Opportunity Information: Apply for CNCS GRANTS 011609 002
Apply for CNCS GRANTS 011609 002
- The Corporation for National and Community Service in the community development disaster prevention and relief education employment, labor and training environment food and nutrition health other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Learn and Serve America Community Based Programs FY 2009" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 27, 2009 and posted on Jan 16, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 14, 2009 The deadline for submission of applications is 500 p.m. Eastern Time on April 14, 2009. Applications must be submitted using eGrants, the Corporations integrated, secure, web based system for grant application and management. To create and submit an application via eGrants, please visit http://www.learnandserve.gov/egrants. Dear National Service Colleagues, In early April we will take another important step toward improving the speed and reliability of our technology environment by moving our production systems to new servers at the Corporations headquarters. In order to make this upgrade, our systems including the My AmeriCorps Portal, Recruitment System, eGrants and eSPAN will be unavailable from 800 PM Eastern, Friday, April 3 through 800 AM Eastern, Monday, April 6. ALERT I am alerting you to this scheduled system outage now to enable you to plan your work accordingly and to encourage you to refer to the operating status page for additional updates and to learn system status. I appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue the necessary process of enhancing and strengthening our systems. Thank you. Kristin McSwain Chief of Program Operations Corporation for National and Community Service. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,200,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $450,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
- Eligible applicants for Learn and Serve America Community Based funds include (1) Grantmaking Entities public or private nonprofit organizations that have been in existence at least a year and propose to make subgrants in two or more States, and (2) State Commissions on National and Community Service. A key role for grantees is to support and manage subgrantee partnerships through frequent communication, training and technical assistance, and financial oversight.
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Opportunity Summary:
Learn and Serve America Community Based Programs FY 2009 was a discretionary grant opportunity from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) focused on expanding community-based service-learning for school-age youth. CNCS anticipated making about $4.2 million available nationwide to support organizations that would not only run or strengthen service-learning efforts, but also function as grantmakers by issuing subgrants and providing training, technical assistance, and oversight to local partnerships implementing community-based service-learning projects. The overall purpose aligned with CNCS's broader mission to improve lives, strengthen communities, and increase civic engagement through service and volunteering, with this competition specifically emphasizing service-learning as a structured approach that links meaningful service to educational outcomes.
Funding was expected to be awarded to roughly five to eight applicants, with typical annual award amounts ranging from about $350,000 to $450,000. Projects could last up to three years, which signaled an intent to support multi-year program development, capacity building, and sustained community partnerships rather than short, one-off activities. The funding activity areas were broad and included community development, education, public safety, employment and training, the environment, health, food and nutrition, and related community service priorities, reflecting the idea that service-learning can be used to address a wide range of local needs as long as the work is tied to learning objectives and produces direct, demonstrable community benefits.
A central theme for FY 2009 was the Community Based Healthy Communities initiative. CNCS highlighted priorities such as expanding out-of-school-time service-learning opportunities that build civic engagement, leadership, and community problem-solving skills, while also supporting school retention and preparation for careers and postsecondary education. Another priority was meaningful youth engagement, particularly for young people in disadvantaged circumstances, ensuring they are involved in planning and carrying out service-learning activities that directly address real community needs. CNCS also emphasized strong local partnerships with clearly defined roles, including collaboration among public and/or private nonprofit partners and the involvement of adult volunteers, underscoring that effective service-learning typically depends on coordinated community infrastructure rather than a single organization acting alone.
Eligibility focused on entities capable of managing a subgrant model across geography and partners. Eligible applicants included two main categories: (1) grantmaking entities, defined as public or private nonprofit organizations that had been in existence for at least one year and that proposed to make subgrants in two or more states, and (2) State Commissions on National and Community Service. While the broader eligibility list included nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status), state governments, institutions of higher education (public and private), and Native American tribal governments and organizations, the program description made it clear that applicants needed the operational capacity to support and monitor multiple subgrantee partnerships. CNCS described a key grantee responsibility as actively supporting and managing subgrantees through frequent communication, training and technical assistance, and financial oversight.
Cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants needed to plan for non-federal resources to help cover program costs, consistent with many CNCS programs that aim to leverage local investment and long-term sustainability. Applications were required to be submitted electronically through CNCS's eGrants system by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 14, 2009. The announcement also included a practical operational alert: CNCS planned a technology migration that would take key systems (including My AmeriCorps Portal, the Recruitment System, eGrants, and eSPAN) offline from 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Friday, April 3 through 8:00 a.m. Eastern on Monday, April 6, and applicants were encouraged to plan their work accordingly and monitor the operating status page for updates.
For support, the notice provided a contact for access issues with the full announcement and application instructions (Cara Patrick at 202-606-7510) and directed applicants to contact the Learn and Serve America program for program-related questions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Learn and Serve America Community Based Programs FY 2009" opportunity?
It was a discretionary grant opportunity from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) focused on expanding community-based service-learning for school-age youth.
What was the main goal of this grant competition?
The competition aimed to expand and strengthen community-based service-learning and to increase civic engagement through service and volunteering, using service-learning as a structured approach that connects meaningful service with educational outcomes.
Who was the federal funding agency for this opportunity?
The funding agency was the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).
How much funding did CNCS anticipate making available nationwide?
CNCS anticipated making about $4.2 million available nationwide.
How many awards were expected to be made?
Funding was expected to be awarded to roughly five to eight applicants.
What was the typical annual award size?
Typical annual award amounts ranged from about $350,000 to $450,000.
How long could projects last under this opportunity?
Projects could last up to three years.
Does this program support short-term projects or longer-term efforts?
Based on the allowance for projects lasting up to three years, CNCS signaled an intent to support multi-year program development, capacity building, and sustained community partnerships rather than short, one-off activities.
What kinds of activities were applicants expected to carry out?
Applicants were expected to run or strengthen service-learning efforts and also function as grantmakers by issuing subgrants and providing training, technical assistance, and oversight to local partnerships implementing community-based service-learning projects.
What is meant by a "subgrant model" in this opportunity?
The opportunity emphasized that grantees would act as grantmakers: they would make subgrants to local partnerships and support those subgrantees through communication, training and technical assistance, and financial oversight.
What were the key responsibilities of the primary (direct) grantee?
CNCS described key responsibilities as actively supporting and managing subgrantees through frequent communication, training and technical assistance, and financial oversight, as well as providing oversight to local partnerships implementing service-learning projects.
What populations were the service-learning activities intended to serve?
The focus was on school-age youth, with an emphasis on meaningful youth engagement, particularly for young people in disadvantaged circumstances.
What is service-learning in the context of this competition?
Service-learning was described as a structured approach that links meaningful service to educational outcomes, producing direct, demonstrable community benefits.
What were the main funding activity areas supported by this opportunity?
The activity areas were broad and included community development, education, public safety, employment and training, the environment, health, food and nutrition, and related community service priorities.
Was there a special theme or initiative highlighted for FY 2009?
Yes. A central theme for FY 2009 was the Community Based Healthy Communities initiative.
What priorities were emphasized under the Community Based Healthy Communities theme?
Priorities included expanding out-of-school-time service-learning opportunities that build civic engagement, leadership, and community problem-solving skills, while also supporting school retention and preparation for careers and postsecondary education.
Did CNCS require youth to have an active role in projects?
Yes. CNCS emphasized meaningful youth engagement, including involving youth in disadvantaged circumstances in planning and carrying out service-learning activities that address real community needs.
How important were partnerships for this opportunity?
Strong local partnerships with clearly defined roles were emphasized, including collaboration among public and/or private nonprofit partners and involvement of adult volunteers.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility focused on entities capable of managing a subgrant model. Eligible applicants included: (1) grantmaking entities (public or private nonprofit organizations in existence for at least one year that proposed to make subgrants in two or more states) and (2) State Commissions on National and Community Service.
What is a "grantmaking entity" for purposes of this opportunity?
A grantmaking entity was defined as a public or private nonprofit organization that had been in existence for at least one year and that proposed to make subgrants in two or more states.
Did the opportunity mention other types of organizations in the broader eligibility list?
Yes. The broader eligibility list included nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status), state governments, institutions of higher education (public and private), and Native American tribal governments and organizations.
Even if an organization fits a broad category, what capacity did applicants need to demonstrate?
The program description made clear that applicants needed the operational capacity to support and monitor multiple subgrantee partnerships, including providing training/technical assistance and financial oversight.
Did applicants need to operate in more than one state?
For the grantmaking entity category, applicants were expected to propose making subgrants in two or more states.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants needed to plan for non-federal resources to help cover program costs.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically through CNCS's eGrants system.
What was the application deadline?
Applications were due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 14, 2009.
Was there any scheduled system downtime applicants needed to plan around?
Yes. CNCS planned a technology migration that would take key systems offline (including My AmeriCorps Portal, the Recruitment System, eGrants, and eSPAN) from 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Friday, April 3 through 8:00 a.m. Eastern on Monday, April 6. Applicants were encouraged to plan accordingly and monitor the operating status page for updates.
Which systems were expected to be offline during the technology migration?
The notice listed My AmeriCorps Portal, the Recruitment System, eGrants, and eSPAN as systems that would be offline during the migration window.
Who could be contacted for help accessing the full announcement and application instructions?
The notice provided a contact for access issues: Cara Patrick at 202-606-7510.
Where were applicants directed for program-related questions?
Applicants were directed to contact the Learn and Serve America program for program-related questions.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (CNCS GRANTS 011609 002) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Learn and Serve America School Based Indian Tribes US Territories FY 2009 Apply for CNCS GRANTS 011609 003 Funding Number: CNCS GRANTS 011609 003 Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service Category: Community Development Disaster Prevention and Relief Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Food and Nutrition Health Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Fund Funding Amount: $120,000 |
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