VISTA

Overview

Every child is born full of promise, and every child deserves a promising future. The Idaho Youth Ranch has been helping good kids on a dangerous path find promising futures for more than 60 years, with youth programs and services through the state.

We offer emergency shelter, residential care, substance abuse treatment, job readiness training, alternative education, adoption services, family counseling, and more for at-risk kids and their struggling parents and families.

No matter what a child is up against, the Idaho Youth Ranch can help. Every kid who comes to us faces their own unique challenges and issues. So we adapt our services to meet their needs, instead of the other way around. The Idaho Youth Ranch approach is to intervene early, when our help can do the most good; treat the whole child, not just one symptom;

and finish the job by sticking with each kid as long as they need us.

Our work would not be possible without generous donations from people like you. Thanks to our donors and our statewide network of 29 thrift stores, we can help kids and families effectively and immediately even if they can’t afford the entire cost of care.

Whenever you make a cash donation, shop at one of our stores, or donate items we can sell, you become part of our promise to Idaho’s kids. Thank you!

About Idaho Youth Ranch

Idaho Youth Ranch strengthens the lives of Idaho youth and families through residential treatment, outpatient counseling, equine therapy, adoption services, crisis shelter, and workforce development. The Advancement Department supports this mission through marketing, fundraising, grants, volunteer services, and community engagement initiatives that ensure sustainable statewide impact.

Idaho Youth Ranch is seeking an Advancement VISTA to serve a one year Ameri Corps VISTA term focused on building long term organizational capacity across the Advancement Department. This opportunity is ideal for recent college graduates and early career professionals interested in nonprofit leadership, organizational systems, fundraising infrastructure, and cross functional strategy.

The VISTA member will design and enhance internal systems, documentation, and workflows that strengthen marketing, development, volunteer services, events, grants, and internal communication functions. This position is strictly capacity building in nature and does not include direct service, donor solicitation, event execution, or volunteer management.

Strengthen Organizational Infrastructure Across Advancement Functions

• Conduct organizational assessments to identify gaps or inefficiencies in Advancement systems.
• Develop and refine standard operating procedures, internal workflows, templates, and process documentation across marketing, fundraising, volunteer services, events, and grants.
• Build shared resource libraries, process maps, timelines, and documentation that support operational clarity and continuity.
• Design tracking and reporting systems using platforms such as Office 365, CRM systems, and Excel.
• Create shared calendars, intake systems, and internal request processes to improve coordination.
• Produce sustainability tools including guides, toolkits, and structured documentation that staff can maintain beyond the one year service term.

• Map potential community partners, outreach channels, engagement opportunities, and event platforms to strengthen public visibility.
• Develop outreach templates, messaging guides, and partnership intake systems to ensure consistent communication.
• Create scalable event planning infrastructure including checklists, communication frameworks, staffing guides, and post event documentation templates.
• Design volunteer engagement infrastructure such as role descriptions, onboarding materials, communication guides, and recognition frameworks.
• Build a Partner Engagement Toolkit with shared databases, calendars, templates, and communication documents to support long term outreach efforts.

• Conduct research to identify prospective donors, funders, foundations, corporate partners, and grant makers…