AmeriCorps Funding
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. Review the Engage Arkansas Grant Decision Tree, or contact us at Engage.AR@adhe.edu.
Engage Arkansas STATE AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities
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 the equivalent of at least 5 full-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
State AmeriCorps Funding Process
| STEP 1 Grant Decision Tree: Use this funding guide to determine the best AmeriCorps stream of service for your organization. |
| STEP 2 Planning Grant Concept Form: Start here if you have never received funding from Engage Arkansas for an AmeriCorps Program. Concept Forms are a required preliminary application step. Programs may not apply for AmeriCorps funds without submitting the Concept Form or the expressed written permission of the Engage Arkansas director. Concept Forms are accepted on an ongoing basis. Release date: March 16, 2026 Concept Forms due: April 1, 2026 Learn more about the Concept Form timeline below, and download the Planning Grant Concept Form. |
| STEP 3 Planning Grant: You’ll move to a planning grant after completing the Concept Form. Planning grants provide organizations with financial support to explore and expand their capacity to manage an AmeriCorps program. Grant recipients are awarded $75,000 to $100,000 for a planning period of up to 12 months, starting no earlier than August 1. Planning grantees do not host AmeriCorps members. They are expected to be better prepared to compete for an AmeriCorps program grant in the following grant cycle. The planning grant Notice of Funding Opportunity for the 2026-2027 program year is now open. Engage Arkansas will host a planning grant information call on Wednesday, March 25, from 1-2 p.m. Please register here to attend. Applications are due by May 1, 2026. |
| STEP 4 Operational Grant: Operational grant cycles open in the Fall with applications due in the Spring. Sub-grantees must be able to support the equivalent of 5 full-time AmeriCorps member positions (which may be broken into smaller slot types), with an AmeriCorps Program Director budgeted at a minimum of 50% of the grant, though 75% is recommended. Operational grant applicants should consider the performance measures outlined in the AmeriCorps State National Planning Grants Performance Measure Best Practices. The next Formula Notice of Funding Opportunity will open in 2027. Contact Engage.AR@adhe.edu for more information. |
| AmeriCorps Funding Notifications: For updates on all AmeriCorps funding opportunities, which includes AmeriCorps VISTA, Seniors, NCCC, or National Direct, register for notifications. |
Concept Form Timeline
Concept Forms Accepted: Ongoing Basis
Applicants Notified of Results: On a rolling basis, generally. Concept Forms are reviewed monthly.
Notice of Funding for Planning and Operational Grants Released: Tentative, pending federal release.
Grant Applications Due: February/March
Application Clarification Period: April/May
Commission Funding Decisions: May
Federal Awards Granted: June/July
Earliest program year start: August 1st
Email the Planning Grant Concept Form to: Engage.AR@adhe.edu. Subject line: Concept Form
AmeriCorps National Direct Consultation
Engage Arkansas participates in the AmeriCorps National Direct Consultation process coordinated by America’s Service Commissions (ASC). Any AmeriCorps National Direct program proposing to operate in Arkansas is asked to complete the form found on ASC’s consultation page.
AmeriCorps NCCC Funding
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 encompasses four Corps programs, including the Traditional Corps, FEMA Corps, Forest Corps, and Summer of Service.
NCCC teams serve projects in different states and cities with multiple sponsor organizations to meet various community energy conservation needs, 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 the 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).
In 2026, AmeriCorps NCCC is preparing for a project round and is intentionally prioritizing disaster recovery-focused projects. The goal is to help fill that gap and support communities that are still rebuilding. This is a great opportunity to host a full NCCC team of 8 to 10 members to support hands-on recovery work, including home repair, community revitalization, public facility repair, disaster education, and other recovery-focused projects that require sustained capacity.
AmeriCorps NCCC Funding Opportunities occur quarterly. Contact the AmeriCorps NCCC team at NCCCProjectApplications@AmeriCorps.gov to learn more.
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 and local or state agencies can become AmeriCorps VISTA sponsoring organizations. The application process is conducted at the state level to ensure local community needs are being met. The application process is in two phases: a concept paper and a complete application.
Step 1: AmeriCorps VISTA Concept Paper (Deadline is March 26, 2026)
Organizations submit an AmeriCorps VISTA concept paper via eGrants. The concept paper is a preliminary screening tool that AmeriCorps uses to evaluate whether the organization would be an appropriate VISTA sponsor and if the proposed project meets core criteria.
Step 2: AmeriCorps VISTA Project Application
If the concept paper is accepted, the organization is invited to submit an AmeriCorps VISTA Project Application, which includes a request for additional information in the narratives, a budget, and performance measures.
For a full list of resources and guidance on how to begin this process, click here
Learn more here or contact the AmeriCorps VISTA team at VISTA@AmeriCorps.gov.
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 disasters. These are just a few service opportunities available to you through AmeriCorps Seniors.
Programs include the Foster Grandparent Program, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and the Senior Companion Program. Seniors are also welcome to join a VISTA or State and National Program. AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP programming is designed to meet community needs. Applicants may propose activities intended to address community needs by thoroughly explaining the unmet need and activities to be completed by volunteers to address that need. In addition, AmeriCorps is interested in programming that addresses agency priorities. AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP priorities for this funding opportunity are:
- Supporting older adults and their caregivers: Caregiver respite, support groups, system navigation, care coordination, and resources for custodial grandparents.
- Helping older adults re-enter the workforce: Job readiness support, mentoring, training, and removing barriers to employment.
- Preventing and mitigating fraud and scams: Digital navigators and other methods to prevent and mitigate financial fraud, abuse, and exploitation.
- Reducing the number of people who are unhoused: Provide affordable housing, support the unhoused, and address housing needs.
- Supporting local climate change initiatives: Energy efficiency, waste management, and ecosystem restoration.
- Supporting behavioral health initiatives: Reduce isolation, improve mental health, offer peer support, provide support, and use harm reduction methods.
Learn more about the AmeriCorps Senior programs or contact the AmeriCorps Seniors team at SouthCentral@AmeriCorps.gov.
AmeriCorps RSVP is accepting funding applications through March 26, 2026. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.
