The mission of CNCS is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, CNCS has helped to engage millions of citizens in meeting community and national challenges through service and volunteer action.
The Day of Service grant competition includes funding for both September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance (September 11th) and Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service (MLK). Applicant organizations may apply for either September 11th, MLK, or both. Applicants may not submit more than one application for each Day of Service.
The purpose of the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance grant funding is to mobilize more Americans to engage in service activities that meet vital community needs and honor the sacrifice of those who lost their lives or family members on September 11, 2001, or who rose in service as a result of that tragedy.
The purpose of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service grant funding is to mobilize more Americans to observe the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday as a day of service in communities, to encourage those who serve on this holiday to make a long-term commitment to community service, and to bring people together to focus on service to others.
Application Submission Deadline:
Applications are due by Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Resources
Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDF)
In order to provide administrative relief to applicants affected by the loss of operational capacity and increased costs due to the COVID-19 crisis, these applicants will overcome the presumption of non-compliance due to lateness if they:
- submit their application by Wednesday, April 1, 2020, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time in eGrants AND
- submit to LateApplications@cns.gov, in no more than 200 words, a compelling written explanation or justification of the loss of operational capacity and increased costs due to the COVID-19 crisis
Other Applicants that are late must follow the late application instructions in the Day of Service Notice of Funding Opportunity, Section D.4.c. Late Applications, including submission of the application and written explanation or justification of the extenuating circumstances within 24 hours of the Application Submission Deadline, Wednesday, March 25, 2020, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
The FY2020 Day of Service NOFO was amended February 12, 2020 to correct the appropriated amount of funds and expand the purpose of the September 11th Day of Service grant. The amount of funds appropriated for Day of Service awards is approximately $3,200,000. The purpose of the September 11th Day of Service Grants and program design review criteria were expanded to include reflecting on the sacrifice of those who lost their lives or family members on September 11th. New language is shown on pages one and ten of the NOFO. These changes were included as 42 U.S.C. 12653 (k)(3) states “The Corporation may consult with and make grants or provide other forms of support to nonprofit organizations with expertise in representing families of victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and other impacted constituencies, and in promoting the establishment of September 11 as an annually recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.”
Application Instructions (PDF) (updated December, 2019)
eGrants
Frequent Asked Questions (PDF) (updated March 2020)
Day of Service Technical Assistance Webinar
Information about this funding opportunity and the application process will be shared.
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Time: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern Time
Replay information for this Webinar is below: