AmeriCorps VISTA

AmeriCorps VISTA is a national service program designed to alleviate poverty. President John F. Kennedy originated the idea for VISTA, which was founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965, and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993. VISTA is an acronym for Volunteers in Service to America.

For FY 2026, VISTA received $103.29M in appropriations from Congress despite being zeroed out in the FY 2026 official budget request that President Donald Trump sent to Congress. As outlined in his previous fiscal year budgets, this budget proposed the elimination of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). It provided funding for an orderly shutdown, including all CNCS programs, such as AmeriCorps Seniors and AmeriCorps (which includes VISTA and NCCC).

Background VISTA is an anti-poverty program created by Lyndon Johnson's Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as the domestic version of the Peace Corps."President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society ... included a domestic equivalent of the Peace Corps called Volunteers in Service to America, or VISTA." : Initially, the program increased employment opportunities for conscientious people who felt they could contribute tangibly to the war on poverty. Volunteers served in communities throughout the U.S., focusing on enriching educational programs and vocational training for the nation's underprivileged classes.

As defined under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act (DVSA) of 1973, VISTA's legislative purpose is to supplement efforts to fight poverty in low-income communities by engaging Americans from all walks of life in a year of full-time service. VISTA members support the program's purpose through three primary objectives: 1) encouraging volunteer service at the local level, 2) generating the commitment of private sector resources, and 3) strengthening local agencies and organizations that serve low-income communities. There are approximately 2,000 VISTA Volunteers serving in over 650 projects throughout the nation.

During the Nixon Administration, VISTA was administered by the newly created Federal agency named ACTION, which also included the Peace Corps, The National Student Volunteer Program (NSVP), the Foster Grandparents Program, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) Program, and the Active Corps of Executives (ACE) Program. During the Clinton Administration, VISTA was brought under the newly created AmeriCorps program, a division of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and was renamed "AmeriCorps*VISTA", later changed to "AmeriCorps VISTA." VISTA Volunteers sign up with a host agency for a full-time term of service – 365 days. In return for their service, VISTA Volunteers are provided with orientation and training, a living allowance calculated at no less than 105% of the poverty line, settling in and transportation costs, childcare benefits, and a basic health care plan. Upon completion of their one-year term, VISTA Volunteers have the option of receiving a cash stipend or the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. There is also the option for individuals to serve as Summer Associates for terms of 8, 9 or 10 weeks alongside full-time VISTA Volunteers for a reduced AmeriCorps Education Award.

Directors

The first Director of VISTA was Glenn W. Ferguson and there have been many appointed and acting Directors since then. Brendan Murphy currently serves as the acting Director for AmeriCorps VISTA.

DirectorService datesAppointed byNotes1Glenn W. Ferguson1964–?JohnsonPadraic Kennedy?–1966acting director2William Crook1966–1968JohnsonPadraic Kennedy1968–1970acting DirectorC.R. Lane1970 acting Director3Carol Khosrovi1970–?Nixon4Frank E. Williams?–1975–?5Margery Tabankin1977CarterDirector6James H. Burnley IV1981–1982Reagan7Jane A. Kenny1986–1989DirectorDiana London1989–1993Acting Director8James Scheibel1993–Clinton9Paul Monteiro2014–2015ObamaDirector11Max Finberg2015–2017Director11Eileen ConoboyJan 2017 – Sep 2019Acting Director12Desiree Tucker-SoriniSep 2019 - Jan 2021TrumpDirector13Meg AnsaraJan 2021 – Feb 2023BidenDirector14Carly BruderFeb 2023 – Apr 2024Acting Director15Margaret (Maggie) GarveyApr 2024 – Apr 2025Acting Director16Brendan MurphyApr 2025 – currentActing Director

Oversight Created by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, the Corporation for National and Community Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducts and supervises independent and objective audits and investigations of Corporation programs and operations. Based on the results of these audits, reviews, and investigations, the OIG recommends policies to promote economy and efficiency and prevent and detect fraud and abuse in the Corporation's programs and operations.

Member pledge AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers are required by federal law to take the same oath that federal employees take:

AmeriCorps VISTA

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