Table of Contents
2018 AmeriCorps Funding Priorities
Application Deadline
State Commission Competition Contacts and Due Dates
Intent to Apply
Funding Announcement, Mandatory Supplemental Guidance, Application Instructions, and Frequently Asked Questions
Performance Measure Instructions
Technical Assistance Documents
Technical Assistance Call Schedule and Registration
As of October 6, 2017:
The 2018 Notice of Funding Opportunity reflects a corrected link to Alternative Evaluation Approach Guidance on page 19.
The 2018 Mandatory Supplemental Guidance reflects a correction in the page limit for Rural Intermediaries.
The 2018 Application Instructions reflect a correction in the Performance Measure section for Continuations.
All changes are detailed in the Frequently Asked Questions.
2018 AmeriCorps Funding Priorities
In the FY 2018 AmeriCorps competition, CNCS seeks to prioritize the investment of national service resources in:
- Disaster Services - improving community resiliency through disaster preparation, response, recovery, and mitigation
- Economic Opportunity - increasing economic opportunities for communities by engaging opportunity youth, either as the population served and/or as AmeriCorps members, to prepare them for the workforce
- Education - improving student academic performance in Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Mathematics (STEM)
- Healthy Futures - reducing and/or preventing prescription drug and opioid abuse
- Veterans and Military Families - positively impacting the quality of life of veterans and improving military family strength
- Governor and Mayor Initiatives
- Rural intermediaries - organizations that demonstrate measureable impact and primarily serve communities with limited resources and organizational infrastructure.
- Safer Communities - programs that focus on public safety, preventing and mitigating civil unrest, and/or partnerships between law enforcement and the community
- Evidence Based Intervention Planning Grants
- Encore Programs - programs that engage Americans age 55 and older
Application Deadline
The deadline for applications to the 2018 NOFO is Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Organizations that propose to operate in only one state must apply through the Governor-appointed State or Territory Commissions. Each state and territory administers its own selection process and puts forward to CNCS the applicants it selects to compete for funding. State applicants must contact their State Commissions to learn about their state or territory processes and deadlines which may be significantly before the CNCS deadlines and may have additional requirements.
Single-state applicants from South Dakota are eligible to apply directly to CNCS for the FY 2018 competition. If you are a potential applicant from South Dakota, please contact AmeriCorpsGrants@cns.gov for additional guidance.
State Commission Competition Contacts and Due Dates
2018 State Commissions Contacts and Due Dates (PDF) | Last updated November 20, 2017
Intent to Apply
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a Notification of Intent to apply for this competition, but it is not required. Notifications of Intent to Apply should be filed by Wednesday, December 13, 2017. You can access the (optional) Notification of Intent to Apply here.
Funding Announcement, Mandatory Supplemental Guidance, Application Instructions, and Frequently Asked Questions
2018 Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDF)
2018 Mandatory Supplemental Guidance (PDF)
2018 Application Instructions (PDF)
2018 NOFO Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) | Last updated January 4, 2018
Clarification
The AmeriCorps State and National Grants Competition will include a Clarification period. During the Clarification period, applicants may be asked for clarifying information regarding issues of significance, but will not generally be asked for corrections or changes to elements of the application, including Performance Measures. The AmeriCorps State and National Grants process also includes a Resolution period for successful applicants. It is during the Resolution period, which will occur after applicants have been notified of the results of the competition, that successful applicants will make corrections or changes to elements of the application, including Performance Measures, and provide additional requested information.
Dates for these periods appear below. Single-state subapplicants should be aware that Commission Clarification periods may be shorter than those below.
Clarification for Continuation Applicants: The clarification period will occur between Friday, March 2 - Thursday, March 15, 2018.
Clarification for New/Recompete Applicants: The clarification period will occur between Wednesday, March 28 – Thursday, April 5, 2018.
Although not all applications will receive requests for clarification, it is imperative that staff involved in the development and submission of the application be available to respond to clarification, if requested.
Performance Measure Instructions
2018 Performance Measure Instructions (PDF)
2018 Performance Measures Instructions for Planning Grant Applicants (PDF)
AmeriCorps Performance Measure Resources
Other AmeriCorps Performance Measure Resources (including Logic Models and Evaluation)
Evaluation Resources for AmeriCorps State and National
Technical Assistance Information
If you are having technical difficulties with creating an account or preparing or submitting the application in eGrants, please contact the National Service Hotline at (800) 942-2677 or via Questions.
For all other application questions, please contact AmeriCorpsGrants@cns.gov.
Technical Assistance Documents
2018 Intro to AmeriCorps State and National (PDF)
2018 AmeriCorps Key Terms (PDF)
2018 Intro to AmeriCorps Members (PDF)
2018 Categories of AmeriCorps Grants (PDF)
2018 AmeriCorps Program Management and Design (PDF)
2018 Evidence Checklist (PDF)
2018 NOFO Evidence Quality and Evidence Capacity Standards Resource (PDF)
AmeriCorps Regulations 45 CFR Sections 2520-2550 (PDF)
Uniform Guidance Resources
How to Develop a Logic Model (PDF)
Technical Assistance Call Schedule and Registration
Below is the schedule of the upcoming technical assistance calls. All calls will be recorded and the replay number will be posted within two business days. All recordings will be available through January 18, 2018. Please note that participants are encouraged to review several recommended materials prior to each call and to prepare questions in advance. Each call will include a Q&A portion. You can also send questions in advance to americorpsgrants@cns.gov, and we will make sure to cover them during each call.
2018 AmeriCorps State & National Grant Competition: Overview
For an overview of the 2018 AmeriCorps State and National Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the application timeline, or other general questions about AmeriCorps and the grant competition. Participants are encouraged to review the following materials before the call: 2018 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO); 2018 Mandatory Supplemental Guidance; Intro to AmeriCorps State and National; AmeriCorps Key Terms; and Intro to AmeriCorps Members.
- Replay: 866-476-5484 ? Passcode: N/A
2018 AmeriCorps State & National Grant Competition: Program Management and Design
For questions including appropriate AmeriCorps member service activities, staffing for the program, grantee responsibilities, or any other question related to program design or program management. Participants are encouraged to review the following materials before the call: 2018 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO); 2018 Mandatory Supplemental Guidance; Categories of AmeriCorps Grants; and AmeriCorps Program Management and Design.
- Replay: 800-570-8795 ? Passcode: N/A
2018 AmeriCorps State & National Grant Competition: Selection Criteria
For questions about the AmeriCorps grant application selection criteria, grant review process, or any other questions that need to be addressed in order to complete your application. Participants are encouraged to review the following materials before the call: 2018 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and 2018 Mandatory Supplemental Guidance.
- Replay: 888-678-8548 ? Passcode: N/A
2018 AmeriCorps State & National Grant Competition: Best Practices in Budget Development
For guidance about how to create a compliant grant budget for an AmeriCorps program. Participants are encouraged to review the "Developing and Managing Your Budget" and "Preparing the Grant Budget for AmeriCorps Programs" online courses before the webinar.
- Replay: Recorded webinar video (includes audio and closed captioning)
2018 AmeriCorps State & National Grant Competition: Best Practices in Developing Performance Measures
For guidance about how to create high-quality performance measures that align with an applicant's program design and meet AmeriCorps requirements. Participants are encouraged to review the "Overview of Performance Measurement" and "High Quality Performance Measures" online courses before the webinar.
- Replay: Recorded webinar video (includes audio and closed captioning)
2018 AmeriCorps State & National Grant Competition: Best Practices in Demonstrating Evidence
For guidance about how to identify a program's level of evidence and support it with relevant data, studies, and/or evaluation reports. Participants are encouraged to review the 2018 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and "Reporting and Using Evaluation Results" online course before the webinar.
- Replay: Recorded webinar video (includes audio and closed captioning)
2018 AmeriCorps State & National Grant Competition: Elements of a Successful AmeriCorps State & National Application
This call will provide potential applicants with information on the “do’s” and “don’ts” of a successful AmeriCorps application. It will cover strategies for developing and submitting an AmeriCorps application and will provide participants with an opportunity to ask questions. Participants are encouraged to review the 2018 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), Mandatory Supplemental Guidance, and Application Instructions before the call.
- Replay: 800-677-5211 ? Passcode: N/A
2018 AmeriCorps State & National Grant Competition: 2018 AmeriCorps State & National NOFO Priorities
This call will provide information and discussion around the following 2018 NOFO priority areas: Disaster Services, Healthy Futures (reducing and/or preventing prescription drug and opioid abuse), and Rural Intermediaries. Learn more about submitting a successful grant application in these areas. Participants are encouraged to review the 2018 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), Mandatory Supplemental Guidance, and Application Instructions before the call.
- Replay: 866-369-3652 ? Passcode: N/A
2018 AmeriCorps State & National Grant Competition: Evidence-Based Interventions Planning Grants
For questions about the Evidence-Based Interventions Planning Grants. Participants are encouraged to review the 2018 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), Mandatory Supplemental Guidance, and Application Instructions before the call.
- Replay: 866-463-2179 ? Passcode: N/A