VISTA Organizational Capacity Coordinator
Imagine spending a year building the infrastructure that allows a small nonprofit to triple its impact serving low-income families in rural Vermont, while working at a 600-acre botanical sanctuary founded by one of America's most renowned herbalists.
Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary serves 40+ economically disadvantaged youth (grades 3-8) through one of Central Vermont's only nature-based Specialized Care childcare programs. In this role, you'll support the fundraising systems, volunteer networks, and evaluation tools that ensure the families we serve access our programs for decades to come. This role offers the opportunity to design and implement organizational infrastructure that turns mission into sustainable impact.
As our Organizational Capacity & Development Coordinator, you'll wear multiple hats, including Grant Writing & Resource Development, Fundraising Infrastructure and Donor Management, Volunteer Program Development, Community Partnership & Outreach, Program Evaluation and Data Systems
What makes this position unique?
π² The Setting: Work from a conservation sanctuary with trails, medicinal plant gardens, edible forests, and working wetlands. Your "office view" includes 600 acres of protected Vermont wilderness.
π Professional Development: Learn grant writing, donor relations, nonprofit management, program evaluation, and partnership development - a suite of skills that translate to nearly every sector. You'll leave with a portfolio of actual grants written, systems built, and measurable impact.
πΎ Farm-to-School Innovation: We're currently implementing a Vermont Farm to School Vision Grant. You'll see how food security programming intersects with education, conservation, and anti-poverty work.
π₯ Small Team, Big Responsibility: Your work will be visible, valued, and directly shape organizational strategy.
π Access to Herbal & Conservation Education: Be part of our programming outside of the role to get hands-on learning in botanical medicine and land stewardship.
The VISTA position includes living allowance (paid bi-weekly by AmeriCorps), housing assistance, a Segal Education Award or end-of-service stipend, health insurance through AmeriCorps, student loan forbearance during service, and free participation in herbal workshops and nature programs. After service, you'll have non-competitive eligibility for federal jobs and be part of the AmeriCorps alumni network.
We're looking for candidates who love creating and revitalizing systems, are a self-starter who can work independently and collaboratively in a small-team environment, have strong writing skills, care about economic and environmental justice, are organized and detail-oriented, and approach your work from a mission driven ethos. Stand-out candidates will bring experience with databases, CRMs, or data systems; a background in education, environmental studies, social work, or nonprofit work; interest in herbalism, conservation, food systems, or child development; or familiarity with rural poverty or specialized education.
Details:
Service Dates: August 10, 2026 β August 9, 2027 (12 months)
Location: Orange, Vermont (20 miles from Montpelier, 45 miles from Burlington)
Schedule: Full-time (typically MonβFri, some flexibility for evening/weekend events)
How to Apply:
Application Deadline: Rolling until August 1, 2026 (but early applications are highly encouraged)
Application Process: Submit your application through the AmeriCorps portal: Listing #129109 - https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=129109
First-round interview with Sage Mountain (Zoom or in-person)
Second-round interview with SerVermont VISTA Program Director
Questions?
Contact Caitlin Perrier, SerVermont VISTA Program Director
π§ caitlin.perrier@vermont.gov | βοΈ (802) 585-6835
Or Emily Ruff, Sage Mountain Executive Director
π§ emily@sagemountain.com | βοΈ (802) 479-9825