AmeriCorps Planning Grant Information Session A presentation for AmeriCorps grant applicants

Session Objectives  AmeriCorps Overview  AmeriCorps Operating Grant Overview  Review Planning Grant Application Process  Q & A

CaliforniaVolunteers (CV)  The Governor-appointed State Service Commission for California.  Mission is to increase the number & impact of Californians engaged in service and volunteering  Leads the organization in consultation with a 25-member Commission appointed by the Governor  Funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to provide support to AmeriCorps programs

CNCS  Awards grants to state service commissions and national organizations (e.g., non-profits, faith & community- based organizations, public agencies, Indian tribes, and institutions of higher education).  Provides opportunities for individuals – AmeriCorps members – to serve communities across the country.  Since 1994, more than 820,000 men and woman have provided service as AmeriCorps members

AmeriCorps Overview

AmeriCorps Focus Areas  Disaster Services  Economic Opportunity  Education  Environmental Stewardship  Healthy Futures  Veterans and Military Families

What do AC programs do? Training citizens in disaster preparedness Responding to disaster events Providing disaster recovery and/or mitigation Improving housing situation for economically disadvantaged people Improving the academic performance or academic engagement of K-12 students Improving the environmental condition of distressed public lands and waterways Engaging veterans and military families in service or providing service to these individuals Increasing access to health services Strengthening vulnerable families to prevent child abuse & neglect Increase access to the courts system AmeriCorps impact includes:

 Funds activities based on an evidence-based or evidence-informed approach to strengthening or addressing community problems.  Enables an organization to build capacity or deepen the impact of the service to individuals or communities.  Broadens the scope the service activities to reach previously underserved communities  Funds cannot duplicate or supplant pre-existing activities, staff or volunteers What is AmeriCorps?

 Provide partial funding to support AmeriCorps projects/programs.  Solely for program expenses and not for general organizational expenses  Grant recipients must contribute cash or in-kind match funds.  Include an allotment of AmeriCorps member positions and funds that are directly tied to the number of members.

AmeriCorps Members  Individuals enrolled for a specific term of service with an AmeriCorps program  Members are not volunteers or employees  Some members receive a living allowance, health insurance and child care assistance  AmeriCorps members receive the Segal Education Award upon completing a term of service

AmeriCorps Members vs. Volunteers  Members have a contract with the program  Members must be supervised  Members receive extensive, program specific training  Members must commit to a specific term of service

Benefits of an AmeriCorps Grant Applicant Organization/Community Partnership:  Enables delivery of results-driven services to better address pressing local, regional, and statewide needs  Builds organizational capacity through leveraging of trained dedicated citizens to deliver service  Provides human capital to scale and increase impacts of evidence-based programs AmeriCorps Members:  Education award to further education or repay student loans  Professional development and job training  Pathway to greater career opportunities Beneficiaries/Communities:  Services and resources are extended to disadvantaged youth and families  Benefit from meaningful life changing services

Funding Opportunities  2014 AmeriCorps Planning Grant Request for Applications (Planning Grant RFA)  Provides planning grants to support planning and development of new operating AmeriCorps program  Project Period: April – September 2014  Applications Due: April 8, 2014 at 5:00 P.M., PST  AmeriCorps Request for Application (RFA)  Provides operating grants to support AmeriCorps programs  Project Period: August 2015 – December 2016  RFA to be released Summer of 2014  Anticipated Application Deadline: November 2014

Operating Grants  Three-year Grants  Funds awarded annually  Recipients submit continuations for years 2 & 3  Recompete after year 3

Operating Grants  Fund a portion of program operating costs  Flexible – funds may be used for allowable costs included in the budget  Available to new and recompeting applicants  Applicants must provide a detailed budget with the application submission  Must meet specific match requirements (24% of total operating costs for new applicants)  Must submit semi-annual financial reports to CV

Operating Grants Grantee responsibilities and requirements include:  Employ strong fiscal & program management systems  Monitor financial management, program performance, and member activities  Train and provide technical assistance to staff  Recruit, select, train, and support members  Track progress toward meeting performance measures  Act as liaison between CV and other community partners

Operating Grant Flow CNCS CV Legal Applicant Service Locations Beneficiaries Served Community Collaborative

Operating Grants Program Management Structure An AmeriCorps grant generally operates on two levels: 1.Grantee (Parent/legal applicant organization) 2. Service Locations (where members serve) The grantee has overall legal, administrative, and fiscal responsibility for the entire scope of the program, even if the funds are sub-granted.

Operating Grants Program Management Structure Where and how AmeriCorps members are placed at service locations will vary. A Few Things to Consider:  Where will the service activities take place?  Who are your community and service partners?  What can your partners provide?  What is their capacity?

Operating Grants Program Management Structure  Centralized: grantee handles all administrative functions and assigns members; and doesn’t sub- grant funds  Decentralized: grantee sub-grants the funds, and the sub-grantee is responsible for member training, payroll and other administrative functions.  Combination: shared responsibilities Grantee is ultimately responsible

Are you ready for AmeriCorps?  Organizational capability  Staff skilled in training, supervision, and oversight  Community partners  Experience managing federal funds

Planning Grants  Grant amount is up to $50,000.  Grantees are reimbursed through monthly invoices.  Funds the development of program components and infrastructure required to support an operating grant.  Allowable expenses include (see p. 7 of RFA):  staffing/consultant costs  travel  materials  costs necessary to conduct research and bring together community partners, etc.

Planning Grant Deliverable An Operating Grant Proposal that addresses:  Community need  Theory of change/logic model  Evidence-informed or evidence-based intervention  Measureable outputs and outcomes  Program Diagram  Community partner roles & responsibilities  Member recruitment, selection, training, and supervision  Operating budget  Match requirement & sustainability

PG Application Components  Program Narrative that addresses:  Proposed community need  Vision for using AmeriCorps  How AmeriCorps adds value  Detailed description of planning process  Timeline for planning activities  Description of how the planning grant will be used to develop capacity to effectively manage AmeriCorps program, including completing planning grant deliverables  Budget

PG Application Timeline April 8, 2014Planning Grant Applications Due April 9-17, 2014Review, Clarification, & Selection Period April 18, 2014Selected Applications Due in eGrants April 21-25, 2014Contracting Period April-Sept., 2014Planning Period September 2014Operating Grant Proposal Due

How to Apply for AmeriCorps Funding Respond to CaliforniaVolunteers’ Request for Applications (RFA). Visit ericorps/ for RFA application materials. ericorps/ Follow RFA and accompanying Application Forms and Instructions

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