Stewards VISTA: Grow Ohio Valley -AmeriCorps

Position Title: Stewards VISTA: Grow Ohio Valley -AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East

Site Location: Grow Ohio Valley

City, State or Full Address: 1006 Grandview St. Wheeling, WV 26003

Terms of Service:

Start Date: September 8, 2026

End Date: September 7, 2027

Must serve a 365-day (1 year) service term

Living Allowance: $68.39/day ($24,962.35/year)

Purpose:

This community-based nonprofit, an AmeriCorps Program, is dedicated to strengthening the local food economy, expanding market opportunities for small farmers, and increasing the availability of healthy, affordable food for families in a rural region with growing local food initiatives. The program serves small-scale producers, food entrepreneurs, and households seeking reliable food options while supporting community-driven economic growth. Guided by values of collaboration, sustainability, stewardship, and community empowerment, the program works to build strong partnerships, support local enterprise, and create lasting systems that benefit both farmers and families.

This AmeriCorps Position focuses on building organizational capacity by developing grant strategies, strengthening volunteer systems, creating fundraising efforts, and expanding community outreach and partnerships. The member will design and implement tools and systems that increase earned revenue, support farmer participation, and improve program effectiveness. Through this service, the member plays a key role in advancing the organization’s mission to support a resilient local food system and strengthen economic opportunity within the community.

The AmeriCorps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.

Description of Duties:

The VISTA member will build the systems that power a growing local food economy. Key activities include researching and preparing grants, developing donor and fund development strategies, strengthening volunteer recruitment and management systems, and designing community outreach plans for staff to expand participation in our Public Market and Food Hub initiatives. The member will help formalize partnerships with farmers, regional agencies, and community organizations to increase economic opportunity and healthy food access. This is a capacity-building role focused on creating sustainable frameworks, tools, and strategies that will continue beyond the service year, ideal for a motivated self-starter interested in food systems, nonprofit leadership, and community development.

Qualifications:

·       United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien

·       Must be 18 years of age

·       College Graduate

·       Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements

·       Typically, this position is expected to serve full-time (35-40 hours), but exact schedules may vary. 

·       Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

·       Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

·       Member will receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service.

Benefits:

·        Segal AmeriCorps Education Award* of $7,395.00

o   or choice of cash stipend of ~$1,800.00

·        Living Allowance of $68.39 per day, disbursed every 2 weeks

·        Relocation Allowance ($750) if Eligible

·        Healthcare Coverage* if Eligible

·        Childcare Coverage* if Eligible

·        Loan forbearance if Eligible

·        Interest Payments if Eligible

·        Training and Professional Development Opportunities

·        Employee Wellness Program (access to a licensed, professional counselor and 24/7 support)

·        Non-Competitive Eligibility* (NCE) status upon successful completion of the term

·        Networking and Mentorship

*For more information regarding the Segal Education Award, check out this link as well as alternative uses for the award here.

*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare.

*For more information regarding the AmeriCorps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit https://americorpschildcare.com/.

*For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please visit https://my.americorps.gov/trust/help/member_portal/non_competitive_eligibility_overview.htm.

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed their required year of service; the member has satisfactorily completed assignments; and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets, accomplishment tracking, and quarterly reporting.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

For VISTA related information, contact Addie Gilkerson, agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org

For site related information, contact Chloe Lefchak, chloe@growov.org

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Salary : $24,962