Opportunity Information: Apply for CNCS GRANTS 031009 001
Apply for CNCS GRANTS 031009 001
- The Corporation for National and Community Service in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) recovery act sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AmeriCorps State and National Recovery Act Assistance" 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 Mar 17, 2009 and posted on Mar 10, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 3, 2009 To submit your application, access eGrants (www.americorps.gov/egrants), the Corporations integrated, secure, web based system for applications. See the 2009 Guidance for Applying for AmeriCorps State and National Recovery Act Grants for more information, including application instructions, found here http://www.nationalservice.gov/recovery. The deadline for eGrants submissions is April 3, 2009, 500 pm Eastern Time.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Only current grantees (grantees operating AmeriCorps programs on on February 17, 2009 are eligible to apply. Grantees with planning grants are not eligible to apply.
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Opportunity Summary:
AmeriCorps State and National Recovery Act Assistance was a one-time, discretionary grant opportunity from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) tied to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Its main goal was to help existing AmeriCorps State and National programs quickly scale up their service work in ways that addressed urgent community needs caused by, or made worse by, the economic downturn. The funding was intended to stimulate local economies by supporting service activities that both help individuals and strengthen community systems, largely by expanding current AmeriCorps programming or adding a new component that could be implemented rapidly and effectively.
The opportunity focused on using AmeriCorps members and community volunteers as a workforce to deliver practical, high-need services. Examples of eligible activities included job counseling and employment skills training for unemployed individuals, tutoring and literacy support, financial literacy education, helping people facing eviction or foreclosure through housing resource referrals and legal services, constructing or rehabilitating housing, weatherization and other energy-efficiency improvements, connecting children and families to health care, and keeping after-school programs open when they had lost other funding. It also emphasized helping nonprofit organizations that were experiencing increased demand while simultaneously facing reduced resources, including work that builds nonprofit capacity and strengthens volunteer recruitment and management.
Although programs working in any AmeriCorps issue area could apply, CNCS signaled clear preferences in the selection process for a set of “priority” Recovery Act activity categories: employment and skills training; tutoring and literacy; financial literacy; home foreclosures and housing assistance; housing rehabilitation and access (including weatherization and energy-efficiency techniques); healthcare access and delivery; nonprofit capacity building; and volunteer generation and management. Grantees funded under these priority categories were expected to adopt and report on CNCS-defined performance measures, meaning the grant came with specific data collection and outcome reporting expectations tied to federal Recovery Act accountability.
Eligibility was narrow by design. Only “current grantees” were allowed to apply, defined as organizations operating AmeriCorps programs as of February 17, 2009. Organizations holding only planning grants were explicitly not eligible. Applicants also had to apply through the same channel they used for their existing AmeriCorps award: either their Governor-appointed state service commission (for most single-state programs) or directly to CNCS (typically for organizations operating in more than one state). This structure reflected how AmeriCorps funding is normally distributed, with roughly three-quarters of AmeriCorps grant dollars flowing through state commissions that then make subawards to local nonprofits and other eligible entities, while CNCS also makes direct awards to multi-state operators.
Applicants were generally expected to seek Recovery Act funding to strengthen their existing programming, but CNCS allowed a grantee to propose a new programming area if it could convincingly demonstrate the expertise and capacity to launch it quickly and successfully. CNCS also noted that many grantees might be receiving Recovery Act or other federal funds from other agencies, and that those resources could complement the proposed AmeriCorps Recovery Act work. As with standard AmeriCorps competitions, programs could also request positions without associated operating grant dollars (often referred to as “Education Award Only” positions), where members earn an education award upon successful completion of service.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was posted March 10, 2009 (Funding Opportunity Number CNCS-GRANTS-031009-001; CFDA 94.006) and required cost sharing/matching. Applications were submitted through the AmeriCorps eGrants system, CNCS’s secure web-based application platform. The closing deadline was April 3, 2009 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time, and additional guidance and references were provided through the CNCS Recovery webpage and related federal Recovery Act implementation guidance from OMB. The listed agency contact for Recovery Act-related questions was Amy Borgstrom, Associate Director for Policy.
AmeriCorps State and National Recovery Act Assistance: FAQs
What was AmeriCorps State and National Recovery Act Assistance?
It was a one-time, discretionary grant opportunity from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) connected to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
What was the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The main purpose was to help existing AmeriCorps State and National programs rapidly scale up service activities to address urgent community needs caused by, or worsened by, the economic downturn, while also stimulating local economies through supported service work.
Was this a recurring funding opportunity?
No. This opportunity was described as a one-time grant opportunity tied to the Recovery Act.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to "current grantees," meaning organizations operating AmeriCorps programs as of February 17, 2009.
Were planning grant holders eligible?
No. Organizations holding only planning grants were explicitly not eligible.
Could any AmeriCorps issue area apply?
Yes. Programs working in any AmeriCorps issue area could apply, although CNCS indicated preferences for specific Recovery Act priority categories during selection.
What kinds of activities could be supported with this funding?
The funding supported practical, high-need services delivered using AmeriCorps members and community volunteers. Examples included job counseling and employment skills training, tutoring and literacy support, financial literacy education, assistance for people facing eviction or foreclosure (including housing resource referrals and legal services), housing construction or rehabilitation, weatherization and other energy-efficiency improvements, connecting children and families to health care, and keeping after-school programs open when other funding had been lost.
What did CNCS mean by using members and volunteers as a "workforce"?
The opportunity emphasized deploying AmeriCorps members alongside community volunteers to deliver direct services and capacity-building support at scale, particularly in response to recession-related community needs.
Did the opportunity include support for nonprofit capacity building?
Yes. It emphasized assisting nonprofit organizations facing increased demand and reduced resources, including work to build nonprofit capacity and to strengthen volunteer recruitment and management.
What were the Recovery Act "priority" activity categories?
CNCS signaled preferences for the following categories: employment and skills training; tutoring and literacy; financial literacy; home foreclosures and housing assistance; housing rehabilitation and access (including weatherization and energy-efficiency techniques); healthcare access and delivery; nonprofit capacity building; and volunteer generation and management.
If a program was funded under a priority category, were there special reporting requirements?
Yes. Grantees funded under priority categories were expected to adopt and report on CNCS-defined performance measures, which included specific data collection and outcome reporting expectations aligned with federal Recovery Act accountability.
Were applicants expected to expand existing programming or create new programming?
Applicants were generally expected to strengthen existing programming. However, CNCS allowed a grantee to propose a new programming area if the applicant could convincingly demonstrate expertise and capacity to launch it quickly and successfully.
Could Recovery Act funding be combined with other federal resources?
CNCS noted that many grantees might also be receiving Recovery Act or other federal funds from other agencies, and those resources could complement the proposed AmeriCorps Recovery Act work.
How did applicants submit their applications?
Applications were submitted through the AmeriCorps eGrants system, CNCS's secure web-based application platform.
Did applicants apply through their state commission or directly to CNCS?
Applicants were required to apply through the same channel used for their existing AmeriCorps award: either through their Governor-appointed state service commission (typically for most single-state programs) or directly to CNCS (typically for organizations operating in more than one state).
Why were there different application channels?
This reflected standard AmeriCorps funding distribution, where roughly three-quarters of AmeriCorps grant dollars flow through state commissions that then make subawards, while CNCS also makes direct awards to organizations operating in more than one state.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity required cost sharing/matching.
Could programs request Education Award Only positions?
Yes. As with standard AmeriCorps competitions, programs could request positions without associated operating grant dollars (often called "Education Award Only" positions), where members earn an education award upon successful completion of service.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on March 10, 2009.
What was the application deadline?
The closing deadline was April 3, 2009 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time.
What was the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number was CNCS-GRANTS-031009-001.
What was the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number was 94.006.
Where could applicants find additional guidance?
Additional guidance and references were provided through the CNCS Recovery webpage and related federal Recovery Act implementation guidance from OMB.
Who was the agency contact for Recovery Act-related questions?
The listed agency contact was Amy Borgstrom, Associate Director for Policy.
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