Opportunity Information: Apply for CNCS GRANTS 09062013
Apply for CNCS GRANTS 09062013
- The Corporation for National and Community Service in the agriculture arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) 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 Nov 6, 2013 and posted on Sep 6, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 22, 2014 The deadline for eGrants submissions is 500 p.m. Eastern Time on January 22, 2014.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Special district governments County governments City or township governments Independent school districts Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- 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 Tribes and intermediaries planning to subgrant awarded funds are encouraged to apply. 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 or AmeriCorps to apply for the grants described in this Notice. New organizations should submit applications with the understanding that the general practice is to award no more than 50 member slots for new Grantees. New applicants are not eligible to receive fixed amount grants. Applicants that must apply through State Commissions Organizations that are proposing a project that operates in only one state must apply to this competition through the Governor appointed State or Territory Commissions. Each state and territory administers its own selection process and puts forward to CNCS the applicants they select to compete for funding. Organizations should contact their State Commissions to learn about their state or territory processes and deadlines. The list of State and Territory Commissions can be found here http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/contact us/state service commissions. Applicants that may apply directly to CNCS Applicants in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands apply directly to CNCS because these Territories have not established a state commission. Applicants are eligible to apply for funds for member support and program costs. Government entities of the Territory are not eligible to apply. CNCS will fund successful applicants with funding allocated to the Territories as part of the formula funding process. Organizations that propose to operate AmeriCorps programs in more than one state or territory apply directly to CNCS. Tribes apply directly to CNCS.
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Opportunity Summary:
The AmeriCorps State and National Grant Competitions (CNCS GRANTS 09062013; CFDA 94.006) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) designed to fund organizations that deploy AmeriCorps members to address local and national community challenges. The core purpose is to support service programs that are evidence based or evidence informed, meaning applicants are expected to ground their proposed intervention in credible research, prior evaluation findings, or solid performance data from the applicant or a comparable program. AmeriCorps members serve in approved national service positions and may receive a living allowance and other benefits during service; after successfully completing their term, members earn the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. A defining feature of AmeriCorps funding is its public-private partnership model, including an expectation of cost sharing/matching resources, with the broader aim of strengthening communities while also expanding economic opportunity by helping participants and community members gain skills, education, and pathways to employment.
CNCS focuses funding on six primary focus areas to concentrate resources where national service can show measurable impact. Disaster Services funds activities that improve preparedness, readiness, response, recovery, and mitigation, with the added possibility that grantees may support national disaster response through CNCS cooperative agreements and FEMA mission assignments. Economic Opportunity targets programs that improve the economic well-being and security of economically disadvantaged people, including efforts tied to financial literacy, access to safe and affordable housing, and employability leading to employment. Education supports improved educational outcomes for economically disadvantaged individuals, particularly children, and emphasizes approaches like youth engagement and service-learning, including school readiness, improved academic and behavioral outcomes in low-performing schools, and support for postsecondary access and success. Environmental Stewardship supports direct service that increases energy and water efficiency, expands renewable energy use, and improves at-risk ecosystems, including behavior-change strategies and green training opportunities, with an additional interest in conservation-service models that resemble a modern “Civilian Service Corps†focused on public and tribal lands. Healthy Futures addresses community health needs such as access to primary and preventive care, helping seniors age in place, and reducing childhood obesity through increased physical activity and improved nutrition. Veterans and Military Families aims to improve quality of life for veterans and strengthen military families by increasing both the number served and the number engaged in service, with a strong preference for alignment with the Veterans and Military Families national performance measures.
Beyond those focus areas, the notice highlights several program models that can be layered onto a proposal. Capacity Building is supported as indirect service that helps organizations deliver more, better, and longer-lasting direct services in the six focus areas, but it cannot be purely administrative support; examples include volunteer recruitment and management systems, community assessments, and building or improving internal systems like technology, training, and performance management. Encore Programs are encouraged because Congress set a goal that 10 percent of AmeriCorps funding support programs engaging a significant number of participants age 55 or older. Professional Corps programs are also eligible; these place qualified professionals (for example, teachers or health providers) into communities lacking enough of those professionals, but member salaries must be paid entirely by the service-site organizations and are not included in the AmeriCorps budget request, and applicants must show the local shortage of professionals.
A major theme of the competition is accountability through National Performance Measures, which CNCS uses to aggregate impact across programs and align grants with the Serve America Act and CNCS’s five-year strategic plan. Applicants are expected to build a clear theory of change (logic model) and select performance measures that match their intervention and intended outcomes; applications are scored in part on the strength of the evidence connecting the intervention to those outcomes and on whether the evidence fits the proposed population and community need. For FY 2014 specifically, CNCS stated funding priorities that lean toward economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, disaster services, and the Governor and Mayor Initiative, while also emphasizing programs that improve academic outcomes, expand support for and engagement of veterans and military families, strengthen community resilience to disasters, and expand summer programming that addresses K-12 “summer slide†through reading, math, science, and environmental learning supports, especially for students most at risk of learning loss.
The notice also explains how CNCS applies “tiers†to prioritize applications based on the performance measures selected and the kind of program proposed. Tier 1 is the highest priority and includes programs using specified complementary measures in Economic Opportunity (with additional community impact measurement required for certain measure selections), programs using priority measures in Veterans and Military Families, priority measures in Disaster Services, and proposals under the Governor and Mayor Initiative. CNCS signals an expectation that, if an applicant claims Tier 1 priority, at least 30 percent of its MSYs (member service years) align with the listed Tier 1 measures, and applicants must explain in the narrative when they cannot meet that threshold. Tier 2 includes priority measures in Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Futures, and certain Capacity Building/Education designs (with caveats related to service in certain School Improvement Grant or state-defined priority schools), as well as some Economic Opportunity priority measures not included in Tier 1, with a similar 30 percent MSY expectation. Tier 3 covers programs using complementary program measures, Tier 4 covers programs within the focus areas using self-nominated measures, and Tier 5 covers programs outside the focus areas using self-nominated measures. The notice makes a point that “priority consideration†does not guarantee funding; strong design, focus, and outcomes still matter.
The Governor and Mayor Initiative is a distinct pilot option that CNCS gives Tier 1 priority. CNCS will accept one application per state, and it must address a pressing statewide challenge identified by the Governor. The Governor must apply jointly with one Mayor and at least two nonprofit partners, with letters of commitment and a clear description of how multiple nonprofits will work together for collective impact, with the Governor’s office acting as a convener. Only the Governor, Mayor, their designated government office (not the state commission), or a public university may apply under this initiative; other applicants are considered noncompliant for this track.
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private nonprofit organizations (including faith-based and community organizations), institutions of higher education, and government entities within states or territories, as well as labor organizations, partnerships/consortia, Tribes, and intermediaries intending to subgrant. The notice encourages new applicants and notes that prior CNCS or federal funding is not required, though it also indicates a general practice of awarding no more than 50 member slots to brand-new grantees and states that new applicants are not eligible for fixed-amount grants. Certain entities are disqualified, including organizations convicted of a federal crime and 501(c)(4) organizations that engage in lobbying activities under the Lobbying Disclosure Act restrictions. The application route depends on where and how the program will operate: single-state programs generally apply through the Governor-appointed State or Territory Service Commission, multi-state programs apply directly to CNCS, and Tribes apply directly to CNCS. Some territories without a state commission (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) apply directly to CNCS, though government entities of the territory are not eligible to apply under that pathway.
Administratively, the opportunity requires cost sharing/matching and uses the eGrants system for submission. The posting date was September 6, 2013, with the final submission deadline listed as 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 22, 2014 (an extension from the original January 8 deadline), and the opportunity was archived January 23, 2014. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity categories span a wide range, reflecting AmeriCorps’s cross-sector nature (education, disaster relief, health, housing, environment, employment and training, and more). The overall message of the notice is that CNCS is looking for well-structured service programs with clear evidence behind the intervention, a strong logic model, measurable outcomes aligned to national performance measures, and a plan to leverage AmeriCorps members to deliver real, trackable improvements in communities, especially in the priority areas identified for that fiscal year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - AmeriCorps State and National Grant Competitions (CNCS GRANTS 09062013; CFDA 94.006)
What is the AmeriCorps State and National Grant Competition?
It is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) that funds organizations to deploy AmeriCorps members in approved national service positions to address local and national community challenges.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The core purpose is to support community service programs that are evidence based or evidence informed, use AmeriCorps members to deliver services, and produce measurable community outcomes aligned with CNCS National Performance Measures and CNCS strategic priorities.
What does "evidence based" or "evidence informed" mean in this competition?
Applicants are expected to ground the proposed intervention in credible research, prior evaluation findings, or solid performance data from the applicant or a comparable program. Applications are scored in part on how well the evidence supports the intervention and whether it fits the proposed population and community need.
Who are AmeriCorps members in this context, and what do they receive?
AmeriCorps members serve in approved national service positions. During service, members may receive a living allowance and other benefits. After successfully completing their term of service, members earn the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award.
What is the public-private partnership model mentioned in the notice?
A defining feature of AmeriCorps funding is an expectation of cost sharing/matching resources, reflecting a public-private partnership approach intended to strengthen communities while also expanding economic opportunity through skill-building, education, and employment pathways.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity includes an expectation of cost sharing/matching resources as part of the AmeriCorps public-private partnership model.
What are the six CNCS focus areas for AmeriCorps funding?
CNCS concentrates funding in six primary focus areas: Disaster Services, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Futures, and Veterans and Military Families.
What types of activities fall under Disaster Services?
Disaster Services supports activities that improve preparedness, readiness, response, recovery, and mitigation. The notice also notes that grantees may support national disaster response through CNCS cooperative agreements and FEMA mission assignments.
What is included in Economic Opportunity activities?
Economic Opportunity targets programs improving the economic well-being and security of economically disadvantaged people, including efforts related to financial literacy, access to safe and affordable housing, and employability leading to employment.
What is included in Education activities?
Education supports improved educational outcomes for economically disadvantaged individuals (especially children). It emphasizes youth engagement and service-learning, including school readiness, improved academic and behavioral outcomes in low-performing schools, and support for postsecondary access and success.
What is included in Environmental Stewardship activities?
Environmental Stewardship supports direct service that increases energy and water efficiency, expands renewable energy use, and improves at-risk ecosystems. It can include behavior-change strategies and green training opportunities. The notice also expresses interest in conservation-service models similar to a modern "Civilian Service Corps" focused on public and tribal lands.
What is included in Healthy Futures activities?
Healthy Futures addresses community health needs such as access to primary and preventive care, helping seniors age in place, and reducing childhood obesity through increased physical activity and improved nutrition.
What is included in Veterans and Military Families activities?
Veterans and Military Families aims to improve quality of life for veterans and strengthen military families by increasing both the number served and the number engaged in service, with a strong preference for alignment with the Veterans and Military Families national performance measures.
Are there additional program models that can be included in a proposal?
Yes. The notice highlights several models that can be layered onto proposals, including Capacity Building, Encore Programs, and Professional Corps programs (each with specific requirements).
What is Capacity Building under this opportunity?
Capacity Building is supported as indirect service that helps organizations deliver more, better, and longer-lasting direct services in the six focus areas. It cannot be purely administrative support. Examples include volunteer recruitment and management systems, community assessments, and building or improving internal systems such as technology, training, and performance management.
What are Encore Programs?
Encore Programs are encouraged because Congress set a goal that 10 percent of AmeriCorps funding support programs engaging a significant number of participants age 55 or older.
What are Professional Corps programs, and are they eligible?
Professional Corps programs are eligible. These programs place qualified professionals (for example, teachers or health providers) into communities that lack enough of those professionals. However, member salaries must be paid entirely by the service-site organizations and are not included in the AmeriCorps budget request. Applicants must also show the local shortage of professionals.
What are National Performance Measures and why do they matter?
National Performance Measures are the accountability framework CNCS uses to aggregate impact across programs and align grants with the Serve America Act and CNCS's five-year strategic plan. Applicants are expected to choose measures that match their intervention and outcomes, and applications are scored partly on alignment and evidence supporting the expected outcomes.
What is a theory of change or logic model in this competition?
Applicants are expected to build a clear theory of change (logic model) that connects community need, the proposed intervention, member activities, outputs, and the intended outcomes measured through performance measures.
What were CNCS funding priorities for FY 2014 in this notice?
For FY 2014, CNCS stated priorities leaning toward economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, disaster services, and the Governor and Mayor Initiative. The notice emphasizes improving academic outcomes, expanding support for and engagement of veterans and military families, strengthening community resilience to disasters, and expanding K-12 summer programming to address "summer slide" (reading, math, science, and environmental learning supports), especially for students most at risk of learning loss.
What is the "tier" system described in the notice?
CNCS uses tiers to prioritize applications based on the performance measures selected and the type of program proposed. Tier 1 is the highest priority, and Tier 5 is the lowest priority category described in the notice.
What is Tier 1, and what kinds of applications fall into it?
Tier 1 includes programs using specified measures in Economic Opportunity (with additional community impact measurement required for certain measure selections), programs using priority measures in Veterans and Military Families, priority measures in Disaster Services, and proposals under the Governor and Mayor Initiative.
What is the MSY expectation for Tier 1 and Tier 2 applications?
CNCS signals an expectation that if an applicant claims Tier 1 priority, at least 30 percent of its MSYs (member service years) align with the listed Tier 1 measures, and the applicant must explain in the narrative when it cannot meet that threshold. A similar 30 percent MSY expectation is noted for Tier 2.
What is Tier 2, and what kinds of applications fall into it?
Tier 2 includes priority measures in Environmental Stewardship and Healthy Futures, certain Capacity Building/Education designs (with caveats related to service in certain School Improvement Grant or state-defined priority schools), and some Economic Opportunity priority measures not included in Tier 1.
What are Tiers 3, 4, and 5?
Tier 3 covers programs using complementary program measures. Tier 4 covers programs within the focus areas using self-nominated measures. Tier 5 covers programs outside the focus areas using self-nominated measures.
Does "priority consideration" guarantee funding?
No. The notice explicitly states that priority consideration does not guarantee funding; strong design, focus, and outcomes still matter.
What is the Governor and Mayor Initiative?
The Governor and Mayor Initiative is a distinct pilot option given Tier 1 priority. It is designed to address a pressing statewide challenge identified by the Governor and requires a specific joint partnership structure.
How many applications can be submitted per state under the Governor and Mayor Initiative?
CNCS will accept one application per state for the Governor and Mayor Initiative.
Who must be involved in a Governor and Mayor Initiative application?
The Governor must apply jointly with one Mayor and at least two nonprofit partners. The application must include letters of commitment and describe how multiple nonprofits will work together for collective impact, with the Governor's office acting as a convener.
Who is allowed to apply under the Governor and Mayor Initiative track?
Only the Governor, Mayor, their designated government office (not the state commission), or a public university may apply under this initiative. Other applicants are considered noncompliant for this track.
Who is eligible to apply for AmeriCorps State and National grants?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private nonprofit organizations (including faith-based and community organizations), institutions of higher education, government entities within states or territories, labor organizations, partnerships/consortia, Tribes, and intermediaries intending to subgrant.
Do applicants need prior CNCS or federal funding experience to apply?
No. The notice encourages new applicants and states that prior CNCS or federal funding is not required.
Are there any limits or constraints for brand-new grantees?
Yes. The notice indicates a general practice of awarding no more than 50 member slots to brand-new grantees, and it states that new applicants are not eligible for fixed-amount grants.
Who is disqualified from applying under this notice?
The notice identifies certain disqualifications, including organizations convicted of a federal crime and 501(c)(4) organizations that engage in lobbying activities under Lobbying Disclosure Act restrictions.
How do applicants know whether to apply through a state commission or directly to CNCS?
The route depends on where and how the program will operate. Single-state programs generally apply through the Governor-appointed State or Territory Service Commission, multi-state programs apply directly to CNCS, and Tribes apply directly to CNCS.
How do certain territories apply if they do not have a state commission?
Some territories without a state commission (the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) apply directly to CNCS. However, the notice states that government entities of the territory are not eligible to apply under that pathway.
What system is used to submit applications?
Applications are submitted using the eGrants system.
What was the posting date and deadline for this opportunity?
The posting date was September 6, 2013. The final submission deadline was 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 22, 2014 (an extension from the original January 8 deadline). The opportunity was archived on January 23, 2014.
What type of funding instrument is this?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What kinds of program activities does this opportunity cover?
The notice describes a wide range of activity categories reflecting AmeriCorps's cross-sector nature, including education, disaster relief, health, housing, environment, employment and training, and other community-focused service activities tied to the six focus areas.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Community Development Consumer Protection Disaster Prevention and Relief Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Food and Nutrition Health
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| AmeriCorps State and National Grants FY 2010 Apply for CNCS GRANTS 10082009 001 Funding Number: CNCS GRANTS 10082009 001 Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service Category: Agriculture Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Community Development Consumer Protection Disaster Prevention and Relief Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Food and Nutrition Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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