Opportunity Information: Apply for CNCS GRANTS 011309 001
Apply for CNCS GRANTS 011309 001
- The Corporation for National and Community Service in the community development 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 Higher Education FY 2009" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 16, 2009 and posted on Jan 13, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 26, 2009 The deadline for eGrants application submissions is Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 500 p.m. Eastern Time. The Corporation requires that applicants make every effort to submit their applications electronically using eGrants, the Corporations integrated, secure, web based system for grants application and management. Go to http://www.learnandserve.gov/egrants/ and create an eGrants account (if you do not already have one) to begin the process of submitting your application online. Instructions on how to create an account are available at this website.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $9,270,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 16 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education State governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
- The following entities may apply for a Learn and Serve America Higher Education grant from the Corporation 1. An institution of higher education. 2. A consortium of institutions of higher education. 3. A higher education partnership, as defined in 45 CFR 2510.20 One or more public or private nonprofit organizations, or public agencies, including States, and one or more institutions of higher education that have entered into a written agreement specifying the responsibilities of each partner.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Learn and Serve America Higher Education FY 2009 grant opportunity, offered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), provided roughly $9.27 million in discretionary grant funding to strengthen service-learning and community service efforts in higher education. The overall purpose was to support colleges, universities, and higher-education partnerships in running local service projects that respond to real community needs while also improving student learning and civic engagement. CNCS framed this competition around helping campuses deepen their ties with the communities they serve and ensuring that service activities are organized in a way that produces tangible public benefits, not just volunteer hours.
A central theme of the 2009 competition was economic recovery and the stabilizing role that higher education can play during economic strain. CNCS highlighted priorities that focused on creating or expanding campus-community initiatives that contribute to recovery efforts and reinforce the strength and effectiveness of nonprofit and social service organizations. In practical terms, this meant projects were expected to support communities hit by the downturn and to bolster the capacity of local organizations, often by aligning student and faculty expertise with urgent community challenges in areas like employment, health, food security, and other social needs.
Another major priority was student leadership. CNCS encouraged program models that went beyond traditional, staff-driven volunteer programs by emphasizing student-initiated and student-led service and service-learning. The goal was to promote leadership development while directing student energy toward critical social problems, especially those intensified by the economic downturn. Successful proposals under this priority would likely show clear structures for students to design, lead, and evaluate service activities, while still maintaining strong community partnerships and academic grounding.
Funding was structured to support both individual institutions and groups working together. CNCS anticipated making about 16 awards total. For individual institution applicants, CNCS estimated six to eight awards, with typical annual funding levels ranging from about $85,000 to $195,000, for project periods up to three years. For consortia applicants, CNCS estimated seven to nine awards, with annual award ranges of roughly $200,000 to $500,000, also for up to three years. The published award floor was $85,000 and the ceiling was $500,000, reflecting the expectation that proposals could vary in size and scope depending on whether a single campus or a multi-campus consortium was applying.
Eligibility was broad within the higher education ecosystem and included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and certain partner entities. In addition to institutions themselves, eligible applicants included state governments, federally recognized tribal governments, 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education), and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments. CNCS also specified that applicants could be a higher education partnership as defined in federal regulations (45 CFR 2510.20), meaning a formal collaboration between one or more higher education institutions and one or more public or private nonprofit organizations or public agencies (including states), governed by a written agreement that clearly assigns responsibilities to each partner.
The opportunity required cost sharing or matching, signaling that CNCS expected applicants to bring additional resources to the table and to demonstrate institutional and community buy-in. While the summary information does not list the exact match percentage, the presence of a matching requirement typically influences project design by encouraging applicants to integrate existing campus resources, secure partner contributions, and build sustainable program models rather than relying solely on federal dollars.
Applications were required to be submitted electronically through CNCS eGrants, the agency's web-based grants system. The posted date was January 13, 2009, and the application deadline was March 26, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with the announcement emphasizing that applicants should make every effort to submit through eGrants and create an account in advance. For assistance or competition-related questions, CNCS provided a point of contact: Cara Patrick at CNCS Learn and Serve America, reachable by phone at (202) 606-7510.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Learn and Serve America Higher Education FY 2009 grant?
The Learn and Serve America Higher Education FY 2009 opportunity was a discretionary grant competition offered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). It provided funding to strengthen service-learning and community service efforts in higher education, with an emphasis on projects that address real community needs while improving student learning and civic engagement.
How much funding was available through this competition?
CNCS provided roughly $9.27 million in discretionary grant funding for this competition.
What was the overall purpose of the funding?
The purpose was to support colleges, universities, and higher-education partnerships in running local service projects that (1) respond to real community needs and (2) improve student learning and civic engagement. CNCS emphasized that service activities should be organized to produce tangible public benefits, not simply volunteer hours.
What kinds of projects did CNCS want to support?
CNCS aimed to support campus-based or campus-community projects that deepen ties between higher education institutions and the communities they serve. Projects were expected to deliver measurable community benefits and strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of community organizations.
What was the central theme of the FY 2009 competition?
A central theme was economic recovery and the stabilizing role that higher education can play during periods of economic strain. CNCS prioritized initiatives that contributed to recovery efforts and supported communities affected by the economic downturn.
How were economic recovery priorities reflected in project expectations?
Projects were expected to support communities hit by the downturn and bolster the capacity of local nonprofit and social service organizations. CNCS highlighted aligning student and faculty expertise with urgent community challenges, including areas such as employment, health, food security, and other social needs.
Was student leadership a priority in this grant competition?
Yes. CNCS placed a major priority on student leadership and encouraged program models that move beyond traditional staff-driven volunteer programs. The competition emphasized student-initiated and student-led service and service-learning.
What did CNCS mean by student-initiated and student-led service?
The competition encouraged structures that allow students to design, lead, and evaluate service activities, while still maintaining strong community partnerships and an academic foundation. The intention was to build student leadership while focusing student effort on critical social problems, especially those worsened by the economic downturn.
How many awards did CNCS expect to make?
CNCS anticipated making about 16 awards in total.
Could a single institution apply, or did applicants need to apply as a group?
Both options were supported. CNCS structured funding for individual institutions as well as consortia (groups of institutions and partners working together).
How many awards were expected for individual institution applicants?
CNCS estimated approximately six to eight awards for individual institution applicants.
What was the typical annual award amount for individual institutions?
For individual institution applicants, typical annual funding levels ranged from about $85,000 to $195,000, for project periods of up to three years.
How many awards were expected for consortia applicants?
CNCS estimated approximately seven to nine awards for consortia applicants.
What was the typical annual award amount for consortia?
For consortia applicants, annual award ranges were roughly $200,000 to $500,000, also for project periods of up to three years.
What were the minimum and maximum award amounts (floor and ceiling)?
The published award floor was $85,000 and the ceiling was $500,000. CNCS indicated proposals could vary in size and scope depending on whether the applicant was a single institution or a multi-campus consortium.
How long could projects run?
Project periods could be up to three years.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and certain partner entities. CNCS also listed eligible applicants as state governments, federally recognized tribal governments, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (other than institutions of higher education), and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments.
What is a higher education partnership under this opportunity?
Applicants could be a higher education partnership as defined in federal regulations (45 CFR 2510.20). CNCS described this as a formal collaboration between one or more higher education institutions and one or more public or private nonprofit organizations or public agencies (including states), governed by a written agreement that clearly assigns responsibilities to each partner.
Did the grant require cost sharing or matching?
Yes. The opportunity required cost sharing or matching, indicating CNCS expected applicants to contribute additional resources and demonstrate institutional and community buy-in. The summary information provided does not specify the exact match percentage.
How did the matching requirement affect project planning?
Because matching was required, applicants were expected to plan projects that leverage additional resources beyond federal funds. This typically encourages integrating existing campus resources, securing partner contributions, and building more sustainable program models.
How were applications submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically through CNCS eGrants, CNCS's web-based grants system.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posted date was January 13, 2009.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was March 26, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Did CNCS provide any guidance about submitting through eGrants?
Yes. The announcement emphasized that applicants should make every effort to submit through eGrants and create an account in advance.
Who could applicants contact for assistance or competition-related questions?
CNCS listed a point of contact for questions: Cara Patrick at CNCS Learn and Serve America. She could be reached by phone at (202) 606-7510.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Learn and Serve America Higher Education FY 2010 Apply for CNCS GRANTS 121809 001 Funding Number: CNCS GRANTS 121809 001 Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service Category: Community Development Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Food and Nutrition Health Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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