps*VISTA members:

The organization can increase services by:

• Serving more beneficiaries
• Increasing the utilization of services by existing beneficiaries

The organization can expand service delivery by:

• Developing new programs/services or expanding existing programs/services
• Improving the quality of programs or services

The organization can strengthen its organizational capacity by:

• Establishing new partnerships
• Improving collaboration with existing partners

The organization can improve its infrastructure by:

• Improving internal systems (e.g., service delivery, volunteer recruitment and training, organizational management, performance measurement)

The organization can increase its operational resources by:

• Establishing/expanding pool of volunteers to assist with service delivering
• Developing/expanding a more diversified funding stream

Public outreach efforts: In many cases, the direct result of public outreach efforts is to raise public awareness of an organization’s programs and services. This is usually a means to some other end, not an end in itself. The ultimate goal may be to increase service utilization, bring in new volunteers, develop new sources of funding, or some other capacity-building goal. Instead of making public awareness a focus of performance measurement, it is usually best to focus on these other capacity-building goals.

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Context

AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) provides full-time members to nonprofit, faith-based and other community organizations, and public agencies to create and expand programs that bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty. AmeriCorps*VISTA members spend at least one year in full-time service addressing the needs of low-income communities. All projects focus on building permanent infrastructure in nonprofit organizations to help them more effectively bring individuals and communities out of poverty — leveraging human, financial, and material resources to increase the capacity of low-income communities across the country to solve their own problems.

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Outcome

When AmeriCorps*VISTA members complete their service, they leave behind lasting solutions! As of 2006, nearly 6,000 AmeriCorps*VISTA members serve throughout the country — working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, increase housing opportunities, bridge the digital divide, and strengthen the capacity of community organizations.

Public, private, community or faith-based nonprofit organizations, as well as local, state, or federal agencies can apply to sponsor AmeriCorps*VISTA members.

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For More Information

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Resources

Cost-sharing is an excellent way to leverage additional funding resources and see where dollars will be matched by the AmeriCorps*VISTA program. In finding funding for your organization's share of the partnership, consider approaching:

• Community foundations
• State government funding sources
• Municipalities and school districts
• Colleges and universities
• Local corporations

AmeriCorps*VISTA covers the cost of a series of benefits and services for the AmeriCorps*VISTA members and your organization. For information on becoming a cost-sharing project call (202) 606-5000, ext. 338 or e-mail vista@americorps.org.

Related Practices

• Assessing your organization’s potential for partnerships

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Related sites

Performance Measurement for Government

Topic Areas

• Community building
• Leveraging volunteers
• Recruitment
• Capacity building
• Community partnerships
• Partnerships
• Performance measurement
• Program evaluation
• Sustainability
• AmeriCorps
• AmeriCorps VISTA
• Volunteer
• Member
• Project STAR
• Program management

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