Opportunity Information: Apply for CNCS GRANTS 08312011
Apply for CNCS GRANTS 08312011
- The Corporation for National and Community Service in the agriculture arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) community development 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 Indian Tribes Planning 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 Aug 31, 2011 and posted on Sep 1, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 18, 2012 The deadline for eGrants submissions is 500 p.m. Eastern Time on January 18, 2012.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Indian Tribes Planning Grant applicants must not have received an AmeriCorps grant in the past and must be an Indian Tribe. Applicants may have received funding through Learn and Serve America, NCCC, Senior Corps, or VISTA. 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. 6 Note Indian Tribes are eligible to apply to any Corporation competition, including State or National Planning Grants.
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Opportunity Summary:
The AmeriCorps State and National Indian Tribes Planning Grant Competitions is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) (CFDA 94.006) designed to help federally recognized Indian Tribes develop new AmeriCorps program proposals. The central goal is program development and readiness: planning grants fund the work needed to design a strong, evidence-based AmeriCorps program so the applicant is better positioned to compete for a full AmeriCorps program grant in the next grant cycle. A key restriction is that planning grant funds cannot be used to support AmeriCorps members or member positions. In other words, this funding is for planning and design work, not for enrolling members, paying living allowances, or operating a full service corps. The opportunity sits within CNCS broader mission to improve lives, strengthen communities, and increase civic participation through service and volunteering, and it reflects the policy direction of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act to concentrate national service resources where they can produce measurable community impact.
CNCS expects planning grant applicants to build programs around evidence-based interventions and clear performance expectations. The notice emphasizes that CNCS wants programs that can demonstrate community impact and solve defined community problems using an evidence-based approach, which can include performance data, research, or a well-articulated theory of change. While planning grantees are not running a member program yet, they are expected to use the planning period to define the community need, choose an intervention with evidence behind it, map the service strategy, and set up the building blocks (partnerships, systems, and measurement approach) that will make a future implementation application competitive.
The competition is organized around six national Focus Areas where CNCS seeks concentrated impact: Disaster Services, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Futures, and Veterans and Military Families. Disaster Services programs are framed around preparedness, readiness to respond, recovery, mitigation, and overall community resiliency. Economic Opportunity activities focus on improving financial literacy and access to benefits, supporting transitions into safe and affordable housing, and improving employability for economically disadvantaged individuals. Education programs emphasize better outcomes for economically disadvantaged children and students, including school readiness, improved academic and behavioral outcomes in low-performing schools, and stronger preparation for and success in postsecondary education, with particular interest in youth engagement and service-learning strategies. Environmental Stewardship efforts address energy and water efficiency, renewable energy use, and improving at-risk ecosystems, including citizen behavior change and green training opportunities, especially in economically disadvantaged households and communities. Healthy Futures targets access to care, aging in place, and childhood obesity, including supports that help seniors remain in their homes and activities that increase youth physical activity and nutrition. Veterans and Military Families programs aim to improve veterans quality of life and strengthen military families, both by increasing services to these groups and by engaging veterans and military family members themselves in service roles.
Alongside the Focus Areas, CNCS highlights capacity building as an allowable and valued program component, generally defined as indirect services that help organizations deliver more, better, and longer-lasting direct services. The notice draws a line between capacity building and routine administration: activities cannot be solely intended to support the applicant organizations basic operations. Examples of capacity building include recruiting and managing community volunteers, implementing stronger volunteer management practices, conducting community assessments to define goals and recommendations, and developing or improving systems and processes such as technology, performance management, and training. The announcement also encourages "Encore" approaches, reflecting a congressional goal that 10 percent of AmeriCorps funding support encore service programs; applicants are encouraged to design programs that will engage a significant number of participants age 55 or older.
For the 2012 planning grant competition specifically, CNCS indicates it expects to invest heavily across the six Focus Areas, with a particular push for greater impact in Education and Disaster Services and increased investment in Veterans and Military Families. Funding priorities are structured in tiers, with "Tier 1" receiving the highest priority: applicants proposing outcomes aligned with Priority Measures in Education, Veterans and Military Families, and Disaster Services. "Tier 2" covers outcomes aligned with Priority Measures for Economic Opportunity, Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Futures, and Capacity Building. "Tier 3" includes applicants proposing outcomes identified in Pilot Measures. "Tier 4" includes other outcomes within the Focus Areas, and "Tier 5" includes outcomes that do not fall within the Focus Areas. The notice makes two important clarifications: priority consideration does not guarantee funding, and applicants must show significant program focus, design quality, and potential impact to benefit from priority consideration. CNCS also notes it will pursue a balanced portfolio across Focus Areas and other programmatic considerations described in the full announcement.
Eligibility is limited to Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized (including qualifying Alaska Native entities under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act) and certain tribal organizations that are controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by those entities. A notable eligibility condition for this planning grant is that Indian Tribes applicants must not have received an AmeriCorps grant in the past, although prior funding from other CNCS streams such as Learn and Serve America, NCCC, Senior Corps, or VISTA does not disqualify an applicant. The opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning the applicant should expect to contribute non-federal resources as part of the overall budget plan.
Administratively, the funding opportunity number is CNCS GRANTS 08312011, it was posted September 1, 2011, and the application deadline for eGrants submissions was 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 18, 2012 (with the archive date of January 19, 2012). Applications must be submitted through CNCS processes, and the notice directs applicants to the CNCS website page for the full announcement and instructions. For access issues, the notice provides a CNCS contact phone number (202) 606-7508 and indicates email and voicemail support for the competition.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): AmeriCorps State and National Indian Tribes Planning Grant Competition
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is the AmeriCorps State and National Indian Tribes Planning Grant Competition, a discretionary grant opportunity from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) under CFDA 94.006. It is intended to help federally recognized Indian Tribes develop new AmeriCorps program proposals.
2) What is the main purpose of the planning grant?
The central goal is program development and readiness. Planning grants fund the work needed to design a strong, evidence-based AmeriCorps program so the applicant is better positioned to compete for a full AmeriCorps program grant in the next grant cycle.
3) Can planning grant funds be used to support AmeriCorps members?
No. A key restriction is that planning grant funds cannot be used to support AmeriCorps members or member positions. This funding is for planning and design work, not for enrolling members, paying living allowances, or operating a full service corps.
4) Is this grant meant to operate a full AmeriCorps program?
No. The notice frames this as funding for planning and program design. The expectation is that grantees will use the planning period to prepare a competitive future implementation application rather than run a member-based program during the planning grant.
5) What kinds of planning activities are expected during the grant period?
During the planning period, applicants are expected to define the community need, select an intervention with evidence behind it, map the service strategy, and set up core building blocks such as partnerships, systems, and a measurement approach to support a future full AmeriCorps program proposal.
6) Does CNCS require an evidence-based approach?
Yes. CNCS expects planning grant applicants to build programs around evidence-based interventions and clear performance expectations. The notice indicates the evidence basis can include performance data, research, or a well-articulated theory of change.
7) What are the national Focus Areas for this competition?
The competition is organized around six national Focus Areas: Disaster Services, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Futures, and Veterans and Military Families.
8) What counts as Disaster Services under this opportunity?
Disaster Services programs are framed around preparedness, readiness to respond, recovery, mitigation, and overall community resiliency.
9) What types of activities fall under Economic Opportunity?
Economic Opportunity activities focus on improving financial literacy and access to benefits, supporting transitions into safe and affordable housing, and improving employability for economically disadvantaged individuals.
10) What types of activities fall under Education?
Education programs emphasize better outcomes for economically disadvantaged children and students, including school readiness, improved academic and behavioral outcomes in low-performing schools, and stronger preparation for and success in postsecondary education. The notice also highlights particular interest in youth engagement and service-learning strategies.
11) What types of activities fall under Environmental Stewardship?
Environmental Stewardship efforts address energy and water efficiency, renewable energy use, and improving at-risk ecosystems. The notice also references citizen behavior change and green training opportunities, especially in economically disadvantaged households and communities.
12) What types of activities fall under Healthy Futures?
Healthy Futures targets access to care, aging in place, and childhood obesity. Examples described include supports that help seniors remain in their homes and activities that increase youth physical activity and nutrition.
13) What types of activities fall under Veterans and Military Families?
Veterans and Military Families programs aim to improve veterans quality of life and strengthen military families by increasing services to these groups and by engaging veterans and military family members themselves in service roles.
14) Is capacity building allowed as part of a proposed program design?
Yes. CNCS highlights capacity building as an allowable and valued program component and generally defines it as indirect services that help organizations deliver more, better, and longer-lasting direct services.
15) What is the difference between capacity building and routine administration?
The notice distinguishes capacity building from routine administration by stating activities cannot be solely intended to support the applicant organizations basic operations.
16) What are examples of allowable capacity building activities?
Examples provided include recruiting and managing community volunteers, implementing stronger volunteer management practices, conducting community assessments to define goals and recommendations, and developing or improving systems and processes such as technology, performance management, and training.
17) What does the notice say about "Encore" approaches?
The announcement encourages "Encore" approaches, reflecting a congressional goal that 10 percent of AmeriCorps funding support encore service programs. Applicants are encouraged to design programs that will engage a significant number of participants age 55 or older.
18) Are there special funding emphasis areas for the 2012 planning grant competition?
Yes. For the 2012 competition, CNCS indicates it expects to invest heavily across the six Focus Areas, with a particular push for greater impact in Education and Disaster Services and increased investment in Veterans and Military Families.
19) How does CNCS describe its funding priorities (tiers)?
Funding priorities are structured in tiers, where Tier 1 receives the highest priority and Tier 5 the lowest. Tier 1 is for applicants proposing outcomes aligned with Priority Measures in Education, Veterans and Military Families, and Disaster Services. Tier 2 covers outcomes aligned with Priority Measures for Economic Opportunity, Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Futures, and Capacity Building. Tier 3 includes outcomes identified in Pilot Measures. Tier 4 includes other outcomes within the Focus Areas. Tier 5 includes outcomes that do not fall within the Focus Areas.
20) Does priority consideration guarantee funding?
No. The notice clarifies that priority consideration does not guarantee funding.
21) What else is required to benefit from priority consideration?
CNCS states that applicants must show significant program focus, design quality, and potential impact to benefit from priority consideration.
22) Will CNCS fund every Focus Area equally?
The notice indicates CNCS will pursue a balanced portfolio across Focus Areas and other programmatic considerations described in the full announcement.
23) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Native American tribal governments (including qualifying Alaska Native entities under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act) and certain tribal organizations that are controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by those entities.
24) Are there any eligibility restrictions related to past AmeriCorps funding?
Yes. A notable eligibility condition is that Indian Tribes applicants must not have received an AmeriCorps grant in the past.
25) Does prior CNCS funding from other programs disqualify an applicant?
No. The notice states that prior funding from other CNCS streams such as Learn and Serve America, NCCC, Senior Corps, or VISTA does not disqualify an applicant.
26) Is there a cost-share or match requirement?
Yes. The opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning the applicant should expect to contribute non-federal resources as part of the overall budget plan.
27) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 94.006.
28) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is CNCS GRANTS 08312011.
29) When was this opportunity posted, and what was the deadline?
The opportunity was posted on September 1, 2011. The application deadline for eGrants submissions was 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 18, 2012. The archive date is listed as January 19, 2012.
30) How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted through CNCS processes via eGrants, following the full announcement and instructions referenced on the CNCS website.
31) Where can applicants find the full announcement and instructions?
The notice directs applicants to the CNCS website page for the full announcement and instructions.
32) Who can applicants contact for access issues or competition support?
For access issues, the notice provides a CNCS contact phone number: (202) 606-7508. It also indicates email and voicemail support for the competition.
33) How does this opportunity relate to CNCS mission and federal policy?
The notice places the opportunity within CNCS broader mission to improve lives, strengthen communities, and increase civic participation through service and volunteering. It also reflects the policy direction of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act to concentrate national service resources where they can produce measurable community impact.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Community Development Disaster Prevention and Relief Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Food and Nutrition Health Housing Law, Justice
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Previous opportunity: AmeriCorps State and National Planning 2012 Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity
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| Funding Opportunity |
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| AmeriCorps State and National Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity Apply for CNCS GRANTS 100108 001 Funding Number: CNCS GRANTS 100108 001 Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service Category: Agriculture Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Community Development Disaster Prevention and Relief Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Food and Nutrition Health Housing Law, Justice Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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