Stewards VISTA: Mountain Roots - Community Eng Dev. Y1

Stewards VISTA:
Mountain Roots - Community Eng. & Dev. Y1

Mountain Roots is a nonprofit cultivating a resilient food system in the rural headwaters of Gunnison–Crested Butte, Colorado. Despite its reputation for outdoor recreation, the region is a Class 2 food desert where geographic, economic, and cultural barriers limit access to healthy food. Through regenerative agriculture, education, and community engagement, Mountain Roots strengthens food security, supports local producers, and builds long‑term community resilience.

Programs include Farm to School, community farms and gardens, workforce development, and food access initiatives serving vulnerable households. Based in the Gunnison Valley, members will experience a close‑knit rural community with abundant outdoor recreation and a strong culture of collaboration and stewardship.

The Community Engagement & Development VISTA will expand participation and financial sustainability by developing a strategic plan for fundraising, grant writing, events, volunteer coordination, outreach, marketing, and storytelling. Projects may include creating plans to strengthen volunteer leadership pathways, improving CRM and communications systems, and creating new engagement and revenue strategies. We seek a motivated, community‑oriented individual with strong communication and organizational skills and an interest in nonprofit development and food systems.

Members will gain experience in fundraising, volunteer management, and nonprofit leadership, with access to trainings, conferences, and regional networking. The project runs July 2026 to July 2027. Those relocating should be prepared for a rural mountain lifestyle with seasonal weather, limited services, and a highly engaged local community.

• Create fundraising plans, research grants and develop donor outreach plans for staff use
• Strengthen volunteer leadership and engagement tracking systems
• Create marketing and storytelling content for staff use in community engagement
• Develop funding strategies that sustain food access, youth education, and regenerative agriculture

• Health Coverage*
• Relocation Allowance
• Living Allowance
• Training
• Education award upon successful completion of service
• Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend
• Childcare assistance if eligible

• Permits attendance at school during off hours
• Permits working at another job during off hours
• Car recommended

• Hunger
• Community and Economic Development
• Environment
• Community Outreach
• Education
• Children/Youth

• Public Speaking
• Community Organization
• Non‑Profit Management
• General Skills
• Environment
• Writing/Editing
• Communications
• Fund raising/Grant Writing