SEATTLE - The Corporation for National and Community Service announced today that approximately $88 million in competitive funding is expected to be available to support nonprofit organizations that are new to AmeriCorps or that have previously completed a three-year grant cycle with the national service program.

The announcement was made today at the annual AmeriCorps grantee meeting in Seattle, which brought together more than 400 leaders of AmeriCorps programs and governor-appointed state service commissions from across the country. The AmeriCorps gathering was part of the larger National Conference on Volunteering and Service, an annual gathering of 2,400 leaders of America’s volunteer and service sector who come together to gain skills and develop strategies to engage more Americans more effectively in volunteer service to meet pressing social needs.

“Every year, the AmeriCorps family becomes stronger and more effective at solving problems and building a culture of citizenship,” said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation. “We’re looking for the best of the best nonprofit entrepreneurs across America to compete for these funds to help them expand their reach and effectiveness.”

The funding opportunity will place a particular emphasis on meeting four strategic goals identified in the Corporation’s new five-year Strategic Plan. Those goals are mobilizing more volunteers, ensuring a brighter future for all of America’s youth, engaging students in communities, and harnessing baby boomers’ experience.

AmeriCorps provides human and other resources to local and national nonprofit organizations to build their capacity to meet local needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other critical areas. Grants support organizations that use volunteer service as a strategy for addressing needs while also fostering in participants an ethic of civic responsibility.

Approximately $55.5 million of the $88 million for new and recompeting groups will be available under the States and Territories Competitive Program, which is administered by Governor-appointed state service commissions in nearly every state and in a number of U.S. territories. An additional $25 million is expected to be awarded directly by the Corporation to new and recompeting organizations that operate in two or more states. The remaining $7.6 million of competitive funds will be awarded through a number of other grant programs, including the Education Award Program, the National Professional Corps Program, and the Indian Tribes Program. In all, the Corporation anticipates that at least 15 percent of the new competitive funding—or $13.2 million—will support organizations, both faith-based and secular, that have not received AmeriCorps competitive operational funding for the past five years.

In return for completing a term of service, each AmeriCorps member is entitled to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award to pay for college or to pay back qualified student loans. Currently, the award stands at $4,725 for a year of full-time service and is pro-rated according to the actual amount of time served.

The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country through three programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. The mission of the Corporation is to build lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Together with the USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to build a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility in America. For more information, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov.

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