Opportunity Information: Apply for CNCS GRANTS 10262010
Apply for CNCS GRANTS 10262010
- The Corporation for National and Community Service in the agriculture arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) business and commerce community development consumer protection disaster prevention and relief education employment, labor and training environment food and nutrition health housing law, justice and legal services natural resources other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AmeriCorps State and National Grant Competitions" 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 Oct 26, 2010 and posted on Oct 26, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 25, 2011 The deadline for eGrants submissions is 500 p.m. Eastern Time on January 25, 2011.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education 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 organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Special district governments Private institutions of higher education County governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Independent school districts City or township governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education State governments.
- 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) Indian Tribes labor organizations or a partnership or consortia consisting of the aforementioned are eligible to apply. Intermediaries are encouraged to apply. If your organization works in just one state, please contact your state commission, which can be found here http://www.americorps.gov/about/contact/statecommission.asp. You will apply to them. If your organization works in more than one state, you are eligible to apply for a national grant. You will apply directly to the Corporation. If your organization is an Indian Tribe you may apply through your state commission, or directly to the Corporation.
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Opportunity Summary:
The AmeriCorps State and National Grant Competitions (Funding Opportunity Number CNCS-GRANTS-10262010; CFDA 94.006) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support AmeriCorps programs that use national service members to address community needs while strengthening civic engagement. The 2011 competition notice was amended on October 18, 2010, and the amended version put noticeably more weight on evidence-based program design, clearer explanations of agency priorities, updated definitions for what CNCS calls its focus areas, and more detail on how applications would be reviewed and selected. The amendments also referenced a 2011 national performance measurement pilot, signaling that applicants should be prepared to describe outcomes, measurement strategies, and how their program design aligns with CNCS performance expectations. As part of the updates, CNCS replaced the term "Priority Area" with "Focus Area" throughout the notice and renamed "Clean Energy" as "Environmental Stewardship," reflecting the terminology and emphasis in the Serve America Act framework.
Programmatically, CNCS framed this competition around the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act signed in 2009, which expanded national service and pushed it toward clearer, measurable outcomes and capacity building for individuals, nonprofits, and communities. Under the amended notice, CNCS directed AmeriCorps State and National funding toward six focus areas identified by the Act: Disaster Services, Education, Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Futures, Opportunity, and Veterans and Military Families. While applications could align with any of these areas, CNCS highlighted a particularly strong interest in programs that improve academic outcomes for children, youth, and young adults, tying that emphasis to AmeriCorps historical strengths in education and alignment with broader Department of Education reform efforts. CNCS also stated an intent to increase investment in programs that serve veterans and military families or engage veterans in service, elevating that population and set of outcomes as a notable priority within the overall competition.
Eligibility was broad and designed to accommodate the range of organizations that run service programs. Eligible applicants included public and private nonprofit organizations (including faith-based and other community organizations), institutions of higher education, and government entities within states or territories (such as cities and counties). Indian Tribes and labor organizations were also eligible, as were partnerships or consortia made up of eligible entities. The notice encouraged intermediaries to apply, which is relevant for organizations that regrant, provide backbone support, or manage networks of local service sites. A key structural distinction is whether an applicant operates in one state or multiple states: organizations working in a single state were directed to apply through their state service commission (the AmeriCorps State route), while organizations operating in more than one state were eligible to apply directly to CNCS for a national grant. Indian Tribes were given flexibility to apply either through a state commission or directly to CNCS.
The opportunity required cost sharing or matching, meaning applicants needed to plan for non-federal resources to support the program budget in accordance with AmeriCorps rules. Applications were submitted through eGrants, and the deadline for submission was 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 25, 2011 (with the posting date of October 26, 2010, and an archive date of January 26, 2011). CNCS also asked prospective applicants to email a non-mandatory Notice of Intent to Apply about 60 days before the deadline to help CNCS anticipate review volume. National applicants were instructed to email americorpsnational@cns.gov and specify which competition they intended to enter, while state commissions were asked to email americorpsapplications@cns.gov with an estimate of how many programs they expected to submit for the state competitive process. Although optional, this step was presented as a practical planning tool for CNCS rather than a formal requirement.
For applicant support and next steps, CNCS directed state-focused applicants to contact their state commission (via the AmeriCorps state commission directory) and national-focused applicants to contact CNCS directly, including a phone contact at (202) 606-7508 for the National grant program. The full announcement and application instructions were provided through an additional information link titled "Full announcement and application instructions for AmeriCorps State and National Amended 2011 Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity," and applicants who had trouble accessing the materials electronically were instructed to use the same commission or national contact channels for assistance. Overall, the competition is best understood as a funding pathway for organizations to operate AmeriCorps member-based service programs, with an explicit expectation that proposed interventions are evidence-informed, outcomes-driven, and clearly aligned with one of the six national focus areas, with extra competitive interest in education outcomes and services involving veterans and military families.
AmeriCorps State and National Grant Competitions (Amended 2011) - FAQs
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the AmeriCorps State and National Grant Competitions, a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support AmeriCorps programs that use national service members to address community needs while strengthening civic engagement.
What are the identifying numbers for this opportunity?
The Funding Opportunity Number is CNCS-GRANTS-10262010, and the CFDA number is 94.006.
When was the opportunity posted, and when did it close?
The posting date was October 26, 2010. The application deadline was 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 25, 2011. The archive date was January 26, 2011.
Was the 2011 competition notice amended?
Yes. The 2011 competition notice was amended on October 18, 2010. The amended notice increased emphasis on evidence-based program design, clearer explanations of CNCS priorities, updated definitions for CNCS focus areas, and more detail on how applications would be reviewed and selected.
What changed in the amended notice compared to the earlier version?
Based on the information provided, the amended notice placed noticeably more weight on: evidence-based program design; clearer explanations of agency priorities; updated definitions for CNCS focus areas; and more detail on application review and selection. It also referenced a 2011 national performance measurement pilot, signaling that applicants should be prepared to describe outcomes, measurement strategies, and alignment with CNCS performance expectations.
What is meant by "focus areas" in this opportunity?
CNCS used "Focus Area" terminology in the amended notice (replacing "Priority Area"). The focus areas align with the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act framework and are the main categories applicants should align their program design and outcomes to.
What are the six focus areas identified for this competition?
The six focus areas are: Disaster Services, Education, Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Futures, Opportunity, and Veterans and Military Families.
Did CNCS rename any focus area in the amended notice?
Yes. "Clean Energy" was renamed as "Environmental Stewardship," reflecting the terminology and emphasis in the Serve America Act framework.
Does CNCS have special interest in any particular types of programs?
Yes. CNCS highlighted particularly strong interest in programs that improve academic outcomes for children, youth, and young adults. CNCS also stated an intent to increase investment in programs that serve veterans and military families or engage veterans in service.
What law or policy framework did CNCS use to frame this competition?
CNCS framed the competition around the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act signed in 2009, which expanded national service and emphasized clearer, measurable outcomes and capacity building for individuals, nonprofits, and communities.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included public and private nonprofit organizations (including faith-based and other community organizations), institutions of higher education, and government entities within states or territories (such as cities and counties). Indian Tribes and labor organizations were also eligible, as were partnerships or consortia made up of eligible entities.
Can faith-based organizations apply?
Yes. Faith-based organizations are included within the eligible category of private nonprofit organizations.
Can government entities apply?
Yes. Government entities within states or territories, including cities and counties, were listed as eligible applicants.
Are Indian Tribes eligible, and do they have any special application options?
Yes. Indian Tribes were eligible and were given flexibility to apply either through a state commission or directly to CNCS.
Are labor organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Labor organizations were included among eligible applicants.
Can a partnership or consortium apply?
Yes. Partnerships or consortia made up of eligible entities were listed as eligible applicants.
What are intermediaries, and are they encouraged to apply?
The notice encouraged intermediaries to apply. In this context, intermediaries are relevant for organizations that regrant, provide backbone support, or manage networks of local service sites.
How do I know whether to apply through a state commission or directly to CNCS?
A key distinction is whether you operate in one state or multiple states. Organizations working in a single state were directed to apply through their state service commission (the AmeriCorps State route). Organizations operating in more than one state were eligible to apply directly to CNCS for a national grant.
What if my organization operates in more than one state?
Organizations operating in more than one state were eligible to apply directly to CNCS for a national grant.
Where are applications submitted?
Applications were submitted through eGrants.
What is the application deadline time zone and exact time?
The submission deadline was 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 25, 2011.
Is a Notice of Intent to Apply required?
No. CNCS asked prospective applicants to email a non-mandatory (optional) Notice of Intent to Apply about 60 days before the deadline. It was presented as a practical planning tool for CNCS rather than a formal requirement.
When should the optional Notice of Intent to Apply be sent?
CNCS requested the optional Notice of Intent to Apply about 60 days before the application deadline.
Where do national applicants send the optional Notice of Intent to Apply?
National applicants were instructed to email americorpsnational@cns.gov and specify which competition they intended to enter.
What were state service commissions asked to do related to the Notice of Intent?
State commissions were asked to email americorpsapplications@cns.gov with an estimate of how many programs they expected to submit for the state competitive process.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity required cost sharing or matching, meaning applicants needed to plan for non-federal resources to support the program budget in accordance with AmeriCorps rules.
What does the notice suggest about performance measurement and outcomes?
The amended notice referenced a 2011 national performance measurement pilot and signaled that applicants should be prepared to describe outcomes, measurement strategies, and how their program design aligns with CNCS performance expectations.
How did CNCS indicate applications would be evaluated?
The amended notice added more detail on how applications would be reviewed and selected and placed more weight on evidence-based program design, clearer articulation of priorities, and alignment with updated focus area definitions and performance expectations.
Who should state-focused applicants contact for help or next steps?
State-focused applicants were directed to contact their state service commission using the AmeriCorps state commission directory.
Who should national-focused applicants contact for help or next steps?
National-focused applicants were directed to contact CNCS directly, including a phone contact at (202) 606-7508 for the National grant program.
What if I cannot access the full announcement or application instructions electronically?
Applicants who had trouble accessing the materials electronically were instructed to use the same commission (state route) or national contact channels for assistance.
Where were the full announcement and application instructions provided?
The full announcement and application instructions were provided through an additional information link titled "Full announcement and application instructions for AmeriCorps State and National Amended 2011 Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity."
In one sentence, what kind of program is this grant designed to support?
It is a funding pathway for organizations to operate AmeriCorps member-based service programs that are evidence-informed, outcomes-driven, and clearly aligned with one of the six national focus areas, with added competitive interest in education outcomes and services involving veterans and military families.
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