Opportunity Information: Apply for CNCS 09 11 20
The FY 2021 AmeriCorps State and National Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number CNCS 09 11 20) is a discretionary grant program offered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that oversees AmeriCorps. The basic purpose of this funding is to support organizations that want to build or operate AmeriCorps programs by placing AmeriCorps members in structured national service positions that deliver measurable community benefits. Rather than funding general operating costs, the program is aimed at supporting service-based solutions where members carry out organized activities that strengthen communities and address priority needs.
A central requirement of the opportunity is that proposed service activities be evidence-based or evidence-informed. In practice, this means applicants are expected to design interventions that draw on credible research, prior evaluations, strong performance data, or established best practices, and then implement them in a way that can be tracked and assessed. The goal is to ensure that funded programs do more than provide volunteer hours; they should produce clear outcomes in the communities they serve and be able to explain why the chosen approach is likely to work.
AmeriCorps members are the key workforce supported through these grants. A member is an individual serving in an approved national service position, typically for a defined term of service, carrying out community service tasks such as tutoring and mentoring students, supporting workforce readiness efforts, improving public health outreach, helping communities prepare for or recover from disasters, assisting with housing stability and homelessness interventions, improving food access and nutrition initiatives, or working on environmental and natural resource projects. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits during their service term, which is one way the program makes service accessible to people who might not otherwise be able to volunteer full-time. After successfully completing their service, members earn the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from the National Service Trust, which can be used to pay for higher education costs or to repay qualified student loans, making the program both a community development tool and a pathway for member advancement.
The funding activity categories associated with this opportunity show how broad the program can be in terms of community impact. The listed categories include community development; disaster prevention and relief; education; employment, labor, and training; environment; food and nutrition; health; housing; and natural resources. The program is tied to CFDA number 94.006, which is the federal assistance listing historically used for AmeriCorps State and National funding.
Eligibility is wide and includes many types of public and private entities, reflecting the reality that effective national service programs can be housed in different kinds of institutions. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). This broad eligibility allows everything from state agencies to school systems to community-based nonprofits and higher education institutions to propose service models that fit local or regional needs.
The award instrument type is a grant, and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary, meaning funds are awarded through a competitive process rather than by formula. The posting record indicates an original closing date of January 6, 2021, with a creation date of September 11, 2020. The source data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, so an applicant would typically look to the full notice and related guidance for details such as funding ranges, match requirements, performance measure expectations, member slot structures, and compliance obligations.
Overall, this opportunity is designed for organizations that can responsibly manage a federal grant and operate an AmeriCorps program that deploys members in a disciplined, outcomes-focused way. The strongest fit is typically an organization that can articulate a clear community problem, select an intervention grounded in evidence, define what members will do day-to-day, and show how the program will measure results while also supporting members with appropriate supervision, training, and service-related benefits, culminating in members earning the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion.Apply for CNCS 09 11 20
- The Corporation for National and Community Service in the community development, disaster prevention and relief, education, employment, labor and training, environment, food and nutrition, health, housing, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2021 AmeriCorps State and National Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 94.006.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-09-11.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-06. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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FAQs: FY 2021 AmeriCorps State and National Grants (FON CNCS 09 11 20)
What is the FY 2021 AmeriCorps State and National Grants opportunity?
It is a discretionary (competitive) federal grant opportunity offered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (the federal agency that oversees AmeriCorps). The funding supports organizations that want to build or operate AmeriCorps programs by placing AmeriCorps members in structured national service positions that deliver measurable community benefits.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is CNCS 09 11 20.
What is the basic purpose of this funding?
The basic purpose is to support service-based solutions where AmeriCorps members carry out organized activities that strengthen communities and address priority needs, with an emphasis on measurable outcomes.
Does this grant fund general operating costs?
The information provided emphasizes that the program is not intended to fund general operating costs. Instead, it is aimed at supporting service-based solutions implemented through AmeriCorps member positions and tracked for community results.
What is meant by placing members in "structured national service positions"?
It means members serve in approved, organized roles with defined service terms and responsibilities. These roles are designed around planned activities (not ad hoc volunteering) that are intended to produce measurable benefits in the community.
What is a central requirement for proposed service activities under this opportunity?
A central requirement is that proposed service activities be evidence-based or evidence-informed. Applicants are expected to use credible research, prior evaluations, strong performance data, or established best practices to design interventions that can be tracked and assessed.
What does "evidence-based" or "evidence-informed" mean in practice for applicants?
Based on the provided description, it means applicants should design an intervention grounded in credible support (research, evaluations, performance data, or best practices) and implement it in a way that allows performance and outcomes to be measured.
What is the program trying to achieve beyond providing volunteer hours?
The goal is for funded programs to produce clear outcomes in the communities served and to be able to explain why the chosen approach is likely to work, rather than simply generating service hours.
Who are AmeriCorps members in the context of this grant?
AmeriCorps members are individuals serving in approved national service positions for defined terms of service. They are the key workforce supported through these grants and carry out community service tasks aligned with program goals.
What kinds of activities might AmeriCorps members perform?
Examples listed include tutoring and mentoring students, supporting workforce readiness efforts, improving public health outreach, helping communities prepare for or recover from disasters, assisting with housing stability and homelessness interventions, improving food access and nutrition initiatives, and working on environmental and natural resource projects.
Do AmeriCorps members receive compensation or benefits during service?
The information provided states that members may receive a living allowance and other benefits during their service term, which helps make service accessible to people who might not otherwise be able to volunteer full-time.
What education benefit can members earn after completing service?
After successfully completing their service, members earn the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from the National Service Trust.
How can the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award be used?
The Education Award can be used to pay for higher education costs or to repay qualified student loans.
What community impact areas (funding activity categories) are associated with this opportunity?
The listed categories include community development; disaster prevention and relief; education; employment, labor, and training; environment; food and nutrition; health; housing; and natural resources.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program is tied to CFDA number 94.006, historically used for AmeriCorps State and National funding.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant opportunity?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education).
Are nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status eligible?
Yes. The provided eligibility description includes nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, with the condition noted that they are eligible as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
Are tribal governments or tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments.
What is the award instrument type?
The award instrument type is a grant.
What does it mean that the opportunity is "discretionary"?
It means funds are awarded through a competitive process rather than by formula.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close (based on the posting record)?
The creation date listed is September 11, 2020, and the original closing date listed is January 6, 2021.
Does the provided information state the maximum award amount (award ceiling) or the expected number of awards?
No. The source data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
Where would an applicant typically look for details like funding ranges, match requirements, or performance measure expectations?
The provided information indicates that an applicant would typically look to the full notice and related guidance for details such as funding ranges, match requirements, performance measure expectations, member slot structures, and compliance obligations.
What type of organization is usually the best fit for this opportunity?
Based on the description, the strongest fit is typically an organization that can responsibly manage a federal grant, articulate a clear community problem, select an intervention grounded in evidence, define member day-to-day activities, and measure results while supporting members through supervision, training, and service-related benefits.
What are the key elements a strong application should be able to describe (based on the summary provided)?
The summary highlights the importance of: (1) a clear community problem, (2) an evidence-based or evidence-informed intervention, (3) defined member roles and activities, (4) measurable outcomes and a plan to track and assess results, and (5) appropriate member support such as supervision, training, and benefits, culminating in eligibility for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion.
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