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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General
Question 1: We are a currently operating program--do we need pre-approval from CV to change our program design?
Applicants who have previously administered AmeriCorps programs may submit an application for a new program design. Prior approval from CV for program design changes is only required when changes are made to a “contracted” program design or an operating grant.
Question 2: What CNCS/CV considerations do we need to take into account when making the decision to change our program design?
CV encourages applicants to focus their programs on issue areas in which partnerships have specific expertise, and that directly relate to the community need identified in the program narrative. In scoring applications, reviewers will consider several factors to evaluate the legal applicant and partnership’s capacity to administer the proposed program, including the grantee’s past history and performance, connection of program design to the community need identified and likely impact or change that will result in what the community needs, etc.
Question 3: If we are interested in a planning grant is the due date January 26, 2010 to CNCS? Do we need to coordinate our planning grant application with CV?
If you are applying as a national direct applicant ( a multi-state applicant) you would submit directly to the Corporation. CaliforniaVolunteers is not offering planning grants in this 2010 grantmaking cycle.
Question 4: We will be submitting a proposal to continue and expand a current operating recovery program, and would like to get clarification as to how our application will be considered. As a recovery program currently funded for one year, would we be considered to be still in our first grant cycle going into program year 2, and therefore have a maximum cost per MSY of $16,000 and 24% match requirement?
According to Regulation 2521.80, "If you have not been a direct recipient of an AmeriCorps operational grant from the Corporation or a State commission for fewer than five years, you must begin matching at the same level you were matching at the end of your most recent grant period." In regards to cost per MSY, if your currently funded recovery program is a new program design (NOT an expansion of your current standard operating program) then your 2010 application would be considered in year 1 of its first grant cycle and would be eligible for a maximum cost per MSY of $16,000. However, please note that an applicant’s cost per MSY is a competitive factor in AmeriCorps grant competition as both the Corporation and CV use this number to compare costs of programs when making funding decisions.
Question 5: If we are submitting an application to continue and/or expand a current operating recovery program, which applicant status would we fall under?
CV would consider your applicant status to be “recompeting.”
Question 6: Our organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We currently do not have the capacity to manage a 20 member service year (MSY) program. By 2011, we may have the capacity to support 20 MSYs, but for 2010, we could only support 5-8 MSYs. Can we apply for 5-8 MSY?
No. Applicants must request a minimum of 20 MSYs. This requirement ensures that CV provides programs with enough AmeriCorps members to have a reasonable impact on local needs.
Applicants may request an exception to the minimum program size requirement. However, CV will not accept applications for fewer than 10 MSYs. Applicants requesting between 10 – 20 MSYs must present a compelling justification for their request. Lack of organizational capacity is not considered to be compelling.
Question 7: We are a current operating program and plan to change our focus area for our 2010 application. If we change the program, do we stay at the current matching level, or do we revert to year one of the match requirement?
According to Regulation 2521.80, "If you have not been a direct recipient of an AmeriCorps operational grant from the Corporation or a State commission for fewer than five years, you must begin matching at the same level you were matching at the end of your most recent grant period."
Question 8: We are a previously funded program. We had received a grant for 20 MSY with 3 full-time (1,700 hour) and 68 quarter-time (450 hour) members. We would like to increase our request to 22 MSY and change the slot assignment to 10 full-time and 48 quarter-time. Is this allowable?
Yes. Applicants who have previously administered AmeriCorps programs may request both additional MSY and a different configuration of members in their new 2010 application.
Question 9: Please define the “Opportunity” category in more detail.
The Corporation’s 2010 Notice of Funding Availability describes the “Opportunity” national service priority area as unmet needs relating to the economic opportunity for disadvantaged individuals within communities including financial literacy, housing assistance, job training, and nutritional assistance. Please see Sec. 1302. Eligible National Service Programs of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which explains how Opportunity Corps may carry out activities.
Question 10: Can you please clarify the difference between the Operating Grant and the Educational Award grant?
The Educational Award Program along with the Fixed-Amount Grant Pilot and Professional Corps grants are all fixed-amount grants. The fixed amount grants allow applicants to apply for a fixed dollar amount per member. The fixed amount awarded per member is significantly less than the cost of running an AmeriCorps program and the applicant must raise the additional revenue necessary to operate the program. For example, an Education Award Program receives minimal financial support from the Corporation as it can only apply for up to $800 per MSY to implement its AmeriCorps program. Under fixed-amount grants, grantees do not have an approved budget in their grant award and do not have specific restrictions on the use of the grant funds because the amount of the grants will be significantly less than the cost of conducting the program. The final amounts that fixed-amount grantees may retain under their awards are tied to the number of members enrolled for Education Award grants. See Question #6 of the Corporation Fixed-Amount FAQ for more information.
An AmeriCorps program that receives a fixed-amount grant is like any other AmeriCorps program in every way—such as, performance expectations, reporting requirements, member tracking. The only exception is that, unlike the more typical cost-reimbursement grant, the fixed amount grant does not require compliance with OMB Cost Principles, Corporation Federal Financial Reports, and match or documentation of match.
An operating grant is a standard reimbursement-based AmeriCorps grant in which grantees have an approved budget as part of their grant award. The grant funds can only be spent on costs in the approved budget and grantees can draw funds based on expenditures under the grant through a reimbursement process by submitting invoices to CV. An applicant applying for an operating grant may request for a higher cost per MSY, as allowable under the CV cost per member policy, for funding to support items such as program staff, member living allowances, health insurance for full-time members, equipment, supplies and other associated program expenses. Grantees are responsible for providing funds and other resources to meet the minimum match required for their program.
Question 11: I thought all Americorps grants included the educational award. If we only apply for the educational award, does the young person still have to do 900 or 1700 hours?
If by “young person” you mean AmeriCorps members [who range from ages 18-80], the answer is “yes”, all members must complete the term of service. All AmeriCorps members serving in a program who successfully complete a term of service will receive an education award as defined in the chart on page 12 of the RFA.
Question 12: If we receive a grant, is this for 3 years or 1?
The Corporation and CV generally approve funding for a three-year grant period. Grantees will be eligible for continuation funding in the second and third year contingent on the availability of appropriations, compliance, and satisfactory performance. Please see page 10 of the RFA for more information on grant period.
Question 13: Is the project start date expected to be mid-August? What is the projected end date for the year 1 grant period? If the project start date is mid-August, then can August – December serve as the “ramp-up” period, when we conduct outreach/recruitment/orientation of youth, and then start the young person’s membership hours in January?
The short answer is that CV likes programs to begin by October at the latest. However, a 4-5 month “ramp up” period [out of a 12 month program] would be considered excessive. Successful applicants will do outreach and recruitment in June, July, and/or August, depending on the program. Successful applicants will be expected to launch member activities in late summer or early fall of 2010. Although the annual contract spans 18 months, the program budget will only cover a 12-month period in which AmeriCorps members will performance service. A program’s start date is defined as the date the first AmeriCorps member begins accruing service hours. The program’s end date is the last day the last member will serve not exceeding 365 days from program start date. In accordance with these guidelines, successful applicants will identify a start and end date for their program prior to contracting.
The National and Community Service Trust Act (as amended by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, P.L. 111-113, (April 29, 2009) codified at 42 USC 12606) specifically provides that a national service position is approved when the Corporation issues a grant award. CaliforniaVolunteers will not issue executed contracts for AmeriCorps grants until it has received formal notice of grant award from the Corporation. As such, successful applicants must have an executed contract in place prior to incurring any Corporation costs or enrolling members. Applicants are advised they need to ensure they have the funds available to cover start-up costs prior to the receipt of the first invoice payment.
Question 14: Is there a minimum amount of hours per year that a member must commit to?
Yes. The minimum number of hours per year that a member must commit to depends on the type of member position or term of service in which the member is enrolled. Please see the chart on page 12 of the RFA for minimum service hours required for each type of member term of service.
Question 15: What is the number of hours in a MSY?
A member service year (MSY) is equivalent to one full-time member position or a 1700 hours position. Please refer to the chart on page 11 of the RFA for more information on MSY equivalence for each type of term of service.
Question 16: We are a college that runs a tutoring/mentoring program for high school students. Can we expand through AmeriCorps?
This depends on a number of factors including your partnership’s ability to demonstrate that such an unmet need exists for your community that can be addressed through service and its capability to support such an expansion. The partnership would also have to establish that the proposed member activities comply with federal nondisplacement requirements.
Question 17: Since this is a three-year program, does it mean that those who are unable to apply in this cycle are locked out for the next three years, or is this offered yearly for first-time applicants?
California AmeriCorps funding is described on page 6 of the RFA. CaliforniaVolunteers divided the formula allocation roughly in half in an effort to provide AmeriCorps funding opportunities in two of the three year cycle. During the “off-cycle” year when only competitive funds are available, CV does not conduct a large, statewide grantmaking process. However, with the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Act and the increased interest and support of national service nationally, we anticipate a steady increase in AmeriCorps funding, specifically the state formula allocation. CV anticipates conducting an annual grantmaking process to distribute any new funds.
Question 18: Would it be acceptable for a statewide proposal to adjust living allowances based on cost of living?
CaliforniaVolunteers encourages applicants to provide the highest level of living allowance possible by raising community matching funds. In addition, CV and the Corporation seek to maintain equity amongst corpsmembers within a program. However, CV recognizes that cost of living expenses vary across the State and will consider proposal to adjust living allowances based on cost of living. Applicants proposing to do so should describe the basis for determining different stipend amounts, efforts the partnership has taken to raise the resources needed to support the increased living allowance adjustments, and how the adjustments will be clearly communicated to all potential members.
Question 19: Are we as an organization required to provide Worker’s Compensation for AmeriCorps members who are not full-time? If so, is there a group purchasing option for Worker’s Compensation through AmeriCorps?
Please see page 45 of the Application Instructions document under section B. Member Support Costs for an answer to the first question. There is no group purchasing option for Worker’s Compensation through AmeriCorps.
Question 20: Can an EAP Program have additional funding to pay for the AmeriCorps members such as Federal Work Study or other program funding?
Yes. The acceptable sources of matching funds are federal, state, local, private sector, and/or other funds in accordance with applicable AmeriCorps requirements. The Corporation’s legislation permits the use of non-Corporation federal funds as match for the grantee share of the budget. Matching requirements do not apply to EAP applications, however, if. awarded a grant, you will be expected to obtain written verification that the other federal agency allows their funds to be used as match to AmeriCorps funding. Please refer to page 6 of the RFA.
Question 21: To create the log in and password and request the DUNS number, would we be federal contractor, federal grantee, or state grantee and who can request the password and DUNS, since ELSRAP is and I will soon no longer be employed here?
To receive an AmeriCorps grant a successful applicant will be required to submit the AmeriCorps application into the federal grant tracking system, eGrants. Instructions on this electronic filing system will be provided to successful applicants. However, CV encourages the legal applicant to obtain or update information on an existing Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number at this time. Please consult with the appropriate legal applicant representative from your organization. More information can be found at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
Question 22: We understand the living allowance is up to $23,600, but above that it states that the maximum cost per MSY is $16,000, so how do you get to the $23,600?
Keep in mind that member living allowance limits and an applicant’s cost per MSY are two different things. Your cost per MSY is determined by dividing the Corporation’s 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 form. CV and the Corporation use this number to compare costs of programs. In building your budget, you must assure that your cost per MSY does not exceed the level allowable for your grant cycle number according to the cost per member service year schedule on page 11 of the RFA (i.e. an applicant in grant cycle #1 cannot not exceed $16,000). In many cases, an applicant’s cost per MSY level will be significantly lower than the living allowance amount it plans to offer to its members. Grantees must cover all costs over the allowable cost per MSY level established for their grant cycle number.
Question 23: We heard that whatever you apply for in year one is all that you get years 2 and 3. We are thinking of starting with a pilot of 10 and growing up to 30 by the third year. Would this be possible?
No. CV is not offering pilot grants for 2010. CV requires a minimum program size of 20 MSY, or with justification, no fewer than 10 MSY. Applicants should plan for level funding and the number members for the three years. Expansion opportunities within the three year cycle are rare.
Question 24: Our question comes from the Eligibility Information portion, under section C Minimum Program Size, page 13: “CaliforniaVolunteers will not accept proposals requesting fewer than 10 MSYs.” I understand that MSY is a member service year, equivalent to one full year of an AmeriCorps member term. Is it my understanding that we can only apply if we are requesting 10 AmeriCorps members to our Volunteer Center?
Please see response to General Question #6.
Question 25: Have any art museums or university arts program ever received AmeriCorps funding under this RFA opportunity?
The current CV AmeriCorps program portfolio does not include similar programs as described above.
Question 26:…Would it be more appropriate for us to apply under “education” or “opportunity”?
This entirely up to your partnership based on your program design. Please note that for the 2010 RFA, CV will not be awarding priority points.
Question 27: Do you have to be an existing AmeriCorps service provider to be eligible to apply? We are a 501(c)3 organization in the process of applying to be an Americorps sponsor but have not been approved as of yet.
Applicants do not have to have prior AmeriCorps experience. It sounds like you have also applied for AmeriCorps VISTA. CaliforniaVolunteers does not “approve sponsors”, we award grants.
Question 28: I would like clarification regarding minimum program size. Does this refer to members per year or 3-year funding cycle or other? One MSY is 1700 hours per year, correct? How does one file for exemption to apply for 10 members? Must the applicant have approval before proposal is submitted? Are we to have 20 members per year? Or is it 20 members spread over a three-year cycle, i.e. 7 per year?
Please see responses to questions 6 and 23 of this section. The minimum program size refers to the annual request. As noted on page 13, applicants may apply for less than the 20 MSY minimum, but no fewer than 10 MSY. Prior CV approval is not necessary, however, the applicant would need to clearly justify and substantiate the need for a smaller program. This budget represents an annual request—a total of 20 or 10 MSY per year for up to three years.
Question 29: Will new applicants at the $400,000 request level be considered for competitive funding? Or is competitive funding only for applications requesting $850,000 & above? I ask because the FAQ's state that "Generally, applicants requesting more than $850,000 that meet the selection criteria would be considered to represent California in the national competition."
Therefore if we cannot be considered as a competitive candidate, does that mean we do not need to set aside time to attend interviews in Sacramento?
Yes, all applicants could be considered to represent California in the national competition regards of the size of funding request. However, given the very tight timeline and large response of notification of intent to apply, CV will determine how many applications to process for competitive consideration prior to the January federal deadline. The remaining applications will be process in Spring 2010. Applicants seeking $850,000 or more must first compete at the national level for that level of funding. If an applicant requesting $850,000+ is not selected to compete nationally, the application could still be considered for formula funding if the applicant is willing to work with CV to reduce to budget request. All applicants should reserve the interview dates of December 28-30 and January 4-8 in the event you are selected for an interview. Note that the interview period has been extended to include the entire first full week in January, 2010.
Question 30: I sent in my letter of intent specifying that we will be seeking an operating grant. Upon further consideration I may want to change that to a fixed amount pilot. What do I need to do to change my letter of intent specification? Also can you tell me if operating grants are more competitive than fixed amount grants? Are many more applicants intending to apply for the operating grants than the fixed amount grants?
Letters of intent were a courtesy to assist CV in planning for the review process. There is no need to update any changes following submission. Operating grants verses fixed amount grants have no competitive edge. Fixed amount grants are for full-time models only.
Question 31: Our organization is a 501 (c ) (3) Non-Profit Organization. We are incorporated in Arizona but run a chapter out of Santa Cruz, California with operations throughout the state. We are not incorporated in California because our main and original headquarters is in Arizona and my understanding is that a program with chapters in multiple states is not required to be incorporated in each state in which they work. Of course our non-profit status applies nationwide. I wanted to please confirm that we are eligible for this California AmeriCorps grant even though we are not incorporated in California.
Our proposed project for the AmeriCorps grant will only cover projects and activities in California. But ACE has operations in multiple states that will be independent of this grant proposal. ACE’s AmeriCorps members for this program will accomplish all of their hours in California. I wanted to again please confirm that ACE is eligible even though we are a multi-state organization.
ACE recently was awarded an AmeriCorps grant in Arizona. I wanted to confirm that we are eligible to also receive an AmeriCorps grant in California. We are considering also applying for a National Direct AmeriCorps grant. But we hope to receive a State AmeriCorps grant in California as well.
Yes, you are eligible to submit an application to CV to operate your program in California. All member activities must occur in our State.
Question 32: I do not believe we need to complete the labor concurrence given that our members will work as volunteer managers in schools. While they will be working around union employees, they are not in a position to displace them. Are you able to advise on this matter?
CV does not see how an applicant can verify compliance with federal nondisplacement requirements without conferring with labor union organizations that are present at the sponsoring agency or placement sites. Applicants must be able to address this issue in the application. To assure there’s no conflict CV advises applicants to consult with appropriate labor union organizations present at the sponsoring agency or placement sites early.
Question 33: How long will it take to write the proposal after we send the Notice of Intent?
The Corporation for National and Community Service estimates that each application should take approximately 40 hours to complete.
Question 34: I am working with a group of homeless and safety-net providers in Alameda County. Would the outcomes be on systems-change or on direct service to individuals?
This would depend on the likely impact or change that your community needs. Your partnership is in the best position to determine what that change is along with the types of member activities that are needed to achieve the desired result and who should be the targeted beneficiaries of those member activities.
Question 35: If the maximum amount of funding $400,000, is that for one or three years?
The budget represents an annual request. Successful applicants have the opportunity to receive this amount each year for up to three years without having to reapply.
Question 36: We are a non-profit family resource center and we currently are awarded AmeriCorps members through a lead organization that applies through the Corporation for National and Community Service. Since we already have AmeriCorps members through a lead organization, are we still eligible to apply through CaliforniaVolunteers for our own AmeriCorps operating grant to receive more members?
Yes.
Question 37: We are concerned that because of numbers we will not be as competitive as others in the application process. Will the list of others that submitted a Notice of Intent to Apply be available? We’d like to assess and see if we might be able to partner to create a stronger application.
We’ve been unsuccessful at finding groups that already have grants and placements available in San Diego County – is there a list of these?
CV is currently compiling the information included in the Notices of Intent to Apply just received and will try to make this information available. You can also search for AmeriCorps or other national service programs in California by county through the National Service Directory hosted on the CaliforniaVolunteers website at www.californiavolunteers.org/index.php/AmeriCorps/detail5/.
Question 38: Is there an age limit for Members? In the FAQ section under Member Development/Q3 the response states that AC members are age 18-80. Can citizens over age 80 serve?
There is no upper age limit to serve in AmeriCorps. See page 38-39 of the California AmeriCorps Program Guide available on the CV funding page for more information on member eligibility requirements.
Question 39: When will the national performance measures be released?
The Corporation for National and Community Service anticipate the release of national performance measures in January, 2010.
Question 40: On Page 8 of Application Instructions under Relationship to other National and Community Service Programs, it states: how will your program build on (without duplicating) or reflect collaboration with, other national and community service programs supported by the Corporation and CV in the states where you plan to operate? Our organization, Access California Services, is listed on the list of Corporation –supported programs. We are under Arab Resource Corps. Are we still eligible to apply for our own funding – or is it considered an act of duplication?
If you are a current partner/placement site in an existing national direct grant, you may submit an application to CaliforniaVolunteers to request an AmeriCorps grant to operate your own program solely in California. Refer to RFA page 8 -- How to Apply —for more detail on the difference between a national direct grant and a state operating grant. However, you would need to provide justification of community need if you plan to continue current activities while the national direct legal applicant finds another community agency to backfill your past role. Would there be a saturation of national service in your community?
Question 41: If we apply for a number of MSY that we end up being unable to fill, what are the consequences?
The community need and the intervention required to address the need determine the level of effort (service hours) required to make an impact. Applicants request AmeriCorps positions necessary to meet an end outcome. If the positions go unfilled it would be difficult to meet targets. Therefore, CaliforniaVolunteers and the Corporation expect grantees to enroll the full number of members included in the grant award. Enrollment rates have a direct bearing on the number of slots and the size of awards approved in the continuation and recompete processes.
Question 42 : Has California Volunteers released the guidelines for governor's initiative, specifically for the California Endowment regions?
CaliforniaVolunteers has partnered with the California Endowment’s Building Healthy Communities Initiative to provide planning grants to the identified fourteen communities. Organizations interested in the Building Healthy Communities Initiative can find more information about the communities and partners at www.calendow.org/healthycommunities.
Question 43 : If we received a new grant and wanted to add a new PMW in the second year of the 3-year cycle, would that be possible? We are looking at adding a Mental Health component but would prefer to wait until after we have secured the new grant. If you could let me know as soon as possible, that would be wonderful. If we can't do it in the second year of the grant, we may consider trying to do it this year.
The application should reflect a three year plan to address the identified community need. CV encourages programs to seek continuous improvement through self-assessment and analysis to assure program efforts will deliver the desired outcomes. Therefore, programs may fine tune the program model in years 2 and 3, making adjustments to how direct beneficiaries are selected, strategies for intervention, revising data collection methods, etc. However, a complete change of program focus would not be allowed.
Question 44 : Our AmeriCorps project will be crew based. Crews of 10 AmeriCorps members will be accomplishing environmental restoration projects throughout the State. Rather than assigning members to a specific site for the duration of the member’s term of service, we use Santa Cruz as a hub and travel to various locations as a crew to accomplish projects ranging from one week to 6 weeks in length. During off days the members return to Santa Cruz where they are provided housing. So AmeriCorps members will be rotated to a variety of projects with a variety of land management agencies (National Parks, National Forests, State Parks, County Parks, conservancies, etc.). They will not be assigned as interns or directly supervised by our partner agencies. We provide trained supervisors who oversee the work projects sponsored on agency lands. Do we need to obtain labor union concurrence for every type of work accomplished, including trail maintenance, riparian restoration, planting, weeding, etc. And do we need to obtain it for every City or County or geographic region within the State that ACE’s AmeriCorps members could accomplish crew work? Our funded AmeriCorps program in Arizona does not require labor certification, so I want to make sure I understand the specific requirements.
See Labor Union Concurrence Certification Form for the statutory language. While you may not be aware of it, if you have received an AmeriCorps award, regardless of the state the program operates within, you have certified that the legal applicant complies with this federal regulation. If a labor union is currently performing the same or similar activities as those proposed for an AmeriCorps member you should have a conversation with those representatives. In addition you may want to consult with your legal council on this issue.
Question 45: We have a grant from CNCS VISTA providing us with 2 members that is finishing in August. Are we considered an experienced applicant?
If we are an experienced applicant, do we need to fill out the “Accomplishment and Impact Summary” form?
No. Experienced or Previously Funded Applicants are organizations which have received an “operating” grant (includes federal operating funds in addition to AmeriCorps service positions). If you have only received a VISTA grant you would be considered “new” and would not fill out the Accomplishment and Impact Summary Form.
