FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 10, 2022

46 AmeriCorps Seniors grantees receive American Rescue Plan funds to expand COVID-19 relief in 27 states 

WASHINGTON, D.C.– AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, awarded more than $10.5 million to new AmeriCorps Seniors grantee organizations. This grant is part of AmeriCorps' historic $1 billion investment from the American Rescue Plan to accelerate the country's recovery from the impact of the pandemic.

“AmeriCorps Seniors leverages older Americans' time, skills and experience who answer the call to service,” said AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith. “Volunteers stay active in their communities, and, alongside our grantees, they can impact our nation’s most pressing challenges. These grants will further the efforts of dozens of evidence-based programs across the country while engaging even more older adults in service.”

"The third and final round of American Rescue Plan grants speaks to the positive impact AmeriCorps Seniors and older adults can have on communities while addressing COVID-19 response," said Atalaya Sergi, AmeriCorps Seniors director. "These new AmeriCorps Seniors grantees gave us a great opportunity to expand the agency's reach. Over the next year, these organizations and our volunteers will help their communities continue to recover and thrive."

The 46 grant recipients in the AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Demonstration programs will use this federal funding to continue COVID-19 vaccination efforts and address learning loss in children. They will expand to address workforce development, public health and serving veterans and military families across 27 states and Guam.

In addition to these new ARP grants, AmeriCorps Seniors also has awarded more than $1 million in grants for new AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs.

View a complete list of awards, including organizations and funding totals.

As the agency's most expansive volunteer program, AmeriCorps Seniors is one of the oldest in national service and empowers volunteers aged 55 and older to serve their communities. In 2021, AmeriCorps Seniors awarded more than $230 million in federal funding to 1,100 grantee organizations that engaged more than 170,000 volunteers in national service in all 50 states and many US territories.

AmeriCorps continues to invest in the nation's COVID-19 recovery. With existing programs in more than 40,000 locations across the country, AmeriCorps is uniquely positioned to bolster community response efforts. For the past two years, thousands of AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers across all 50 states and US territories have continued their service, quickly adapting to meet the changing needs caused by the pandemic and have provided vital support, community response, and recovery efforts, providing support to more than 12 million Americans, including 2.5 million people at vaccination sites. 

AmeriCorps’ American Rescue Plan funds will continue to be invested in programs and current and new nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations looking to use national service to meet local challenges through 2024.

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteerism and national service, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency invests in grants for local nonprofit, community, tribal, and state organizations; places more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.