1. AmeriCorps Information Session
WELCOME!
A presentation for AmeriCorps grant applicants

2. Session Objectives Provide information on AmeriCorps
Explore considerations for deciding if AmeriCorps is the right fit
Q & A

3. CaliforniaVolunteers (CV)
Mission: Increase the number & impact of Californians engaged in service and volunteering.
Leadership: California’s Chief Service Officer leads the agency in consultation with a 25-member Commission appointed by the Governor
Federal Partner: Receives federal funds from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support AmeriCorps programs
CV is the Governor-designated state service commission for California. We promote volunteerisms and service, and is the lead state agency for volunteers and monetary donations in times of disaster.
Our mission is to increase the number and impact of Californians engaged in service and volunteering.
Our federal funder is the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). We receive funds from CNCS to support local and state AmeriCorps programs in California.
AmeriCorps is a national service program that places thousands of mission driven individuals (ages 17 years and older) into intensive service positions aimed to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement.

4. National Service Umbrella
The Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS)
AmeriCorps
Senior Corps
AmeriCorps State & National
Foster Grandparents
AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)
Senior Companion Program
At the national level, CNC provides federal funds to support two major categories of national service programs: AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. The focus of today’s presentation is on AmeriCorps, specifically the AmeriCorps State and National program administered through CaliforniaVolunteers.
AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)
Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

5. What is AmeriCorps? (Think Domestic Peace Corps)
Provides partial funding to support AmeriCorps projects/programs. Grant recipients must contribute cash or in-kind match funds
Funds are specifically for creating and implementing an AmeriCorps program, not for other organizational expenses
Includes an allotment of AmeriCorps member positions and funds that are directly tied to the number of members
AmeriCorps grants allow organizations to more effectively address community needs by using AmeriCorps resources to support existing programs. Also, AmeriCorps allows organization to reach previously underserved communities and expand their activities beyond what they were able to do without AmeriCorps.
AmeriCorps members or grant funds can help meet unmet needs or can expand an organization’s ability to better address community needs, but they don’t take the place of community resources that already exist.

6. AmeriCorps Programs
Activities designed for AmeriCorps members must demonstrate an evidence-based or evidence-informed approach to strengthening communities and solving community problems.
Allows an organization to better address community needs by utilizing AmeriCorps resources to build capacity or deepen the impact of the service to individuals or communities
Broadens the scope of the service activities to reach previously underserved communities
AmeriCorps programs cannot be used to replace or outsource already-existing resources in communities
AmeriCorps grants allow organizations to more effectively address community needs by using AmeriCorps resources to support existing programs. Also, AmeriCorps allows organization to reach previously underserved communities and expand their activities beyond what they were able to do without AmeriCorps.
AmeriCorps members or grant funds can help meet unmet needs or can expand an organization’s ability to better address community needs, but they don’t take the place of community resources that already exist.

7. What do AC programs do? Training citizens in disaster preparedness
AmeriCorps impact includes:
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
Increase positive interactions and engagement between the community and law enforcement.
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
Help reduce Crime and enhance Community Safety

9. 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

10. Member Eligibility Members must be:
U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals or Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States
At least 17 years of age – no upper age limit
High school graduates or GED recipients (or working towards this goal)
Subject to criminal history checks
AmeriCorps programs may add program-specific requirements

11. Member Benefits: Living Allowance
The stipend an AmeriCorps member receives during a term of service
CNCS publishes a maximum and minimum living allowance for each member position
Only full-time members are required to receive a living allowance

12. Member Benefits: Education Award
A benefit provided for completing a term of service in AmeriCorps
Funding for education awards comes from the National Service Trust and will not be part of your submitted budget

13. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit?
Pre-Application Considerations:
Eligibility
Partnership involvement
Applicant organizational capacity
Member management capacity
Community need
Program intervention & desired outcomes
Ability to raise match (support cost share)

14. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit?
Eligibility
New applicants not currently funded by CV
Type of Organization
Nonprofit organizations
Institutions of higher education
Local government/public agencies
State government agencies
Federally recognized Indian Tribes within the state of California
Community Partnership
Minimum Size Corps (20 FTE)
DUNS and SAM
Submit a Notice of Intent to Apply
Complete Application Submission
AmeriCorps has had measurable impact on communities it has served.

15. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit?
Partnership Involvement
AmeriCorps programs must be supported by public/private partnership of three independent entities that include one public and one private partner (nonprofit or for-profit). Partnerships can take multiple forms and are dependent on program design.
Community partnership involvement can be helpful in:
Clarifying the community need
Helping identify partner/member placement sites
Providing financial or administrative support
Raising awareness of your organization, program, and its activities in your community
Making a stronger community impact
In your application you will be asked to identify required partners and describe community support and commitment to the program. In order to maximize community involvement in AmeriCorps that goes beyond AmeriCorps placement sites and the grantee, all applicants are required to develop a program partnership. Successful applicants must have a partnership of at least three independent entities that include one public and one private partner (nonprofit or for-profit entity). CaliforniaVolunteers considers 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to be private entities. CaliforniaVolunteers prefers partners to have a significant role in planning, operating, and sustaining the program (e.g. match contribution, training resources, continuous improvement assessment, etc.). All primary partners and placement sites where members will be performing service are required to be identified on the Partnership Form submitted on-line as part of the application.

16. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit?
Organizational Capacity:
As AmeriCorps Grantees, organizations must:
Employ strong fiscal & program management systems
Monitor financial management, program performance, and member activities
Train and provide technical assistance to staff
Track progress toward meeting performance measures
Act as liaison between CV and other community partners
Recruit, select, train, and support members
The AmeriCorps State program has a high administrative requirement Grantee responsibilities and requirements include:

17. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit?
Member Management Capacity:
AmeriCorps Grantees are responsible for:
Recruitment, placement, and management of members
Enrolling, exiting, and managing all paperwork for members
Tracking all members’ hours served
Training, development, and day-to-day support of members
Keeping current, accurate, and compliant member files
Managing member benefits
Conducting criminal history checks for members
The AmeriCorps State program has a high administrative requirement Grantee responsibilities and requirements include:

18. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit?
Community Need:
What is the community need that my program will address?
What data is available to document the identified need as a compelling need facing the community?
Why is AmeriCorps a good fit to meet the identified need?
What high-need population would directly benefit from our program?
Who else (if anyone) is addressing this need in the community? How can we work together? How is our work different?
What is the added value of having an AmeriCorps program in our community?

19. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit?
Program Intervention & Desired Outcomes:
Is this program the right fit for our organization to meet this need?
An internal organizational assessment can help determine if your organization has the capacity to manage the grant.
Does our organization have commitment to the AmeriCorps program and its goals and outcomes?
At all levels of the organization.
Does our program have evidence to support that the intervention we are proposing will lead to the outcomes we identify in the logic model?
“Evidence” may mean evidence-informed or evidence-based
The AmeriCorps program is a complex program that can be a unique means to help address an identified community need

20. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit?
AmeriCorps grants only provide partial funding to support the overall costs of a program. Does your organization have the means to raise the additional funds needed to operate the program? Match Requirements: New applicants are required to provide a single overall match of at least 24% for the first three-year funding period.
Year
1, 2, 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10+
Match Requirements
24%
26%
30%
34%
38%
42%
46%
50%

21. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit?
Implementation Considerations:
Demonstrated capacity to oversee & manage:
Federal grant dollars
Recruitment, selection, enrollment, training, supervision of at least 20 or more AmeriCorps members
Multiple service locations/partners
Consistent delivery of allowable grant activities
Demonstrated capacity to comply with:
AmeriCorps Federal Regulation and Grant Terms & Conditions
Reporting & Administrative requirements
OMB Circulars

22. Reporting Requirements & Grant Administration
Federal Financial Reports (FFRs) submitted semi-annually and at the conclusion of your budget period
Programmatic Reports submitted quarterly
Other reports as required
Grant Administration
Monthly communication (at a minimum) with CV support team
Timely responses from appropriate program staff
Timely submission of reports and other documents
Attendance on webinars and at events by appropriate staff
Full enrollment and retention of members
AmeriCorps has had measurable impact on communities it has served.

23. AmeriCorps Program Requirements
The AmeriCorps program is a Federally funded program. As such, the following requirements apply to the program activities and funds expended as part of the program.
Administrative Requirements
2 CFR 200 & 2205
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (as amended by Serve America Act)
42 USC et seq., and 45 CFR 2510 et seq.
Applicable Federal Policies
AmeriCorps Regulations
AmeriCorps Grant Terms and Conditions
Applicable State/CaliforniaVolunteers Policies
AmeriCorps has had measurable impact on communities it has served.

24. How to Apply for AmeriCorps Funding
Respond to CaliforniaVolunteers’ Request for Applications (RFA).
Visit Grants/americorps/ for RFA application materials once released
Submit Notice of Intent to Apply
Follow RFA and accompanying Application Forms and Instructions.

25. T/TA Session 1 of 2 Session 1 of 2 - Content
AmeriCorps Grant Resources Overview, Possible Designs to Improve Law-Enforcement and Community Relations Using AmeriCorps, Roles and Responsibilities of Applicant Organization, and AmeriCorps Program Design and Management.
A1 March 1, 2017 – Hayward, CA 10am-3pm
A2 March 2, 2017 – Fresno, CA 10am-3pm
A3 March 8, 2017 – Los Angeles, CA 10am-3pm

26. T/TA Session 2 of 2 Session 2 of 2 - Content
Developing an AmeriCorps Program Logic Model; Developing High Quality Performance Measures, Developing a Cost Effective and Adequate Program Budget, and Understanding the AmeriCorps Grant Application Process.
B1 March 15, 2017 – Hayward, CA 10am-3pm
B2 March 16, 2017 – Fresno, CA 10am-3pm
B3 March 22, 2017 – Los Angeles, CA 10am-3pm

27. To Opt-In to a T/TA Session Set A & B
CaliforniaVolunteers at:
Identify the sessions you will be attending:
Session
A1 March 1, 2017 – Hayward, CA 10am-3pm
A2 March 2, 2017 – Fresno, CA 10am-3pm
A3 March 8, 2017 – Los Angeles, CA 10am-3pm
B1 March 15, 2017 – Hayward, CA 10am-3pm
B2 March 16, 2017 – Fresno, CA 10am-3pm
B3 March 22, 2017 – Los Angeles, CA 10am-3pm

28. Getting Things Done for America
For More Information
Getting Things Done for America

29. CV Building Community Trust 2017-18 Grant Opportunity Key Points!

30. Point #1 The CV AmeriCorps Building Community Trust Grant Opportunity invites organizations across California to leverage AmeriCorps grant resources to aid their efforts in improving trust between law enforcement and their communities.

31. Point #2 Unlike the CV Formula funding opportunity… The Building Community Trust grant is a CV National Competitive grant opportunity…meaning…

32. Point #3 CV staff will support applicants in navigating the AmeriCorps federal grant application process as well as provide in-depth training and technical assistance to assist with the development of strong AmeriCorps program designs and national competitive grant applications.

33. Building Community Trust Application Development Requirements for On-Going Training and Technical Assistance
Applicant organizations must attend Two In-Person Technical Assistance Sessions (A & B)
A Technical Assistance session set will lead to submitting an operating grant application to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)

34. Simply put….
Attend two CV In-Person Technical Assistance Sessions - March 2017
Formalize your AmeriCorps partnership
Develop your CV AmeriCorps Application with assistance from CV staff
Submit CaliforniaVolunteers’ Request for Applications (RFA) by the April 21, 2017 due date

35. Questions?