National Service Agency Announces $205 Million in AmeriCorps Funding

Grants will support 43,000 AmeriCorps members across the U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) today announced $205 million in grants to put AmeriCorps members on the ground to tackle critical challenges in communities across the U.S.

The grants will allow more than 43,000 Americans the opportunity to serve their country through AmeriCorps. These AmeriCorps members will serve from coast to coast, strengthening education, providing disaster services, fostering economic opportunity, assisting veterans and military families, preserving the environment, and expanding health services. A complete list of awards can be found here.

“AmeriCorps members are improving the lives of millions of citizens and making a powerful and lasting impact on the toughest challenges facing our nation,” said CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer. “They are an indispensable resource for nonprofits, communities, and the individuals they serve.  As we mark the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, we salute all AmeriCorps members for standing up and serving our country.”

The 2014 AmeriCorps grant cycle was highly competitive due to the strong demand by organizations competing for AmeriCorps resources. The competition prioritized investments in economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, disaster services, and an initiative for governors and mayors. The 288 organizations receiving grants include Habitat for Humanity, Teach for America, the American Red Cross, YouthBuild, City Year, and Points of Light, as well as many other faith-based and community groups.

AmeriCorps is a public-private partnership, and every AmeriCorps grantee leverages significant outside resources to operate their program. The $205 million in federal grants will leverage an additional investment of $527 million from the private sector, foundations, and other sources, strengthening community impact and increasing the return on taxpayer dollars.

In addition to the grant funding, CNCS is making available $163 million in education scholarships for AmeriCorps members serving under these grants.  After completing a full term of service, members receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,645 to pay for college or to pay back student loans.

“While they serve others, AmeriCorps members also expand opportunity for themselves - gaining skills, experience, and college money to help them jumpstart their careers,” said Bill Basl, director of AmeriCorps. “We are looking for men and women of all ages who want to serve and make a difference for their country.”

The AmeriCorps grants include funding for some of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations for work that will improve the communities in the following areas: 

• Disaster Services: With $1.8 million, Washington Conservation Corps will support 280 AmeriCorps members to provide vital emergency response services in Washington State and across the country following disasters like Hurricane Sandy and the Oso, Wash. mudslide. Twenty AmeriCorps members will serve with the Ready Wisconsin AmeriCorps Disaster Preparedness Project to develop local emergency volunteer management plans and deliver emergency preparedness trainings with municipal, tribal, and county governments.
• Economic Opportunity: Nearly 3,000 AmeriCorps members will gain valuable career and citizenship skills while constructing and rebuilding homes for low-income communities through an $8.5 million dollar grant to YouthBuild USA. $1.5 million will support 140 College Possible AmeriCorps members across the country who will prepare students for success in post-secondary education through academic and college preparation.
• Education: Jumpstart’s $6.5 million grant will support 3,300 AmeriCorps members who will work with preschool-age children to help them build language and literacy school, resulting in increased school readiness. 20 AmeriCorps members in Berea College’s PartnerCorps STEM program will provide math tutoring, while connecting mathematics to STEM career pathways at three rural high schools in Madison County, Kentucky.
• Environmental Stewardship:  Keepers of the Land AmeriCorps will utilize 92 AmeriCorps members to improve public lands through habitat restoration, trail work, and disaster response. $322,500 will support 27 AmeriCorps members serving with the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, where they will improve damaged and at-risk ecosystems in small Appalachian towns.
• Health: Throughout California, 150 AmeriCorps members will provide crisis intervention and parenting education to parents at-risk for child abuse and neglect through the Child Abuse Prevention Council. 500 AmeriCorps members serving with the National Association of Community Health Centers will work to improve healthcare for medically underserved populations in 18 states and Washington, DC.
• Veterans and Military Families: Student Conservation Association’s Veteran Fire AmeriCorps will engage 148 post-9/11 veterans in fuels mitigation, fire prevention, fire disaster response, and post-fire restoration on public lands, helping veterans gain valuable career skills as they transition back to civilian life. A new grant to Catholic Charities USA will allow 15 veteran or military-spouse AmeriCorps members to serve as peer navigators to veterans and active military service members and their families, assisting them with accessing their benefits and meeting other health, mental health, educational, and social service needs.

In addition to the $205 million in competitive AmeriCorps funding, CNCS is also awarding $115 million in formula funding to governor-appointed state service commissions.  These funds will be awarded this summer to organizations in their states to support additional AmeriCorps members. 

Most of the positions announced today will be available starting in the fall. Interested individuals can learn about available opportunities and submit an online application by visiting NationalService.gov.