607912 - 2025 Continuation ARP Volunteer Generation Fund Mentoring Grants
Funding Opportunity Details

Volunteer Generation Fund ARP

Final Application Deadline: Apr 30, 2025 10:45 AM

Description

• Description

  SUMMARY 

  The purpose of this RFA is to provide guidance for the current subgrantees to submit continuation applications to the Volunteer Generation Fund American Rescue Plan (VGF ARP). VGF ARP grant funds support planning and starting new mentoring programs within currently funded school districts to help students succeed academically and support overall wellbeing. Funding is provided for school staff time to develop a youth mentoring program in accordance with the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring™ with consulting provided. Schools funded under this RFA will be required to 1) Create policies and procedures for a youth mentoring program; 2) Begin operation of a mentoring program with active mentoring matches and become a program partner with Iowa MENTOR, and 3) Create a sustainability plan for a mentoring program beyond the grant funding. 

  Only current subgrantees are eligible to apply to Volunteer Iowa through our grant management system, IowaGrants. Applications for funding are due on April 30, 2025, 5pm (CST). 

   

  ABOUT VOLUNTEER IOWA 

  Volunteer Iowa’s mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Iowa MENTOR is a Volunteer Iowa program with the mission to promote, support, and build quality mentoring relationships by elevating the capacity of programs, systems, and policies that foster proven results for Iowa. 

   

  OVERVIEW 

  The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (Volunteer Iowa) is pleased to announce a continuation of the funding opportunity for school districts through the Volunteer Generation Fund American Rescue Plan. This funding will leverage the skills and experience of volunteers in Iowa to mentor students in grades K-12 in support of the National Partnership for Student Success. 

  Mentoring relationships have the potential to positively influence a range of factors for academic success, including school connectedness, school engagement, educational self-confidence, and attitudes toward school. Mentoring services can be provided in a variety of programmatic formats, including but not limited to one-to-one, group, peer, school-based, and community-based. Iowa MENTOR provides resources and guidance to develop a successful and sustainable mentoring program. 

  This is a continuation application of the 2023 & 2024 funding opportunity and represents year three of a three-year federal appropriation. 

  Disclosure: Publication of this Request for Funding Availability does not obligate Volunteer Iowa or AmeriCorps to award any specific number of grants or to obligate any amount of funding. The actual level and timing of grant funding will be subject to the availability of annual federal appropriations. 

  ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS 

  Only current subgrantees are eligible to apply, including the following: 

  • Carlisle Area School District 

  • Dike New Hartford Community School District 

  • Ceder Valley Catholic Schools 

  • Hamburg Community School District 

   

  FUNDS 

  Eligible applicants will receive a total of $20,000 for this year-three project year. Eligible applicants will receive funds for staff time for planning and implementation only. Eligible applicants must have completed the second-year requirements and demonstrate readiness to renew the grant for year three. Grantees may be eligible for a total of three project years, provided grantees demonstrate they have followed grant requirements and met program outcomes. 

  All awards under this RFA are subject to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 2205. The source of funds for the VGF ARP competition is a federal award from AmeriCorps CFDA Number 94.021. 

   

  OVERVIEW WEBINAR: 

  Volunteer Iowa will host a grant overview webinar on April 10, 2025. Advance registration for the webinar is required. If there are no attendees, the webinar will not be held. During the webinar, we will review the Request for Applications document and the IowaGrants application site. If time allows, we will address questions. The webinar will be recorded and made available on the IowaGrants website. 

  Date: April 10, 2025 

  Time: 4:00 pm –5:00 pm 

  Registration Link: Emailed to participants 

  Clarification and Questions: To ensure equitable treatment for all applicants, any questions must be submitted through the Ask a Question feature in IowaGrants. This feature is viewable once you have logged into IowaGrants. Responses to questions will be posted on the Funding Opportunities Details page for the opportunity in IowaGrants. The final date for submitting questions is April 25, 2025 at 5 p.m. Questions submitted after this time are not guaranteed to be answered. 

   

  APPLICATION DEADLINES AND TIMELINE 

  • RFA Released: April 10, 2025  
  • Application Open in IowaGrants (www.iowagrants.gov):    April 11, 2025  
  • Overview Webinar: April 10, 2025, 4 PM 
  • Clarification Questions due to Volunteer Iowa: April 25, 2025 
  • Responses to Clarification Questions Posted: April 26, 2025 
  • Application Proposals due to Volunteer Iowa:       April 30, 2025, 5 PM CST 
  • Selection of Awardees Announced: May 9, 2025 

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