Atlanta - As leaders of America’s volunteer sector gathered here for the National Conference on Volunteering and Service, the Corporation for National and Community Service announced the availability of nearly $70 million in grant funding for the 2009-2010 program year.

Each year, AmeriCorps grants help hundreds of nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups, higher education institutions, and public agencies expand their reach and better meet their mission. The $68.9 million will be available to new and recompeting programs for the first year of three years of funding, with subsequent funding contingent on appropriations, compliance, and performance. More information is at http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp.

“AmeriCorps members make a real and lasting difference by helping communities fight poverty, mentor youth, care for veterans and seniors, raise graduation rates, provide health care, recover from disasters and tackle other challenges,” said Corporation CEO David Eisner. “These grants will give a powerful boost to strong organizations across the country that are tackling some of our country’s most difficult social problems.”

AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations to recruit, train, and manage AmeriCorps members who address community needs. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. Upon successful completion of their term of service, members receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that can be used to pay for college or pay back student loans.

For the 2009 competition, the Corporation will give special consideration to projects that address one or more of the agency’s five strategic goals: mobilizing more volunteers, ensuring a brighter future for all of America’s youth; engaging students in communities; harnessing Baby Boomers’ experience; and helping communities recover from and prepare for disasters. In addition, the Corporation will also give special consideration to programs designed to engage veterans as service recipients or providers. The Corporation anticipates that at least 15 percent of the funds will support applicants that have not received an AmeriCorps state or national operational grant in the last five years.

Roughly three-quarters of all AmeriCorps grant funding goes to governor-appointed state service commissions, which award subgrants to organizations in their states. The Corporation distributes most of the remainder of the grant funding directly to organizations operating in more than one state. The AmeriCorps state categories are state commission competitive, territories, states and territories without commissions, and the state education award programs. The AmeriCorps National categories are national direct, national professional corps, national planning, national education award program, and Indian tribes.

The application deadline for state commission competitive, territories, states and territories without commissions, state and national education award programs, national direct grantees, and Indian tribes is 5:00 p.m. EST on January 13, 2009. Applicants will be notified by May 31, 2009. For national direct planning grants and Indian tribes planning grants, the deadline is 5:00 pm EST on November 5, 2008, and applicants will be notified by January 16, 2009.

Since its creation in 1993, more than 540,000 men and women have served in AmeriCorps, providing 705 million hours of service. A longitudinal study released last month shows that AmeriCorps members not only help organizations extend their reach during their terms of service, but also well into the future as AmeriCorps alumni go on to become staff, volunteers, and board members. More than 60 percent of AmeriCorps alumni work in nonprofits or government.

The Corporation for National and Community Service improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. Each year the Corporation engages more than four million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet local needs through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.

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