Alicia Hartsfield, AmeriCorps Director

Alicia.hartsfield@nc.gov

Megan G. Smith, Commissioner

October 2012

Tapping Into AmeriCorps Programming

A Brief Timeline of National Service Support

1933 – 1942 Civilian Conservation Corps 1961 – Peace Corps 1965 – VISTA 1965 – FGP 1971 – RSVP 1974 – SCP 1990 – Serve America (now called Learn and Serve) 1993 – AmeriCorps (VISTA becomes part) 1994 – Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service 2009 – Kennedy Serve America Act passed

Who has applied for a service grant?

I have applied for and/or managed a federal grant

I have applied for and/or managed a state grant

I have applied for and/or managed a local(?) grant

I have never applied for a grant

Who may apply for a service grant in the near future?

I am already preparing (or intend to) an application

I do not plan on using this type of funding

I am unsure and still researching opportunities

AmeriCorps NCCC

Regional campuses – services are provided in states throughout service area.

Denver, CO Sacramento, CA Perry Point, MD Vicksburg, MS Vinton, IA

Objective – strengthen communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based national and community service.

Eligibility for members Between18 and 24 years old 10 months of service Direct service in support of community efforts in home region.

AmeriCorps NCCC

Benefits for Members Monthly living allowance, housing, meals and limited medical

benefits End of service term $5550 Education Award

Member Application deadlines (typically) April 1st

July 1st

Eligibility for project sponsors Local, state or federal agencies; public, private or faith-

based nonprofit organizations Must submit project application to appropriate campus

AmeriCorpsVISTAVolunteers in Service to America

Where serving – Low wealth communities

Objective To help move people out of poverty through literacy

education, health assistance, housing programs, bridging the digital divide, economic development programming

Restrictions: Projects must focus on capacity building for project

sustainability after VISTA resources are withdrawn

AmeriCorpsVISTAVolunteers in Service to America

Eligibility for members Must be at least 18 years old One year of full-time service Member effort is focused on capacity building rather

than direct service to agency clients/customers. Benefits: Modest bi-weekly living allowance; at end of term

of service $5550 Education Award or may opt for $1500 cash payment.

AmeriCorpsVISTAVolunteers in Service to America

Eligibility for sponsors: Local, state or federal agencies; public, private or faith-based nonprofit organizations.

Must apply to establish a VISTA project and be able to engage a minimum of three full-time members (www.americorps.gov).

Cash match is not required. In-kind match will be negotiated prior to project approval. Sharing a portion of the cost may increase the availability of VISTA resources to your agency.

Cost share is strongly encouraged for sponsors who are approved member positions beyond three years.

Example of VISTA Programs The North Carolina IDA and Asset Building

Collaborative uses an asset building approach to address poverty at the community level. 12 VISTA members placed throughout the state focus on: (1) improving low income citizens' financial and savings knowledge by recruiting and training volunteers to provide financial education and serve as wealth coaches in low-income communities (2) increasing community engagement by creating a manual for best practices in community-based asset building across the state (3) forming regional Asset Building Coalitions and (4) increasing the capacity of the local site to deliver services to low income citizens.

Questions

AmeriCorps NCCC

AmeriCorps VISTA

AmeriCorpsState Formula

Where serving – In communities with established need Objective

Engage members in providing direct service to address unmet community needs. CNS priority areas:

Disaster Services, Economic Opportunity Education, Environment al Stewardship Healthy Futures, Veterans and Military Families

Restrictions Members engaged primarily in direct service

AmeriCorpsState Formula

Eligibility for Members ≥17 years old (some programs 18yo) Cleared by criminal history check

Benefits Modest monthly living allowance Student loan forbearance Health insurance End of term of service $5550 Education Award

Full-time, part-time, less than part-time and EAO positions One year service term Visit www.americorps.gov for AmeriCorps programs across

the county.

AmeriCorpsState Formula

Eligibility for sponsors: Local, state or federal agencies; public, private or faith-based nonprofit organizations

Match required: Corporation requires a 24% cash or in-kind match of the overall program operating costs. State commissions may add additional match requirements. After the first three years of funding the match will go up incrementally, to a maximum of 50% match. (MSY $13,300).

Fixed rate grants do not require a specific match but do require that community financial support be a part of the program’s funding plan. Currently available for fulltime member programs only. (MSY $13,000).

Examples of AmeriCorps Programs

ACCESS Joblink 17 Full-Time and 6 Half-Time members serve

at JobLink Career Centers and assist individuals with disabilities, at-risk youth, older adults, and former offenders with reaching their employment goals.  Job search activities include assistance with resume writing, cover letters, interviewing, transportation & child care plans, success plans, financial literacy, computer skills, employment applications, job retention skills and skill building activities. 

Examples of AmeriCorps Programs

Project HEART is an academic coaching program that serves low performing students in 8 counties in Eastern North Carolina. The program housed on the East Carolina University campus, recruits Half-Time college students and Education-Award-Only high school seniors to serve as academic coaches for more than 2,500 middle, high school, and first-year college students. Fifty (50) Half-Time and 120 Education-Award-Only members provide tutoring, homework, and study skills sessions. In addition, coaches help students with time management, organization and goal setting. These sessions will help students succeed academically and graduate from high school and college.

Questions

AmeriCorps State Formula

What type of National Service funding are you most likely to apply for?

NCCC VISTA AmeriCorps State Formula

Steps in Submitting an Application

1. Determine need through community participation

2. Develop community collaborations

3. Plan your project

4. Determine agency capacity

5. Identify and verify match dollars

6. Prepare the application

7. Participate in an AmeriCorps T/TA session

Determining Community Need

The Corporation for National and Community Service requires that agencies consult their communities in determining the need for specific projects.

You must be able to:

Verify the need through documentation.

Explain how the community was involved in determining the need.

Detail the scope of the need in your community and insure that this need is not already being met by another agency.

Identify other agencies in the community that are interested in partnering in the identified need area.

Develop relationships with these agencies in order to strengthen programming and avoid duplication of service.

Determine relative strengths and weaknesses of each partner.

Developing Community Collaborations

Planning Your Project

Utilizing information gained through partnership development, create a project plan.

Refer to RFP to insure that all program requirements are covered.

Utilize the expertise of commission staff to assist with technical questions.

Insure that all partners have committed to the plan, both programmatically and fiscally.

Determining Agency Capacity

Utilize organizational capacity checklist provided by commission.

Program sponsor must be able to demonstrate experience in grants management and strong fiscal controls.

Sponsor must dedicate a full time Program Director

Sponsor must dedicate a staff member to AmeriCorps financial management.

Identifying Match Dollars

Determine what each partner will bring to the table in terms of match. Match may be cash or in-kind.

Verify that match is committed.

Year

1,2,3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+

Share

24% 26% 30% 34% 38% 42% 46% 50%

Preparing the Application

Once the program is fully planned and funding is assured, prepare the application.

Take care to answer every point raised in the RFP.

Be clear and concise. There is a page limit.

Preparing the Application

Attend the mandatory training and technical assistance session.

Insure that minimum number of members are included. Currently, the commission is asking that all programs plan for at least 20 members.

Organizations targeting rural and economically distressed communities may request 10 members

In the budget section, be sure not to exceed the average cost per MSY in your request ($13,300 Formula).

Training and Technical Assistance Sessions

These sessions are intended for those completing an RFP in order to address specific questions and details regarding the application.

Four (4) sessions are typically held each year across the state.

Seek technical assistance from commission staff where requested information seems unclear.

Dates will be posted to the website after the new RFP is posted.

NC Commission Website Tour

www.volunteernc.org

Final Points

Organizational capacity and community collaboration are key.

Utilize the technical expertise of commission staff along the way.

Developing a strong AmeriCorps application may take a year or more of planning. Most important is to develop a program that truly meets the community’s need. Visit the Commission’s website (www.volunteernc.org) for a list of programs currently funded by the Commission.

2013-14 AmeriCorps Application and Instructions will be posted on the Commission’s website soon.

For Further Information

CNCS State Office: 919-856-4731www.nationalservice.govNC Commission Office:800-820-4483www.volunteernc.org

www.americorps.gov