AmeriCorps Planning Grant Information Session
A presentation for AmeriCorps grant applicants
Session Objectives
AmeriCorps Overview
AmeriCorps Operating Grant Overview
Review Planning Grant Application Process
Q & A
CaliforniaVolunteers (CV)
The Governor-appointed State Service Commission for California.
Mission is to increase the number & impact of Californians engaged in service and volunteering
Leads the organization in consultation with a 25-member Commission appointed by the Governor
Funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to provide support to AmeriCorps programs
CNCS Awards grants to state service commissions and
national organizations (e.g., non-profits, faith & community-based organizations, public agencies, Indian tribes, and institutions of higher education).
Provides opportunities for individuals – AmeriCorps members – to serve communities across the country.
Since 1994, more than 820,000 men and woman have provided service as AmeriCorps members
AmeriCorps Overview
AmeriCorps Focus Areas
Disaster Services
Economic Opportunity
Education
Environmental Stewardship
Healthy Futures
Veterans and Military Families
What do AC programs do?
• Training citizens in disaster preparedness
• Responding to disaster events
• Providing disaster recovery and/or mitigation
• Improving housing situation for economically disadvantaged people
• Improving the academic performance or academic engagement of K-12 students
• Improving the environmental condition of distressed public lands and waterways
• Engaging veterans and military families in service or providing service to these individuals
• Increasing access to health services
• Strengthening vulnerable families to prevent child abuse & neglect
• Increase access to the courts system
AmeriCorps impact includes:
Funds activities based on an evidence-based or evidence-informed approach to strengthening or addressing community problems.
Enables an organization to build capacity or deepen the impact of the service to individuals or communities.
Broadens the scope the service activities to reach previously underserved communities
Funds cannot duplicate or supplant pre-existing activities, staff or volunteers
What is AmeriCorps?
What is AmeriCorps?
Provide partial funding to support AmeriCorps projects/programs.
Solely for program expenses and not for general organizational expenses
Grant recipients must contribute cash or in-kind match funds.
Include an allotment of AmeriCorps member positions and funds that are directly tied to the number of members.
AmeriCorps Members
Individuals enrolled for a specific term of service with an AmeriCorps program
Members are not volunteers or employees
Some members receive a living allowance, health insurance and child care assistance
AmeriCorps members receive the Segal Education Award upon completing a term of service
AmeriCorps Members vs. Volunteers
Members have a contract with the program
Members must be supervised
Members receive extensive, program specific training
Members must commit to a specific term of service
Benefits of an AmeriCorps GrantApplicant Organization/Community Partnership:
Enables delivery of results-driven services to better address pressing local, regional, and statewide needs
Builds organizational capacity through leveraging of trained dedicated citizens to deliver service
Provides human capital to scale and increase impacts of evidence-based programs
AmeriCorps Members: Education award to further education or repay student loans Professional development and job training Pathway to greater career opportunities
Beneficiaries/Communities: Services and resources are extended to disadvantaged
youth and families Benefit from meaningful life changing services
Funding Opportunities 2014 AmeriCorps Planning Grant Request for
Applications (Planning Grant RFA)
Provides planning grants to support planning and development of new operating AmeriCorps program
Project Period: April – September 2014
Applications Due: April 8, 2014 at 5:00 P.M., PST
2015-16 AmeriCorps Request for Application (RFA)
Provides operating grants to support AmeriCorps programs
Project Period: August 2015 – December 2016
RFA to be released Summer of 2014
Anticipated Application Deadline: November 2014
Operating Grants Three-year Grants
Funds awarded annually
Recipients submit continuations for years 2 & 3
Recompete after year 3
Operating Grants Fund a portion of program operating costs
Flexible – funds may be used for allowable costs included in the budget
Available to new and recompeting applicants
Applicants must provide a detailed budget with the application submission
Must meet specific match requirements (24% of total operating costs for new applicants)
Must submit semi-annual financial reports to CV
Operating GrantsGrantee responsibilities and requirements include:
Employ strong fiscal & program management systems
Monitor financial management, program performance, and member activities
Train and provide technical assistance to staff
Recruit, select, train, and support members
Track progress toward meeting performance measures
Act as liaison between CV and other community partners
Operating Grant Flow
Operating GrantsProgram Management Structure
An AmeriCorps grant generally operates on two levels:
1.Grantee (Parent/legal applicant organization)
2. Service Locations (where members serve)
The grantee has overall legal, administrative, and fiscal responsibility for the entire scope of the program, even if the funds are sub-granted.
Operating GrantsProgram Management Structure
Where and how AmeriCorps members are placed at service locations will vary.
A Few Things to Consider:
Where will the service activities take place?
Who are your community and service partners?
What can your partners provide?
What is their capacity?
Operating GrantsProgram Management Structure
Centralized: grantee handles all administrative functions and assigns members; and doesn’t sub-grant funds
Decentralized: grantee sub-grants the funds, and the sub-grantee is responsible for member training, payroll and other administrative functions.
Combination: shared responsibilities
Grantee is ultimately responsible
Are you ready for AmeriCorps?
Organizational capability
Staff skilled in training, supervision, and oversight
Community partners
Experience managing federal funds
Planning Grants Grant amount is up to $50,000.
Grantees are reimbursed through monthly invoices.
Funds the development of program components and infrastructure required to support an operating grant.
Allowable expenses include (see p. 7 of RFA):
staffing/consultant costs travel materials costs necessary to conduct research and bring together
community partners, etc.
Planning Grant DeliverableAn Operating Grant Proposal that addresses:
Community need
Theory of change/logic model
Evidence-informed or evidence-based intervention
Measureable outputs and outcomes
Program Diagram
Community partner roles & responsibilities
Member recruitment, selection, training, and supervision
Operating budget
Match requirement & sustainability
PG Application Components Program Narrative that addresses:
Proposed community need
Vision for using AmeriCorps
How AmeriCorps adds value
Detailed description of planning process
Timeline for planning activities
Description of how the planning grant will be used to develop capacity to effectively manage AmeriCorps program, including completing planning grant deliverables
Budget
PG Application TimelineApril 8, 2014 Planning Grant Applications Due
April 9-17, 2014 Review, Clarification, & Selection Period
April 18, 2014 Selected Applications Due in eGrants
April 21-25, 2014 Contracting Period
April-Sept., 2014 Planning Period
September 2014 Operating Grant Proposal Due
How to Apply for AmeriCorps Funding
• Respond to CaliforniaVolunteers’ Request for Applications (RFA).
• Visit http://www.californiavolunteers.org/index.php/Grants/americorps/ for RFA application materials.
• Follow RFA and accompanying Application Forms and Instructions
Questions?
THANK YOU!