479004 - AmeriCorps State 2023-2024
Funding Opportunity Details

2023-2024 AmeriCorps State

Final Application Deadline: Aug 25, 2023 11:59 PM

Description

• Iowa AmeriCorps State Funding Announcement

  2023-2024 Program Year Grants

  The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (Volunteer Iowa) is pleased to announce a Request for Applications for Iowa AmeriCorps State programs to operate in 2023-2024.

   

  Application Materials

  Applicants for this funding will need to reference the complete application materials to posted to the AmeriCorps State grants page of the Volunteer Iowa website (https://www.volunteeriowa.org/americorps-state) including the Volunteer Iowa Competitive Request for Applications (RFA) and appendices, the Volunteer Iowa Pre-Application Instructions, the Volunteer Iowa Review Criteria & Final Application Instructions, the AmeriCorps Mandatory Supplemental Guidance (“Guidance”), and the AmeriCorps Performance Measure Instructions.  Applications will be accepted only from organizations seeking funding to operate a program wholly within the state of Iowa (multi-state applicants apply directly to the Corporation for National and Community Service).  Multi-state AmeriCorps National Direct applicants that intend to place members in Iowa must consult with Volunteer Iowa regarding these intended placements using the process and link provided in the RFA.

   

  Key Dates & Deadlines- UPDATED July 2023

  This funding opportunity has been updated to reflect another round of deadlines for planning and pilot grant funding.  Previous deadlines from prior rounds of funding have been removed.  Please note that several other listed dates (marked with *) are anticipated dates only and may be updated throughout the grant application and review period.  Check the AmeriCorps State grants page and sign up for the mailing list to be informed of changes to this timeline.

  • Updated Planning & Pilot Grant Materials Published: 7/12/2023*
  • Pre-Application Deadline: 7/28/2023
  • Final Application Deadline: 8/25/2023
  • Funding Announcement: 9/2023* (anticipated)
  • Program Start Date: 10/1/2023 (planning) or 1/1/2024 (pilot)

   

  What is AmeriCorps State?

  Iowa AmeriCorps State is a national service program that involves individuals (“members”) providing service to address critical needs in their communities.  AmeriCorps members also mobilize community volunteers and strengthen the capacity of the organizations they serve.   In exchange for a term of service, members typically receive a living allowance and other benefits from the sponsor organization while serving.  Upon successful completion of their service, members earn an education award to help pay for education costs at qualified institutions of higher education, to pay for educational training, or to repay qualified student loans. Individuals may serve in AmeriCorps from age 17 and up.

  Iowa AmeriCorps State engages the energy and idealism of the citizens of Iowa in meeting the most vital education, economic opportunity, health, environmental, disaster preparedness, public safety, and veterans’ needs in our communities. Iowa’s AmeriCorps State portfolio currently consists of over 20 programs with more than 800 members serving in full- or part- time positions. These programs operate throughout the state to address critical community needs.

  See https://www.volunteeriowa.org/individuals/americorps for more general information about AmeriCorps.

   

  Funding Priorities for 2023-2024 Planning & Pilot Grants

  For this round of competition, Volunteer Iowa particularly seeks applications that address the following priorities:

  • Programs with an intentional focus on member professional development, with plans to incorporate formal certifications/apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship/college credit/etc. into the AmeriCorps program.
  • Programs that will address the new stakeholder priority areas listed in the new 2023-2025 Volunteer Iowa State Service Plan (see p. 4).
  • Programs that will replicate or expand upon successful, existing models in Iowa. Such proposals should indicate how the replication or expansion will build upon (and not compete with) existing Iowa programs.

   

  Who is eligible to apply?

  This competition is open to all eligible applicants, both those that are new to AmeriCorps and those who are current AmeriCorps State and National program sponsors.  Nonprofits, local governments, state agencies, educational institutions, and Indian Tribes are eligible to apply for an Iowa AmeriCorps State program. Eligible nonprofits include those recognized as nonprofit corporations through the state of Iowa, those with 501(c)3 status, and those with 501(c)4 and 501(c)6 status that do not engage in lobbying activities (as defined under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995).

   

  What types of grants are available?

  AmeriCorps State and National pilot grants provide funding to help organizations launch an AmeriCorps program, which involves recruiting, training, and supporting AmeriCorps members who serve to help the organization address a community need. Pilot Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to applicants who want to start smaller and get experience finalizing their program design. AmeriCorps projects may support organizational capacity-building, education, healthy futures, environmental stewardship, veterans and military families, economic opportunities, public safety, disaster preparedness/response, and other identified community issues in Iowa. Successful programs utilize service as a strategy to meet community needs, while supporting the development and growth of the AmeriCorps members serving with the organization.

   

  AmeriCorps State planning grants do not provide AmeriCorps member funding but instead provide organizations with funds to pay for the staff/consultant time needed to develop plans for and prepare to launch an AmeriCorps program.

   

  Grant Size & Matching Requirements

  AmeriCorps grants vary greatly in award amount, but all operational grants include limits on the maximum amount of funding that can be awarded per member, ranging from $800/full-time member (for education award-only programs where the grantee covers the bulk of member and program costs) up to $23,000-28,800/full-time member for cost reimbursement and full-cost fixed-amount grants. 

  No matter the funding level, substantial cash and in-kind match is required from the applicant. Programs operating under the cost-reimbursement model must match at least 24% of the total budget during each of the first three years of funding, with match requirements increasing incrementally after year three, reaching a 50% minimum match level during the 10th year of funding. Programs with fixed-amount funding do not need to meet or document a specified match percentage, but will also need to contribute match in order to meet the needs of the program.  Other non-AmeriCorps federal funds may be used as match with approval.

  Planning grants have a limit of $240,000 in federal funding. However, Volunteer Iowa expects most planning grant awards will not exceed $50,000-$75,000.

  What are the responsibilities of operating an Iowa AmeriCorps State program?

  • Designating adequate staff time to run the program.
  • Recruiting, selecting, placing, onboarding,  supervising, and providing professional development to  members.
  • Managing HR needs of members, including National Service Criminal History checks, payroll, benefits, timekeeping, and evaluations.
  • Selecting and supporting member service  sites and supervisors.
  • Submitting start-up forms, progress reports, expenditure reports, semi-annual federal financial reports, and other reporting  as instructed.
  • Participating in monthly program director calls, annual program director training, additional annual training for new program staff, and regional national service training.
  • Engaging community volunteers in the AmeriCorps program and supporting Volunteer Iowa statewide initiatives.

   

  What is the Iowa  Commission on Volunteer Service, or Volunteer Iowa?

  Volunteer Iowa is the state service commission for the state of Iowa and administers Iowa AmeriCorps State grants. Volunteer Iowa strives create an Iowa where all citizens are empowered through service to meet community challenges and make lives better. Volunteer Iowa works to fulfill this vision by funding and supporting programs, projects, and activities focused on service and volunteerism. These include AmeriCorps State, the Volunteer Generation Fund, the Volunteer Iowa AmeriCorps VISTA program, and Iowa Mentor (the Iowa Mentoring Partnership).

  Volunteer Iowa partners with the AMERICORPS federal agency (also known as the Corporation for National   and Community Service or CNCS) to fund and administer Iowa AmeriCorps State programs. Established in 1993, AMERICORPS engages more than a million Americans each year in service to their communities by providing a way to solve community problems. The federal AMERICORPS agency plays a crucial role supporting the American culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility. AMERICORPS has three primary national service initiatives: AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps Senior Corps, and the Volunteer Generation Fund.

   

  Disclosure: Publication of this Funding Opportunity Announcement does not obligate Volunteer Iowa or the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to award any specific number of grants or to obligate any particular amount of funding. The actual level and timing of grant funding will be subject to the availability of annual federal appropriations.

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