
Founded in 1965, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) is a public program designed to provide men and women who act as the resources for non-profit organizations and public offices to increase their ability to assist in lifting communities out of poverty.
AmeriCorps VISTA provides opportunities for Americans eighteen years of age and older from diverse backgrounds to dedicate a year of service with non-profit organizations or public entities (as a host organization) to create or to expand efforts designed to empower low-income individuals and communities. VISTA members serve for one year in full time position with a host organization.
The power of AmeriCorps VISTA is extraordinary. VISTA attracts talented, passionate people to research, create, and expand the capacity of your organization. At the same time, they mobilize volunteers who can strengthen the organization or office after the VISTA has ended their term.
Volunteer Iowa is working with dozens of community organizations across the state to leverage AmeriCorps VISTA members for full-time positions to support ongoing needs of organizations working to alleviate poverty. Year-long and summer positions are being filled now.

For more information about serving as a VISTA member with the Volunteer Iowa VISTA Program, please contact info@volunteeriowa.org and someone from our VISTA team will be in touch.
Current VISTA openings. For more information click the link(s) to read more about the position and the organization you will serve!
YEAR-LONG POSITIONS
Organization | Position | Description | Contact |
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Centrally Rooted | VISTA Program Coordinator | In this role, you will be instrumental in developing programming, implementing financial sustainability opportunities, training direct service staff, & building community relationships. Located in a low-income neighborhood, Centrally Rooted is committed to developing confidence in those affected by poverty via all modalities of creative expression. We need your help as we grow! We are looking for someone that has a growth mindset, is passionate about the arts, has strong communication skills, and is intrinsically motivation to do this kind of work. | Callie Fitzgerald 2230 Central Avenue Dubuque, IA 52001 563-663-1694 callie.centrallyrooted@gmail.com https://www.centrallyrooted.com/ |
Dental Connections | Community Connections VISTA | The Community Connections VISTA at Dental Connections will build impactful connections with the community through targeted marketing, outreach and volunteer engagement. | Carly Ross 1111 9th St Des Moines, IA 50314 515-244-9136 cross@dental515.com DentalConnectionsOnline.com |
EMBARC | Digital Media VISTA | The Digital Media VISTA will manage our digital presence. They will take photos of our activities and develop exciting social media updates; examine which communities are most active on our channels, and who is underrepresented; expand the digital presence of our Community Navigators; and create a long-term plan for staff to support social media outreach. | Alicia Soppe 4801 Franklin Avenue Des Moines IA 50310 515-238-2143 alicia.soppe@gmail.com www.embarciowa.org |
Fort Madison Area Arts Association | Fort Madison Arts Foundation VISTA Project | We envision this position helping us to build better creative and cultural programming and activities for our area youth and adults. Specifically, we want to provide skills and exposure to ideas that offer possibilities to help break generational poverty and provide more opportunities for our at-risk Youth (and adults.) This position is the total package. Dream it. And Dream BIG!! | Lori Illner Greene 825 Avenue G Fort Madison, IA 52627 319-372-3996 fortmadisonart@gmail.com www.fortmadisonart.com |
Genesis Youth Foundation | Operations VISTA | The VISTA will work with the community, volunteers, and GYF staff to coordinate and provide academic, enrichment and athletic opportunities to youth who would otherwise be denied the opportunities due to the inability (economically and culturally) to obtain resources that would empower them to be successful. | Sam Gabriel 42500 University Ave Des Moines, IA 50311 515-710-6838 s.gabriel@genesisyouthfoundation.org www.genesisyouthfoundation.org |
Grand Avenue Community Outreach (GACO) | Volunteer Coordinator VISTA | GACO, located near the Iowa Great Lakes in Spencer, IA, is seeking a Volunteer Coordinator to organize, develop, and implement a comprehensive volunteer network to support the services we provide to the community. | Kim Wilson 605 Grand Avenue Spencer, IA 51301 515-850-2377 director@gacoutreach.com https://www.gacoutreach.com/ |
Heal House of Iowa | VISTA Special Projects Coordinator | Do you like communicating your passion for helping people using a broad palate of tools that include social media as well as collaborative communication strategies? Are you comfortable empathizing with the stories of America’s most fragile and creating and analyzing databases to help them rise out of poverty? If the answer is yes! we need you at the Heal House of Iowa. | Jo Byers 906 S Jefferson Way Indianola, IA 50125 515-975-3572 healhouseofiowa@gmail.com https://www.healhouseofiowa.org/ |
HOPE Agency | VISTA Workforce Capacity Coordinator | HOPE Agency is looking for an enthusiastic individual that has a passion for making the world a little brighter. The VISTA member will implement business plan for PawsAbilities including site specifications, code requirements, health regulations. If you are interested in learning more about how to start a business, this is an on-the-job opportunity! And, yes, you get to work with animals at the PawsAbility Doggie Daycare! | Amy Wallman Madden 1230 8th Street West Des Moines, IA 50265 515-210-7893 AmyWM@hopeagencydsm.org www.hopeagencydsm.org |
Iowa Disaster Human Resource Council (IDHRC) | Disaster Response Communication Specialist VISTA | Tornados. Floods. Ice. Windstorms. It takes a whole community approach to build disaster resiliency. Join the Iowa Disaster Human Resource Council (IDHRC) in building capacity to coordinate, collaborate, cooperate and communicate together before, during, and after disasters in Iowa. | Patti Fields P.O. Box 1352 Johnston, IA 50131 515-300-8586 director@idhrc.org www.iavoad.org |
Iowa Youth Writing Project | Education and Program VISTA | Use your language skills to further K-12 writing enrichement and education! Help empower youth to find their voice and develop a lifelong love of writing. Work alongside outreach leaders in the nation's first UNESCO City of Literature. | Mallory Hellman 24 Phillips Hall Iowa City, IA 52245 319-467-4694 mallory-hellman@uiowa.edu https://iywp.org |
Iowa Youth Writing Project | Community Outreach and Engagement VISTA | Use your creative and persuasive writing enrichment and education! Help keep the IYWP's mission sustainable by planning creative fundraisiers to keeping stakeholders in the loop. | Mallory Hellman 24 Phillips Hall Iowa City, IA 52245 319-467-4694 mallory-hellman@uiowa.edu https://iywp.org |
Kirkwood Community College - TRIO | Veteran Support and Mentoring Program VISTA | Design and implement a Military Support Programs and Networks (M-SPAN) portfolio to address the needs of military or veteran connected students. | Scott Gay 6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 319-398-5684 scott.gay@kirkwood.edu https://www.kirkwood.edu/eoc |
ManUp Iowa Mentoring | Fundraising VISTA | Are you ready to make a huge difference? Our community, like so many others across the United States is suffering from a lack of positive male role models for our male youth. The VISTA member for this project will work with our Program Director to launch and grow our organizations fundraising efforts. Allowing our program to launch new weekly groups and serve youth and schools on our wait list. The majority of the work can be done remotely, and the hours will be flexible. | Zach Smith P.O. Box 65575 West Des Moines, IA 50265 515-988-9358 zachsmith@manupiowa.com www.manupiowa.com |
NAMI Southwest Iowa | Fundraising Coordinator VISTA | Join our organization as an AmeriCorps VISTA Fundraising Coordinator and help us achieve our mission of supporting individuals in need. As our VISTA member, you will work closely with our Development Director to plan and execute fundraising events, manage donor relationships, and expand our donor base to ensure the long-term sustainability of our programs. | Anna Killpack 403 Front Street PO Box 143 Neola, IA 51559 402-689-5913 anna@namisouthwestiowa.com www.namisouthwestiowa.com |
NAMI Southwest Iowa | Marketing Director VISTA | The VISTA Marketing Director role, with the assistance of and in collaboration with current staff, will include creating content, developing campaign strategies, identifying target markets in need of our mental health support groups and educaiton, and expanding reach and building exposure through social media and traditional marketing channels. | Anna Killpack 403 Front Street PO Box 143 Neola, IA 51559 402-689-5913 anna@namisouthwestiowa.com www.namisouthwestiowa.com |
Volunteer Iowa | VISTA Leader | NAMI Southwest Iowa seeks a Marketing Director VISTA to assist with creating content, developing campaign strategies, identifying target markets in need of our mental health support groups and education, and expanding reach and building exposure through social media and traditional media. | Jana Daisy 1963 Bell Avenue Des Moines, IA 50315 515-348-6263 jana.daisy@volunteeriowa.org https://www.volunteeriowa.org |
SUMMER POSITIONS
We are now recruiting for summer VISTA positions! AmeriCorps VISTA members can serve this summer full-time for 10 weeks. Positions available are listed below. Benefits will differ from year-long positions, but you will still receive a living allowance while serving and choose between an education award or stipend for the end of service benefit. Come join us this summer for a rewarding experience!
Organization | Position | Description | Contact |
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Heal House of Iowa | Summer VISTA Guest Advocate | Heal House of Iowa makes a difference in the lives of homeless people living in Warren County. Join us this summer: support our guests in finding housing and employment; engage with local agencies. | Judy Pauley 906 S. Jefferson Way Indianola, IA 50125 515-201-8240 healhouseofiowa@gmail.com https://www.healhouseofiowa.org |
NAMI Dubuque | NAMI Dubuque Summer VISTA Outreach | NAMI Dubuque provides support, resources, and programming for those who are struggling with mental health. NAMI Dubuque provides one-on-one services, group support, and programming from those and to those with the unique understanding of people with lived experience, these programs and support groups provide outstanding free education, skills training and support. | Britni Farber 225 W 6th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 563-581-2740 president@namidubuque.org https://www.namidubuque.org |
NAMI South Central Iowa | Volunteer Recruitment VISTA | The ideal VISTA candidate will meet community members, learn about their specific needs, and share with them the programs and services NAMI can provide, encouraging them to become part of the NAMI family and bring help and support to those in their community. | Dewey McConville 209 East Maple Street Centerville, IA 52544 641-216-3114 namisci8@gmail.com |
Volunteer Iowa | Summer Volunteer Engagement VISTA | The VISTA will improve the ability for individuals and groups across the state to find and register for meaningful volunteer opportunities and improve the ability for nonprofits and organizations who are in need of volunteer assistance to have those needs met. | Jana Daisy 1963 Bell Avenue Des Moines, IA 50315 515-348-6263 jana.daisy@volunteeriowa.org https://www.volunteeriowa.org |