AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities
AmeriCorps (officially the Corporation for National and Community Service or CNCS) is an independent agency of the United States government that engages more than five million Americans in service through a variety of stipended volunteer work programs in many sectors.
The mission of AmeriCorps is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic participation through service and volunteering. Through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, AmeriCorps has helped to engage millions of citizens in meeting community and national challenges through service and volunteer action. Several different types of AmeriCorps program funding are available from CNCS but the requirements, processes, and allowable service activities are different for each program.
Explore the resources below to learn more about each AmeriCorps funding opportunity. If you need help determining which program is right for your organization, view a comparison of AmeriCorps programs, reveiw the Engage Arkansas Grant Decision Tree, or contact us at Engage.AR@adhe.edu.
Engage Arkansas | State AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities
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AmeriCorps State grants are available through Engage Arkansas to Arkansas nonprofits, higher education institutions, local and state governments, and tribal agencies proposing to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions/practices to strengthen communities. An AmeriCorps member is an individual who engages in community service through an approved national service position. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving.
Upon successful completion of their service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from the National Service Trust that members can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans. Successful AmeriCorps State program applicants can engage at least 4 full-time or 8 half-time AmeriCorps members in an intervention, program, or service that meets critical community needs in the areas of education, disaster services, health, environmental stewardship, economic opportunity, and veterans and military families.
Please submit all AmeriCorps State funding questions and documents to Engage Arkansas at Engage.AR@adhe.edu. Supplemental resources:Nonprofit Capacity Checklist ant the Arkansas State Service Plan.
Concept PaperStart here if you have never received funding from EngageAR for an AmeriCorps Program. Concept papers are a required preliminary application step. Programs may not apply for AmeriCorps funds without the submission of the concept paper package or the expressed written permission of the EngageAR Director. Concept papers are only accepted from April 1- November 15. |
AmeriCorps Funding Training, Technical Assistance, and Supplemental ResourcesView Past funding trainings, technical assistance training, and supplemental resources. |
Planning GrantPlanning grants provide organizations financial support to explore and expand their capacity to manage an AmeriCorps program. Grant recipients are awarded up to $75,000 for up to a 12-month planning period to start no earlier than August 1 and are expected to be better prepared to compete for an AmeriCorps program grant in the following grant cycle. |
Current GrantsSelected organizations will receive grants to manage AmeriCorps programs to engage AmeriCorps members in service to meet critical needs in Arkansas. The typical funding period runs from January to April each year. |
AmeriCorps Funding NotificationsFor updates on ALL AmeriCorps funding opportunities which includes AmeriCorps VISTA, Seniors, NCCC, or National Direct, register for notificaitons to be notified during funding periods. |
AmeriCorps NCCC Funding
Americorps NCCC Southwest Region Team Fire 2 at the end of a 15-week term of service with the St. Joseph Center of Arkansas.
The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is a full-time residential program for men and women ages 18-26. NCCC strengthens communities while developing leaders through direct, team-based national and community service. AmeriCorps NCCC teams from the Southwest Region campus (in Colorado) often serve at project sites located in Arkansas.
NCCC teams serve at four projects in different states and cities with multiple sponsor organizations to meet a variety of community needs of energy conservation, infrastructure improvement, natural and other disaster services, and urban and rural development. NCCC terms last ten months for members and 11 months for team leaders. There is no age limit for team leaders, the only requirement being that they are over 18. Learn more about AmeriCorps NCCC.
Check out this video from Apple Seeds in Northwest Arkansas highlighting AmeriCorps NCCC Southwest Region Team. This team helped with farm infrastructure and nutrition programming during this 12-week project (Water 5 -- Class 25 Round 3).
Use the resources below to determine if your organization is able to apply for an AmeriCorps NCCC team:
AmeriCorps NCCC 2022-2023 Request for Applications AmeriCorps NCCC Evaluative Criteria
AmeriCorps NCCC Project Concept Form AmeriCorps NCCC Service Project Application Instructions
AmeriCorps VISTA Funding
AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) provides members to support projects at nonprofit and grassroots organizations and local government agencies that operate programs to help alleviate poverty in the United States. VISTA members strengthen and support these organizations by improving infrastructure, expanding community partnerships, securing long-term resources, training program participants, and developing other activities that help build long-term sustainability for overcoming poverty.
Public, private, or faith-based nonprofit organizations, as well as local or state agencies, can become an AmeriCorps VISTA sponsoring organization. The application process is conducted at the state level to ensure local community needs are being met. The application process is in two-phases with concept paper and full application. Contact the Engage Arkansas to discuss application timeline, requirements, and procedures.
Engage Arkanas will provide technical assistance during the application process. The length of the application process varies, but the average time from the initial contact to a final decision is 3 to 5 months. Learn more here or contact the regional VISTA office.
AmeriCorps VISTA FY2023 Request for Concept Papers AmeriCorps VISTA Program Guidance
AmeriCorps Seniors Funding
AmeriCorps Seniors is open to individuals 55 and older. When you join AmeriCorps Seniors, you choose how you want to give back. Help a struggling child to learn to read. Deliver groceries to an elderly neighbor. Support a family impacted by natural disaster. These are just a few of the service opportunities available to you through AmeriCorps Seniors.
Programs include the Foster Grandparent Program, the Retired Senior Volunteer Progam (RSVP), and the Senior Companion Program. Seniors are also welcome to join a VISTA or State and National Program. Learn more about the AmeriCorps Senior programs or contact the regional office to get in touch about local options.