AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps supports a wide range of local service programs that engage Californians in intensive community service. We provide grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations committed to using national service to address critical community needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment.
Grants provide assistance to programs to recruit, train, and supervise AmeriCorps members meeting critical community needs in the areas of education, disaster services, health, environmental stewardship, economic opportunity, and service to veterans and military families. Grant applicants design service activities for a team of members serving full- or part-time for one year.
Multi-State Applicant Consultation
Prior to submission of a grant application to the Corporation for National and Community Service, an organization proposing to operate an AmeriCorps program in two or more states is expected to consult with the State Commission of the state in which it intends to operate. Multi-state organizations proposing to operate in California must submit an online National Direct Consultation Form to CaliforniaVolunteers. This form must be received by 5:00 p.m. (PST) on January 13, 2016.
Current Funding Opportunities
2016 AmeriCorps Grant Applications
Notice of Intent to Apply Deadline: Submission of a Notice of Intent to Apply is required to be eligible for this competition and was due Friday, June 19, 2015 at 5:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time to CV.
Application Deadline: The application submission deadline for this funding opportunity has passed. Applications were due Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at 5:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time to CV.
CaliforniaVolunteers (CV) is seeking to fund programs that engage individuals as AmeriCorps members to address an unmet community need through service and volunteer action.
Through the 2016 AmeriCorps Request for Applications (RFA), CV will award AmeriCorps grants on a competitive basis to eligible organizations that engage members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions to strengthen communities. CV is targeting funds in the following priority areas:
- Unmet needs in the disaster services focus area, specifically activities relating to drought relief efforts such as:
- Services to improve water efficiency
- Services to mitigate drought-related economic hardships
- Services to educate Californians on water conservation and the drought
- Unmet needs in the bottom five California neighborhood clusters with the lowest American Human Development Index for California:
- Tulare County: Visalia, Tulare, and Porterville
- Los Angeles County: Huntington Park, Florence-Graham and Walnut Park
- Kern County: Bakersfield
- Los Angeles County: Los Angeles City (Southeast/East Vermont)
- Los Angeles County: South Central/Watts
- Unmet needs in counties that currently have no AmeriCorps state presence:
- Lassen, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Plumas, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, and Ventura
- Unmet needs for veterans, including wounded warriors and military families
- Unmet needs in the economic opportunity focus area
CaliforniaVolunteers will also give consideration to applications addressing other pressing community needs outside of the above priority areas.
Funds Available: CaliforniaVolunteers anticipates approximately $6 million in state formula funds will be available for the 2016 grant competition. Additional funds will be available for applicants selected by CV that successfully compete through the state and national grant competitions.
Project Period: Grants will support service activities during the 2016-17 program year. Successful applicants are expected to start member service activities by mid-October of 2016 and will have 12 months to support AmeriCorps members in completing a term of service.
Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit organizations and state and local government agencies are eligible to apply. Community partnerships are a critical element of successful AmeriCorps programs. See the RFA for eligibility requirements.
Application Documents:
- 2016 AmeriCorps Request for Applications
- 2016 AmeriCorps Application Instructions
- 2016 AmeriCorps Application Forms
- Budget Form and Budget Narrative
- AmeriCorps Program Title Page Form
- National Performance Measures Instructions
Training & Technical Assistance Opportunities: CaliforniaVolunteers will be holding Q & A conference call sessions for the 2016 AmeriCorps Grant Request for Applications. No registration is required. While we have allotted two hours for each session, CV will stay on the line for fifteen minutes after the last question is answered and all other participants have left the conference call.
Please use the following call-in information:
(866) 640-4044
Participant Code: 933450
July 7, 2015
Session 1: 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Session 2: 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
July 9, 2015
Session 1: 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Session 2: 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
July 10, 2015
Session 1: 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Session 2: 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Technical Assistance Documents & Resources: Organizations interested in applying for an AmeriCorps grant are encouraged to visit the resources provided below:
- 2016 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How to Develop a Program Logic Model
- High Quality Performance Measures
- Building Evidence of Effectiveness
- Member Development & Support PowerPoint
- Preparing the Grant Budget for AmeriCorps Programs
- National Website for AmeriCorps
- AmeriCorps Regulations 45 CFR Section 2520-2550
- CaliforniaVolunteers AmeriCorps Grantmaking and Program Design Policies
- Sample AmeriCorps Program Title Page
- Sample Partnership Form PART 1: Partner Organization
- Sample Partnership Form PART 2: Member Placement Site Organization