AmeriCorps Grants 101 - Office of Higher Education

1/25/2016
AmeriCorps Grants
Information Workshop
AmeriCorps State Formula Funding
Connecticut Commission on Community Service
Agenda
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How AmeriCorps funding works
The roles of CNCS and CCCS
AmeriCorps State
AmeriCorps program management
Formula funding application process & timeline
Resources
Presentation includes original content and slides adapted from CNCS
AmeriCorps State & National Training Modules.
http://www.nationalservice.gov/build-your-capacity/grants/fundingopportunities/2016/americorps-state-and-national-grants-fy-2016
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This training will not …
 Tell you how to become an AmeriCorps
Member
 Ensure that you are awarded an AmeriCorps
or other CNCS grant
 Inform you of every CCCS or CNCS funding
opportunity
AmeriCorps is …
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AmeriCorps State & National
AmeriCorps State & National Grants …
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AmeriCorps State & National
What do AmeriCorps
State & National Programs do?
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How to become an
AmeriCorps State & National Program:
Multi-State AmeriCorps Programs
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Indian Tribes
Single-State AmeriCorps Programs
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State Service Commissions
Connecticut’s State Service Commission
The mission of the
Connecticut Commission on Community Service (CCCS)
is to foster a vibrant culture of service through volunteerism.
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AmeriCorps*State Formula Grants
AmeriCorps*State Program Funding
State commissions oversee two AmeriCorps*State
funding streams:
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AmeriCorps Competitive
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Applications submitted by state service commissions
Funding determined by CNCS
Programs compete nationally
In Connecticut, open by invitation only
AmeriCorps Formula
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Funding determined by state commissions
Programs compete statewide only
In Connecticu, open to all eligible entities proposing single-state
programs to operate in Connecticut only
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AmeriCorps*State Program Funding
CNCS receives funding annually through the federal budgetmaking process. Those funds are then sub-granted to State
Service Commissions, including CCCS.
Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
AmeriCorps
VISTA
State
Senior Corps
NCCC
Connecticut Commission
on Community Service
(CCCS)
AmeriCorps*State Program Funding
 Funding currently being accepted for
the 2016-2017 program year.
 One-year contract
 Contract start date may either be
9/1/16 or 10/1/16 for new programs
(non-negotiable)
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What programs are eligible
for AmeriCorps*State Formula funding?
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AmeriCorps*State Programs are:
 Public or private non-profit organizations
 Labor organizations
 Community organizations
 Faith-based organizations
 Institutions of higher education
 States, territories and other government entities
 Indian Tribes
 Partnerships of the above
AmeriCorps Program Design
AmeriCorps is based on economy of scale through a corps-based
approach.
Examples include:
 Members provide their service with the organization receiving the
AmeriCorps grant
 Members are placed at community organizations by the grant
recipient
 Members serve as a team on a single project.
 Members are placed individually or in small groups on various
projects
 Members serve as teachers, health care providers, police officers,
engineers, or other professionals in communities where there is an
inadequate number of such professionals
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AmeriCorps Program Design
You design a program that best meets
identified local community needs.
A few things to consider:
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Will the service activities take place in one state or more than one state?
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Will your organization require funding from AmeriCorps to support members
during their term of service?
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Do you partner with other organizations who can supplement your program’s
funding needs … those elements of your program not supported by AmeriCorps
formula funding?
AmeriCorps*State
Key Terms & Concepts
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AmeriCorps Terms and Concepts
AmeriCorps Terms & Concepts
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AmeriCorps Terms & Concepts
Performance Measures
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What cannot be done with AmeriCorps:
AmeriCorps Member Terminology
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Cost per MSY
Cost per MSY
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AmeriCorps Members
AmeriCorps Members
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AmeriCorps Members vs. Volunteers
Member Eligibility
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Member Terminology
Living Allowance
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Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
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Terms of Service/Slot Type
Member Terms of Service
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Your Responsibilities to Members
Prohibited Activities
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Prohibited Activities
Prohibited Activities
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Prohibited Activities
Prohibited Activities
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AmeriCorps*State
Categories of AmeriCorps Grants
Overview
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AmeriCorps Grant Focus Areas
AmeriCorps Grant Funding
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Cost Reimbursement Grants
Cost Reimbursement Grants
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Types of Cost Reimbursement Grants
Professional Corps
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Fixed Amount Grant
Fixed Amount Grants
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Types of Fixed Amount Grants
Full-time Fixed Amount Grants
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Education Award Program (EAP)
Recap
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AmeriCorps*State
AmeriCorps Program Management & Design
Are you ready for AmeriCorps?
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Operating an AmeriCorps*CT Program
An awarded AmeriCorps*Connecticut program
becomes a legal sub-grantee of
the Connecticut Commission on Community Service.
Responsibilities & Requirements
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An Effective AmeriCorps Program …
Program Management Structure
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Program Management Structure
Program Management Structure
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Theory of Change
Documenting the Need
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Evidence Basis
Evidence Basis
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Considerations
Outcomes
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Completing Your Program Design
AmeriCorps Grant Applications
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Notice of Funding Opportunities and application instructions
are provided by CCCS via www.ctohe.org/cccs.
Applications consist of:
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a community need,
an evidence-based intervention that will utilize AmeriCorps members
to impact the need,
descriptions of organizational management systems to support
the program,
information on the organization’s capacity and a budget.
Budget, including member living allowance and benefits,
member and staff training, personnel costs, supplies, and evaluation.
Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to administer
and monitor a federal grant.
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AmeriCorps Grant Applications
All applications must
be submitted using
CNCS’s online grant
management system,
eGrants.
2016 AmeriCorps Formula Timeline
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Which AmeriCorps Grant is Right For You?
http://www.nationalservice.gov/build-your-capacity/new-national-service/fit-finder
For more information …
Contact:
Kate Scheuritzel
Senior Program Officer
Connecticut Commission on Community Service (CCCS)
Office of Higher Education (OHE)
61 Woodland St., Hartford, CT 06105-2326
Desk: (860) 947-1826
Fax: (860) 947-1310
kscheuritzel@ctohe.org
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Thank you!
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