PA AmeriCorps*State Program

Posted by on November 07, 2010

PennSERVE: The Governor’s Office for Citizen Service announces the availability of grant funding for the operation of AmeriCorps national service programs by community and faith-based organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions. AmeriCorps*State grants support the efforts of organizations to recruit and deploy AmeriCorps members and the volunteers with whom they work to address unmet needs. AmeriCorps*State grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible organizations that identify a problem(s) and persuasively demonstrate how deploying AmeriCorps members and community volunteers will produce significant impact. AmeriCorps members will be recruited, trained, supervised, and managed by the funded organization, and may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. Upon successful completion of their service, AmeriCorps members are eligible to receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from the National Service Trust. The grants support the administration of volunteer service programs that meet locally-identified needs in the areas of education, the environment, health, veterans, economic opportunity, disaster services and other critical areas.

An AmeriCorps member is an individual who is enrolled in an approved national service position and engages in community service. Most AmeriCorps programs place members with local organizations that share the program’s vision for change and have committed to helping meet the community need. The AmeriCorps members often work at partner sites to address a specific need, expand each organization’s capacity and build community involvement and support.

One of the most important roles AmeriCorps can play for an organization is the generation of volunteers. Through local volunteer generation, AmeriCorps members help sustain services in communities beyond the AmeriCorps grant period. Members also help nonprofit, charitable, and community faith-based organizations improve and expand the quality of services provided in a community.

Grant funds partially cover the expense of operating an AmeriCorps program and do not cover general organizational expenses. A cash or in-kind match of at least 24% of overall budget is required for first time applicants. Applicants that have been previously funded for AmeriCorps are subject to a higher match and should contact PennSERVE for more details.

For the application and further details, visit: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=18&objID=969693&mode=2.

The PA AmeriCorps*State Application/Agreement Deadline is 3p.m. Friday, December 3, 2010.