Opportunity Information: Apply for CNCS 7 1 2015
Apply for CNCS 7 1 2015
- The Corporation for National and Community Service in the agriculture arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) business and commerce community development disaster prevention and relief education employment, labor and training energy environment food and nutrition health housing law, justice and legal services natural resources regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AmeriCorps State and National FY 2015 Partnership Challenge" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 94.006 AmeriCorps.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 22, 2015 and posted on Jul 1, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 23, 2015 Applications are due Thursday, July 23, 2015 at 500 p.m. Eastern Time to CNCS. State Commissions and Territory deadlines may be significantly before the CNCS deadlines, so prospective state applicants are encouraged to contact the commission in the state or territory where they intend to apply as soon as possible. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Special district governments County governments Private institutions of higher education State governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Independent school districts City or township governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
- Eligible ApplicantsThe following entities are eligible to apply public or private nonprofit organizations, including faith based and other community organizations institutions of higher education government entities within states or territories (e.g., cities, counties) labor organizations partnerships and consortia and Indian Tribes. Receiving funding previously from CNCS or another Federal agency is not a prerequisite to applying under this Notice. Organizations that have been convicted of a federal crime are disqualified from receiving the assistance described in this Notice. Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, an organization described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. 501 (c)(4), that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to apply.New Applicants CNCS encourages organizations that have never received funding from CNCS to apply. The general practice is to award no more than 50 member positions to organizations participating in an AmeriCorps program for the first time.Continuation Applicants Organizations that have current AmeriCorps awards that do not end in FY15 must submit an application in order to be eligible to receive funding for the following year. Requests by existing continuation applicants for increases in the level of funding or number of positions will be assessed using the criteria under this Notice.Type of Applicants Single State Applicants Organizations that propose to operate in only one state or territory must apply through the Governor appointed State or Territory Commissions. Each state and territory administers its own selection process and puts forward to CNCS the applicants it selects to compete for funding. Applicants operating in one state must contact their State Commissions to learn about their state or territory processes and deadlines which may be significantly before the CNCS deadlines and may have additional requirements. The list of State and Territory Commissions can be found here http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/contact us/state service commissionsDirect Applicants Single State Applicants directed by their State Commission to apply directly to CNCS should do so. Please note that, after reviewing applications, CNCS may discuss with the State Commission awarding the grant to the Commission in order for the Commission to award a sub grant to the applicant. Alternatively, CNCS may award the grant directly to the successful applicant, but also may work cooperatively with the State Commission to assign to them the responsibility to oversee and monitor performance of the grant. State Commissions interested in being assigned responsibility for oversight of AmeriCorps Partnership Challenge awards operating within their state should contact CNCS. Multi state Organizations that propose to operate AmeriCorps programs in more than one state or territory apply directly to CNCS. Federally recognized Indian Tribes An Indian Tribe is defined as a federally recognized Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Native village, Regional Corporation, or Village Corporation, as defined under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602), that the United States Government determines is eligible for special programs and services provided under federal law to Indians because of their status as Indians. Indian Tribes also include tribal organizations controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by one of the entities described above. Territories without Commissions Applicants in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern
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Opportunity Summary:
The AmeriCorps State and National FY 2015 Partnership Challenge (Funding Opportunity Number CNCS-7-1-2015; CFDA 94.006) was a discretionary grant opportunity from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) designed to expand community impact by pairing AmeriCorps member service with strong local funding partnerships. The core idea of the Partnership Challenge was straightforward: nonprofit organizations or public agencies, working alongside their funding partners, would propose service programs that address pressing community needs by engaging AmeriCorps members. If a proposal was approved, CNCS would contribute by providing Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards to eligible members who successfully complete their terms of service, while the sponsoring organization (and its partners) would take responsibility for covering the full cost of operating the program itself. In practice, that meant CNCS was not primarily funding program operations through this mechanism; instead, it was using the Education Award as the federal incentive to help organizations recruit and deploy members in communities.
The opportunity supported a wide range of service focus areas, reflecting the broad scope of AmeriCorps State and National programming. The eligible activity categories listed included community development, disaster prevention and relief, education, employment and job training, health, housing, environment, energy, food and nutrition, law and legal services, agriculture, arts (through cultural affairs), natural resources, business and commerce, and regional development. This breadth signaled that applicants were expected to ground their proposals in demonstrated community needs, but were not constrained to a narrow set of issue areas as long as the proposal fit within AmeriCorps service principles and program requirements.
Eligible applicants were broadly defined and included public and private nonprofit organizations (including faith-based and other community organizations), institutions of higher education (public and private), government entities within states or territories (such as cities and counties), labor organizations, partnerships and consortia, and Indian Tribes. The listing also explicitly included several common government and quasi-government applicant types (for example, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities). Prior federal funding was not required to apply, and CNCS explicitly encouraged new applicants, noting a general practice of awarding no more than 50 member positions to organizations participating in an AmeriCorps program for the first time. At the same time, the notice set clear disqualifiers: organizations convicted of a federal crime were not eligible for this assistance, and 501(c)(4) organizations that engage in lobbying activities were ineligible under the Lobbying Disclosure Act framework described in the eligibility language.
How an organization applied depended largely on where and how it planned to operate. Single-state applicants generally had to apply through their Governor-appointed State or Territory Service Commission, because each commission runs its own process, may impose additional requirements, and often sets deadlines that can be significantly earlier than CNCS deadlines. Some single-state applicants could be directed by their commission to apply directly to CNCS, and the notice explained that even in those cases CNCS might coordinate with the commission on whether the award would go directly to the applicant or be made to the commission for a subgrant, and whether the commission would be assigned responsibility for oversight and monitoring. Organizations proposing to operate in multiple states or territories applied directly to CNCS. The notice also provided a definition of federally recognized Indian Tribes for eligibility purposes and referenced territories without commissions, indicating alternate handling for applicants in those jurisdictions.
The timeline for this specific FY 2015 competition was tight. The opportunity was posted on July 1, 2015, with applications due to CNCS by Thursday, July 23, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and it was later archived on July 24, 2015. Applications were accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, but the stated closing deadline still applied, and the notice strongly advised prospective single-state applicants to contact their state or territory commission as early as possible because local deadlines could be much earlier than the CNCS deadline. The funding instrument was a grant, the opportunity category was discretionary, and the listing stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement; however, the program design described in the announcement made clear that the sponsoring organization was expected to cover the full cost of operating the program, with CNCS’s contribution being the Education Awards provided to members upon successful completion of service.
From a practical standpoint, the Partnership Challenge was aimed at organizations that could bring real operating support to the table (through private philanthropy, local government funding, institutional support, or other partners) and wanted to leverage AmeriCorps as a service and talent pipeline. Members would serve in community-based roles aligned to the proposed needs, and the Education Award functioned as both a member benefit and a recruitment tool, while members gained experience and job-relevant skills through hands-on service. For applicants, the central challenge was building a credible, well-supported service model with clear community impact, while demonstrating that the organization and its partners could fund and manage day-to-day program operations at full cost. The notice directed applicants seeking help with accessing the full announcement to contact AmeriCorps Grants staff by email through the competition contact channel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the AmeriCorps State and National FY 2015 Partnership Challenge?
The AmeriCorps State and National FY 2015 Partnership Challenge (Funding Opportunity Number CNCS-7-1-2015; CFDA 94.006) was a discretionary grant opportunity from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). It was designed to expand community impact by pairing AmeriCorps member service with strong local funding partnerships.
What was the core purpose of the Partnership Challenge?
The core idea was that nonprofit organizations or public agencies, working with funding partners, would propose service programs that address pressing community needs by engaging AmeriCorps members. If approved, CNCS would provide Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards to eligible members who successfully complete their service terms, while the sponsoring organization and its partners would cover the full cost of operating the program.
What did CNCS fund under this opportunity?
CNCSs primary contribution under this mechanism was the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for eligible members upon successful completion of service. The opportunity was not primarily intended to fund program operations; sponsoring organizations were expected to pay the full cost of running the program.
Who was expected to pay for program operations?
The sponsoring organization, together with its funding partners, was expected to cover the full cost of operating the program. CNCSs role was to provide the Education Award as the federal incentive tied to member service completion.
Was there a required cost share or match?
The listing stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement. However, the program design described in the announcement made clear that the sponsoring organization was expected to cover full program operating costs, with CNCS contributing through Education Awards for eligible members who complete service.
What types of community needs or service areas were eligible?
The opportunity supported a wide range of focus areas, including community development, disaster prevention and relief, education, employment and job training, health, housing, environment, energy, food and nutrition, law and legal services, agriculture, arts (through cultural affairs), natural resources, business and commerce, and regional development.
Were applicants limited to a narrow set of issue areas?
No. The broad list of eligible activity categories indicated that applicants were expected to ground proposals in demonstrated community needs, but were not constrained to a narrow issue area as long as proposals aligned with AmeriCorps service principles and program requirements.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included public and private nonprofit organizations (including faith-based and other community organizations), institutions of higher education (public and private), state or territorial government entities (including cities and counties), labor organizations, partnerships and consortia, and Indian Tribes. The eligibility language also referenced common government and quasi-government applicants such as special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Did an organization need prior federal funding to apply?
No. Prior federal funding was not required to apply, and CNCS explicitly encouraged new applicants.
How many AmeriCorps member positions could a first-time participating organization typically expect?
The notice described a general practice of awarding no more than 50 member positions to organizations participating in an AmeriCorps program for the first time.
What organizations were not eligible?
The notice identified specific disqualifiers, including organizations convicted of a federal crime. It also stated that 501(c)(4) organizations that engage in lobbying activities were ineligible under the Lobbying Disclosure Act framework referenced in the eligibility language.
How did the application route differ for single-state versus multi-state programs?
Single-state applicants generally applied through their Governor-appointed State or Territory Service Commission, because each commission runs its own process and may impose additional requirements and earlier deadlines. Organizations proposing to operate in multiple states or territories applied directly to CNCS.
Could a single-state applicant ever apply directly to CNCS?
Yes. Some single-state applicants could be directed by their commission to apply directly to CNCS. Even then, the notice explained that CNCS might coordinate with the commission regarding whether the award would be made directly to the applicant or to the commission for a subgrant, and whether the commission would handle oversight and monitoring.
Why was it important for single-state applicants to contact their commission early?
Because commissions often set deadlines that can be significantly earlier than CNCS deadlines and may add requirements. The notice strongly advised single-state applicants to contact their state or territory commission as early as possible.
Did the opportunity mention territories without commissions?
Yes. The notice referenced territories without commissions and indicated alternate handling for applicants in those jurisdictions.
How were Indian Tribes addressed for eligibility purposes?
The notice provided a definition of federally recognized Indian Tribes for eligibility purposes and listed Indian Tribes among eligible applicants.
What was the application posting date and deadline for this FY 2015 competition?
The opportunity was posted on July 1, 2015. Applications were due to CNCS by Thursday, July 23, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The opportunity was later archived on July 24, 2015.
Were applications reviewed on a rolling basis?
Yes. Applications were accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, but the stated closing deadline still applied.
What type of funding instrument and opportunity category was this?
The funding instrument was a grant, and the opportunity category was discretionary.
What did the Partnership Challenge expect from funding partners?
The model emphasized strong local funding partnerships to support program operations. In practical terms, it was aimed at organizations that could bring real operating support through sources such as private philanthropy, local government funding, institutional support, or other partners.
How did the Education Award function within the program model?
The Education Award functioned as a federal incentive and member benefit tied to successful completion of a term of service. It also served as a recruitment tool to help organizations attract members while deploying them in community-based roles aligned to local needs.
What was the central challenge for applicants under this model?
Applicants needed to build a credible service model with clear community impact and demonstrate that they and their partners could fund and manage day-to-day program operations at full cost, since CNCS was primarily contributing through Education Awards rather than operational dollars.
Where could applicants get help accessing the full announcement?
The notice directed applicants seeking help with accessing the full announcement to contact AmeriCorps Grants staff by email through the competition contact channel.
What identifying numbers were associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity identified Funding Opportunity Number CNCS-7-1-2015 and CFDA 94.006.
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| Funding Opportunity |
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