Diversifying Your Portfolio Making an Investment in National Direct Grant and State Commission Programs Laura Keith, Deputy Director of Govt. Relations-City Year TaKesha Miles, Program Officer-Community HealthCorps Jason Patnosh, Deputy Director-Community HealthCorps

CNCS FUNDING For Fiscal Year 2004 the appropriations bill set aside $314 million for State and National Grants and $130 million for the Trust (education awards) for a total of $444 million. For Fiscal Year 2004 the appropriations bill set aside $314 million for State and National Grants and $130 million for the Trust (education awards) for a total of $444 million. By Statute, at least two-thirds (annually, closer to three-fourths) of all CNCS funding must be distributed to State Commissions. These funds will be distributed between State Competitive and Formula grants. By Statute, at least two-thirds (annually, closer to three-fourths) of all CNCS funding must be distributed to State Commissions. These funds will be distributed between State Competitive and Formula grants.

State Formula Grants Each state is allocated a set formula of AmeriCorps funding based on population. Many states utilize this money to fund their smaller programs and those who may only cover a particular geographic region. Each state is allocated a set formula of AmeriCorps funding based on population. Many states utilize this money to fund their smaller programs and those who may only cover a particular geographic region.

State Competitive Grants States will put forth their strongest applications that generally have a larger amount of AmeriCorps members and cover several geographic regions of the state to compete against other states for this pool of funding. States will put forth their strongest applications that generally have a larger amount of AmeriCorps members and cover several geographic regions of the state to compete against other states for this pool of funding.

National Directs Approximately one-fourth of AmeriCorps grant funding goes directly to regional and national nonprofit organizations that operate in more than one state. These organizations compete nationally and, if selected, are responsible for recruiting, selecting, and supervising AmeriCorps members. Approximately one-fourth of AmeriCorps grant funding goes directly to regional and national nonprofit organizations that operate in more than one state. These organizations compete nationally and, if selected, are responsible for recruiting, selecting, and supervising AmeriCorps members.

Other Programs in State/National Two other programs fall under AmeriCorps*State and National. Two other programs fall under AmeriCorps*State and National. The AmeriCorps Education Awards Program provides education awards and a small administrative grant to organizations but not the living allowance or other member benefits. The AmeriCorps Education Awards Program provides education awards and a small administrative grant to organizations but not the living allowance or other member benefits. AmeriCorps Indian Tribes and US Territories work with Indian tribes and programs in US territories AmeriCorps Indian Tribes and US Territories work with Indian tribes and programs in US territories

In FY2004, there is "up to $55m is available for national direct grants" - effectively a cap on national direct programs. In FY2004, there is "up to $55m is available for national direct grants" - effectively a cap on national direct programs. As a result, for national directs to expand, they continue to look to other avenues to broaden their efforts. As a result, for national directs to expand, they continue to look to other avenues to broaden their efforts.

Expansion Methods One effective method of expansion is through state commissions. One effective method of expansion is through state commissions. Programs of interest to state commissions are those that will maximize impact in communities, are valued by their communities and build capacity. Programs of interest to state commissions are those that will maximize impact in communities, are valued by their communities and build capacity. Expansion requires programs to meet the states basic standards, address additional staffing issues and reporting requirements. Expansion requires programs to meet the states basic standards, address additional staffing issues and reporting requirements.

Additional Expansion Methods AmeriCorps Education Award Only Programs AmeriCorps Education Award Only Programs AmeriCorps*VISTA AmeriCorps*VISTA Senior Corps Senior Corps

When did you expand and what have your levels of success been? City Year City Year CommunityHealthCorps

The top 10 states receive 54% of State formula funding CNCS press release:

The 10 states with largest CNCS State formula grants CA $12.6 NY $5.9 FL $5.4 IL $3.9 PA $3.3 OH $2.6 MI $2.8 TX $2.8 GA $2.7 NJ $2.6

Getting Started: Preparing for Expansion through State Commission Funding Build a relationship with the Commission staff (parent and local program staff). Build a relationship with the Commission staff (parent and local program staff). Become familiar with their funding priorities and aware of funding allocations. Become familiar with their funding priorities and aware of funding allocations. Be able to demonstrate a strong track record and your service accomplishments. Be able to demonstrate a strong track record and your service accomplishments.

Getting Started…Continued Be able to demonstrate a strong track record and your service accomplishments. Be able to demonstrate a strong track record and your service accomplishments. Make sure they are on your mailing list for newsletters, and invite them to your events. Make sure they are on your mailing list for newsletters, and invite them to your events. Add value to their portfolio by contributing to their Unified State Plan, building coalitions with other program. Add value to their portfolio by contributing to their Unified State Plan, building coalitions with other program.

What other items should programs do to get started with this process? City Year City YearCommunityHealthCorps

Additional Benefits of Expansion Through State Commissions Deepen relationships with the local community. Deepen relationships with the local community. May be able to expand corps size, further your mission, achieve more in service and reach more people. May be able to expand corps size, further your mission, achieve more in service and reach more people. Opportunity to learn from other Program Officers - they are a wealth of information and insight Opportunity to learn from other Program Officers - they are a wealth of information and insight

Transitioning sites to state funding will have many benefits, but also has its costs Financial Benefits Free up funds Free up funds National Direct dollars can be used to seed and rescue sites National Direct dollars can be used to seed and rescue sites Diversify funding Diversify funding Financial Risks Transitioning to state funding likely requires a local office to support the programs and grant. Transitioning to state funding likely requires a local office to support the programs and grant. Need to incorporate AmeriCorps*State funds availability into site selection process Need to incorporate AmeriCorps*State funds availability into site selection process Need to be savvy about political climate in each state and create a strategy for developing relationships with State Commissions Need to be savvy about political climate in each state and create a strategy for developing relationships with State Commissions

Additional Challenges of Expansion Adapting to and learning state-specific policies and processes Adapting to and learning state-specific policies and processes Greater level of external oversight of local programs Greater level of external oversight of local programs Staffing and building a satellite office Staffing and building a satellite office Process of reimbursement/cash flow Process of reimbursement/cash flow Communication Communication

What has been the most challenging aspect of working with both national direct and state commissions? City Year City Year CommunityHealthCorps

Top 5 Things To Do 1. Determine which of your programs would be best suited for expansion to state commission funding 2. Determine how large of a program you would need to have in a state to properly staff and have a satellite office 3. Ensure that relationships with State Commission are prime for expansion

Top 5…continued 4. Determine the funding cycle and process for your chosen expansion state 5. Ensure your local programs are on board This process could take 6 months before submitting an application and months before a program would even start

Questions Thank you for listening today. All of our contact information is in the conference information.