Opportunity Information: Apply for CNCS GRANTS 121809 001
Apply for CNCS GRANTS 121809 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 science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Learn and Serve America Higher Education FY 2010" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 18, 2009 and posted on Dec 18, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 9, 2010 The deadline for submission of applications is 500 pm Eastern Time on March 9, 2010. Applications must be submitted through the Corporations eGrants system https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,800,000.00 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 18 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Private institutions of higher education State governments 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) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- 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 2010 grant opportunity was a discretionary funding competition run by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to expand and strengthen service-learning in U.S. higher education. CNCS anticipated awarding about $6.8 million in new grant funds (subject to FY 2010 appropriations) to support colleges, universities, and higher-education partnerships that use structured, innovative service-learning to address real local community needs while also building long-term civic engagement among students. A key point for applicants was that submissions were not accepted through Grants.gov; applications had to be filed through CNCSs eGrants system at https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp.
At its core, the program aimed to help institutions create or grow organized service-learning programs that link academic coursework with meaningful community service. CNCS emphasized outcomes like increased student social responsibility, deeper connection and commitment to the institutions surrounding community, and stronger engagement in academic learning through hands-on projects. The opportunity also focused on building durable campus infrastructure for service-learning so that programs could be sustained, scaled, and integrated into institutional practice rather than treated as short-term volunteer initiatives. Applicants were expected to show that their projects would measurably address local issues and that students would play an active role, including opportunities for student-initiated and student-designed projects.
Funding was offered through two main grant types. Individual Institution grants were designed for a single institution of higher education to implement an innovative service-learning model that could potentially be replicated elsewhere. Consortia grants were intended for groups of institutions implementing similar service-learning approaches across multiple campuses; these awards could support program implementation through subgrants as well as the training, oversight, and monitoring needed to manage those subgrants effectively. CNCS estimated it would fund roughly seven to nine individual-institution awards and seven to eleven consortia awards, for an expected total of about 18 awards.
Award sizes varied by grant type and were structured as multi-year projects lasting up to three years. Individual Institution awards were projected at about $85,000 to $200,000 per year, while consortia awards were projected at about $200,000 to $500,000 per year. The published award floor was $85,000 and the award ceiling was $500,000. The opportunity also required cost sharing or matching, meaning applicants needed to provide non-federal resources to help support the project.
For the FY 2010 competition, CNCS identified two program priorities. The first was embedding service-learning in pre-service and in-service teacher training, meaning proposals could integrate service-learning into teacher preparation curricula and/or professional development for practicing educators. The second priority was service-learning in STEM-focused disciplines, encouraging institutions to incorporate high-quality service-learning into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs. In both priority areas, the expectation was that service-learning would be intentionally connected to academic objectives while delivering tangible benefits to partner communities.
Eligibility covered a range of applicants connected to higher education, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and certain nonprofit and governmental entities when part of a qualifying higher-education partnership. Specifically, eligible applicants included (1) an institution of higher education, (2) a consortium of institutions of higher education, or (3) a higher-education partnership as defined in 45 CFR 2510.20, generally involving a written agreement among one or more public or private nonprofit organizations or public agencies (including states) and one or more institutions of higher education outlining each partners responsibilities. Eligible applicant categories listed also included federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations, as well as state governments and 501(c)(3) nonprofits, when aligned with the programs higher-education partnership structure.
Partnerships were not optional in practice: both individual and consortia applicants had to demonstrate active service-learning partnerships with community-based organizations and could also partner with local government agencies, nonprofits, K-12 schools, and/or student organizations. This requirement reflected CNCSs focus on service-learning as a collaborative model where community partners help define needs and shape projects, rather than campuses acting alone.
Administratively, the opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number CNCS-GRANTS-121809-001) was posted December 18, 2009, with an application deadline of 5:00 pm Eastern Time on March 9, 2010, and an archive date of March 10, 2010. The activity area was broadly categorized under service-learning, spanning community development, education, employment and training, environment, food and nutrition, health, regional development, and science and technology. For applicants needing help accessing the full announcement, CNCS listed a point of contact: Kirsten Breckinridge at CNCS Learn and Serve America (202-606-7510), with an email contact referenced for the Higher Education Grants program.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Learn and Serve America Higher Education FY 2010 grant opportunity?
It was a discretionary funding competition run by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to expand and strengthen service-learning in U.S. higher education. The intent was to support structured, innovative service-learning that addresses real local community needs while building long-term civic engagement among students.
What was the total amount of funding CNCS expected to award?
CNCS anticipated awarding about $6.8 million in new grant funds, subject to FY 2010 appropriations.
Who was the funding agency for this opportunity?
The funding agency was the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), under the Learn and Serve America program.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number was CNCS-GRANTS-121809-001.
When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted on December 18, 2009. The application deadline was March 9, 2010 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. The archive date was March 10, 2010.
How were applications submitted for this competition?
Applications were not accepted through Grants.gov. Applicants had to submit through CNCS's eGrants system at https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp.
What was the core purpose of the program?
The program aimed to help institutions create or expand organized service-learning programs that connect academic coursework with meaningful community service, while building lasting civic engagement and strengthening student learning through hands-on projects.
What outcomes did CNCS emphasize for funded projects?
CNCS emphasized outcomes such as increased student social responsibility, deeper connection and commitment to the surrounding community, and stronger academic engagement through service-learning projects.
Did CNCS expect service-learning efforts to be sustainable?
Yes. The opportunity emphasized building durable campus infrastructure for service-learning so programs could be sustained, scaled, and integrated into institutional practice rather than treated as short-term volunteer initiatives.
Were projects expected to address local community needs?
Yes. Applicants were expected to show that their projects would measurably address local issues and that community needs were central to the service-learning design.
What role were students expected to play in the proposed projects?
Students were expected to play an active role, including opportunities for student-initiated and student-designed projects.
What types of grants were offered under this opportunity?
Funding was offered through two main grant types: Individual Institution grants and Consortia grants.
What is an Individual Institution grant in this competition?
An Individual Institution grant was intended for a single institution of higher education to implement an innovative service-learning model that could potentially be replicated elsewhere.
What is a Consortia grant in this competition?
A Consortia grant was intended for groups of institutions implementing similar service-learning approaches across multiple campuses. These awards could support program implementation through subgrants, as well as the training, oversight, and monitoring needed to manage those subgrants effectively.
How many awards did CNCS expect to make?
CNCS expected to make about 18 awards total, estimating roughly seven to nine Individual Institution awards and seven to eleven Consortia awards.
How long could projects last?
Awards were structured as multi-year projects lasting up to three years.
What were the expected award sizes for Individual Institution grants?
Individual Institution awards were projected at about $85,000 to $200,000 per year.
What were the expected award sizes for Consortia grants?
Consortia awards were projected at about $200,000 to $500,000 per year.
What were the published minimum and maximum award amounts?
The published award floor was $85,000 and the award ceiling was $500,000.
Was matching or cost sharing required?
Yes. The opportunity required cost sharing or matching, meaning applicants needed to provide non-federal resources to help support the project.
What were the program priorities for the FY 2010 competition?
CNCS identified two priorities: (1) embedding service-learning in pre-service and in-service teacher training, and (2) service-learning in STEM-focused disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
What did CNCS mean by service-learning in teacher training?
This priority focused on integrating service-learning into teacher preparation curricula and/or professional development for practicing educators, with service-learning intentionally connected to academic objectives and providing tangible community benefits.
What did CNCS mean by STEM-focused service-learning?
This priority encouraged institutions to incorporate high-quality service-learning into STEM programs, connecting service-learning intentionally to academic objectives while delivering tangible benefits to partner communities.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included (1) an institution of higher education, (2) a consortium of institutions of higher education, or (3) a higher-education partnership as defined in 45 CFR 2510.20.
What is a "higher-education partnership" in this context?
As described, it generally involved a written agreement among one or more public or private nonprofit organizations or public agencies (including states) and one or more institutions of higher education, outlining each partner's responsibilities.
Could nonprofits, state governments, or tribal entities be involved?
Yes. Eligible applicant categories listed included federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations, as well as state governments and 501(c)(3) nonprofits, when aligned with the program's higher-education partnership structure.
Were community partnerships required?
Yes in practice. Both individual and consortia applicants had to demonstrate active service-learning partnerships with community-based organizations. Applicants could also partner with local government agencies, nonprofits, K-12 schools, and/or student organizations.
Why did CNCS emphasize partnerships?
The opportunity framed service-learning as a collaborative model where community partners help define needs and shape projects, rather than campuses acting alone.
What activity areas did this opportunity cover?
The activity area was broadly categorized under service-learning and included community development, education, employment and training, environment, food and nutrition, health, regional development, and science and technology.
Who was listed as a point of contact for the full announcement or assistance?
CNCS listed Kirsten Breckinridge (CNCS Learn and Serve America) as a point of contact at 202-606-7510, with an email contact referenced for the Higher Education Grants program.
Where could applicants find the submission portal mentioned in the announcement?
The announcement directed applicants to CNCS's eGrants system at https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp.
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