United Way's Rural Service Fellowship Program

Program Overview

The goal of the United Way Rural Service Fellows Program is to help address the health and human service needs of the low-income rural residents of Upstate New York. Rural Fellows’ host sites represent a range of issues from mental health to childcare, food insecurity to the prevention of domestic violence, and is designed to help build the service capacity of the participating nonprofits. Fellows serving on the program will learn community development strategies, hone leadership talents and gain important nonprofit skills in a specific service area.

Fellowship Service Benefits

Selected Fellows participate in a year-long community development initiative. Fellows are assigned to a nonprofit organization in Upstate New York to work on a variety of community development projects. Throughout the service year, Fellows will participate in a series of trainings, work with grassroots organizations to develop action plans that help alleviate poverty in the community and Fellows receive a bi-monthly living allowance, health insurance and an end of service educational award of $4,725.

Fellowship Activities

Each Rural Fellow will be assigned to a nonprofit host site. Fellows will spend a year in service working on improving service delivery and educational outreach efforts on a specific service area.

Fellows will organize community forums, recruit volunteers, and create programs that address the needs of rural low-income people and work with local councils to identify solutions to persistent rural poverty.

Highlights from the Program's First Year include:

  • Securing a grant to supply diapers to two area rural food pantries.
  • Re-establishing a crime victim’s office in Tompkins County
  • Creating a holiday gift program for families in crisis

Where You Would Serve

The Fellowship program is based out of Ithaca, New York. Located in the heart of the Finger Lakes in New York State, Tompkins County is home to a bounty of natural and educational resources. Cornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins-Cortland Community College all reside within Tompkins County that brings great learning and resource opportunities to local residents. The area also has several parks and recreational facilities which makes it a wonderful place for outdoor and adventure enthusiasts. 

The area is also known for its progressive social planning.  Home to Ithaca Hours (a world famous barter system---started by a VISTA!), a sizable regional farmer’s market and a wide variety of active political parties.  Tompkins County has over 450 nonprofits.  The variety and diversity of services provides a great opportunity for Fellows to collaborate and network with a group of talented, dedicated nonprofit professionals.  Opportunities to serve and collaborate with other rural counties in the area are also available.

Required Application Materials

  • Resume: Please be certain to include your email address. Maximum length 250 words.
  • Essay 1: Please write a 30 second radio public service announcement (PSA) for a nonprofit of your choice.  The purpose of the PSA is to help educate the local community about your nonprofit’s services and to recruit volunteers.
  • Essay 2: Why do you want to become a Rural Service Fellow? What could you contribute this program? What do you hope to gain from this experience? Maximum length is one page, single-spaced. Please note that this essay can be used for your on-line AmeriCorps application.
  • Complete AmeriCorps Application on-line at www.americorps.org. United Way Rural Service Fellow Program Application Number is: NY316842-0
  • Two letters of recommendation mailed directly to:
    Selections Committee
    United Way Rural Service Fellows Program
    United Way of Tompkins County
    313 N. Aurora Street
    Ithaca, NY 14859

APPLICATION DEADLINE: APRIL 4, 2005

Program Timeline

  • Applications Due- April 4, 2005
  • Interviews- April 11-April 18, 2005
  • Acceptance Letters Mailed- April 29, 2005
  • Pre-Service Orientation- August 8-11, 2005
  • Site Orientation- August 15-August 19, 2005
  • Tompkins County Orientation- August 29-September 2, 2005

Criteria for Selection

  • US citizen
  • Demonstrated commitment to social justice
  • Creativity and initiative in problem solving
  • Demonstrated leadership qualities and abilities
  • Flexibility and the ability to adjust to new situations

Download Job Description Files

These files are in PDF format and require the free Adobe Reader plug-in to view.

Fellowship Profile

Alisha Coleman, Rural Services Coordinator
Host site- Catholic Charities of Tompkins and Tioga Counties

I joined the program because I wanted to work with issues of rural poverty.  I wanted to do something valuable while at the same time gaining marketable, professional skills. 

During my service I’ve learned how to write grants, recruit and train volunteers, how to negotiate community and County politics.  Perhaps, the most important thing that I’ve learned is about community trust.  We’ve worked really hard this year to set up a trusting environment for the rural communities.  We wanted them to set the community agenda and identify community solutions.  I think this is the legacy that I leave at my project.  We developed trusting relationships with key community leaders who are working with us to create positive change for the rural low-income residents of the County.

Life After Service- I’ll be attending graduate school in rural sociology.

More Information

United Way Rural Service Fellows Program is funded by a generous grant from the Corporation for National Service’s AmeriCorps*VISTA program.

For 39 years, AmeriCorps*VISTA has been helping bring communities and individuals out of poverty. Today, nearly 6,000 AmeriCorps*VISTA members serve in hundreds of nonprofit organizations and public agencies throughout the country -- working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, increase housing opportunities, or bridge the digital divide. They leave behind lasting solutions to some of our country's toughest problems.

VISTA was created by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as "a domestic Peace Corps, as part of the "War on Poverty." Programs such as Headstart and Job Corps were created by that same legislation. In the early 70's, with the passage of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act, VISTA and several other programs, including the Peace Corps, were merged into a new agency called ACTION, the Federal Domestic Volunteer Agency. In 1993, the National Service Trust Act combined three entities -- ACTION, the Commission on National & Community Service, and the White House Office of National Service -- into the Corporation for National Service, and VISTA became part of AmeriCorps. The formal name of the program is now AmeriCorps*VISTA.