Resource Development VISTA - 2024-25
Resource Development VISTA
For one year, get paid to build sustainable solutions in a community, gain valuable hands-on experience and prepare for your future. This full-time AmeriCorps service position offers a great opportunity to make an impact in the lives of others while building your own knowledge and skillset.
AmeriCorps VISTA members are Volunteers in Service to America who perform indirect service to build capacity and sustainable solutions.
What will you do?
The resource development VISTA member creates, documents and implements a plan for donor engagement, tracking and recognition in order to increase the overall donor experience and donor buy-in to Habitat’s mission. Each strategy should be well documented and evaluated to ensure sustainability beyond your service.
- Research, develop and document a resource development and marketing plan, including targeting local individuals, businesses, faith organizations, school groups, civic groups and other community organizations.
- Research, develop and implement systems to track donor contacts and donations and develop a donor recognition plan to recognize donor loyalty and/or milestones.
This position will focus on brand management, fundraising, home repair, homeowner services, neighborhood revitalization, and research, monitoring, and/or evaluation aspects of Habitat affiliate operations.
Where will you serve?
- Organization name: Housatonic Habitat for Humanity
- Nearest metropolitan area: Danbury, CT and New York City, NY
- Full-time staff: 4
- Expected number of AmeriCorps members: 2
- Activities and attractions: Located in Western Connecticut, Danbury has the quintessential New England feel as well as a cosmopolitan vibrant city lifestyle. Local attractions include Candlewood Lake, Danbury Fair Mall, Quassy Amusement Park, Lake Compounce Amusement Park, and New York City is only about an hour away. There are many great parks and trails in Western CT to hike as well. Danbury is one of Connecticut’s most ethnically diverse cities which brings about many ethnic restaurants. Danbury has a revitalized downtown for shopping and restaurants and public transportation is also available.
- Unique projects: The resource development member will work with the executive team at Housatonic Habitat to research, develop and plan for the submission of grant applications. They will learn about how our funding is used in our home ownership and aging in place programs so they can develop templates for grant reports as required.
Benefits of AmeriCorps service
- Living allowance of $30,116.15 for one year of service.
- Segal Education Award of $7,395 (lifetime maximum of two full education awards) OR end-of-service cash stipend of approximately $1,800, upon successful completion of service.
- Forbearance for most federally-guaranteed student loans.
- Health care benefits and enrollment in Employee Assistance Plan.
- 10 personal and 10 medical leave days.
- Personal and professional development opportunities.
- Child care benefits, if you qualify.
- Noncompetitive eligibility status for federal employment for one year after successful completion of service.
- Relocation assistance: Mileage and a $750 settling in allowance for members relocating more than 50 miles to serve.
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must hold one of the following citizenship statuses: US citizen, US National, Lawful Permanent Resident Aliens or is a person residing in a state that have the following legal residency classifications: refugee, asylum or asylee, temporary protected status, or deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) status. Applicants must be at least 18 or older and have a high school diploma or GED.
What are we looking for?
Our ideal candidates:
- Are passionate about serving the community through direct service.
- Demonstrate respect for diversity of opinion, experience, and background.
- Desire to gain hands-on experience in the affordable housing and nonprofit sector.
- Have experience working on a team.
- Possess stellar interpersonal communication skills.
- Are motivated and committed to serve full time and in person.
About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity, founded in 1976, is a global, Christian-based nonprofit organization that grew out of an intentionally multi-racial community in rural Georgia. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat brings together people of all faiths and people of no faith to build homes, communities and hope. Working alongside each other, we help families and individuals build and improve places to call home and achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Habitat seeks individuals who have a willingness to affirm these principles and values.
At Habitat for Humanity International, we embrace a history rooted in creating equity and take our mission seriously by courageously committing to a culture and workplace where all staff feel safe, welcome, visible, respected, supported and valued. As an equal opportunity employer, we realize that our success depends upon building an inclusive workforce of diverse perspectives and encourage people of varied races (which is inclusive of traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, protective hairstyles and hair texture), ethnicities, national origins, tribes, religions, ages, gender identities and expressions, genders, sexual orientations, marital statuses, disabilities, veteran/reserve national guard statuses, socio-economic statuses, thinking and communication styles to work with us.
We also require that all staff take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguarding our intended beneficiaries, their communities (especially children), and all those with whom we work. In line with the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, all staff must pass a thorough background screening and will be held accountable to upholding our policies around ethical behavior, including safeguarding and whistleblowing.