AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities
AmeriCorps Frequently Asked Questions
To submit a question to be answered on the FAQs, please submit your questions to Funding@CaliforniaVolunteers.ca.gov. Questions must be received by COB on Thursday to be posted the following Monday. The FAQs will be updated daily during the week of December 1-4.
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Cost Effectiveness/Budget Adequacy
Question 1: When requesting for a grant amount, if I want to include a living allowance, is it added to the total cost per member amount, or does the cost of the living allowance have to be included in the cost per member amount total?
If you are requesting for Corporation dollars to cover partial or the entire cost of living allowance than this amount would be included in the calculation for your grant’s cost per MSY amount. Keep in mind that an applicant’s cost per member or MSY amount is determined by dividing the federal share of budgeted grant costs by the number of MSYs you are requesting in your grant. The cost per MSY will be automatically calculated on the Budget Narrative Form.
Question 2: If you are requesting for an alternative match, is the request made to the State entity or to the Corporation?
Please note on page 48 of the Application Instructions document that CV must approve your waiver request before it is forwarded to the Corporation for final decision. If you are selected for Formula funding and/or to compete in the national competition and your match waiver request is approved by CV, you will be asked to submit your justification for an alternative match in the Waiver Justification field in the Application Info Section of eGrants. Until then, please describe your request for an alternative match in the Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy section of your program narrative using the heading “Match Waiver Justification..” Be sure to address the requirements included on page 47-48 of the Application Instructions document.
Question 3: Do we submit a request to waive match requirements before we apply for 2010-2013 funding cycle? Is the Match Waiver request acted upon before or during the application process? What is the length of time between submitting the request and receiving a response?
You apply for the alternative match the year before it goes into effect. If approved, you will base your budget in your next application on the approved alternative match. The alternative match requirement will be in effect for whatever portion of the three-year project period remains, if you are approved for funding. It is likely that the Corporation will not respond to the match waiver request prior to finalizing funding decisions.
Question 4: If using an alternative match, do we build a budget with the alternative match we are anticipating from the Corporation as “grantee share”?
Applicants should prepare a budget following the budget instructions on pages 40-47 that is not based on the alternative match it is requesting as part of their application to CV. See response for question 9 of this section.
Question 5: What is the alternative match amount allowable for programs that qualify, have existed for more than 7 years and are starting a new program (experienced applicant)? Is it 0% or a reduced amount?
The Corporation may waive, in whole or in part, the requirements of §§2521.45 and 2521.60 of this part if the Corporation determines that a waiver would be equitable because of a lack of available financial resources at the local level. For more information please see 45 CFR §§ 2521.35-2521.90 for more information on match and waiver requirements.
Question 6: If we decide to include full time members do we need to put the cost of childcare in our budget or is that something that comes directly from the Corporation to the childcare provider, if needed?
Your budget should not include child care costs. Please page 42 of the California AmeriCorps Program Guide for more information on child care benefit and requirements.
Question 7: Using the Corporation Fixed Percentage method for the Grantee share, is the grantee match not to exceed 10% of the total program costs (including indirect) or 10% of the direct costs only? If the grantee match for administrative costs may not exceed 10% of the total program costs, shouldn’t the multiplier be 0.1052 rather than 10% (0.10) of Section I and II?
The grantee match portion of Section III. (Indirect Costs) may not exceed 10% of Section I. + Section II. (total direct costs). This is unless your program has a federally approved indirect cost rate higher than 10%.
Question 8: For a multi-site program with members placed at and supported by multiple organizations, can we use federally approved indirect cost rates for locations with those rates and the fixed percent method for calculating indirect costs for other rates.
You may use only indirect cost rate federally approved for the legal applicant.
Question 9: Is the budget to include $400,000 from CA Vols and our 24%?
The budget form has two columns to capture each source of funding, the federal request and the community match. New programs must match federal dollars at a minimum of 24% in the first three years.
Question 10: Do we have to provide health insurance and other benefits to a member? If we provide benefits, is this part of the match?
Health care is only required for full-time members. Match may be used to cover member benefits, including the living allowance.
Question 11: If we decide to include full time members, do we need to put the cost of childcare in our budget or is that something that comes directly from the corporation to the childcare provider, if needed?
No. Neither child care costs, loan forbearance and the value of the education award are captured on the budget. An AmeriCorps member accesses these federal benefits through mechanisms outside of the CV contract.
Question 12: We are currently in our 14th year. The chart stops at year 10, therefore reading the chart in Section 2521.60 we would be at the 35 % alternative match requirement. Correct? If we submit the application in December 2009, will the alternative match take into effect in Program Year 2010/2011 or would it take in to effect in 2011/2012?
Yes, if you were requesting an alternative match, this would apply. However, after further consultation with the Corporation for National and Community Service, alternative match request must be made one year in advance. The funding year follows federal appropriation. Successful applicants in this 2010 grantmaking process will be funded out of the 2009-10 federal allocation. Therefore, programs seeking alternative match would be required to meet the statutory match requirements -- in your example for a 14-year old program the match would remain at 50%--and ask for the alternative match in year 2 and 3. We recognize that this is not a very helpful option at this time. In addition we anticipate further match waiver guidance from the Corporation at the end of December.
Question 13: What is the minimum living allowance for a Half time member?
There is not federal requirement to provide a living allowance to any term of service beside full-time positions. However, all CV programs provide living allowance to most AmeriCorps positions. See page 11 of the RFA for the minimum/maximum living allowance schedule.
Question 14: On Page 11 of the Request for Applications, the table under C. Grant Size and Cost per Member Service Year indicates that the maximum MSY for grant years 4,5 & 6 is $15,000. But on the Budget forms it notes that the limit is $15,675 per MSY. Which is the correct amount?
Thank you for identifying an error on the budget form. The budget form reflects the maximum cost per member from 2009; the maximum cost per member for 2010 is $16,000 for “new” applicants. As a program operating in the second grant cycle (years 4, 5 & 6) the maximum cost per member, per CV Grantmaking Policy B.3, is $15,000. Please refer to page 22 in the Program Guide for further information on the policy.
Question 15: For programs recruiting and placing students that operate on an academic year (program year of Sept-Sept) how do we budget for our member service gear costs in our grant proposals? We have to buy the service gear (shirts) in the summer before members come on board for service. But if we are buying their gear in the summer, it’s technically for the “next” program year. Is this not an allowable grant funded cost? If not, then that means programs operating on an academic year can’t pay for member service gear out of their grant?
Yes, service gear, specifically member uniforms, is an allowable cost to the grant. Programs may not begin incurring federal program costs until a fully executed contract is in place. You would either prepare to have all contracting documents ready to process as soon as CV receives the federal grant award, or, budget this expense as program match. Program match can be used prior to the date of the contract.
Question 16: I had a question regarding Workers Compensation. Are we as an organization required to provide Worker’s Compensation for Americorps Volunteers who are not full-time? If so, is there a group purchasing option for Worker’s Compensation through AmeriCorps?
Yes, all AmeriCorps members must be covered by workers compensation regardless of slot type. CV is not aware of a group purchasing option; the Corporation (AmeriCorps) does not offer this service.
Question 17: How much should programs budget for required attendance at CNCS and CV-sponsored training and technical assistance meetings? How many and where are these likely to be held (Sacramento?)?
Where is the 2010 CV AmeriCorps Conference likely to take place; will it be held in southern CA? Will there be a registration fee for the 2010 CV AmeriCorps Conference; and if so, what is the expected cost?
The amount applicants should budget to attend CNCS or CV sponsored training depends upon the size of the program. CV takes steps to conduct trainings around the State and may conduct the same workshop in several regions in an effort to spread travel costs equitably. The Conference venue has not been determined so specific registration rates have not been calculated. Registration is approximately $350/person. Applicants should budget for a flight and hotel for each attendee. Past instructions required applicants to budget $2,500 for this annual training. Considering the size and scope of your proposal use your best judgment when creating your budget narrative. Programs may request budget revisions during the contract period. See page 42 of Detailed Budget Instructions for more information.
