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Washington, DC—The Corporation for National and Community Service announced today that it is making available approximately $600,000 in grant funding to organizations that commemorate the 2005 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday with volunteer service projects.
Service was at the heart of Dr. King's philosophy. "Everybody can be great because everybody can serve," he once said, and he urged Americans to take action to improve the lives of others. In recognition of that spirit, Congress in 1994 passed the King Holiday and Service Act, which directed the Corporation to support local efforts to make the King Holiday a day of service. Since then, millions of Americans have paid homage to Dr. King by serving in projects ranging from stocking food pantries to planting community gardens to training tutors for inner-city schools.
In the past, the Corporation has made grants directly to dozens of local organizations to support King Day service projects. This year, however, the Corporation has changed its approach and will make from two to five large grants of at least $100,000 to intermediary organizations for sub-granting locally. Successful applicants will be organizations or collaborations of organizations that have the ability to reach potential sub-grantees within a state or throughout a multi-state area.
“There is no better way to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and remember his legacy than through service,” said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation. “We anticipate that this new approach to distributing funds will allow more people than ever before to engage in service activities, helping to truly transform the King Holiday into a day on, rather than a day off.”
Eligible applicants include faith-based and secular community organizations, volunteer centers, Indian tribal organizations, state commissions on service, community foundations, and state and local government agencies. The grants require a match of at least 70 percent of the cost of the project, which can include cash and in-kind contributions. Organizations that receive funding must sponsor a minimum of 10 events and must expend at least 20 percent of award funds through sub-grants to other organizations or agencies. Grants are subject to availability of funding.
Organizations seeking sub-grants to support local projects must apply to one of the successful applicants. To be referred by the Corporation to the successful applicants, organizations are asked to send an email requesting funding to the Corporation at MLKday@cns.gov. Prospective sub-grantees should include the name of their organization, contact information, type of project for which they would like to receive funding, amount of funding requesting, and resources that they have identified to meet the 70 percent match requirement.
Information on the grant opportunity, application instructions, and the complete Notice of Funding Opportunity are available at www.mlkday.gov. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on October 12, 2004.
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. 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 www.nationalservice.gov.
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