Volunteer Services Development VISTA - 2025-26
For one year, you can 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 a real 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 sustainability solutions.
What will you do?
The Volunteer Services Development VISTA supports Habitat for Humanity Chicago’s mission by strengthening the organization’s volunteer engagement capacity related to construction build days. This role focuses on developing, improving, and documenting systems, tools, and processes that support volunteer team engagement for group build days such as Team Builds, Women Build, Beloved Community Builds, and Youth Builds. The VISTA works collaboratively with Habitat Chicago Volunteer Programs, Corporate, and Construction teams to enhance infrastructure that enables consistent, mission-driven volunteer experiences. The position emphasizes planning, communication systems, documentation, evaluation, and sustainability so that Habitat Chicago’s volunteer engagement efforts remain strong beyond the VISTA term.
The ideal candidate is organized, detail-oriented, systems-focused, and interested in nonprofit capacity-building, volunteer engagement strategy, and community development.
This position will focus on volunteer services aspects of Habitat affiliate operations.
Where will you serve?
Organization name: HFH Chicago
Nearest metropolitan area: Chicago
Full-time staff: 33
Expected number of AmeriCorps members: 1
Number of homes to be built: 7
Activities and attractions: Chicago offers an incredible backdrop for a year of service, with world class cultural venues like the Art Institute, Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, and Shedd Aquarium enriching the city’s vibrant arts and learning scene. Its beautiful lakefront and numerous beaches provide plenty of space to relax and enjoy the outdoors, while historic landmarks showcase the city’s storied past. Sports enthusiasts will love the energy of cheering on local teams at iconic venues such as Wrigley Field, the United Center, and Guaranteed Rate Field. Chicago offers endless opportunities to explore, connect, and feel at home.
Unique projects: Strengthen communication systems, standardize email templates, timelines, and messaging to ensure consistent communication. Develop improved tools and standardized materials. Draft or refine team build guides, registration packets, confirmation templates, and follow up communications. Create a comprehensive “Community Group Volunteer Systems Manual” for staff use.
Benefits of AmeriCorps service
• Annual living allowance range from $24,962 to $40,869 determined by the service location; most locations are on the lower end of this range.
• Segal Education Award of $7,395, upon successful completion of service.
• Forbearance for most federally guaranteed student loans.
• Health care benefits and enrollment in Employee Assistance Plan.
• Ten personal and 10 medical leave days.
• Personal and professional development opportunities.
• Childcare benefits, if you qualify.
• Noncompetitive eligibility status for federal employment for one year after successful completion of service.
• Relocation travel assistance for members relocating more than 50 miles to serve
Supplemental Benefits
• Housing stipend paid directly to your landlord - $700 per month
• Grocery gift card - $250 per month
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 developing sustainable solutions for a nonprofit organization.
• 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 are compelled by our Koinonia roots to put God’s love for all into action and pursue housing equity and opportunity by bringing all people together to build community and drive impact. We strive to build a culture rooted in learning, accountability and trust, attracting and retaining mission-driven talent reflective of the global communities we serve.
As an equal opportunity employer, we realize our success depends on courageously committing to being a workplace where all staff feel safe, welcome, visible, respected, supported and valued, and building a workforce that reflects a variety of lived experiences, backgrounds and perspectives, in which every person experiences dignity and respect.
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.