Table of Contents
I. Application Deadline
II. Funding Opportunity and Application Instructions
III. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
IV. Required Documents
V. Resources for Applicants
VI. Training and Technical Assistance
Established in 1971 and now one of the largest senior volunteer programs in the nation, RSVP offers a diverse range of volunteer activities that serve communities to create measurable impact, benefit volunteers through the service experience, and create community capacity. Senior Corps RSVP volunteers choose how, where, and how often they want to serve, with commitments ranging from a few hours to a maximum of 40 hours.
Through this competition, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) seeks to increase the impact of national service in specific geographic service areas (see Appendix A for the full list of available opportunities). In order to carry out Congress’s intent and to maximize the impact of investment in national service, CNCS has the following Focus Areas: Disaster Services; Economic Opportunity; Education; Environmental Stewardship; Healthy Futures; and Veterans and Military Families.
I. Application Deadline
Notice of Intent to Apply Deadline: Applicants are strongly encouraged to send a Notice of Intent to Apply by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. The Notice of Intent to Apply should be completed via Survey Monkey.
Application Deadline: Applications are due by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday, November 7, 2018. Successful applicants will be notified by February 2019.
If you are an organization affected by Hurricane Florence or Hurricane Michael which occurred August-October 2018, please email an explanation to CNCS outlining how the damage caused by these hurricanes prevented you from being able to meet the submission deadline. Your explanation, as well as any supporting documentation, must be emailed to LateApplications@cns.gov by November 7, 2018 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
CNCS will review your explanation and provide an official notification of its decision via email. CNCS is prepared to grant an application deadline extension until November 14, 2018 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time to those entities whose requests for extension are approved. Please be aware that, unfortunately, we are not in a position to grant extensions beyond November 14, 2018 at 5 pm Eastern Time due to the time required to review applications and complete the administration of the competition.
II. Funding Opportunity and Application Instructions
Applicants must review both the Notice of Funding Opportunity including the Appendices and the Grant Application Instructions in order to fully understand the applications requirements.
- FY 2019 RSVP Competition NOFO
- RSVP Grant Application Instructions
- Appendix A: List of Available Funding Opportunities by State
- Appendix B: RSVP National Performance Measure Instructions (Updated October 12, 2018)
- Appendix C: Terms and Definitions
- Work Plan Development Worksheets
III. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The FAQs document will be compiled and regularly updated. Questions submitted to 2019RSVP@cns.gov will likely be answered in the FAQs document.
- Frequently Asked Questions (updated October 29, 2018)
IV. Required Documents
These supplemental documents are referenced in the Grant Application Instructions. Please see Part IV of the Grant Application Instructions for the full table of required documents and when they must be submitted.
- Aggregate Dollar Amount of Funding Form
- Financial Management Survey
- New Recipient Payment Management System Instructions
V. Resources for Applicants
VI. Training and Technical Assistance
From October 2 through October 25, CNCS held a series of webinars to introduce potential applicants to the RSVP program, this competition, its performance measurement system and more. Five separate presentations were each held twice. While those webinars have now concluded, recordings of each are available for viewing below. Only the highest quality recording for each session has been posted.
Introduction to Senior Corps and RSVP
In this session, we introduced potential applicants to the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that administers the RSVP program as part of its mission to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering across the United States. We also looked at the RSVP program in more depth, examining how it empowers individuals 55 and over to serve their communities throughout the country.
Click here to view a recording of this webinar.
Click here for the session slides.
The Notice of Funding Opportunity
In this session, we looked more closely at the Notice of Funding Opportunity (or “NOFO”) that describes the application process and its requirements in greater depth. We spotlighted some of the most important sections of this critical document and highlight other tools and resources you can use to help you through the application process.
Click here to view a recording of this webinar.
Click here for the session slides.
RSVP in Action: Mobilizing a Generation
In this session, we looked at the RSVP program itself and how communities all across the country use RSVP grants to mobilize older Americans in service that addresses their unique local needs. We explored the kinds of partnerships they form and how RSVP has been used to address the funding priorities for this competition, with some specific examples to help potential applicants envision their own RSVP programs.
Click here to view a recording of the webinar.
Click here for the session slides.
Understanding National Performance Measures
In this session, we examined the National Performance Measures, CNCS’ method of quantifying a grantee’s impact on the community. We discussed the rationale behind this system of performance measurement, looked at the menu of available output and outcome measures, and reviewed the specific requirements for RSVP applicants. We used some real examples to help us understand how an individual grantee can contribute to the nationwide story of service told by the National Performance Measures.
Click here to view a recording of the webinar.
Click here for the session slides.
Submitting Your Application in eGrants
In this session, we walked through the process of submitting an application in CNCS’ electronic grants management system, eGrants, step-by-step. We gave some pointers on using the system and looked inside the system so you’re prepared to submit your application seamlessly.