2014 AmeriCorps Informational SessionChristine Williams, National Service Director

Serve Alabama: The Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Volunteer Service (GFBVS)

Alabama State Service Commission

8 Commerce Street, Suite 1000/10th Floor

Montgomery, Alabama 36104

334.954.7440

www.ServeAlabama.gov

Welcome! Grant Writing Essentials &

AmeriCorps Informational Session Participants

The Mission of Serve Alabama

The mission of Serve Alabama is to build the capacity of individuals and organizations to serve and transform the communities in which they live and to serve as a bridge between government and community.

Serve Alabama Works to:•increase an ethic of service and volunteerism in the State of Alabama.

•strengthen the capacity of Alabama’s faith and community-based organizations.

•promote collaboration among individuals and organizations striving to meet some of the greatest needs in our state. 

The Primary Functions of Serve AlabamaFaith-Based and Volunteer Service in Alabama * Informational Packets * Informational Loop (Bi-monthly newsletter)

Alabama State Service Commission *AmeriCorps State Programs (Formula, Competitive, Competitive-Fixed and Formula- Fixed

Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) *Fund support efforts that expand the capacity of volunteer connector organizations to recruit, manage support and retain individuals to serve in high quality assignments

The Primary Functions of Serve Alabama (cont.)

Disaster Preparedness and Response  *Citizen Corps Program *Volunteer and Donation Coordination for the State of Alabama Emergency Operations Plan/Annex I *Ready Alabama, a public preparedness multi-media campaign, uses movie slides, public service announcements, billboards, printed materials and outreach via www.Ready.gov. *Be Ready Camp, an innovative program offering children an opportunity to learn about disaster preparedness, participate in a full scale mock disaster and meet peers from across the state Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund *Designed to provide assistance to individuals and organizations with recovery costs that are a direct result of a disaster or emergency

The State Interagency Council on Homelessness *a statewide network committed to the prevention and ending homelessness

Agenda

•Learn about AmeriCorps•Discuss the grant•Explore the application process•Consider the budget

AmeriCorps on the National Level

• Administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)

• Establised in 1993 www.nationalservice.gov

•Serve America Act – 2009 – Increased funding for programs (AmeriCorps in addition to others)

•Programming includes VISTA, State/National, and NCCC

•85,000 AmeriCorps members serve nationwide each year!

AmeriCorps Fast Facts

820,000: Number of people who have served as AmeriCorps members since 1994.

1 Billion: Total number of hours served by AmeriCorps members.  

$2.4 Billion: Total amount of Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards earned by AmeriCorps members since 1994.

4 Million: Number of community volunteers managed or mobilized by AmeriCorps members in PY 2012-13.

15,000: Number of nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations served by AmeriCorps members.

 $7.6 Billion: Amount of AmeriCorps funds invested in nonprofit, community, educational, and

faith-based community groups

Alabama AmeriCorps Summary2013-2014

•1.8 million awarded Formula + $185,000 Competitive

•7 Programs 2 fixed grants

•300+ members

Alabama AmeriCorps Sub-grantees(Programs)

•Anniston Community Education Foundation•Butler County Board of Education•Birmingham City Schools•City of Selma•Impact Alabama•Teach for America-Alabama•YWCA Central Alabama

What is AmeriCorps?

National Service Program“Domestic Peace Corps”

Areas of Focus:Disaster ServicesEducationEnvironmental StewardshipHealthy FuturesOpportunityVeterans and Military Families

What is AmeriCorps?

Getting Things Done. AmeriCorps helps communities meet needs in the areas of education, public safety, the environment, and other human needs through direct and demonstrable service.

Strengthening Communities. AmeriCorps builds the capacity of community organizations and other institutions to more effectively engage community volunteers to improve our communities.

Encouraging Responsibility. Through service and civic education, AmeriCorps members become agents of community solutions and develop an ethic of lifelong service.

Expanding Opportunity. AmeriCorps helps those who help America. Members develop professional skills, gain invaluable experience and receive education awards for education or job training.

AmeriCorps Strengthens Communities

Programs strengthen communities by:

Mobilizing Community Assets Generating Volunteers Involving the Community

Training:Supervision & training

must be provided.

Required Hours:Members must devote 80% of hours to direct

service, 20% to training.

Opportunities:Provide leadership

opportunities for members and encourage personal

growth.

Citizenship:Develop lifelong ethic of

service.

AmeriCorps is about:

•Meeting the needs of our communities •Building relationships and partnerships •Strengthening civic engagement •Developing members' skills and experience •Providing carefully planned, well managed and important projects   •'Getting Things Done'

Busy work' Temporary solutions Financing your organizationEmployee/volunteer replacement or displacement

Programs must provide specific measurable service outcomes that:

-Are not already provided with existing funds or volunteers-Do not duplicate the functions of existing workers, or displace paid employees

AmeriCorps is NOT about:

Attempting to influence legislation

Organizing or engaging in protests, strikes, petitions or boycotts

Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing

Any political activities

AmeriCorps Prohibited Activities

Engaging in religious instruction, proselytization, worship activities

Administrative duties (i.e. acting as your agency’s receptionist, clerical work, etc.)

Constructing or maintaining a facility inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship

Providing a direct benefit to a for-profit organization, labor union, political party, or religious organization

AmeriCorps Prohibited Activities

Prohibited Activities

Providing services and activities that would otherwise be performed by employed workers or volunteers, or that will supplant the hiring of, or result in the displacement of, employed workers in the community

*Tutoring at-risk youth*Recruiting volunteers*Teaching conflict resolution skills *Environmental conservation activities*Assisting crime victims*Building homes*Restoring parks*Mentoring at-risk youth*Teaching computer skills*Running after-school programs*Other direct service or capacity-building activities…

Examples of Appropriate Service Activities

About Fundraising:

AmeriCorps members can devote 10% of their service time to fundraising activities.Members may:

Raise funds that benefit your organization’s service activities

Members may not:Raise funds for living allowances or for your organization’s general operating expensesWrite a grant application to CNCS or any other Federal agency

AmeriCorps Key WordsIt’s not a job, job training, or typical volunteer position, it’s …Service

We’re not employees, apprentices, or typical volunteers, we’re… AmeriCorps Members

It’s not a wage, salary, or paycheck, it’s a… Living Allowance

It’s not a work site or job site, it’s a…Service Site

Member Terms of Service

Full time (1,700 hours) = $5,550 ed award

Half Time (900 hours) = $2,775 ed award

Reduced Half Time (675 hours) = $2,114 ed award

Quarter Time (450 hours) = $1,468 ed award

Minimum time (300 hours) = $1,175 ed award

Members must complete term of service within grant contract timeframe.

Members can serve up to four terms in AmeriCorps State/National but can only receive the equivalent value of two full time education awards.

Member Eligibility Recruitment and Selection

Members are recruited, selected, and trained by each individual program.

Must be at least 17, possess high school diploma / GED or equivalent, and be a U.S. citizen or legal resident alien.

Meet any additional qualifications as determined by the program.

Member Benefits

Living StipendFull-Time (min./max.) $12,100-$24,200 Part-Time living stipends prorated

Health Care (FT Only)

Child Care (FT Only)

Training/Development

Loan Forbearance/Forgiveness

Education Award

Programs Must Have

*Successful recruitment and placement strategies *A clear structure within which members serve*Provision of training and learning opportunities for both staff and members *Ongoing support and supervision of members and service sites *Leadership and teamwork opportunities

PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS

All AmeriCorps programs:

*Measure and account for impact *Are inclusive*Partner with faith-based and/or community-based organizations*Generate volunteers

Programs provide:*Member Contract*Grievance Procedure*Evaluation/ Outcome measurements*Identification (Site and Member) - Branding*Site agreements

Programs also:*Supervise sites*Report programmatically and financially*Attend director trainings*Participate in statewide events

Programmatic Requirements:

*Quarterly Progress Reports*Monitoring Reviews/Responses*Periodic Conference Calls*Expense reports monthly*Federal Financial Reports bi-annually*Closeout: annually

About the Grant – Who Can Apply?

CNCS and Serve Alabama seeks to fund programs that can demonstrate community impact and solve community problems through an evidence-based approach.

Eligible Applicants a 501(c)3 statusEducational institutionsGovernment/State EntitiesNon-profit organizations with

Types of GrantsNew Applicant

Those eligible organizations that have:Not previously operated an AC*State programNot operated a program in more than five years

Recompete ApplicantOrganizations completing their third year of operating an AC State program

Continuing ApplicantOrganizations in their first or second year of operating an AC State program

Source of Funds

COMPETITIVE FUNDS:Must compete successfully at state level National competition with other applicationsCorporation for National and Community Service makes final decisions

FORMULA FUNDS:Must compete successfully at the state levelICCSV awards fundsInforms the Corporation of its decisions

-Programs must request a minimum of 5 Member Service Years (MSY)-Target average federal cost per MSY should not exceed $13,300.-Grant size is determined by size of the program.-Grant size may be limited based on funding availability.-Minimum of 24% match required, except for Fixed -3 year grant cycle; renewable in year 1-2-Operate on annual program year schedule

Performance MeasuresRequired as part of your application

How will you measure your program’s impact?

National Performance MeasuresFunding priority given to programs that opt into these pre-existing measuresIf your program fits, it’s required

Self-Nominated MeasuresPermitted…if your program does not fit a national measure

Program Model

Program design is determined by applicant Single Site ModelMulti-site Model

Local, Regional, StatewideEducation Award Only Model Fixed Award Model

Programs that enroll Full-Time members only

Narrative ElementsMaximum Number of

Characters (including spaces and

punctuation)

A. Program Design (50%) Logic Model Required

15 Double Spaced Pages (Executive Summary, Cover Page, and Sections A,

B, and C)

B. Organizational Capability (25%)

C. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25%)

When Writing the NarrativeLead from your program strengths and be explicit

Do not try to relate your program to every strategic priority or special initiative

Be clear and succinctNo jargon, boilerplate language, rhetoric, etc.

Don’t make assumptionsDo not assume the readers know anything about you or your program

Use an impartial proofreader

Application Process

RFP and NOFO to be posted on Serve Alabama websiteWill include specific deadlines for process – Opens today

Submit Notification of Intent to ApplyNovember 4th – Competitive January 31st-Formula

Serve Alabama AmeriCorps Application Instructions

Draft and submit AmeriCorps State Grant Application Submit through the eGrants system

Review Process

Competitive and Thorough Process

Grants reviewed by

•Staff•Community Reviewers•Commissioners (Board)•Commission Program Committee

Commission Program Committee makes a funding recommendation to the full board of commissioners

Is AmeriCorps Right for My Organization?

Would this program support my organization’s mission and strategic plan?

Does my organization address compelling needs in the priority areas?

Does my organization have the organizational, technological, and fiscal capacity to manage a federal grant (take Readiness Assessment)?

Does my organization have the resources to match the federal funds (cash and in-kind)?

Are we seeking funds for a program that would recruit 5,10, 15, or more full-time members or equivalent?

Do we have the resources to manage a program for 30-60 days before receiving reimbursement?

More information about AmeriCorps

www.ServeAlabama.gov

www.NationalService.gov

Serve Alabama Contacts

Jon Mason, Director

Leslie Gettys, Administrative Director334.954.7444 - Leslie.Gettys@ServeAlabama.gov

Christine Williams, National Service Director334.954.7446 - Christine.Williams@ServeAlabama.gov

Cesily Means, State Service Officer334.954.7442 - Cesily.Means@ServeAlabama.gov

Ronica Faire, Serve Alabama Accountant334.954.7443 - Ronica.Faire@ServeAlabama.gov