FY2026_ASC_RSVP_Notice_of_Funding_Opportunity.pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Federal Agency Name: Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps)

Funding Opportunity Title: Fiscal Year 2026 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Competition

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement

Assistance Listing Number: 94.002

Summary Statement: This funding announcement is an opportunity for communities to apply for funding to engage adults ages 55 and older in tackling some of the community’s most pressing needs through the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program. This is an open competition across all states and territories.

The AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP competition runs over a three-year period, with Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 being the second year of new awards. Incumbent grantees with a 23SR grant number must apply in response to this FY 2026 Notice and be selected if they wish to receive funding. If incumbent grantees with a 23SR grant number fail to apply or be selected for funding, their current grants will end on March 31, 2026.

Disclosure: Publication of this Notice does not obligate AmeriCorps to award any specific number of grants or to commit any particular amount of funding. The actual level, timing, and process of grant funding will be subject to the availability of annual appropriations.

Any award made under this Notice may be terminated by the agency if it no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities.

AmeriCorps publishes this NOFO solely for the aforementioned purpose and does not consider this NOFO to meet the definition of a rule requiring publication or notice under Congressional Review Act (CRA) as codified at 5 U.S.C. §§801- 808, and any subsequent notification provided to Congress does not constitute waiver of this position.

Important Dates

• Applications are due not later than Thursday, March 26, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Table of Contents

FULL TEXT OF THE NOTICE

A. Program Description A.1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Funding A.2. Funding Priorities A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes A.4. Program Authority B. Federal Award Information B.1. Estimated Available Funds B.2. Estimated Award Amount B.3. Period of Performance B.4. Type of Award B5. Cost Sharing or Matching C. Eligibility Information C.1. Eligible Applicants C.2. Other Eligibility Requirements D. Application and Submission Information D.1. Address to Request an Application Package D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D.2.a. Application Content D.2.b. Page Limits

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) D.4. Submission Dates and Times

D.4.a. Application Submission Deadline D.4.b. Additional Documents Deadline D.4.c. Late Applications

D.5. Intergovernmental Review D.6. Funding Restrictions

D.6.a. Award Funding Requirements D.6.b. Indirect Costs D.6.c. Pre-Award Costs

D.7. Other Submission Requirements D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents

E. Application Review Information E.1. Selection Criteria

E.1.a. Executive Summary (5 percent) E.1.b. Program Design (30 percent) E.1.c. Organizational Capability (20 percent) E.1.e. Work Plans/Performance Measures (30 Percent) E.1.f. Budget/Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (15 percent)

E.2. Review and Selection Process E.2.a. Initial Application Compliance and Eligibility Review E.2.b. Application Review E.2.c. Pre-Award Risk Assessment E.2.d. Consideration of Integrity and Performance System Information

E.2.e. Selection for Funding E.2.f. Applicant Resolution

E.3. Feedback to Applicants E.4. Transparency in Grantmaking F. Federal Award Administration Information F.1. Federal Award Notices F.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

F.2.a. Uniform Guidance F.2.b. Requests for Monitoring or Payment Integrity Information F.2.c. AmeriCorps Terms and Conditions F.2.d. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements

F.3. Use of Material G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts H. Other Information H.1. Technical Assistance H.2. Re-Focusing of Funding I. Important Notices I.1. Public Burden Statement I.2. Privacy Act Statement Appendix A – Grant Application Instructions Appendix B – Performance Measure Instructions Appendix C – Terms and Definitions Appendix D – Training and Technical Assistance Resources Appendix E – Unduplicated Volunteer, Federal Share, and Match Calculators Appendix F – AmeriCorps Focus Areas

FULL TEXT OF THE NOTICE

A. Program Description

A.1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Funding AmeriCorps improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities and those serving. AmeriCorps helps make service a cornerstone of our national culture.

Established in 1971 and now one of the largest senior volunteer programs in the nation, AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP engages people ages 55 and older in a diverse range of volunteer activities. AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP volunteers tutor children, help prepare simple taxes, assist victims of natural disasters, provide nutrition/food support, facilitate opioid and substance abuse education workshops, and serve in their communities in many other ways. AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP volunteers choose how, where, and how often they want to serve, with commitments ranging from a few hours to a maximum of 40 hours per week. While serving, AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP volunteers improve their own lives by staying active and civically engaged.

A.2. Funding Priorities For this funding opportunity, AmeriCorps Seniors will invest in new and existing partnerships with non-profit (including faith-based) organizations, institutions of higher education, Tribal organizations, and local/state government entities to get things done for America. Applicants may serve communities in any U.S. state or territory.

AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP programming is designed to meet community needs. Applicants may propose activities aligned with any of AmeriCorps’ Focus Areas (see A.3 Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes and Appendix F).

In addition, applicants may propose to address one or more of the following priorities. The priorities are not focus areas; rather, they are priorities that AmeriCorps Seniors identified based on current and emerging community needs. Selecting a priority is optional. However, applicants who select a priority must designate at least one work plan for that priority; see Appendix B for more information. Proposing programs that address a priority does not guarantee funding.

AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP priorities for this funding opportunity are:

• Supporting older adults and their caregivers, including but not limited to supporting caregivers of older adults by providing respite for caregivers or hosting caregiver support groups, assisting older adults or their caregivers with system navigation and care coordination, and aiding grandparents or older adults who are custodians of children.

• Helping older adults re-enter the workforce, including but not limited to services related to job readiness or job seeking, mentoring or coaching, training or upskilling, and removing barriers to employment for older adults. (Note: the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serving under this priority are not job seekers; instead, they will be providing services to other older adults who are job seekers.)

• Building strong families, including but not limited to supporting parents with helping their children succeed in school, mentoring parents to empower and guide them, connecting parents to community resources to stabilize families and improve health and wellbeing, and developing community partnerships that build and support strong families.

• Preventing and mitigating fraud and scams targeting older adults, including but not limited to using digital navigators and other methods to prevent and mitigate financial fraud, abuse, and exploitation of older adults, particularly with the evolution of artificial intelligence and increase in the use of digital technology in fraud and scams.

• Reducing the number of people who are homeless, including but not limited to developing or renovating affordable housing, supporting people who are homeless in finding and maintaining permanent housing, and addressing housing needs of specific populations (older adults, veterans, etc.).

• Supporting behavioral health initiatives that improve mental health and reduce the impact of substance use, including but not limited to reducing isolation and loneliness among older adults, improving older adult mental health, helping with system navigation and care coordination, reducing overdose fatalities by distributing and training in the use of fentanyl test strips and Naloxone, preventing substance use before it starts, providing treatment that leads to long-term recovery, using peer-to-peer support and support groups for people with mental health or substance use disorders and their family members, and providing supportive employment or housing programs for people with mental health and substance use disorders.

A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes AmeriCorps expects applicants to use National Performance Measures as part of a comprehensive performance measurement strategy that relies on both performance and evaluation data to learn from their work and make tactical and strategic adjustments to achieve their goals.

All proposed unduplicated volunteers* and the intended impact of their service must be represented in the narratives, in a work plan, and in the budget.

* Unduplicated Volunteer: Each volunteer can only be counted once as an unduplicated volunteer even if they are assigned to more than one work plan. The volunteer should be counted as an unduplicated volunteer in the work plan where they will make the most impact in terms of the focus area, the type of service, or the scope of service (such as the number of hours served).

Applicants are required to use the specific performance measures outlined in this Notice. For more information, please refer to Appendix B: FY 2026 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP National Performance Measures Instructions.

Applicants must select one of the following focus areas as the Primary Focus Area for their grant award: Disaster Services, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Futures, or Veterans and Military Families. The Primary Focus Area represents the single area in which you intend to make the most impact and should be included in the Executive Summary. If you selected a priority, the Primary Focus Area does not have to align with the priority (see Appendix B).

https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fiscal-year-fy-2026-americorps-seniors-rsvp-opportunity https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fiscal-year-fy-2026-americorps-seniors-rsvp-opportunity

Applicants are not limited to only proposing activities within the Primary Focus Area. You may have work plans under more than one focus area. However, applicants must have at least one work plan in the Primary Focus Area.

Grantees are responsible for meeting their minimum unduplicated volunteer number each year of the three-year period of performance. Work plans should include the minimum number of unduplicated volunteers based on a one-year budget period according to these requirements:

• All unduplicated volunteers must be included in work plans. Work plans can include some combination of outcome-based work plans and Other Community Priorities.

• Applicants may request a total federal share of $75,000 plus up to $350 per unduplicated volunteer, including unduplicated volunteers serving under an Other Community Priorities work plan. This change will eliminate the current maximum cost per unduplicated volunteer and allow applicants to request the funding needed to effectively manage the program.

o Note: The $350 per unduplicated volunteer is not a stipend or any other incentive paid directly to the volunteers. Rather, it is additional funding to support the administration of the project based on the number of volunteers being proposed.

• Applicants may propose any number of unduplicated volunteers based on your assessment of community need and volunteer engagement.

• Applicants cannot place more than 20% of their total unduplicated volunteers in Other Community Priorities work plan.

o For example, an applicant with 50 unduplicated volunteers cannot place more than 10 unduplicated volunteers in Other Community Priorities work plans.

• If applicants select one or more of the funding priorities, you must designate at least one work plan for each priority you select. Please refer to Appendix B: FY 2026 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP National Performance Measures Instructions for information on how to designate a work plan for a priority.

A.4. Program Authority Awards under this Notice are authorized by the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended, (42 U.S.C. §12501 et seq.) and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended (42 U.S.C. §4950 et seq.).

B. Federal Award Information

B.1. Estimated Available Funds AmeriCorps expects a highly competitive AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP grant competition. Given limited funding, AmeriCorps Seniors may prioritize funding for traditionally underserved geographies. The actual level of funding depends on annual appropriations.

https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fiscal-year-fy-2026-americorps-seniors-rsvp-opportunity https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fiscal-year-fy-2026-americorps-seniors-rsvp-opportunity https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/%40%20National%20and%20Community%20Service%20Act%20of%201990%20%28as%20amended%20through%20PL%20111-13%29.pdf https://www.americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/%40%20Domestic%20Volunteer%20Service%20Act%20of%201973%20%28as%20amended%20through%20PL%20111-13%29.pdf

B.2. Estimated Award Amount Award amounts will vary as determined by the scope of the projects. The federal share of the budget cannot exceed $75,000 + $350 per unduplicated volunteer. There is no maximum request amount*.

*Applicants may request $0 in AmeriCorps Seniors funding; those requesting a $0 grant should demonstrate non-AmeriCorps support for their project in the grantee share of their budget and a complete description in the Source of Funds section.

B.3. Period of Performance AmeriCorps anticipates making three-year grant awards. AmeriCorps generally makes an initial award for the first year of the period of performance, based on a one-year budget. The one-year period for RSVP grants runs from April 1 through March 31. Continuation awards for subsequent years are not guaranteed; they depend upon availability of appropriations and satisfactory performance.

B.4. Type of Award FY 2026 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP grants will be awarded on a cost-reimbursement basis if an application is successful.

B5. Cost Sharing or Matching Applicants are required to match funds for their programs based on the total allowable costs as determined under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles. Non-AmeriCorps federal funds are allowed as match if the Federal agency that is the source of the funds approves its use as match.

Applicants must maintain documentation of that approval. The applicant’s match can be cash and/or in-kind contributions. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to meet the applicable match requirement at the time that their application is submitted. See Section D.6. Funding Restrictions for more information.

The required match contribution is at least 10 percent of the total allowable costs each year. See and Appendix E for a match calculator.

Please see the “AmeriCorps Seniors and AmeriCorps State and National Match Waiver FAQs” and the “AmeriCorps Seniors Individual Match Waiver Request” located on the AmeriCorps website’s Manage Your Grant web page. AmeriCorps encourages Tribal Nations to request match waivers to reduce barriers. Every effort will be made to reduce the match requirements to improve accessibility.

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=74a79d9a3a38ee2ca26d377daeacebb7&mc=true&node=sp2.1.200.e&rgn=div6 https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fiscal-year-fy-2026-americorps-seniors-rsvp-opportunity https://www.americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/manage-your-grant

C. Eligibility Information

C.1. Eligible Applicants The following non-Federal entities (all of which are defined in 2 CFR 200.1 or 42 U.S.C.

12511(21) are eligible to apply:

• Indian Tribes

• institutions of higher education

• local governments

• non-profit organizations

• states (including state commissions*) and US Territories

*State service commissions are currently eligible to apply due to a waiver of the prohibition at 45 CFR 2550.80(j), which provides that a State commission or Alternative Administrative Entity (AAE) may not directly carry out any national service program that receives financial assistance title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act (DVSA).

In addition to Indian Tribes as defined in 2 CFR 200.1, Tribal organizations that are controlled, authorized, or chartered by Federally recognized Indian Tribes are also eligible to apply. If an entity applies for an award as a tribal organization that is controlled or chartered by one or more Indian Tribes [and the organization does not meet any of the other applicant eligibility types], the organization must provide copies or links to documentation which demonstrates that the organization is controlled or chartered by a federally recognized Indian Tribe. If an entity applies as an organization authorized by a federally recognized Tribe, or multiple specific federally recognized tribes, it must submit a resolution or other authorization adopted by the Tribal Council (or comparable tribal governing body) of each Indian Tribe. The authorization(s) must identify the entity applying for an AmeriCorps award by name as a tribal organization that is authorized by the Indian Tribe(s) for the purpose of applying for AmeriCorps funding (or federal grant funds generally).

Applicants must have a valid SAM registration and Unique Entity Identifier to receive an award.

See Section D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) for more information.

New Applicants: AmeriCorps strongly encourages organizations that have not received prior funding from AmeriCorps to apply, e.g., small community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, etc.

C.2. Other Eligibility Requirements Even if an organization is otherwise eligible under C.1, an organization is not eligible if:

• It has violated a federal criminal statute.

• It proposes activities that are not allowed under AmeriCorps’ laws, rules, or terms and conditions.

• It has any unpaid federal taxes that are not being paid through an agreement with the relevant tax authority. However, this does not apply if a federal agency decided that a suspension or debarment for the corporation is not necessary.

• It is described in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. §501 (c)(4) and lobbies https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-A/subject-group-ECFR2a6a0087862fd2c/section-200.1 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title42/chapter129&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title42/chapter129&edition=prelim https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/Waiver-Administrative-Barrier-AmeriCorps-Seniors-Grantees-041124.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-A/subject-group-ECFR2a6a0087862fd2c/section-200.1 https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopici03.pdf

D. Application and Submission Information

This Notice, including its appendices, should be read together with the RSVP regulations (45 CFR Part 2553).

D.1. Address to Request an Application Package All information associated with this funding opportunity is available through the AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities webpage. Applicants can also send an email to RSVPCompetition@americorps.gov for a printed copy of the Notice and its appendices.

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D.2.a. Application Content Complete applications must include the following elements:

• Standard Form 424 (SF-424) Face Sheet: This is automatically generated when applicants complete the data elements in the eGrants system.

• Narrative Sections:

o Executive Summary: This is a brief description of the proposed program.

Executive Summaries must match the template as provided in Section E.1.a of the Notice. Executive Summaries of all awarded applications will serve as the basis for congressional notifications and press. For this reason, Executive Summaries must follow the template.

o Strengthening Communities o Recruitment and Development o Program Management o Organizational Capability

• Work Plans

• Program Information

• Standard Form 424A Budget

• Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications

D.2.b. Page Limits Page counts are determined by the number of pages that print out from the grant system.

AmeriCorps strongly encourages applicants to print out the application from the “Review” tab in eGrants prior to submission in order to confirm that the application does not exceed the page limit.

• Narratives o Applications must not exceed 12 double-spaced pages for the Narrative.

o The application sections that count towards the page limit include:

SF-424 Face Sheet Executive Summary Program Design and Organizational Capability narratives https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-B/chapter-XXV/part-2553 https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fiscal-year-fy-2026-americorps-seniors-rsvp-opportunity https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fiscal-year-fy-2026-americorps-seniors-rsvp-opportunity mailto:RSVPCompetition@americorps.gov https://egrants.cns.gov/cnsmisc/EASSUR.HTM https://egrants.cns.gov/cnsmisc/ECERTS.HTM o The application page limit does not include:

Budget Work Plans/Performance Measures Any required additional documents.

Please review the Grant Application Instructions together with the entire Notice including all Appendices.

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) All applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) and maintain an active SAM registration until the application process is complete. If an applicant is awarded a grant, it must maintain an active SAM registration throughout the life of the award. Use the SAM Quick Guide for Grantees for more information.

AmeriCorps suggests that applicants finalize a new registration or renew an existing one at least three weeks before the application deadline, to allow time to resolve any issues that may arise.

Applicants must use their SAM-registered legal name and physical address on all grant applications to AmeriCorps. The legal applicant’s name and physical address in the grant system must match exactly the applicant’s SAM-registered information.

Applications must include a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), which is generated as part of the SAM registration process. AmeriCorps will not make awards to entities that do not have a valid SAM registration and UEI.

Applications must include an Employer Identification Number (EIN). The UEI and EIN must be entered by the organization’s Grantee Administrator as an organization attribute, and this will apply the information to all applications for the organization.

D.4. Submission Dates and Times

D.4.a. Application Submission Deadline Applications are due not later than Thursday, March 26, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

AmeriCorps may extend the submission deadline. If the deadline is extended, then AmeriCorps will post information on the AmeriCorps’ webpage.

D.4.b. Additional Documents Deadline Additional documents are due by the application submission deadline.

D.4.c. Late Applications All applications received after the submission deadline are late. AmeriCorps will determine whether to accept a late application on a case-by-case basis. To request consideration of a late application, an organization must:

• Submit a written explanation or justification of the extenuating circumstance(s) that caused the delay, including:

o Timing and specific cause(s) of the delay;

o Ticket number if a request for assistance was submitted to the AmeriCorps

Hotline;

https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fiscal-year-fy-2026-americorps-seniors-rsvp-opportunity https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0029897 https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0029897 o Information provided to the applicant by the AmeriCorps Hotline; and o Other documentation or evidence that supports the justification.

• Ensure that AmeriCorps receives the written explanation and any other relevant evidence, via email to LateApplications@americorps.gov no later than 24 hours after the application deadline.

Communication with AmeriCorps staff, including an applicant’s AmeriCorps regional office staff or applicant’s AmeriCorps Regional Mailbox, is not a substitute for a written explanation.

Applicants are required to continue working in the web-based system and with the AmeriCorps Hotline to submit the application.

AmeriCorps will not consider an advance request to submit a late application. Please carefully review and follow the late application guidance and submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note: applicants calling the Hotline may experience long wait times. We encourage applicants to complete and submit their application at least 5 business days before the deadline so that there is time to resolve any issues before the deadline. We also encourage applicants to read the Grant Application Instructions and Appendix B: Performance Measure Instructions and review the Submitting Your Application in eGrants webinar before calling the Hotline, as you may find that following the instructions in these resources will resolve your issue.

D.5. Intergovernmental Review This Notice is not subject to Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.

D.6. Funding Restrictions

D.6.a. Award Funding Requirements Applicants must construct the budget in the following manner. The federal share of the budget must not exceed $75,000 plus up to $350 for every unduplicated volunteer, whether or not they serve in an outcome-based work plan. Note: The $350 per unduplicated volunteer is not a stipend or any other incentive paid directly to the volunteers. Rather, it is additional funding to support the administration of the project based on the number of volunteers being proposed.

AmeriCorps reserves the right to award applications in an amount less than the requested level of funding.

Awards under this Notice are subject to cost share or matching requirements as noted in this Notice. Please see Appendix E for the federal share and match calculators.

There are also limitations on the use of Federal funds to recover indirect costs. As provided in 2 CFR 200.306(c), unrecovered indirect costs may be included as part of an applicant’s cost sharing or matching requirements.

D.6.b. Indirect Costs Application budgets may include indirect costs. Based on qualifying factors, applicants may use a Federally approved indirect cost rate, use a 15 percent de minimis rate of modified total direct costs if you don’t have a Federally approved indirect cost rate, or claim certain costs directly, as mailto:LateApplications@americorps.gov https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fiscal-year-fy-2026-americorps-seniors-rsvp-opportunity http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=74a79d9a3a38ee2ca26d377daeacebb7&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1306&rgn=div8 outlined in 2 CFR 200.413. States, local governments, and Indian Tribes may use previously approved indirect cost allocation plans. All methods must be applied consistently across all Federal awards. Applicants that have a Federal negotiated indirect cost rate must enter that information in the Organization section in eGrants. Applicants claiming the 15 percent de minimis rate of modified total direct costs must also enter that information in the Organization section in eGrants.

Use the eGrants Indirect Cost Rate (IDCR) User Instructions to enter the organization’s Federal negotiated indirect cost rate or the de minimis rate information. Applicants should not submit documentation addressing the cost rate agreement via email.

Please note: To request a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, when AmeriCorps is the applicable cognizant agency for an organization’s indirect costs, the applicant must submit a request to IndirectCostRate@americorps.gov. The applicant may also obtain instructions and additional information by contacting the email address above.

D.6.c. Pre-Award Costs Applicants funded under this Notice are approved for pre-award costs for one month prior to the start of their program.

D.7. Other Submission Requirements

D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants Applicants must submit applications electronically via eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based application system. AmeriCorps recommends that applicants create an eGrants account and begin the application at least three weeks before the deadline. Applicants should draft the application as a Word document, then copy and paste the text into the appropriate eGrants field no later than 10 days before the deadline.

The applicant’s authorized representative must be the person who submits the application. The authorized representative must use their own eGrants account to sign and submit the application. A copy of the governing body’s authorization for this official representative to sign must be on file in the applicant’s office. The authorized representative and the project director may not be the same person and may not have the same email address. Applications will be returned for corrections if the authorized representative and the project director have the same name and contact information.

Applicants should contact the AmeriCorps Hotline at (800) 942-2677 if you have a problem when you create an account or prepare or submit the application. Information about the AmeriCorps Hotline hours is also posted on the AmeriCorps Hotline webpage.

When contacting the AmeriCorps Hotline, be prepared to provide the application ID, organization’s name, and the name of the Notice to which the organization is applying. If the issue cannot be fixed by the deadline, applicants must continue working with the AmeriCorps Hotline to submit via eGrants.

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=74a79d9a3a38ee2ca26d377daeacebb7&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1413&rgn=div8 https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/AmeriCorps-eGrants-IDCR-User-Instructions.pdf mailto:IndirectCostRate@americorps.gov https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask

If circumstances make it impossible for an applicant to submit in eGrants, applicants may send a paper copy of the application via overnight carrier to the address below.

AmeriCorps ATTN: FY 2026 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Competition Application 250 E Street, SW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20525

Please use a non-U.S. Postal Service carrier to avoid security-related delays. Applicants must include an explanation and related documents about why they could not submit their application electronically. Applications must be received by the deadline.

All deadlines and requirements in this Notice also apply to paper applications.

AmeriCorps does not accept applications submitted via fax or email.

D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents Your application might not receive funding if you do not submit your documents by the application deadline or do not correctly label your documents.

Applicants are required to submit the following additional documents by the application submission deadline:

1. All applicants, regardless of funding level, are required to submit an Operational and Financial Management Survey (OFMS). Please submit the OFMS using the link to the online form, where you will be required to submit your response electronically. Forms submitted by email as a Word document, PDF, or any other document format may not be accepted.

• Please see the Grant Application Instructions for information on how to note submission of the OFMS in your application.

2. Tribal organization eligibility documentation (see Section C.1 Eligible Applicants).

Additional tribal organization eligibility documents must be emailed to AdditionalDocuments@americorps.gov with the following subject line: “Legal Applicant Name” – “Application ID Number.” Emails should include:

• the legal applicant’s name and its point of contact information

• the application ID number

• a list of documents that are attached to the email by filename, labeling each document type

• individually attached files that are clearly labeled, and that include the legal applicant’s name and application ID number within the file name and heading of each document.

Do not submit any items that are not requested in this Notice. AmeriCorps will not review or return them.

E. Application Review Information

Each applicant must describe a project that will use AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers effectively to solve a significant community problem.

https://forms.office.com/g/kyH8TnGx6Q https://forms.office.com/g/kyH8TnGx6Q https://forms.office.com/g/kyH8TnGx6Q https://forms.office.com/g/kyH8TnGx6Q mailto:AdditionalDocuments@americorps.gov

E.1. Selection Criteria Applications must have a well-designed plan with clear justification for the requested funds.

Reviewers will assess the quality of applications by using the selection criteria described below and will rate them accordingly.

Prior to issuance, and annually thereafter, awards will be subject to review by one or more AmeriCorps senior officials, or their designees, according to the process described in Executive Order 14332, “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking.”

Do not assume all sub-criteria are of equal value.

Categories/Subcategories Percentage Value

Executive Summary 5 Program Design 30 Alignment with Focus Areas 10 AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteer Experience 10 AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteer Recruitment & Retention 10 Organizational Capability 20 Program Management 10 Organizational Capability 10 Work Plans/Performance Measures 30 Budget/Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 15

E.1.a. Executive Summary (5 percent) Please fill in the blanks of these sentences to complete the Executive Summary. Do not deviate from the template below. The brackets are there to show where information should be filled in; do not include the brackets in your application.

“The [1. name of the organization] proposes to have [2. number of] AmeriCorps

Seniors Volunteers who will [3. service activities the members will be doing] in [4. the locations the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will serve]. The primary focus area of this project is [5. fill in AmeriCorps focus area you chose as the Primary Focus Area].

At the end of the three-year grant, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will be responsible for

[6. fill in the anticipated outcome (s)]. The AmeriCorps federal investment of $ [7. fill in the annual federal grant amount or the requested amount] will be supplemented by $ [8. fill in the anticipated level of non-AmeriCorps resources].”

Applicants must provide the following:

1. name of the organization applying under this Notice

2. total number of unduplicated AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serving; should match the total number of unduplicated volunteers in your work plans and the number in the Funding/Demographics tab in eGrants

3. brief list of the service activities the members will be doing https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.federalregister.gov%2Fdocuments%2F2025%2F08%2F12%2F2025-15344%2Fimproving-oversight-of-federal-grantmaking&data=05%7C02%7CLuetkenhaus.Eric%40dol.gov%7C199f1b97f7d34c510dac08ddfc69c82e%7C75a6305472044e0c9126adab971d4aca%7C0%7C0%7C638944253441587068%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6eKBv1pib6aHpNx6wgeqO1Oc9yrb6OwagMBh9PwF07M%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.federalregister.gov%2Fdocuments%2F2025%2F08%2F12%2F2025-15344%2Fimproving-oversight-of-federal-grantmaking&data=05%7C02%7CLuetkenhaus.Eric%40dol.gov%7C199f1b97f7d34c510dac08ddfc69c82e%7C75a6305472044e0c9126adab971d4aca%7C0%7C0%7C638944253441587068%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6eKBv1pib6aHpNx6wgeqO1Oc9yrb6OwagMBh9PwF07M%3D&reserved=0

4. the locations where the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will serve; for example, stations or counties

5. the AmeriCorps focus area selected as the Primary Focus Area in the Performance Measure Module; this is not the same as a funding priority. See Appendix F for the list of focus areas eligible to be the Primary Focus Area

6. brief list of the anticipated outcome(s) of service

7. the amount requested for a one-year period of performance from AmeriCorps Seniors;

cannot exceed $75,000 plus $350 per unduplicated volunteer

8. the amount of match from non-AmeriCorps resources, based on the match requirement noted in Section B.5.

A sample Executive Summary might look like:

The ABC Agency proposes to have 80 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who will tutor fourth-grade children, prepare tax returns, and build nonprofit capacity in schools, community centers, libraries, and other nonprofit agencies in our community. The primary focus area of this project is Education. At the end of the three-year grant, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will be responsible for improving academic achievement in math and reading, generating $60,000 in tax refunds for community residents, and making nonprofit organizations more efficient and effective. The AmeriCorps federal investment of $103,000 will be supplemented by $11,444.

E.1.b. Program Design (30 percent) AmeriCorps encourages the use of evidence-based program models in its program design.

Evidence-based programs are models in which a set of activities has been shown to be effective through a rigorous program evaluation. AmeriCorps also encourages the use of programs with evidence-based practices that have been shown to contribute to effective outcomes through a positive pattern of performance data or through a rigorous program evaluation.

E.1.b.i. Alignment with Focus Areas – answer within the Strengthening Communities narrative section of eGrants (10 percent) Reviewers will consider the extent to which applications:

• Explain how the Primary Focus Area you identified in your Executive Summary is a significant part of the project and intended outcomes. Describe your organization’s history with programming in your community related to the identified Primary Focus Area including what your organization has done to increase program efficiency or increase outcomes in the identified areas. Refer to Appendix F for the Primary Focus Areas.

• Explain why the number of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers is adequate for addressing needs as stated in the work plans. Include how your previous experience with your community and expected volunteer engagement has informed the number of volunteers needed.

E.1.b.ii AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteer Experience – answer within the Strengthening Communities narrative section of eGrants (10 percent) Reviewers will consider the extent to which applications:

• Describe how AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will be provided with opportunities to use skills they have learned over a lifetime or learn new skills, and how they will be given opportunities to connect to the community they are serving.

E.1.b.iii. AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteer Recruitment & Retention – answer within the Recruitment and Development narrative section of eGrants (10 percent) Reviewers will consider the extent to which applications:

• Detail a plan to support the recruitment of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers best suited to serve the community.

• Describe a plan to retain and recognize AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, including but not limited to plans to keep volunteers engaged in their service activity over the course of the grant funding.

E.1.c. Organizational Capability (20 percent)

E.1.c.i. Program Management – narrative section of eGrants (10 percent) Reviewers will consider the extent to which applications:

• Describe the communication and coordination mechanisms you will use to ensure effective collaboration among partners throughout the project lifecycle. Include your volunteer station management plan and how you will provide training and assistance to volunteer’s stations; ensure volunteer stations provide guidance, oversight, and training to volunteer station supervisors and volunteers; and ensure volunteer stations meet program regulations, priorities, and expectations (including but not limited to what is listed in 45 CFR 2553.62).

E.1.c.ii Organizational Capability – narrative section of eGrants (10 percent) Reviewers will consider the extent to which applications:

• Describe the roles, responsibilities, and structure of the staff that will implement and provide oversight of the project, including but not limited to demonstrating the organization has sufficient policies, procedures, and controls to effectively implement a federal grant.

• If project staff will be fundraising on behalf of the project, describe the fundraising actions and confirm they are allowable per 2 CFR 200.442(a).

E.1.e. Work Plans/Performance Measures (30 Percent) Reviewers will assess whether each individual work plan includes:

• A description of the specific community need* being addressed by the individual work plan, including:

o Local data or statistics on the target population and the extent of the specific need for this work plan o The consequences of the need going unmet in the community o Why AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers can be effective resources to meet the need o Whether the work plan is addressing a selected priority (see Appendix B for information on how to designate a work plan for a priority) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-B/chapter-XXV/part-2553#subpart-F https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fiscal-year-fy-2026-americorps-seniors-rsvp-opportunity

*Please note: The Description of Community Need field in the work plan module has a limit of 2,000 characters, including spaces.

• A description of the service activity that will address the community need for the individual work plan, including the intervention the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will implement or deliver and the duration and dosage of that intervention

• An output and outcome pairing that is eligible for this Notice and that aligns with the description of community need and service activity as defined for the individual work plan o If this work plan is addressing a priority, the output and outcome pairing must be from the list for that priority as specified in Appendix B o The output includes a target number that is appropriate for the service activity description and number of volunteers assigned If the work plan is for Other Community Priorities, the output should be

“1”.

o The outcome includes a target number that is appropriate for the service activity description and number of volunteers assigned. The outcome target should not equal the output target.

This is not applicable for an Other Community Priorities work plan

• An output and outcome instrument description that describes how these will be measured

• The number of unduplicated volunteers that will be assigned to this work plan as their primary service

• The number of total volunteers that will contribute to this work plan

Across all work plans, reviewers will assess whether:

• The work plans demonstrate how the organization will address the overall needs of their community

• If the applicant indicated they were addressing a priority, there is at least one work plan identified for that priority that uses an output and outcome pairing as specified in Appendix B

• The total number of unduplicated volunteers matches what is in the Executive Summary and in the Funding/Demographics tab in eGrants

• The total number of unduplicated volunteers in Other Community Priorities work plan(s), if applicable, is less than or equal to 20% of the total unduplicated volunteers

Please note: Applicants may have more than one Other Community Priorities work plan if you wish. Each work plan must include a description of community need, a service activity description, a Service Activity category, and the number of unduplicated volunteers assigned to that work plan (see Appendix B for more information). Applicants may not have more than 20% of your total unduplicated volunteers in “Other Community Priorities” work plans.

E.1.f. Budget/Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (15 percent) Budgets will be evaluated based on the following items:

• The budget demonstrates that costs are reasonable, allocable, allowable, and necessary and conform to the Uniform Guidance.

o The budget is complete with all costs itemized.

o The extent to which match will deepen the impact of the proposed project by demonstrating sufficient support and sustainability of the project.

o The quality of the financial management system.

https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fiscal-year-fy-2026-americorps-seniors-rsvp-opportunity https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fiscal-year-fy-2026-americorps-seniors-rsvp-opportunity https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fiscal-year-fy-2026-americorps-seniors-rsvp-opportunity o Federal share of the budget does not exceed $75,000 plus up to $350 per unduplicated volunteer.

o Budget includes costs associated with:

• a full-time project director (mandatory for competition applications;

organizations can negotiate for a part-time director after award)

• National Service Criminal History Checks (mandatory for staff and optional for volunteers)

• volunteer insurance

• volunteer recognition

• The non-AmeriCorps share of total allowable costs must be a minimum of 10%. If needed, you may request a match waiver.

o Please see the “AmeriCorps Seniors and AmeriCorps State and National Match Waiver FAQs” and the “AmeriCorps Seniors Individual Match Waiver Request” located on the AmeriCorps website’s Manage Your Grant web page

• The Source of Funds fields in the budget are complete and demonstrate the exact match for each budget section. In each Source of Funds field, identify each source of matching funds separately, including:

o Name of the entity providing the match and the dollar amount o Whether the match is secured or proposed o Whether the match is cash or in-kind o Source type (private, state/local, federal, etc.)

o The total amount in the Source of Funds field for each section must match the total amount in the corresponding section of the budget narrative exactly. Define all acronyms the first time they are used. Note: Do not include the source of any excess resources (from optional Excess column) in the Source of Funds sections.

• All AmeriCorps Seniors grantees must budget for training and staff development for the Project Director. Grantees may budget for training for other staff assigned to the grant if funds permit. Topics are dependent on the needs of the project and professional development goals of the Project Director.

o There is no recommended amount for this training, but it must be clearly identified in the budget narrative. Funds may be re-budgeted later in the year depending on actual training activities.

See the Grant Application Instructions for guidance on completing the Budget Section 1 and Section 2 in eGrants. Applicants may refer to the FY 2026 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Competition Sample Budget Narrative for an example of what a budget might look like.

E.2. Review and Selection Process AmeriCorps will engage reviewers with relevant expertise to assess the eligible applications.

The determinations made by AmeriCorps reviewers may be different from what the applicant self-determined upon submission of its application. The stages of the review and selection process follow.

E.2.a. Initial Application Compliance and Eligibility Review AmeriCorps will do an initial compliance and eligibility check before reviewing applications. To pass this check, applicants must:

• Be an eligible organization,

• Have an active SAM registration, and

• Submit an application by the submission deadline.

https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fiscal-year-fy-2026-americorps-seniors-rsvp-opportunity

Eligibility assessment is intended to ensure that only those applications that are eligible for award are reviewed. However, determinations of eligibility can take place at any point during the application review and selection process. Applicants that are determined to be ineligible will not receive an award.

E.2.b. Application Review Panels of AmeriCorps staff reviewers will assess applications based on the Selection Criteria (E.1). All reviewers will be screened for conflicts of interest.

Post-Review Quality Control AmeriCorps staff will review the initial results for fairness and consistency. Some applications may be selected for a Post-Review Quality Control assessment.

E.2.c. Pre-Award Risk Assessment AmeriCorps staff will assess the risks posed by each applicant. Results from this assessment will inform funding decisions. If AmeriCorps determines that an award will be made to an applicant with risks, special conditions may be applied to the award. AmeriCorps may decide to not fund an applicant based on the level of risk.

In assessing risks, AmeriCorps may consider:

1. Due Diligence, including:

• Federal debt delinquency;

•…