Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) is an environmental service program dedicated to promoting field research and direct conservation service. Founded in 1991, MCC has received AmeriCorps support since 1993. MCC supports communities and public lands in the Northern Rockies (including Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota) through the deployment of teams to develop beaver dam analogs (BDAs), mitigate fire threats, reduce the spread of invasive species, and restore and re-designate trails. MCC’s trained monitoring and assessment teams also capture critical data on the condition of forest and rangeland health. To better understand the impact of the program in relation to costs, AmeriCorps commissioned a return on investment (ROI) analysis.

Key Findings

  • Benefits of MCC include: 
    • Benefits to various stakeholders of ecosystem services, reduced wildfire damage, other environmental benefits, and trail access.
    • Additional earnings by AmeriCorps members. 
    • Living allowances, stipends, and education awards. 
    • Increased tax revenue for government. 
    • Reduced lifetime spending on corrections, public assistance, and social insurance. 
  • The program produces strong returns for the medium- and long-term scenarios when benefits to AmeriCorps members, society, and state/local governments are included.

FULL REPORT

RESEARCH BRIEF

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ROI ONE-PAGER

Return on Investment (ROI) Studies

AmeriCorps and its grantees have invested significant resources in evaluating different agency programs and supported program models designed to improve a range of outcomes for national service members and volunteers, children, families, organizations, and communities across America. AmeriCorps has commissioned ICF International to conduct ROI analyses to help measure the program performance and build the base of evidence for future resource allocation decisions. In addition, each ROI study helps AmeriCorps communicate the value of its programs to relevant stakeholders. The ROI Studies Project will produce 16 ROI assessments from FY20 to FY23. 

VIEW ALL ROI STUDIES

Full report

Full Report
43076_MCC_2023_AmeriCorps_ROI_Study_508.pdf

Further information

Program/Intervention
ROI Analysis
Implementing Organization
Montana Conservation Corps
Intermediary(s)

AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation Commissioned Report

AmeriCorps Program(s)
AmeriCorps State and National
Age(s) Studied
18-25 (Young adult)
Focus Population(s)/Community(s)
Rural
Suburban
Low-income
Outcome Category
Environmental Stewardship
At-risk ecosystems
Awareness of environmental issues
Green jobs
Benefit to national service members/volunteers
Improving AmeriCorps
Nonprofit development
Study Type(s)
Cost-benefit or Cost Effectiveness Study
Researcher/Evaluator
ICF International
Published Year
2023
Study Site Location (State)
Montana