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AmeriCorps Planning Grant Information Session A presentation for AmeriCorps grant applicants

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).

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AmeriCorps Planning Grant Information Session A presentation for AmeriCorps grant applicants

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  1. AmeriCorps Planning Grant Information Session A presentation for AmeriCorps grant applicants

  2. Session Objectives • AmeriCorps Overview • AmeriCorps Operating Grant Overview • Review Planning Grant Application Process • Q & A

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. AmeriCorps Overview

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

  7. What do AC programs do? 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 • 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

  8. What is AmeriCorps? • 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

  9. 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.

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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 • 2015-16 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

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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. Operating Grant Flow

  18. Operating GrantsProgram 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.

  19. Operating GrantsProgram 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?

  20. Operating GrantsProgram 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

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

  22. 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.

  23. 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

  24. 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

  25. PG Application Timeline

  26. How to Apply for AmeriCorps Funding • Respond to CaliforniaVolunteers’ Request for Applications (RFA). • Visit http://www.californiavolunteers.org/index.php/Grants/americorps/ for RFA application materials. • Follow RFA and accompanying Application Forms and Instructions

  27. Getting Things Done for America For More Information Funding@CaliforniaVolunteers.ca.gov

  28. Questions?

  29. THANK YOU!

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