Washington D.C. — President George W. Bush proposed a nine percent increase in funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service in his 2005 budget request released today. The funding would allow more Americans than ever to meet community needs through serving in the Corporation's Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs.

The proposed 2005 budget, which covers the fiscal year starting October 1, 2004, requests $1.018 billion for the Corporation and its programs. This represents an increase of $82 million over the fiscal 2004 enacted levels. The budget would support 600,000 senior volunteers, 75,000 AmeriCorps members, and more than 1.5 million youth in service-learning activities.

"Once again President Bush has demonstrated his strong support for the Corporation and its programs," said Corporation CEO David Eisner in a statement. "Coming on the heels of the historic increase recently enacted for AmeriCorps, the 2005 budget request is another affirmation of the value of national and community service and the good our programs and grantees accomplish for our nation."

Highlights of the budget request include:

• $224 million for Senior Corps, including $70 million for RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), $107 million for the Foster Grandparent Program, and $47 million for the Senior Companion Program. In addition, the budget requests $20 million for the Silver Scholarships program, which will train and deploy 9,800 seniors to mentor and tutor young children in their communities. Each tutor who volunteers 500 hours will receive a $1,000 scholarship that can be transferred to a grandchild or other young person. The proposed funding increase of $12 million for RSVP, coupled with seniors serving in the Special Volunteer Program, the new Silver Scholarship program, and funding to expand online recruiting, will allow Senior Corps to reach the President's goal of 600,000 senior volunteers in 2005.
   
• $46 million for Learn and Serve America, a $3 million increase over fiscal 2004 and the first increase proposed in a decade. Learn and Serve America provides grants to state education agencies, schools, colleges, and nonprofit organizations to develop programs and curricula that link academic instruction with community service for more than one million students. The added funding will be targeted toward providing high-quality training for educators in service-learning.
   
• Funding to continue AmeriCorps at 75,000 members, the same class size as fiscal 2004. AmeriCorps received a historic funding increase in the 2004 omnibus appropriations bill signed by the President on January 23, 2004. That increase allowed the program to grow by 50 percent, from 50,000 members annually to 75,000 members annually. AmeriCorps members serve with thousands of national and local nonprofit and faith-based organizations. They teach and tutor children, make neighborhoods safer, respond to natural disasters, build affordable homes, and recruit community volunteers. The 2005 request includes $442 million for AmeriCorps grants and the National Service Trust, $96 million for AmeriCorps*VISTA, and $27 million for AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps).
   
• $15 million for Special Volunteer Programs, a 50 percent increase over fiscal 2004, to support homeland security activities in public safety, public health, and disaster relief and preparedness. The majority of volunteers are expected to be over 55.
   
• $10 million for Challenge Grants, a $7.6 million increase over fiscal 2004. This program, launched in 2003, awards grants for nonprofit organizations that match the Corporation's dollars at a ratio of more than 2 to 1. Grants were awarded to eight organizations, although 53 applied. The proposed increase will support more challenge grants and spur additional private support for nonprofits and charitable groups.
   
• $4 million for Next Generation Grants, a $3 million increase over fiscal 2004. Last year the Corporation launched this program to provide seed money to help plan and implement new service programs that have the potential to become national in scope. Grantees had received no prior funding from the Corporation and have organizational budgets of $500,000 or less. The Corporation received a record 1,100 applications for funding, the highest number of applications ever received for a Corporation grant competition. The proposed increase will allow the Corporation to support more high-quality grantees and is an important way to assist small faith-based and community organizations.
   
• The budget restores the operational and administrative line accounts required to oversee the Corporation's large network of programs and support its aggressive management reform agenda. Several accounts were not fully funded in the 2004 budget, including program administration, evaluation, and training and technical assistance. The 2005 budget restores those accounts, doubles investment in employee training, supports further improvements in the web-based grants management system, and provides funds for more active grantee oversight, including regular site visits and targeted technical assistance for high-risk grantees.

"This budget request is a sign of how vital our programs are to President Bush's goal of creating a new culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility in our nation," commented Corporation CEO Eisner. "Our employees, our members and volunteers, and the tens of thousands of community and faith-based organizations that are getting results and making a difference on the local level should feel that their work is being recognized and appreciated at the highest levels."

The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country through the Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs. Working with national and community nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups, schools, and local agencies, the Corporation engages Americans in meeting critical needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other areas while fostering the habits of good citizenship. The Corporation and its programs are a key part of USA Freedom Corps, the White House initiative to help all Americans answer the President's Call to Service. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.org.