2015-americorps-state-and-national-nofo-application-instructions-final-1.pdf

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

State and National Competitive New and Continuation Including:

As applicable to the Notice of Funding Opportunity or Notice of Funding Availability

OMB Control #: 3045-0047 Expiration Date: 1/31/2017

IMPORTANT NOTICE

These application instructions conform to the Corporation for National and Community Service’s online grant application system, eGrants. All funding announcements by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) are posted on www.nationalservice.gov and www.grants.gov.

Public Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 80 hours per submission, including reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing the form. Comments on the burden or content of this instrument may be sent to the Corporation for National and Community Service, Attn: Jennifer Bastress Tahmasebi, 1201 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20525.

CNCS informs people who may respond to this collection of information that they are not required to respond to the collection of information unless the OMB control number and expiration date displayed on page one are current and valid. (See 5 C.F.R. 1320.5(b)(2)(i).)

Privacy Act Notice: The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C § 552a) requires that the following notice be provided to you: The information requested on the AmeriCorps Application Instructions is collected pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 12581 - 12585 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 as amended, and 42 U.S.C. § 4953 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 as amended. Purposes and Uses - The information requested is collected for the purposes of reviewing grant applications and granting funding requests. Routine Uses - Routine uses may include disclosure of the information to federal, state, or local agencies pursuant to lawfully authorized requests. In some programs, the information may also be provided to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to determine the existence of any prior criminal convictions. The information may also be provided to appropriate federal agencies and Department contractors that have a need to know the information for the purpose of assisting the Department’s efforts to respond to a suspected or confirmed breach of the security or confidentiality or information maintained in this system of records, and the information disclosed is relevant and unnecessary for the assistance. Executive Summaries of all compliant applications received and applications of successful applicants will be published on the CNCS website as part of ongoing efforts to increase transparency in grantmaking. This is described in more detail in the Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity. The information will not otherwise be disclosed to entities outside of AmeriCorps and CNCS without prior written permission. Effects of Nondisclosure - The information requested is mandatory in order to receive benefits.

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act: Grant recipients will be required to report at www.FSRS.gov on all subawards over $25,000 and may be required to report on executive compensation for recipients and subrecipients. Recipients must have the necessary systems in place to collect and report this information. See 2 C.F.R. Part 170 for more information and to determine how these requirements apply.

Universal Identifier: Applications must include a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and register with the Central Contractor’s Registry (CCR). All grant recipients are required to maintain a valid registration, which must be renewed annually.

https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp http://www.nationalservice.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.fsrs.gov/

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Important Notice Application Resources Submitting Your Application in eGrants I. Applicant Info II. Application Info III. Narratives IV. Performance Measures V. Documents VI. Budget Instructions VII. Review, Authorize, and Submit VIII. Continuation Requests

Tables Table 1: Requirements in the AmeriCorps Regulations Table 2: Match Requirements in the AmeriCorps Regulations

ATTACHMENTS

These Attachments are Worksheets only. All information must be entered in eGrants.

A. SF-424 Facesheet (eGrants Applicant Info and Application Info Sections) B. Performance Measure Instructions (eGrants Performance Measures Section) C. Detailed Budget Instructions D. Budget Worksheet E. Detailed Budget Instructions for Fixed-Amount Grants F. Fixed-Amount Budget Worksheet G. Budget Checklist H. Alternative Match Instructions I. Beale Codes and County-Level Economic Data J. Assurances and Certifications (eGrants Authorize and Submit Section) K. Beneficiary Populations/Grant Characteristics(eGrants Performance Measures Section)………....…...……….48 L. Logic Model Instructions for New and Recompeting Applicants…………………………………..……………49

APPLICATION RESOURCES

Please use these application instructions if you are a new or recompeting applicant to CNCS.

If you are submitting a request for continuation to CNCS, please see the Continuation Instructions which begin on page 12.

Use these instructions in conjunction with the Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity (Notice), and the AmeriCorps Regulations, 45 CFR §§ 2520–2550. The Notice includes deadlines, eligibility requirements, submission requirements, maximum amount of funding per Member Service Year (MSY),1 and other information that is specific to the grant competition.

The AmeriCorps regulations include pertinent information (see Table 1, below). The Notice can be found at http://www.nationalservice.gov/2015americorpsgrants. The full regulations are available online at www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr.

Table 1: Requirements in the AmeriCorps Regulations Topics Citation in the AmeriCorps Regulations

Member Service Activities §2520.20 - §2520.55 Prohibited Activities §2520.65 Tutoring Programs §2522.900-2522.950 Matching Funds §2521.35-2521.90 Member Benefits §2522.240-2522.250 Calculating Cost Per Member Service Year (MSY) §2522.485 Performance Measures §2522.500-2522.650 Evaluation §2522.500-2522.540 and §2522.700-2522.740 Selection Criteria and Selection Process §2522.400-2522.475

If there is any inconsistency between the AmeriCorps regulations, the Notice, and the Application Instructions, the order of precedence is as follows:

1. AmeriCorps regulations 45 CFR §§ 2520–2550 take precedence over the

2. Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity/Notice of Federal Funding Availability, which takes precedence over the

3. Application Instructions.

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION IN EGRANTS

New and Recompeting Applicants New applicants need to establish an eGrants account by accessing this link:

https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp and selecting “Don’t have an eGrants account? Create an account.”

In eGrants, before Starting Section I you will need to:

• Start a new Grant Application

• Select a Program Area (AmeriCorps)

• Select a NOFA (see the Notice for a listing)

Your application consists of the following components. Make sure to complete each section.

I. Applicant Info II. Application Info

1 One MSY is equivalent to at least 1700 service hours, a full-time AmeriCorps position. The CNCS cost per MSY is determined by dividing the CNCS share of budgeted grant costs by the number of MSYs requested in the application. It does not include childcare or the cost of the education award.

http://www.americorps.org/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr

III. Narratives IV. Performance Measures V. Documents VI. Budget VII. Review, Authorize, and Submit

I. Applicant Info Information entered in the Applicant Info, Application Info, and Budget sections will populate the SF 424 Facesheet.

If you are submitting your application in hard copy, you will find the SF 424 in Attachment A.

• If you are recompeting (in the final year of a competitive funding cycle and applying for a new grant cycle), select Continuation/Renewal

• If you are not a current grantee, but have received a competitive AmeriCorps grant in the past five years, select Continuation/Renewal

• If you are applying for the first time, have only received formula funding in the past, or are a former grantee (non-formula) whose last AmeriCorps grant was received more than five years ago, , select New

• If you are a current planning grantee applying for an implementation grant, select New

Enter or update the requested information in the fields that appear. The contact person needs to be the person who can answer questions about the application.

II. Application Info In the Application Info Section enter:

• Areas affected by your proposed program. Please include the two-letter abbreviation with both letters capitalized for each state where you plan to operate. Separate each two-letter state abbreviation with a comma. For city or county information, please follow each one with the two-letter capitalized state abbreviation.

• Requested project period start and end dates. The length of the project period is specified in the Notice.

• Enter Funding Type

• State Application Identifier: Enter N/A.

• The Application is Subject to Review by State Executive Order 12372 Process: This is pre-filled as “No, this is not applicable.”

• Indicate Yes or No if you are delinquent on any federal debt. If yes, send explanation as described in Section V.D.

• Leave the box for “Program Initiative” blank unless otherwise noted in the Notice.

In the Funding/Demographics Section enter:

• Total Local, State, and Federal Government Match. Enter the dollar amount of local, state, and federal government match being proposed. The “Total Private Match” + the “Total Local, State, and Federal Government Match” should equal the “Total Match.”

• Total Private Match. Enter the dollar amount of private match being proposed. The “Total Private Match” + the “Total Local, State, and Federal Government Match” should equal the “Total Match.”

• Total Match. Enter the total dollar amount of match being proposed.

• Other Revenue funds. Enter the amount of funds that your program uses to run the program that are not CNCS share or match.

• Number of Episodic Volunteers Generated by AmeriCorps members. Please enter the number of volunteers that will be participating in one day service projects that the proposed AmeriCorps members will generate.

• Number of Ongoing Volunteers Generated by AmeriCorps members. Please enter the number of volunteers that have an ongoing volunteer commitment that the proposed AmeriCorps members will generate.

• Percentage of MSYs who are opportunity youth

• Number of reported in O15 who are opportunity youth

• Number of reported in O17 who are opportunity youth

In the Program Information Section:

General Information: select either Yes or No from the drop down menu

• My organization has received an AmeriCorps State and National Grant.Organizations that have been a host site for AmeriCorps members but never had a direct grant relationship with either a State Commission or CNCS should answer No.

• Opt in to the National Service Registry. Applicants wishing to make information from their application to potential private sector funders can opt in during the application process.

2015 AmeriCorps Funding Priorities Check any priority area(s) that apply to the proposed program. In order to receive priority consideration, applicants must demonstrate that the priority area is a significant part of the program focus, high quality program design, and outcomes.

• Disaster Services

• Economic Opportunity – especially opportunity youth

• Education - improving student academic performance including STEM

• Environment – 21St Century Service corps

• Veterans and Military Families

• Governor and Mayor Initiative

• Programming that supports My Brother’s Keeper

• Multi-focus Intermediary

• No NOFO priority area

Populations Served Check the appropriate box(es) to identify the populations the proposed program will serve. If you do not plan to serve any of the listed populations, select "None of the above."

• Individuals who are homeless.

• Adult ESL participants.

• Youth ESL participants.

• Disadvantaged youth (K-12).

• Head Start participants.

• Immigrants and refugees.

• Indiviudals receiving hospice or other care for terminal illness.

• Individuals receiving mental health services.

• Individuals receiving substance abuse services.

• Individuals with HIV/AIDS.

• Individuals with physical or developmental disabilities.

• Senior Citizens

• Victims/Survivors of violence and abuse.

• Veterans.

• Veteran family members

• Caregivers.

• None of the Above

Grant Characteristics Check any grant characteristics that apply to the proposed program:

• Encore Program

• Faith organizations

• Community-based organizations,

• SIG/Priority Schools

• Professional Corps

• STEM Program

• Geographic Focus – Urban

• Geographic Focus – Rural

• None of the the above grant characteristics

AmeriCorps Identity/Co-branding Questions. Check all that apply

In the Multi-State Operating Section (For applicants that are operating in more than one state):

• Please fill in the following information for your operating sites: organization name, address, city, and state, zipcode + 0000 (egrants will correct the last four digits to the correct numbers),amount of funding going to the operating site, number of proposed AmeriCorps members that will be located at the site.

III. Narratives

The narrative section of the application is your opportunity to convince reviewers that your project meets the selection criteria as outlined in the Notice. Below are some general recommendations to help you present your project in a way the reviewers will find compelling and persuasive.

• Lead from your program strengths and be explicit. Do not make the mistake of trying to stretch your proposed program description to fit each funding priority and special consideration articulated in the regulations or the Notice.

• Be clear and succinct. Reviewers are not interested in jargon, boilerplate, rhetoric, or exaggeration.

They are interested in learning precisely what you intend to do, and how your project responds to the selection criteria presented below.

• Avoid circular reasoning. The problem you describe should not be defined as the lack of the solution you are proposing.

• Explain how. Avoid simply stating that the criteria will be met. Explicitly describe how the proposed project will meet the criteria.

• Don’t make assumptions. Even if you have received funding from CNCS in the past, do not assume your reviewers know anything about you, your proposed program, your partners, or your beneficiaries.

Avoid overuse of acronyms.

• Use an impartial proofreader. Before you submit your application, let someone who is completely unfamiliar with your project read and critique the project narrative.

• Follow the instructions and discuss each criterion in the order they are presented in the instructions. Use headings to differentiate narrative sections by criterion.

In eGrants, you will enter text for

• Executive Summary.

• Rationale and Approach (Program Design).

• Organizational Capability.

• Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy.

• Evaluation Plan.

Note: The Narratives Section also includes fields for Clarification Information, Amendment Justification, and Continuation Changes. Please enter N/A in these fields. They will be used at a later date to enter information for clarification following review, to request amendments once a grant is awarded, and to enter changes in the narrative in continuation requests.

Reviewers will assess your application against the selection criteria. To best respond to the criteria listed in the Notice and Application Instructions, we suggest that you include a brief discussion of each bullet if it pertains to your application.

A. Executive Summary Please complete the executive summary per the guidance in the Notice.

B. Selection Criteria

Each application must clearly describe a project that will effectively deploy AmeriCorps members to solve a significant community problem. Specifics about the selection criteria are published in the Notice.

1. Rationale and Approach/ Program Design (50 percent) In assessing Rationale and Approach/ Program Design, reviewers will examine the degree to which the applicant demonstrates how AmeriCorps members are particularly well-suited to solving the identified community problem.

2. Organizational Capability (25 percent) Reviewers will assess the extent to which the applicant demonstrates organizational background and staffing, sustainability, compliance and accountability, enrollment and retention (for current and former grantees), consultation with State Commissions(not required for Indian Tribes), and operating and member service sites (as indicated in the Notice.)

3. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25 percent) In assessing Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy, reviewers will examine the degree to which the intervention being proposed is cost effective and the budget is appropriate for the program being proposed.

C. Evaluation Summary or Plan If you are competing for the first time, please enter N/A in the Evaluation Summary or Plan field since it pertains only to recompeting grantees. If you are recompeting for AmeriCorps funds for the first time please follow the guidance in the NOFO.

D. Amendment Justification Enter N/A. This field will be used if you are awarded a grant and need to amend it.

E. Clarification Information Enter N/A. This field will be used to enter information that requires clarification in the post-review period. Please clearly label new information added during clarification with the date.

F. Continuation Changes Enter N/A. This field will be used to enter changes in your narratives in your continuation requests.

IV. Performance Measures Applicants must check the relevant boxes in the Performance Measure tab in eGrants in order to be considered for CNCS’ assessment of the strategic considerations and Special Initiatives.

Grant Characteristics:

• AmeriCorps member Population – Communities of Color

• AmeriCorps member Population – Low-income individuals

• AmeriCorps member Population – Native Americans

• AmeriCorps member Population – New Americans

• AmeriCorps member Population – Older Americans

• AmeriCorps member Population – People with Disabilities

• AmeriCorps member Population – Rural Residents

• AmeriCorps member Population – Veterans, Active Military, or their Families

• AmeriCorps member Population – Economically disadvantaged young adults/Opportunity Youth

• AmeriCorps member Population – None of the above categories

All applicants must submit performance measures with their application. See Attachment B for instructions for entering performance measures.

For more information about Performance Measures go to: http://www.nationalserviceresources.gov/npm/ac.

For more information about the National Performance Measures go to:

http://www.nationalserviceresources.gov/npm/ac.

V. Documents In addition to the application submitted in eGrants, you are required to provide your evaluation, labor union concurrence (if necessary – see B., below) a federally-approved indirect cost agreement (if applicable and as indicated in the Notice), and other required documents listed in the Notice (if applicable) via the e-mail listed in the Notice, as part of your application. After you have submitted the documents, change their status in eGrants from the default “Not Sent” to the applicable status “Sent,” “Not Applicable,” or “Already on File at CNCS.”

A. Evaluation Submit any completed evaluation plan or report as described in E., below. Select Evaluation and select “Sent” once you have submitted a completed evaluation plan or report. If an evaluation is required, you must submit a copy at the time of application even if you think CNCS may already have it on file.

B. Labor Union Concurrence

1) If a program applicant:

a) Proposes to serve as the placement site for AmeriCorps members; and

b) Has employees engaged in the same or substantially similar work as that proposed to be carried out by

AmeriCorps members; and

c) Those employees are represented by a local labor organization, then the application must include the written concurrence of the local labor organization representing those employees. Written concurrence can be in the form of a letter or e-mail from the local union leadership.

2) If a program applicant:

a) Proposes to place AmeriCorps members at sites where they will be engaged in the same or substantially similar work as employees represented by a local labor organization, then the applicant must submit a written description of how it will ensure that:

i) AmeriCorps members won’t be placed in positions that were recently occupied by paid staff.

ii) No AmeriCorps member will be placed into a position for which a recently resigned or discharged employee has recall rights as a result of a collective bargaining agreement, from which a recently resigned or discharged employee was removed as a result of a reduction in force, or from which a recently resigned/discharged employee is on leave or strike.

For the purposes of this section, “program applicant” includes any applicant to CNCS or a State Commission, as well as any entity applying for assistance or approved national service positions through a CNCS grantee or subgrantee.

If either 1) or 2) above applies to you, please select “Enter New,” name the new document 1) “Labor Union Concurrence,” or 2) “Displacement Assurance” and select “Sent.”

C. Federally-approved Indirect Cost Agreement Applicants applying directly to CNCS that include a federally approved indirect cost rate amount in their budget must submit the approved indirect cost rate agreement to americorpsgrants@cns.gov at the same time they submit their application.

D. Other Documents Provide other required documents list in the Notice (if applicable) via the email listed in the Notice, as part of your application.

E. Delinquent on Federal Debt Any applicant that checks Yes to the question on federal debt delinquency must submit a complete explanation to the CNCS Office of Grants Management.

F. Submission Instructions for Evaluations, Labor Union Concurrence, Indirect Cost Rate Agreements, and Other Required Documents http://www.nationalserviceresources.gov/npm/ac mailto:americorpsgrants@cns.gov

Please submit the required documents to the email listed in the Notice with the subject line of the name of your organization and the application ID number. This information must be received at CNCS by the deadline in the Notice.

VI. Budget Instructions

For Fixed-Amount grants, including EAPs: Use the Budget Instructions for Fixed-Amount applicants (Attachment E) and the Budget Worksheet (Attachment F) to prepare your budget.

A. Match Requirements Program requirements, including requirements on match are located in the AmeriCorps regulations and summarized below.

Table 2: Match Requirements in the AmeriCorps Regulations Grant Type Match Requirement Cost Reimbursement including Professional Corps, States and Territories without Commissions, Indian Tribes

Minimum grantee share is 24% of program costs for the first three years. Overall grantee share of total program costs increases gradually beginning in Year 4 to 50% by the tenth year of funding and any year thereafter.

EAP Fixed-amount Grants There are no specific match requirements for fixed-amount grants. Grantees pay all program costs over $800 per MSY provided by CNCS.

Professional Corps Fixed-amount Grants There are no specific match requirements for fixed-amount grants. Grantees pay all program costs over the $2,000 per MSY provided by CNCS.

Stipended Fixed-amount Grants There are no specific match requirements for full-time Fixed-amount grants. Grantees pay all program costs over the maximum $13,000 per MSY provided by

CNCS.

• Grantees are required to meet an overall matching rate that increases over time. You have the flexibility to meet the overall match requirements in any of the three budget areas, as long as the minimum match of 24% for the first three years, and the increasing minimums in years thereafter, are maintained. See 45 CFR §§ 2521.35–

2521.90 for the specific regulations.

• If you are applying for the first time, you must match with cash or in-kind contributions at least 24% of the project’s total Operating Costs (Section I) plus Member Costs (Section II) plus Administrative Costs (Section III). If you are recompeting, please see 45 CFR §§ 2521.40-2521.95 for the match schedule.

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

• In Section III of the budget, enter a brief description of the source of match. Identify each match source separately. Include dollar amount, the match classification (cash, in-kind, or Not Available) and the source type (Private, State/Local, Federal, Other or Not Available). Define all acronyms the first time they are used.

• See Attachment I for instructions for applying for the Alternative Match Schedule.

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. Section 121(e)(5) of the National Community Service Act requires that grantees that use other federal funds as match for an AmeriCorps grant report the amount and source of these funds to CNCS. If you use other federal funds as match, you must ensure you can meet the requirements and purpose of both grants. The Federal Financial Report (FFR) will be used to collect the federal match data. Grantees that use federal funds as match will be required to report the sources and amounts on the FFR.

B. Preparing Your Budget Your proposed budget should be sufficient to allow you to perform the tasks described in your narrative. Reviewers will consider the information you provide in this section in their assessment of the Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy selection criterion.

Follow the detailed budget instructions in Attachment C to prepare your budget. We recommend that you prepare your budget in the same order as indicated in the Budget Worksheets in Attachments C and D.

As you enter your detailed budget information, eGrants will automatically populate a budget summary and budget narrative report. Prior to submission be sure to review the budget checklist (Attachment G) to ensure your budget is compliant. In addition, eGrants will perform a limited compliance check to validate the budget. If it finds any compliance issues you will receive a warning and/or error messages. You must resolve all errors before you can submit your budget.

As you prepare your budget:

• All the amounts you request must be defined for a particular purpose. Do not include miscellaneous, contingency, or other undefined budget amounts.

• Itemize each cost and present the basis for all calculations in the form of an equation.

• Do not include unallowable expenses, e.g., entertainment costs (which include food and beverage costs) unless they are justified as an essential component of an activity.

• Do not include fractional amounts (cents).

Please refer to the relevant OMB Circulars on allowable costs for further guidance. The OMB circulars are online at www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/circulars.

• Cost Principles for Educational Institutions

• Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments

• Cost Principles for Non Profit Organizations

Programs must comply with all applicable federal laws, regulations, and OMB circulars for grant management, allowable costs, and audits, including providing audits to the A-133 clearinghouse if expending over $750,000 in federal funds, as required in OMB Circular A-133.

VII. Review, Authorize, and Submit eGrants requires that you review and verify your entire application before submitting, by completing the following sections in eGrants:

• Review

• Authorize

• Assurances

• Certifications

• Verify

• Submit

Read the Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications carefully (Attachment J). The person who authorizes the application must be the applicant’s Authorized Representative or his/her designee and must have an active eGrants account to sign these documents electronically. An Authorized Representative is the person in your organization authorized to accept and commit funds on behalf of the organization. A copy of the governing body’s authorization for this official representative to sign must be on file in the applicant’s office.

Be sure to check your entire application to ensure that there are no errors before submitting it. eGrants will also generate a list of errors if there are sections that need to be corrected prior to submission when you verify the application. If someone else is acting in the role of the applicant’s authorized representative, that person must log into his/her eGrants account and proceed with Authorize and Submit. After signing off on the Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications, his/her name will override any previous signatory that may appear and show on the application as the Authorized Representative.

Note: Anyone within your organization who will be entering information in the application at any point during application preparation and submission in the eGrants system must have their own eGrants account. Individuals may establish an eGrants account by accessing this link: https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp and selecting “Don’t have an eGrants account? Create an account.”

CONTINUATION REQUESTS

The following instructions for submitting a continuation request apply only to programs that are currently in their first or second year of operation within a grant cycle. If your program is currently in the final year of its grant cycle, you must apply using the application instructions for new and recompeting programs. In addition, if you are in year two or three of a cost-reimbursement grant cycle, you need to submit a new application to participate in the fixed-amount grant; you cannot continue your existing project period and switch from cost-reimbursement to fixed-amount. CNCS reserves the right to consider your continuation request if your fixed-amount application is not funded.

When to Submit Your Continuation Request:

See the Notice for application deadlines.

How to Submit Your Continuation Request:

• Click Continuation/Renewal on your eGrants home page. You will be shown a list of grants that are eligible to be continued. Select the grant you wish to continue. Make sure you select the correct one. Do not start a new application. The system will copy your most recently awarded application.

• Edit your continuation application as directed in the continuation request instructions below. When you have completed your work, click the SUBMIT button.

Be sure you also review the Notice when preparing your request. If you have questions about the content of your continuation request, please contact your Program Officer.

What to Include in Your Continuation Request:

I. Applicant Info and Application Info Update the Applicant Info and Application Info Sections in eGrants if necessary. Note in the Continuation Changes field that you have updated the Applicant Info or Application Info Section(s).

Application Info In the Application Info Section enter:

• Areas affected by your proposed program. Please include the two-letter abbreviation with both letters capitalized for each state where you plan to operate. Separate each two-letter state abbreviation with a comma. For city or county information, please follow each one with the two-letter capitalized state abbreviation.

• Requested project period start and end dates. The length of the project period is specified in the Notice.

• Enter Funding Type

• State Application Identifier: Enter N/A.

• The Application is Subject to Review by State Executive Order 12372 Process: This is pre-filled as “No, this is not applicable.”

• Indicate Yes or No if you are delinquent on any federal debt. If yes, send explanation as described in Section V.D.

• Leave the box for “Program Initiative” blank unless otherwise noted in the Notice.

In the Funding/Demographics Section enter:

• Total Local, State, and Federal Government Match. Enter the dollar amount of local, state, and federal government match being proposed. The “Total Private Match” + the “Total Local, State, and Federal Government Match” should equal the “Total Match.”

• Total Private Match. Enter the dollar amount of private match being proposed. The “Total Private Match” + the “Total Local, State, and Federal Government Match” should equal the “Total Match.”

• Total Match. Enter the total dollar amount of match being proposed.

• Other Revenue funds. Enter the amount of funds that your program uses to run the program that are not CNCS share or match.

• Number of Episodic Volunteers Generated by AmeriCorps members. Please enter the number of volunteers that will be participating in one day service projects that the proposed AmeriCorps members will generate.

• Number of Ongoing Volunteers Generated by AmeriCorps members. Please enter the number of volunteers that have an ongoing volunteer commitment that the proposed AmeriCorps members will generate.

• Percentage of MSYs who are opportunity youth

• Number of reported in O15 who are opportunity youth

• Number of reported in O17 who are opportunity youth

In the Program Information Section:

General Information: select either Yes or No from the drop down menu

• My organization has received an AmeriCorps State and National Grant. Organizations that have been a host site for AmeriCorps members but never had a direct grant relationship with either a State Commission or CNCS should answer No.

• Opt in to the National Service Registry. Applicants wishing to make information from their application to potential private sector funders can opt in during the application process.

2015 AmeriCorps Funding Priorities Check any priority area(s) that apply to the proposed program. In order to receive priority consideration, applicants must demonstrate that the priority area is a significant part of the program focus, high quality program design, and outcomes.

• Disaster Services

• Economic Opportunity – especially opportunity youth

• Education - improving student academic performance including STEM

• Environment – 21St Century Service corps

• Veterans and Military Families

• Governor and Mayor Initiative

• Programming that supports My Brother’s Keeper

• Multi-focus Intermediary

• No NOFO priority area

Populations Served Check the appropriate box(es) to identify the populations the proposed program will serve. If you do not plan to serve any of the listed populations, select "None of the above."

• Individuals who are homeless.

• Adult ESL participants.

• Youth ESL participants.

• Disadvantaged youth (K-12).

• Head Start participants.

• Immigrants and refugees.

• Individuals receiving hospice or other care for terminal illness.

• Individuals receiving mental health services.

• Individuals receiving substance abuse services.

• Individuals with HIV/AIDS.

• Individuals with physical or developmental disabilities.

• Senior Citizens

• Victims/Survivors of violence and abuse.

• Veterans.

• Veteran family members

• Caregivers.

• None of the Above

Grant Characteristics

Check any grant characteristics that apply to the proposed program:

• Encore Program

• Faith organizations

• Community-based organizations,

• SIG/Priority Schools

• Professional Corps

• STEM Program

• Geographic Focus – Urban

• Geographic Focus – Rural

• None of the above grant characteristics

AmeriCorps Identity/Co-branding Questions. Check all that apply

• In the Multi-State Operating Sites Section (For applicants that are operating in more than one state): Please fill in the following information for your operating sites: organization name, addresss, city, and state, zip code +0000 (egrants will correct the last four digits to the correct numbers), amount of funding going to the operating site, number of proposed AmeriCorps members that will be located at the site.

II. Narrative (Narratives Section) Your original application will appear in the Executive Summary and in the narrative sections Rationale and Approach/Program Design, Organizational Capability, Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy, Evaluation Summary or Plan, Amendment Justification, Clarification Information, and Continuation Changes, as appropriate.

Do not enter continuation changes in the original narrative fields. If you are not proposing changes to your continuation request, simply leave your original narrative as it is, and enter No Changes in the Continuation Changes field.

If you have changes in any of these areas, please document them in the Continuation Changes field in eGrants. Clearly differentiate Year 2 and Year 3 continuation changes by using headings that label these as such.

Continuation changes may include, but are not limited to:

• New site locations.

• Expansion to new sites, including the need that will be met in expansion communities, activities of expansion members, and organizational capacity to support the expansion.

• Any changes in the budget.

• Any increase in requested cost per MSY. This applies even if the increased cost per MSY is less than the maximum or if the increase is due to increased costs set by CNCS.

Plans for improving enrollment, retention, or other compliance issues. If you enrolled less than 100% of slots received during your last full year of program operation, provide an explanation, and describe your plan for improvement in the Continuation Changes field.

If you were not able to retain all of your members during your last full year of program operation, provide an explanation, and describe your plan for improvement in the Continuation Changes field. We recognize retention rates may vary among equally effective programs depending on the program model. We expect grantees to pursue the highest retention rate possible.

If you are requesting to conduct new activities or additional MSYs, these also need to be reflected in the budget and the performance measures. The page limit for the Continuation Changes field is 6 pages, as the pages print out from eGrants.

In the Continuation Changes field, describe the manner and extent to which you consulted with the State Commission in the states in which you plan to operate (not applicable to Tribes).

III. Performance Measures (Performance Measures Section)

Applicants must check the relevant boxes in the Performance Measure tab in eGrants.

Grant Characteristics:

• AmeriCorps member Population – Communities of Color

• AmeriCorps member Population – Low-income individuals

• AmeriCorps member Population – Native Americans

• AmeriCorps member Population – New Americans

• AmeriCorps member Population – Older Americans

• AmeriCorps member Population – People with Disabilities

• AmeriCorps member Population – Rural Residents

• AmeriCorps member Population – Veterans, Active Military, or their Families

• AmeriCorps member Population – Economically disadvantaged young adults/Opportunity Youth

• AmeriCorps member Population – None of the above categories

Your performance measures are copied from your previous year’s application into your continuation request. If you made changes to your program, such as adding or changing grant-funded activities, or requesting additional slots or MSYs, you may need to revise your performance measures. To revise performance measures, “View/Edit” the performance measures that copy over from your original application, or add new performance measures (see Attachment B for instructions). Note in the Continuation Changes field that you have updated your performance measures.

IV. Budget (Budget Section) Your budget from the previous year’s application is copied into your continuation request so you can make the necessary adjustments. Revise your detailed budget for the upcoming year. Incorporate any required CNCS increases, such as an increase to the member living allowance into your budget. Justify any increases not required by CNCS. CNCS expects that the Cost per MSY for continuation applicants will decrease or remain the same. Any increase in Cost per MSY must be justified in the Continuation Changes field.

Source of Match In the “Source of Match” field that appears at the end of Budget Section III, enter a brief description of the Source of Match, the amount, the match classification (Cash, In-kind, or Not Available) and Match Source (State/Local, Federal, Private, Other) for your entire match. Define any acronyms the first time they are used.

V. Increasing Grantee Overall Share of Total Budgeted Costs Grantees are required to meet an overall matching rate that increases over time. You have the flexibility to meet the overall match requirements in any of the three budget areas, as long as the minimum match of 24% for the first three years, and the increasing minimums in years thereafter, are maintained. See 45 CFR §§ 2521.35–2521.90 for the specific regulations.

See Attachment H for instructions for applying for the Alternative Match Schedule.

ATTACHMENT A: Facesheet Instructions (eGrants Applicant Info and Application Info Sections) Modified Standard Form 424 (Rev. 11/02 to conform to eGrants) This form is required for applications submitted for federal assistance.

Item #

1. Filled in for your convenience.

2. Self-explanatory.

3. 3. a. and 3. b. are for state use only (if applicable).

4. Item 4. a: Leave blank.

Item 4. b: If you are a recipient in year 2 or 3 of an already-awarded grant, enter the grant number, otherwise, leave blank.

5. Enter the following information:

a. The complete name of the organization that will be legally responsible for the grant, not the name of the organizational unit within the legally responsible organization. (For example, indicate “National University” instead of “Liberal Arts Department.”)

b. Your organization’s DUNS number (received from Dun and Bradstreet). This is a required field.

Please see the Notice for instructions on how to obtain a DUNS number.

c. The name of the primary organizational unit that will undertake the assistance activity, if different from 5. a.

d. Your organization’s complete address with the 9 digit ZIP+ 4 code.

e. The name and contact information of the project director or other person to contact on matters related to this application.

6. Enter your Employer Identification Number (EIN) as assigned by the Internal Revenue Service.

7. Item 7. a.: Enter the appropriate letter in the box.

Item 7. b.: Please enter the characteristic(s) that best describe your organization.

K-12 Education Non-Profit Organizations 1 School (K-12) 11 Community-Based Organization 2 Local Education Agency 12 Faith-Based Organization 3 State Education Agency 13 Chamber of Commerce/ Business Association

14 Community Action Agency/ Program Higher Education 15 Service/Civic Organization

4 Vocational/Technical College 16 Volunteer Management Organization 5 Community College 17 Self-Incorporated Senior Corps Project 6 2-year College 18 Statewide Association 7 4-year College 19 National Non-Profit (Multistate) 8 Hispanic Serving College or University 20 Local Affiliate of National Organization 9 Historically Black College or University 21 Tribal Organization (Non-government)

10 Tribally Controlled College or University 22 Other Native American Organization

Government

23 Local Government-Municipal 28 Other State Government 24 Health Department 29 Tribal Government Entity

25 Law Enforcement Agency 30 Area Agency on Aging 26 Governor’s Office

U.S. Territory

27 State Commission/Alternative Administrative Entity

8. Check the appropriate box for type of application and enter the appropriate letter(s) in the lower boxes:

• If you are recompeting (in the final year of a competitive funding cycle and applying for a new grant cycle), select Continuation/Renewal

• If you are not a current grantee, but have received a competitive AmeriCorps grant in the past five years, select Continuation/Renewal

• If you are applying for the first time, but have only received formula funding in the past, or are a former grantee (non-formula) whose last AmeriCorps grant was received more than five years ago, select New

• If you are applying for the first time, have only received formula funding in the past, or are a former grantee (non-formula) whose last AmeriCorps grant was received more than five years ago, , select New

• If you are a current planning grantee applying for a three-year implementation grant, select New

9. Filled in for your convenience.

10. Use the following list of CFDA (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) numbers for the applicable program listing, or other source if so instructed in the Notice: 94.006 AmeriCorps State and National.

11. Enter the project title.

a. When applying for a “Continuation” or “Amendment” applicants should use the same title as used for their existing grant program. When applying as a “New Applicant/Previous Grantee” if the application is for re-funding of a previous grant program, use the same title as was used in the prior grant program if appropriate (i.e., if the program is unchanged).

b. Enter the name of the program initiative, if any, as provided in the instructions corresponding to the Notice for which you are applying; otherwise, leave blank.

12. List only the largest political entities affected (e.g., counties, and cities). Please include the two-letter abbreviation with both letters capitalized for each state where you plan to operate. Separate each two letter state abbreviation with a comma. For city or county information, please follow each one with the two-letter capitalized state abbreviation.

13. (See item 8) Enter the dates for the proposed project period. “Continuation” or “Amendment” application:

Enter the dates of the approved project period.

Performance Period: this appears only in eGrants, and is for the use of staff only.

14. Leave blank, staff use only.

15. Estimated Funding. Check the appropriate box to indicate the grant year for which funding is being requested. Enter the amount requested or to be contributed during this budget period on each appropriate line, as shown below. The value of in-kind contributions should be included in these amounts, as applicable. For revisions (See item 8), if the action will result in a dollar change to an existing award, include only the amount of the change. For decreases, enclose the amounts in parentheses.

a. Federal The total amount of federal funds being requested in the budget.

b. Applicant The total amount of the applicant share as entered in the budget.

a. State The amount of the applicant share that is coming from state sources.

d. Local The amount of the applicant share that is coming from local governmental sources

(e.g., city, county and other municipal sources).

e. Other The amount of the applicant share that is coming from non-governmental sources.

f. Program

Income

The amount of the applicant share that is coming from income generated by programmatic activities (i.e., use of the additive option where program income is used to increase the size of the program).

g. Total The applicant's estimate of the total funding amount for the agreement.

16. Pre-filled for your convenience. This program is excluded from coverage by Executive Order 12372.

17. Check the appropriate box. This question applies to the applicant organization, not the person who signs as the authorized representative. Categories of debt include delinquent audit allowances, loans, and taxes. If Yes, attach an explanation.

18. The person who signs this form must be the applicant’s authorized representative. A copy of the governing body’s authorization for this official representative to sign must be on file in the applicant’s office.

Note: Falsification or concealment of a material fact, or submission of false, fictitious or fraudulent statements or representations to any department or agency of the United States Government may result in a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both.

(18 U.S.C. § 1001)

APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

Standard Form 424 (Rev 2 2007) Prescribed by OMB Circular

1. TYPE OF

SUBMISSION:

2. a. DATE

SUBMITTED:

3. a. DATE RECEIVED

BY STATE:

3. b. STATE APPLICATION IDENTIFIER:

2 b APPLICATION

4. a. DATE RECEIVED

BY FEDERAL AGENCY:

4. b. FEDERAL IDENTIFIER: (Staff Only)

5. APPLICANT INFORMATION

5. a. LEGAL NAME:

5. b. ORGANIZATIONAL DUNS:

5. e. NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF PERSON

TO BE CONTACTED ON

MATTERS INVOLVING THIS APPLICATION (give

5. d. ADDRESS (give street address, city, county, state and zip code):

STREET:

CITY: COUNTY:

STATE: COUNTRY:

NAME:

TELEPHONE NUMBER: ( ) -

FAX NUMBER: ( ) - EMAIL:

INTERNET E-MAIL ADDRESS:

WEBSITE:

6. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (EIN):

7. a. TYPE OF APPLICANT: (enter appropriate letter in box) A. State H. Independent School District B. County I. State Controlled Institution of Higher Learning C. Municipal J. Private University D. Township K. Indian Tribe E. Interstate L. Individual F. Intermunicipal M. Profit Organization G. Special District N. Private Non-Profit Organization O. Federal Government P. HQ Internal Organizations Q. State Education Agency R. Territory S. Other (specify)

7. b. CNCS APPLICANT CHARACTERISTICS Enter appropriate codes:

8. TYPE OF APPLICATION

NEW NEW/PREVIOUS GRANTEE

CONTINUATION REVISION

If Revision, enter appropriate letter(s) in box(es):

A. AUGMENTATION B. BUDGET REVISION:

C. NO COST EXTENSION to (enter date)

E. OTHER (specify below)

9. NAME OF FEDERAL AGENCY:

Corporation for National and Community Service

10. CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE

NUMBER:

11. a. DESCRIPTIVE TITLE OF APPLICANT’S PROJECT:

12. AREAS AFFECTED BY PROJECT (List Cities, Counties, States, etc.):

11.b. CNCS PROGRAM INITIATIVE (IF ANY):

13. PROPOSED PROJECT: START DATE: ENDING DATE: 14. Performance Period (Staff Use Only_

15. ESTIMATED FUNDING: Check applicable box: Yr 1: Yr.2: Yr.

16. IS APPLICATION SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY STATE

EXECUTIVE

ORDER 12372 PROCESS?

a. YES. THIS PREAPPLICATION/APPLICATION WAS MADE

AVAILABLE

TO THE STATE EXECUTIVE ORDER…