AmeriCorps 101
The Massachusetts Service Alliance
The Massachusetts Service Alliance, established in 1991,
is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as the
governor appointed state commission on community
service and volunteerism.
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Invest
Convene
Build capacity
Advocate
Presentation Objectives
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Provide background on National Service Initiatives
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History of National Service and AmeriCorps
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Different funding streams under CNCS
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Explain in detail what an AmeriCorps program entails
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What organizations can host an AmeriCorps program
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What AmeriCorps is and is not
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Getting Things Done, Participant Development, and Strengthening Communities
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Explain the elements of strong program design
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Provide overview of program and fiscal management requirements
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Brainstorm/discuss ways AmeriCorps could fit into your organization
History of National
Service
Service Timeline
1933-1942: Franklin D. Roosevelt creates the Civilian Conservation
Corps (CCC) to call young citizens to service during the Great
Depression
1961: President John F. Kennedy establishes the Peace Corps with
the help of Sargent Shriver, sending young citizens oversees to
volunteer in foreign countries
1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson and Congress create VISTA
(Volunteers in Service to America), a National Teacher Corps, the
Job Corps, and University Year of Action
Service Timeline (cont.)
1960s/70s: The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (now called
RSVP), the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Senior
Companion Program (which today comprise National Senior
Service Corps) are developed
1970s: Federal Youth Conservation Corps and first non-federal
state youth corps, the California Conservation Corps, are
established to engage youth in community service
1980s: Many non-governmental service organizations are founded,
including Campus Compact and Youth Service America
Service Timeline (cont.)
1988: President George H.W. Bush comments that individuals
serving their neighbors were like “a thousand points of light,”
and the Points of Light Foundation is created
1990: The National and Community Service Act signed by
President George H.W. Bush formally launches current
national service movement
1993: President Bill Clinton signs the National and Community
Service Trust Act of 1993, creating AmeriCorps and the
Corporation for National and Community Service to expand
opportunities for Americans to serve their communities; VISTA
and the Senior Corps become part of the new Corporation
Service Timeline (cont.)
2002: President George W. Bush calls Americans to engage in a
“lifetime of service,” creating an umbrella network for
volunteerism called the USA Freedom Corps and doubling the
size of AmeriCorps
2007: Governor Deval Patrick signs state legislation creating the
Commonwealth Corps in Massachusetts
2009: President Barack Obama signs the Serve America Act,
re-authorizing the Corporation for National and Community
Service and calling for AmeriCorps to triple in size over the
next several years
National Service
Funding Streams
The mission of the Corporation for National
and Community Service is to improve lives,
strengthen communities, and foster civic
engagement through service and
volunteering.
National Service Chart
Senior Corps engages over 500,000 citizens over
the age of 55 in meaningful volunteer
opportunities across the country, including the
Foster Grandparents program, Senior
Companions program, and RSVP.
Learn and Serve America supports and
encourages service-learning across the country,
enabling over one million students grades K
through college to make meaningful
contributions to their community while building
their academic and civic skills.
AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and
national service programs that connects more
than 75,000 citizens (nearly 2,000 in MA) each
year in intensive service to meet our country’s
critical needs in education, the environment,
public safety (including disaster preparedness
and response), health, etc.
AmeriCorps Service Chart
State and National
AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program
designed specifically to fight poverty.
VISTA volunteers serve individually for one year at a
nonprofit organization or local government agency,
doing indirect service full-time in the area of
organizational capacity building.
The administration and oversight of VISTA grants are done directly
by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Organizations interested in hosting a single AmeriCorps member
should contact the state office of the Corporation for National and
Community Service to apply for a VISTA volunteer:
Sherry McClintock
10 Causeway Street, Room 473
Boston, MA 02222-1038
Phone: (617) 565-7006
Email: ma@cns.gov
AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is
a full-time, 10-month, team-based residential program
for men and women ages 18 to 24.
NCCC members are assigned to one of five campuses
located in California, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, or
Mississippi, and travel throughout their assigned region
to do direct service by implementing community service
projects for various nonprofit organizations and local
government agencies.
The administration and oversight of NCCC is done directly by the
Corporation for National and Community Service.
Organizations interested in requesting the assistance of an NCCC
team for a specific six to eight week project should submit a
project application to their regional NCCC office:
NCCC Atlantic Region
VA Medical Center
P.O. Box 27
Perry Point, MD 21902-0027
Tel: 410-642-2411 ext. 6852
E-mail: rnixon@cns.gov
State and National
The largest of AmeriCorps programs, AmeriCorps State and
National provides funds to local and national organizations
committed to using national service to address critical
community needs in education, public safety, health and
the environment.
These organizations and agencies use their AmeriCorps
funding to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps
members in direct service opportunities.
State and National
AmeriCorps National Direct
AmeriCorps National Direct programs utilize service
and volunteering to address compelling community
needs in at least two states.
An organization identifies a community need, designs
a program to meet that need through the service of
AmeriCorps members and volunteers, and applies
directly to the Corporation for funding.
AmeriCorps National Direct
Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to
administer and monitor a federal, multi-site, multistate grant; have developed relationships with
organizations in different states that will operate the
local programs; and have in place the components
of a successful National Direct program.
The administration and oversight of AmeriCorps
National Direct programs is done directly by the
Corporation for National and Community Service.
AmeriCorps State
AmeriCorps State programs utilize service and
volunteering to address compelling community needs
in a single state.
An organization identifies a community need, designs a
program to meet that need through the service of
AmeriCorps members and volunteers, and applies to
their state commission for funding (in MA, the
Massachusetts Service Alliance).
AmeriCorps State
Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to
administer and monitor a federal grant; have
developed relationships with organizations in their
state that will operate the local programs; and have
in place the components of a successful
AmeriCorps program.
The administration and oversight of AmeriCorps State
programs in Massachusetts is done by the
Massachusetts Service Alliance.
As the state commission, our mission is to
catalyze the innovation and growth of service
and volunteerism by creating partnerships
that maximize resources, expertise, capacity,
and impact.
MSA Programs
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AmeriCorps
Commonwealth Corps
Mentoring
Other Volunteer Initiatives
The MSA Portfolio of 2009-2010 Programs Across the
Commonwealth
= AmeriCorps
= Commonwealth Corps
= Mentoring
State and National
Mentoring
Volunteer
Initiatives
VISTA
NCCC
AmeriCorps State
Members must be 18+
Members age 18 to 24
Members must be 17+
Members serve individually
Members serve in teams of 8 to
12
Programs have 10+ members
One year commitment
10 month commitment
10 to 12 month commitment
Full-time
Full-time
Full, half, quarter, or min time
Indirect service
Direct service
Direct service
Serve in one organization
Serve in multiple states
Serve in one state
Around $9500 living stipend
$4000 living stipend
FT $11,800 minimum stipend
Education Award or post
service stipend
Education Award
Education Award
Non-residential
Residential
Varies
College or 3 yrs work
experience
High School Diploma or GED
Requirements vary; HS
Diploma/GED at minimum
Member management mainly
overseen by host organization
Program management overseen
by NCCC Regional Office
Program management overseen
by organization
Oversight of grant by/apply
through CNCS State Office
Oversight by/apply through
NCCC Regional Office
Oversight of grant by/apply
through MSA
Designing Your
AmeriCorps Program
Who can apply to develop and host an
AmeriCorps Program?
• Public or private nonprofit organizations [501(c)3s] including labor
organizations
• Community organizations, including faith-based organizations
• Institutions of higher education
• Government entities within states or territories (e.g. cities,
counties)
• Indian Tribes
• A partnership or consortia of the aforementioned are also eligible
to apply
AmeriCorps is…
A year of stipended service
A team of members addressing compelling needs
A way to leverage local and federal resources
A way to build organizational capacity to meet needs
through volunteer generation and partnership
building
AmeriCorps is NOT…
Cheap labor
A staffing system
A funding source
Program replacement
Overall Goals of AmeriCorps
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Getting Things Done
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Developing Participants
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What is the need and what is AmeriCorps doing about it?
What are the benefits for AmeriCorps members?
Strengthening Communities
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How are you engaging community members and building
sustainability?
CNCS Priority Areas
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Education
Healthy Futures
Economic Opportunity
Clean Energy/Environment
Veterans
A successful program design:
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Describes and substantiates the community need(s)
Identifies any gaps in services available to meet that need
Explains why AmeriCorps members are an appropriate strategy
to address the need
Describes the specific service activities of AmeriCorps members
Outlines plans to ensure that members will effectively carry out
these activities
Forecasts the results of member service activities
Defines how such results will be measured
Community Need
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Supported with data, preferably local
NOT the need for the program or activities,
but the issue(s) addressed through program
activities
Members’ needs may also be additional
focus of the program
What is the desired outcome or change
in the need?
Needs and Service Activities
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Direct service – meet needs by providing a
direct benefit to the community
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Capacity building – activities such as
volunteer recruitment and management to
meet community needs and ensure
sustainability of AmeriCorps-supported
activities
Direct Service
Indirect Service
Tutoring in an afterschool Recruiting tutors for
program
afterschool programs
Renovating low-income
housing
Organizing volunteers to
renovate low-income
housing
Prohibited Activities
Members are prohibited from engaging in:
 Lobbying; religious instruction; advocacy; some
fundraising
 Clerical and/or custodial positions
 Management of any administrative aspects of the
AmeriCorps grant or program
 Supervision or management of other members
 All prohibited activities outlined in the AmeriCorps
Regulations/Provisions and Application Instructions
Program Models
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Single Site
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Multi-site
Local, regional, statewide
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Team-based
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Residential
Member Service Terms
Service Term
Full-time
Minimum # of
Hours
MSY
1700
1.000
One-year Half-time
900
0.500
Reduced Half-time
675
0.381
Quarter-time
450
0.265
Minimum-time
300
0.212
Service must be completed in 12-month period
Members may serve the equivalent of two FT terms
Member Service Years (MSY’s)
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1 MSY = 1 full-time year of service
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NOT equivalent to FTE – for example:
4 Quarter Time ≠ 1 Full Time
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Must request a minimum of 10 full-time members or
MSY equivalent; MSA recommends 15
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Can request any combination of types of members
Activities
Be specific:
 Where does the activity take place?
 How many hours per day on each activity?
 How many days per week for each activity?
 Does service dosage satisfy the need?
 ALL activities should be clearly tied to the
identified need and the targeted goals of the
program
Program Impact
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What are the goals of your program?
Outcomes of service activities
Logic Models and Performance Measure
Worksheets
Reporting requirements
Need  Activities  Outcomes
Developing Participants
What do members gain from participating
in your program?
Civic Engagement – develop lifelong ethic of service
Training – receive year-long training
Leadership –opportunities for members to develop and
practice leadership skills
Strengthening Communities
Programs strengthen communities by:
 Mobilizing community assets
 Generating volunteers
 Involving the community
 Engaging diverse staff and AmeriCorps
members
AmeriCorps
Budget
BUDGET
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Section I: Program Operating Costs
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Section II: Member Costs
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Personnel & Fringe
Staff and Member Training
Staff and Member Travel
Supplies
Living allowance
FICA, worker’s comp
Health care
Section III: Administrative/Indirect Costs
BUDGET
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1 MSY = 1 full time service year
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Max cost per MSY = $13,000
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Cost per MSY Ed Award only = $800
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Education award not included in cost per
MSY or award amount
Example: 30 half time members (15 MSY) =
$195,000 maximum CNCS request
BUDGET
Living Allowance
Service Term
Full-time
Minimum # of
Hours
MSY
Minimum
Living
Allowance
Maximum
Total Living
Allowance
1700
1.000
$11,800
$23,600
One-year Half-time
900
0.500
n/a
$12,500
Reduced Half-time
675
0.381
n/a
$9,370
Quarter-time
450
0.265
n/a
$6,250
Minimum-time
300
0.212
n/a
$4,160
Members may waive all or part of the living allowance
BUDGET
Match Requirements
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In-kind and cash match
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Years 1, 2, 3 – 24% minimum match
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Match increases each year after Year 3
BUDGET
Example:
20 FT members – max request $260,000
Minimum match: 24% (cash and in-kind)
CNCS
Grantee
Total
Section I
$3,485
$77,814
$81,299
Section II
$243,522 $32,597
$276,119
Section III $12,993 $0
$12,993
Total $260,000 $110,411 $370,411
% Share
70%
30%
What is an AmeriCorps Member?
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Must be at least 17 years of age
Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or legal
permanent resident alien of the U.S.
Each program determines other eligibility
requirements
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Experience, skills, etc.
Educational background
Member Benefits
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Living Allowance
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Minimum of $11,800 for full-time
Other slot types are not required to have living allowances
Personal and Professional Development
Service Gear
Health Care (full-time only)
Child Care (full-time only)
Education Award, tied to Federal Pell Grant
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Deferment of Student Loans (if applicable)
Program and Fiscal
Management
Program Management
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Member Management
Required Meetings
Progress reporting
Site Visit
Fiscal Management
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Accounting Systems
Reimbursement Requests
Quarter Fiscal reporting
Site Visit
Program Management
Member Management Cycle
Reflection
and Recognition
Planning
Supervision,
Communication,
Evaluation
Orientation
and
Training
Recruitment
and Selection
Program Management
Recruitment
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Timeline
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Target Audience
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Method of Recruitment
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Process for Recruitment
Program Management
Selection
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What is the relevant experience necessary
for the position?
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What do I need to know to decide whether or
not this person can perform the essential
functions of this position?
Program Management
Orientation and Training
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What are the skills and knowledge members
need to perform their service?
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How will you determine these needs?
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What are the ongoing training opportunities
throughout the service year?
Program Management
Supervision and Evaluation
Who will:
 Provide supervision
 Evaluate members
 Provide/receive feedback to members
Fiscal Management
Expected financial systems:
 Disbursements
 Receipts
 Account Reconciliation
 Overhead Allocation
 Actual to Budget Variance Analysis
Fiscal Management
In order to meet the CNCS reporting standards
accounting systems must be capable of:
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Accounts for each award/grant separately
Distinguishing grant versus non-grant related expenditures
Identifying costs by program year
Identifying costs by budget category
Differentiating between direct and indirect costs (administrative
costs)
Maintains Federal/non-Federal matching funds separately from
grant funds
Records in-kind contribution as both revenues and expenses
Directly correlates to financial reports submitted to CNCS (PERs
and FSRs)
Fiscal Management
All Corporation grants are governed by the Office of Management & Budget
(OMB) circulars.
Summary of Relevant OMB Circulars
Educational
Institutions
Non-Profit
Organizations
State & Local
Governments
Uniform
45 CFR 2543 &
Administrative Circular No. A-110
Requirements
45 CFR 2543 &
Circular No. A-110
45 CFR 2541 &
Circular No. A-87
Cost Principles Circular No. A-21
Circular No. A-122
Circular No. A-102
Circular No. A-133
Circular No. A-133
Audits
Circular No. A-133
Each of the specific circulars can be downloaded from the internet at the following
address:
Http://www.whitehouse. gov/OMB/circulars/index.html
Grantee Requirements
Meetings
 Initial training and orientation (2 ½ days)
 5 Program director meetings annually
(1 day every other month)
Reporting
 Mid and year end progress reporting
 Quarterly Fiscal reporting
Programmatic and Fiscal site visits
Organizational Capacity
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Federal Grant
Extensive Regulations and Provisions
Significant reporting requirements
Administrative program management
Fiscal Requirements
What can AmeriCorps do for you?
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National Service Movement
Address a community need
Build capacity
Sustainability
Build partnerships
Training and Technical Assistance
RFP Process
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Summer – RFP is released
TA Sessions
Early Fall – Concept Papers are due
Fall – Community Review
Late Oct. – Notification about full application
Mid-Jan. – Full application due
May – Final notification of award
Next Steps
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Organizational Capacity
AmeriCorps Culture
Community Need
Member Management
Fiscal Management