Opportunity Information: Apply for CNCS 06 05 2014
Apply for CNCS 06 05 2014
- The Corporation for National and Community Service in the consumer protection disaster prevention and relief education environment health housing other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2015 RSVP Competition" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 94.002 Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 5, 2014 and posted on Jun 5, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 9, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) County governments Private institutions of higher education State governments Independent school districts Special district governments City or township governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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Opportunity Summary:
The 2015 RSVP Competition was a discretionary grant opportunity from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to fund and strengthen RSVP projects (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, CFDA 94.002). RSVP, created in 1971, is one of the largest senior volunteer programs in the United States and is built around engaging volunteers age 55 and older in flexible service commitments that can range from just a few hours per week up to full-time levels of service. The core purpose of the program is to generate measurable community impact, provide meaningful benefits to older adults through service, and expand the capacity of local organizations and communities to address priority needs.
A central goal of this particular competition was to increase the impact of national service in 341 identified communities nationwide. CNCS signaled that awards would be aimed at sponsoring RSVP grants that place and support older volunteers in a wide variety of service activities aligned with local community needs while also responding to CNCS National Performance Measures. In practice, that means applicants were expected to propose clear, outcomes-oriented volunteer service strategies that fit within CNCS performance frameworks and demonstrate how volunteer efforts translate into tangible results in the community.
To be considered responsive, RSVP applications had to meet several non-negotiable program design requirements. First, each applicant needed to serve the entire geographic service area tied to the specific funding opportunity listed in Appendix A of the notice, rather than selecting only portions of the area. Second, applicants had to support at least the minimum number of volunteers specified for that service area in Appendix A, reflecting CNCS expectations for scale and community coverage. Third, proposals needed to meet National Performance Measure requirements and any additional criteria described in the funding notice, indicating that applicants had to build a performance and reporting approach that fit CNCS standards. Finally, CNCS emphasized continuity for existing volunteers: applicants were instructed to minimize disruptions to volunteers associated with any incumbent RSVP project, and Appendix C provided more direction on how both new and incumbent applicants should explain plans to reduce disruption, particularly if they proposed changing or graduating volunteer stations that were previously part of an incumbent project.
The opportunity was posted on June 5, 2014, and closed on September 9, 2014 (with an archive date of October 9, 2014). It carried a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning grantees were expected to contribute non-federal resources as part of the overall project budget. The award floor was listed as $0, which typically indicates that award amounts could vary widely depending on the service area and the approved scope of the project, rather than reflecting a single minimum grant size.
Eligible applicants covered a broad range of public and nonprofit entities capable of sponsoring a community-based senior volunteer program. This included state governments, county and municipal governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities (including Indian housing authorities), nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that category), private institutions of higher education, and Native American tribal governments (both federally recognized and other tribal organizations). Programmatically, the funding activity categories were wide-ranging and reflected the broad ways RSVP volunteers can be deployed, including education, health, housing, environment, disaster prevention and relief, transportation, consumer protection, and other community-identified needs, with the overarching explanation that the funding supports service opportunities for volunteers age 55 and over.
In summary, the 2015 RSVP Competition was designed to competitively award RSVP sponsor grants in specific communities, requiring full geographic coverage, a minimum volunteer base, compliance with CNCS national performance expectations, and thoughtful transition planning to preserve volunteer relationships and reduce disruption where an incumbent RSVP project already existed. For applicants needing the full announcement, CNCS provided an additional information link (the notice of funding) and directed people having trouble accessing the announcement to contact the Senior Corps RSVP mailbox.
2015 RSVP Competition (CNCS) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2015 RSVP Competition?
The 2015 RSVP Competition was a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to fund and strengthen RSVP projects (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, CFDA 94.002). It was designed to competitively award RSVP sponsor grants in specific communities.
What is RSVP?
RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) is a senior volunteer program created in 1971. It engages volunteers age 55 and older in flexible service commitments that can range from a few hours per week up to full-time levels of service.
What is the purpose of RSVP as described in this opportunity?
The core purpose described includes generating measurable community impact, providing meaningful benefits to older adults through service, and expanding the capacity of local organizations and communities to address priority needs.
What was a central goal of this specific competition?
A central goal was to increase the impact of national service in 341 identified communities nationwide.
What kinds of activities were RSVP sponsors expected to support?
CNCS indicated awards would support projects that place and support older volunteers in a wide variety of service activities aligned with local community needs while also responding to CNCS National Performance Measures.
What did CNCS mean by "outcomes-oriented" strategies in this competition?
Applicants were expected to propose clear volunteer service strategies that fit within CNCS performance frameworks and demonstrate how volunteer efforts translate into tangible results in the community.
What were the non-negotiable program design requirements for responsive applications?
To be considered responsive, applications had to meet these requirements: (1) serve the entire geographic service area listed in Appendix A for the specific opportunity, (2) support at least the minimum number of volunteers specified for that service area in Appendix A, (3) meet National Performance Measure requirements and any additional criteria in the funding notice, and (4) minimize disruptions to volunteers associated with any incumbent RSVP project, following guidance referenced in Appendix C.
Did applicants have to serve the entire service area, or could they propose partial coverage?
Applicants had to serve the entire geographic service area tied to the funding opportunity listed in Appendix A. Selecting only portions of the area was not considered responsive.
Was there a minimum volunteer requirement?
Yes. Applicants had to support at least the minimum number of volunteers specified for the service area in Appendix A.
What performance requirements applied to applications?
Proposals needed to meet CNCS National Performance Measure requirements and any additional criteria described in the funding notice, meaning applicants had to build a performance and reporting approach consistent with CNCS standards.
How did this competition address existing (incumbent) RSVP projects and volunteers?
CNCS emphasized continuity for existing volunteers. Applicants were instructed to minimize disruptions to volunteers associated with any incumbent RSVP project. Appendix C provided additional direction on how new and incumbent applicants should explain plans to reduce disruption, especially if proposing to change or graduate volunteer stations that had been part of an incumbent project.
What are "incumbent" RSVP projects in the context of this opportunity?
"Incumbent" refers to an existing RSVP project already operating in a community/service area. The competition highlighted the need to reduce disruption for volunteers connected to those existing projects.
What kinds of applicant organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included state governments; county and municipal governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities (including Indian housing authorities); nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that category); private institutions of higher education; and Native American tribal governments (federally recognized tribes and other tribal organizations).
Were nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status were included as eligible applicants, with an exclusion noted for higher education institutions within that category.
Were colleges or universities eligible?
Private institutions of higher education were listed as eligible. The eligibility list also noted that 501(c)(3) nonprofits were eligible, excluding higher education institutions in that particular category.
Were tribal governments eligible to apply?
Yes. Native American tribal governments were listed as eligible applicants, including both federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations.
What issue areas or service categories could RSVP volunteers address under this funding?
The funding activity categories were described broadly and included education, health, housing, environment, disaster prevention and relief, transportation, consumer protection, and other community-identified needs. The overarching purpose was to support service opportunities for volunteers age 55 and over.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity referenced CFDA 94.002 for RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program).
When was this grant opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on June 5, 2014 and closed on September 9, 2014. An archive date of October 9, 2014 was also noted.
Was cost-sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity included a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning grantees were expected to contribute non-federal resources as part of the overall project budget.
What does it mean that the award floor was listed as $0?
An award floor of $0 typically indicates that award amounts could vary widely depending on the service area and the approved scope of the project, rather than reflecting a single minimum grant size.
What communities were targeted by this competition?
The competition aimed to increase national service impact in 341 identified communities nationwide.
Where could applicants find the service area requirements and minimum volunteer numbers?
The notice referenced Appendix A for the specific geographic service areas and the minimum number of volunteers required for each area.
Where could applicants find guidance on minimizing disruption to incumbent volunteers and volunteer stations?
The notice referenced Appendix C for additional direction on how new and incumbent applicants should explain plans to reduce disruption, particularly if changing or graduating volunteer stations previously part of an incumbent project.
What should someone do if they had trouble accessing the full announcement?
CNCS directed applicants who had trouble accessing the announcement to contact the Senior Corps RSVP mailbox.
Did CNCS provide a way to access the full notice of funding?
Yes. CNCS provided an additional information link to the notice of funding announcement.
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