Funding for AmeriCorps 20th Anniversary and 9/11 Day of Service Activities

Posted by on April 28, 2014

PennSERVE: The Governor’s Office of Citizen Service

Announcement of Grant Availability (AGA):
Funding for AmeriCorps 20th Anniversary and 9/11 Day of Service Activities

DUE: May 29, 2014

Grant Summary

The purpose of this funding is to support activities to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of AmeriCorps on September 12, 2014 for AmeriCorps members serving in Pennsylvania. Grants may also include activities for the 9/11 Day of Service.

Applicants may apply to offer an event in one of three regions in Pennsylvania (Eastern, Central, or Western) or may apply to offer a central event for all AmeriCorps members in the state.  The 20th Anniversary event proposed MUST take place on September 12, 2014.

All proposals narratives must include:
•    Clear plans to engage all AmeriCorps members serving in the region that the applicant is proposing to serve, or the entire state if proposing a state-wide event
•    A space /venue to accommodate AmeriCorps programs and their members for the 20th Anniversary swearing-in ceremony at a specific time to be designated by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
•    A service project large enough to allow all AmeriCorps members present to participate
•    A mid-day meal for all AmeriCorps members and staff present

A.    Project Sponsor: This solicitation is offered through PennSERVE: The Governor’s Office of Citizen Service.  PennSERVE is located within the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry and is the state commission for AmeriCorps.  Funding is provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

B.    Eligible Applicants:  Eligible organizations include public or private nonprofit organizations, including labor organizations, community and faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education, government agencies, and partnerships or consortia.

C.    Application Deadline:  Applications must be received by May 29, 2014.

D.    Funding Availability: A total of $17,452 is available.  There is no maximum or minimum grant amount.

E.    Eligible Costs:  Funding must be used to plan and carry out events for the 20th Anniversary of AmeriCorps.  Applicants may include events for the 9/11 Day of Service.

All activities must take place in Pennsylvania and any service projects must benefit individuals or organizations residing in the United States.

Service projects should align with the Corporation for National and Community Service focus areas of Disaster Services, Veterans and Military Families, and/or Capacity Building (particularly related to Education).

F.    Match Requirement:  Grantees are required to provide a 100% match. Special consideration will be given to applicants that can provide a larger amount of match.

Acceptable sources of matching funds are federal, state, local, private sector, and/or other funds in accordance with applicable AmeriCorps requirements.

In-kind contributions may be used as match, including any meals provided during 20th Anniversary activities, any supplies used for service projects, and staff time.

Note: The CNCS legislation permits the use of non-CNCS federal funds as match for the grantee share of the budget.  Please discuss your intention of using federal funds to match an AmeriCorps grant with the other agency prior to submitting your application.

G.    Reporting Requirements:  All recipients of these funds must provide PennSERVE with bi-weekly updates of the project’s progress.

Applicants will be required to submit backing documentation for all invoices.  Applicants must present sign-in sheets containing names of all AmeriCorps members present at the event and provide a brief summary of the events that took place.

Applicants must submit a final invoice to PennSERVE no later than October 1, 2014.

H.    Submission Requirements: Applicants must submit an application as outlined in “Application Criteria” below and must complete and submit all documents listed in the “Instructions for Application Submission,” on page 4.  All required documents can be found at http://www.dli.state.pa.us/pennserve.

I.    Contact Information: All questions regarding this grant should be submitted via e-mail to PennSERVE at pennserve@pa.gov.

For more information and to see the complete announcement, contact pennserve@pa.gov.