FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jul 05, 2016

Grants will support 44,500 AmeriCorps members across the U.S. and provide $174 million in scholarships to those who serve

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) today announced $402 million in AmeriCorps funding to put AmeriCorps members on the ground to address critical issues in communities across the U.S. 

The federal investment includes AmeriCorps competitive grants totaling $228 million, which will provide 44,554 Americans the opportunity to serve through AmeriCorps in more than 346 organizations across the country. AmeriCorps members will work in communities to strengthen education, provide disaster services, foster economic opportunity, assist veterans and military families, preserve the environment, and expand health services. A complete list of awards can be found here.

“AmeriCorps provides organizations the support to meet critical needs in communities around the nation,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. “AmeriCorps members are improving the lives of millions of citizens and making a powerful and lasting impact on the toughest challenges facing our nation. We salute these AmeriCorps members for standing up and serving our country.” 

The 2016 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. Organizations receiving grants include Habitat for Humanity, Teach For America, YouthBuild, City Year, and hundreds of other nonprofits, community and faith-based groups, universities, school districts, and local agencies.

AmeriCorps is a public-private partnership, and every AmeriCorps grantee leverages significant outside resources to operate their program. The $402 million in federal funding will leverage an additional investment of $626 million from the private sector, foundations, and other sources, strengthening community impact and increasing the return on taxpayer dollars.

CNCS is making available up to $174 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 $5,775 to pay for college or to pay back student loans.

“While they serve others, AmeriCorps members also expand opportunity for themselves – gaining the skills, experience, and college money to help 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: The Points of Light Disaster Services Project will engage 50 AmeriCorps members in conducting disaster preparedness education for vulnerable communities and engage community stakeholders in community resilience disaster exercises in 15 states. Through the AmeriCorps ACCESS Project, 47 members will provide disaster preparedness education and recruit disaster management volunteers in seven counties across North Carolina.
     
  • Economic Opportunity: Supported by $4.6 million grant, 350 AmeriCorps members will serve through Habitat for Humanity, building new homes, repairing existing homes, and revitalizing neighborhoods with 95 affiliates in 25 states across the country. Through the Milwaukee Christian Center YouthBuild program, 23 AmeriCorps members will construct affordable and accessible homes while receiving education and training that will lead to career paths and productive lives on the south side of Milwaukee.
     
  • Education: More than 250 AmeriCorps members serving with College Advising Corps provide college advising to low-income, first generation students in 253 underserved high schools in Arizona, California, Georgia, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Through Morehead State University, 30 AmeriCorps members will provide math and reading tutoring in elementary and middle schools to high-risk, economically disadvantaged students in 22 counties in Eastern Kentucky.
     
  • Environmental Stewardship: Under the Big Sky Watershed Corps Montana program, 27 AmeriCorps members will improve the health of Montana’s natural resources, reduce the impact of drought, and increase community members’ knowledge of environmentally conscious practices. Through the Utah Conservation Corps, 180 AmeriCorps members will restore habitat on 3,000 acres of public land, improve 200 miles of trails, and provide environmental education presentations to increase environmentally-conscious behavior across the state.  
     
  • Health: Through the Up2US Sports AmeriCorps Coach Across America program, 30 military veterans will serve as AmeriCorps members promoting the health and wellness of youth by providing sports-based youth-development programming in nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles. The Health Federation of Philadelphia will support 90 AmeriCorps members who will connect individuals with health and wellness education, increase access to health and social services, assist with health insurance enrollment, and provide health screenings to underserved youth and adults in Philadelphia, Pa.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Chicago, Ill.; and North Florida, Fla.
     
  • Veterans and Military Families:  Through Veterans Legal Corps, a program of Equal Justice Works, 400 AmeriCorps members will provide legal services and improve access to justice for veterans and other low-income individuals in 13 states and the District of Columbia. Under the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, 50 AmeriCorps members will act as peer mentors, connecting veterans and military families to services and benefits at colleges and with community partner sites across the state. 

In addition to the $402 million in AmeriCorps funding, CNCS is also awarding $130 million in formula funding to governor-appointed State Service Commissions. State Commissions will award funds to organizations in their states to support additional AmeriCorps members to increase community impact.

AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations at 21,000 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve. Since 1994, more than 980,000 Americans have earned more than $3 billon in AmeriCorps scholarships to help pay for college or pay back student loans. This fall, the nation will reach a milestone when the one-millionth AmeriCorps member is sworn-in, pledging to “get things done” for America.
 

AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country's most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.