AmeriCorps*VISTA/CTC VISTA Position/Portland, ME:
Social Media Research & Development Coordinator
ABOUT THE AMERICORPS*VISTA PROGRAM
This is an AmeriCorps*VISTA position. The CTC VISTA Project builds the capacity of nonprofit organizations that use media and technology to strengthen communities.
Becoming an AmeriCorps*VISTA member is both rewarding and challenging. Each year the CTC VISTA Project places 45 AmeriCorps*VISTA members with community media and technology organizations that strengthen low-income and at-risk communities and the nonprofit organizations that serve them. AmeriCorps*VISTA members are not volunteers instead, you will be charged with a broad responsibility for meeting goals and successfully bringing important community projects to completion. AmeriCorps*VISTA members serve full-time for one year (365 days).
ABOUT IDEALWARE
Idealware, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, provides candid Consumer-Reports-style reviews and articles about software of interest to nonprofits. Through research-based product comparisons, recommendations, and case studies, Idealware allows nonprofits to make the software decisions that will help the be more effective.
Idealware is located in Portland, ME, a beautiful small city, minutes from both the beach and mountains, with a very affordable cost of living. Forbes rated it the #1 city in the country for quality of living in 2008.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Nonprofits are struggling to understand how they can benefit from social media — such as blogs, online communities, social networking sites, RSS, distributed fundraising, and other tools and tactics that allow their message to spread online. There can be huge rewards from these methods, but also a lot of hidden costs - and there are few resources to help nonprofits their options.
As a VISTA member with Idealware, you would help to create a Nonprofits’ Guide to Social Media, an online written resource that will help nonprofits understand what tools and tactics are available in this area, how they fit in with their existing strategies and techniques, and how they map to realistic nonprofit goals.
Currently, much of the information in this area is based on hype and punditry. You’ll take the opposite approach — interviewing nonprofit staff and experts to understand what nonprofits are actually doing, what’s working, and the costs and resources involved. This careful, research based look will allow us to engage the community of nonprofits already working with social media, understand what they’ve learned, and bring that knowledge back to organizations nationwide.
Through the course of the project, you’ll also create smaller, one-off articles to provide more focused guidance on particular social media areas.
And as both a research method for the report and a boost to Idealware’s own outreach and engagement efforts, you will also consider Idealware’s own social media strategy. Through the course of the project, you will create a plan and implement appropriate tactics to take advantage of the benefits these tools can offer.
This position requires a one-year commitment, with the opportunity to renew for an additional two years. Compensation includes a monthly stipend of approximately $900/ month, plus a $4,725 education award (or $1200 cash stipend) at the end of one year of service. Idealware will also support this position with a $300/month rent subsidy.
In addition to gaining high-level experience and skills within the nonprofit sector, other benefits provided by the AmeriCorps*VISTA program include basic health insurance coverage (including prescription drug coverage), student loan deferment (on qualified loans), professional development opportunities, and the support of CTC VISTA staff and other VISTAs across the country.
For more information on the Americorps CTC VISTA program, see http://ctcvista.org/. For more information on Americorps*VISTA, visit http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp
QUALIFICATIONS
Core Qualifications:
• Hard working, motivated, and energetic;
• Strong leadership & project management ability;
• Strong organizational skills;
• Excellent verbal and written communication ability;
• Experience in an office environment (for instance, in using word processors and spreadsheets, sending business emails, and creating documents based on templates);
• Ability to research, understand and convey technology concepts (for instance, the difference between a CRM and CMS);
An ideal candidate would have several of the following:
• Experience working with nonprofit organizations;
• Strong writing samples of complex documents, such as a thesis or detailed report;
• Qualitative research experience (i.e. surveys, interview research);
• Experience creating content using social media tools (i.e., writing a blog, posting content on YouTube or Flikr, actively update a Facebook profile.
ELIGIBILITY
AmeriCorps*VISTA candidates must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident, be team-oriented, and be willing to take on a wide range of challenges. Some listings may require college degrees or previous work experience. You must be at least 17 years old. There is no upper age limit, and many AmeriCorps*VISTA members bring significant work and life experiences to their assignment. Self-initiative, flexibility and organizational skills are a must.
You must be available to serve full-time for one year and are prohibited from outside employment or attending college during your year of service.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
For a full position listing, visit:
http://apply.ctcvista.org/node/260
For more information about Idealware, visit www.idealware.org
To apply, submit a cover letter and resume to Stella Hernandez at stella@idealware.org OR apply online by registering and creating an account with the CTC VISTA project at http://apply.ctcvista.org/user/register/vista