Governing Authorities and Guidance
- AmeriCorps State and National Policy and Guidance Page
- Grant Terms and Conditions and Certifications and Assurances
- The National and Community Service Act of 1990 as amended by the Serve America Act (PDF)
- AmeriCorps Regulations (XML)
- National Service Uniform Guidance Resources (also known as OmniCircular or SuperCircular)
- Compiled Statue and Regulations
Financial Management and Grant Administration
Federal Financial Management and Grant Administration Requirements
It is the responsibility of all grantees funded by CNCS to ensure appropriate stewardship of federal funds entrusted to them. Under our regulations, each grantee must maintain financial management systems that provide accurate, current, and complete recording and disclosure of the financial results of its program. To meet this requirement, you must have adequate accounting practices and procedures, internal controls, audit trails, and cost allocation procedures. Regulations require all organizations to have financial audits if they annually expend $750,000 or more under federal awards. This requirement applies to the organization’s total expenditures each fiscal year under all of its federal awards, not just an AmeriCorps grant.
See Financial and Grants Management for guidance on regulations, financial management and monitoring eCourses, the Federal Financial Report (FFR) and related FAQs, closeout documents, and additional financial management resources including guidance on subgrant award reporting.
National Service Criminal History Checks
The Corporation for National and Community Service has issued regulations requiring grantees to conduct and document National Service Criminal History Checks on AmeriCorps State and National program participants and staff members, as well as on participants in other Corporation programs.
eGrants
eGRANTS is the CNCS online grant application and reporting system; it is also the gateway to the My AmeriCorps system, which allows users to manage their programs and members. Available resources include a:
- Tutorial on how to create and manage an eGrants account.
Grantee Progress Reports
CNCS requires regular reporting of grant activities.
Member Enrollment
All programs are encouraged to begin the member enrollment process for AmeriCorps members as soon as possible after grant notification. This includes taking proactive steps to plan for member recruitment, citizenship verification, and National Service Criminal History Check processes well in advance of your expected member start dates.
Member Enrollment Policy
Training Materials For the Member Enrollment Process
- Member Enrollment Flow Chart (PDF)
- Member Enrollment Presentation (PDF)
- Recorded Webinar on the Member Enrollment Process (recorded April 30, 2019)
- Recorded Webinar on the Member Group Enrollment Process (recorded June 12, 2019)
- Member Group Enrollment Presentation (PDF)
Archived Policy Documents Related to Member Enrollment
- May 30, 2018 Policy Memo
- May 30, 2018 FAQs
- August 17, 2018 Additional Guidance for AmeriCorps State and National Grantees
Identity and Citizenship Verification Process
To serve in an approved AmeriCorps position, an individual must be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent alien of the United States (42 U.S.C. 12602(a)(3)). CNCS provides an automated system through which an individual's information can be verified by the Social Security Administration. AmeriCorps members cannot be enrolled until their citizenship status and Social Security Number validity has been verified.
Performance Measurement and Evaluation
Learning and Best Practices
- Knowledge Network - hub for CNCS training and technical assistance information among CNCS programs
- Employment Status of AmeriCorps Members Resources
- AmeriCorps State and National Member Health Care FAQs (PDF)
- Resources for New Direct AmeriCorps Grantees (PDF)
- Resources for AmeriCorps State and National Planning Grantees (PDF)