FY26-VGF-Notice-Amended.pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Federal Agency Name: AmeriCorps Funding Opportunity Title: Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Volunteer Generation Fund

Competition Announcement Type: Amended Announcement Assistance Listing Number: 94.021

Summary Statement: This is a funding opportunity for State Service Commissions to apply for funding for Volunteer Generation Fund to build capacity to generate more volunteers to strengthen communities.

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, April 30,2026, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

• AmeriCorps anticipates notifying successful applicants in July 2026.

• AmeriCorps anticipates issuing awards in August 2026.

Table of Contents

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1. Purpose of Volunteer Generation Fund 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

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1. Eligible Applicants C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching C.3. 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.d. 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 E.1.b. Program Design (50 percent):

E.1.b. Organizational Capability (35 percent):

E.1.c. 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.d. Pre-Award Risk Assessment E.2.e. Consideration of Integrity and Performance System Information E.2.f. Selection for Funding E.2.f. Applicant Resolution

E.3. Feedback to Applicants E.4. Transparency in Grant-making

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.2.e. Official Guidance

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

APPENDIX I

AmeriCorps Focus Areas

FULL TEXT OF THE NOTICE

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1. Purpose of Volunteer Generation Fund 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 helps make service a cornerstone of our national culture.

Through AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps Seniors, and the Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF), AmeriCorps has helped to engage millions of citizens in meeting community and national challenges through service and volunteer action. Authorized by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act in 2009, this fund expands the role of AmeriCorps in strengthening the nation’s volunteer infrastructure. The Volunteer Generation Fund supports organizations to boost the impact of volunteers on critical community needs and rebuilding the volunteer infrastructure.

The Volunteer Generation Fund focuses on investments in volunteer engagement practices that strengthens entity’s ability to increase recruitment and retention of volunteers to meet critical community needs through service. AmeriCorps seeks to fund effective approaches that expand volunteering, strengthen the capacity of volunteer connector organizations to recruit and retain skill-based volunteers, and develop strategies to use volunteers effectively to solve community problems.

Applicants that receive funding under this Notice may directly carry out the activities supported under the award or may carry out the activities by making subgrants to community-based entities, supporting volunteer generation at these entities.

Subgrants to community-based entities must include one or more of the following:

• Recruit, manage, or support volunteers to a community-based entity such as a volunteer coordinating agency, a nonprofit resource center, a school district, a volunteer training clearinghouse, an institution of higher education, or a collaborative partnership of faith-based and community-based organization.

• Provide technical assistance and support to strengthen the capacity of local infrastructure organizations, address areas of national need, and expand the number of volunteers nationally.

• Address activities consistent with the priorities set by the state’s national service plan.

A.2. Funding Priorities AmeriCorps will target our investments toward communities where the need is greatest, particularly those with populations that face poverty. These steps will enable more Americans than ever to strengthen the communities that need it most across the nation through their service.

AmeriCorps’ priorities for this funding opportunity are:

• Programs that are likely to generate significant, measurable improvements in the number of volunteers generated and retained from specific demographic groups such as faith communities, youth service, generational/family volunteering, veteran and military family, skill-based volunteering or senior volunteering.

• Initiatives that specifically recruit, train and deploy volunteers as a strategy to address a clearly identified pressing community need. Initiatives should consider best practices in volunteer engagement such as:

o Recruitment and Cultivation: Surveying new volunteers to understand their interests and matching them with appropriate roles;

o Training and Orientation: A clear plan for providing orientation and training, which is directly correlated with a volunteer's sense of belonging and organizational commitment;

o Supervision and Support: Strategies for providing regular feedback and showing appreciation, as these practices are significantly related to a volunteer’s intent to continue serving with the organization.

• Activities that specifically recruit skill-based and pro-bono volunteers. Applicants should utilize strong volunteer position descriptions that clearly define roles, expectations, and the value the volunteer will gain from the experience.

To receive priority consideration, applicants must show that the priority area is a significant part of the program focus and intended outcomes and must include a high-quality program design. Proposing programs that receive priority consideration does not guarantee funding.

A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes

National Performance Measures 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.

Applicants are required to use the specific performance measures outlined in this Notice. For more information, please refer to the National Performance Measures Instructions.

All applicants are required to use the following National Performance Measures:

• G3-3.4 (output): Number of organizations that received capacity building services

AND

https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fy-2026-volunteer-generation-fund

• G3-3.10A (outcome): Number of organizations that increased their effectiveness, efficiency, and/or program scale/reach. *

*In the Described Instrument section of measure G3-3.10A, applicants must specifically describe how they will measure organizational effectiveness, efficiency, or program scale/reach with respect to volunteer recruitment or management.

Applicants may optionally select additional performance measure(s), either National Performance Measures or applicant determined performance measures, to describe the type and amount of activities carried out by volunteers managed and/or generated through their program. All performance measures must align with the 2026 VGF Performance Measure Instructions, as part of the Application Instructions. Note: the number of volunteers recruited/coordinated/supported by your grant, and the number of hours served by these volunteers, will be reported via standard Performance Data Elements and should not be included as performance measures.

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 grant competition. Given limited funding, AmeriCorps may prioritize funding for traditionally underserved geographies.

B.2. Estimated Award Amount Award amounts will vary as determined by the scope of the projects. AmeriCorps expects to make awards in the range of $100,000 to $500,000.

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

B.3. Period of Performance AmeriCorps anticipates issuing awards to successful applicants in August 2026.

AmeriCorps anticipates making one-year grant awards. Applications for funding must be based on a one-year period of performance and a one-year budget. While AmeriCorps anticipates awarding one-year grant actual awards period will vary because of program requirements, the availability of future appropriations, or specific circumstances of an individual application.

B.4. Type of Award Volunteer Generation Fund grants will be awarded on a cost reimbursement basis if an application is successful.

https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fy-2026-volunteer-generation-fund https://americorps.gov/about/agency-overview/statutes-regulations 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://americorps.gov/about/agency-overview/statutes-regulations https://www.americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/%40%20Domestic%20Volunteer%20Service%20Act%20of%201973%20%28as%20amended%20through%20PL%20111-13%29.pdf

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:

• state service commissions

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.

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Applicants are required to match funds equal to a percentage of their total requested one-year program budget (AmeriCorps Share plus the Grantee Share equals the total program budget). The applicant’s match (Grantee Share) can be cash and/or in-kind contributions.

Applicants must indicate whether the match is proposed or secured. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to meet the percentage match requirement at the time of application submission. See Section D.6. Funding Restrictions for more information.

Match requirements increase with each year and are as follows:

• 20 percent in the first year

• 30 percent in the second year

• 40 percent in the third year

• 50 percent in the fourth year and any later year in which a recipient receives a VGF grant.

C.3. 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.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

This Notice should be read together with the Volunteer Generation Fund regulations (45 CFR 2520-2522 and 45 CFR 2540.200) and the Application Instructions.

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://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopici03.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-B/chapter-XXV/part-2522 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-B/chapter-XXV/part-2522 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-B/chapter-XXV/part-2540/subpart-B/section-2540.200 https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fy-2026-volunteer-generation-fund

D.1. Address to Request an Application Package All information associated with this funding opportunity is available through the AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities webpages. Applicants should refer to AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities webpage. Applicants can also send an email to VolutneerGeneration@americorps.gov for a printed copy of the Notice, Guidance, and Application Instructions.

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 Program Design o Organizational Capability o Cost-Effectiveness & Budget Adequacy

• Performance Measures

D.2.b. Page Limits Applications may not exceed 8 double-spaced pages as according to the pages printed out from eGrants. The application sections that count toward the page limit are the:

• SF-424 Face Sheet;

• Executive Summary; and

• Program Design

• Organizational Capability

• Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy

The application page limit does not include the Budget, Performance Measures, or any required additional documents. Text entered in the clarification or continuation sections of the narrative will not be read or reviewed. These sections may be used after the review process concludes.

Please note that the length of the application as a word processing document may differ from the length of the document printed out from eGrants. The character limits in eGrants do not align with page limits set in the Notice. AmeriCorps strongly encourages applicants to print out the application from the “Review and Submit” tab in eGrants prior to submission in order to confirm that the application does not exceed the page limit.

AmeriCorps will not consider the results of any alternative printing methods when determining if an application complies with the page limit. Reviewers will also not consider http://www.americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities http://www.americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities mailto:VolutneerGeneration@americorps.gov material that is over the page limit, even if eGrants allows applicants to enter and submit additional text.

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. See the SAM Quick Guide for Grantees.

SAM registration must be renewed annually. 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 eGrants 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. The UEI and Employer Identification Number 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.

If an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time AmeriCorps is ready to make a federal award, AmeriCorps may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

D.4. Submission Dates and Times

D.4.a. Application Submission Deadline Applications are due not later than Thursday, April 30, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

AmeriCorps will not consider applications submitted after the deadline, except as noted in Section D.4.c. Late Applications. AmeriCorps reserves the right to extend the submission deadline. AmeriCorps will post a notification in the event of an extended deadline on AmeriCorps’ website.

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

Application Submission Deadline and D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents for more information.

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0029897

D.4.c. Late Applications All applications received after the submission deadline published in this Notice of Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 5:00 pm Eastern Time are presumed to be non-compliant. To overcome this presumption, the applicant must:

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

o the timing and specific cause(s) of the delay o the ticket number if a request for assistance was submitted to the AmeriCorps

Hotline o any information provided to the applicant by the AmeriCorps Hotline o any other documentation or evidence that supports the justification

• ensure that AmeriCorps receives the written explanation or justification and any other evidence that substantiates the claimed extenuating circumstance(s), via email to LateApplications@americorps.gov no later than 24 hours after the application deadline as stated in the Notice.

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 or justification of the extenuating circumstance that caused the delay as outlined above.

Applicants are required to continue working in eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based application system, and with the AmeriCorps Hotline to submit the application. AmeriCorps will determine whether or not to accept a late application on a case-by-case basis.

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

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 Awards under this Notice are subject to cost share or matching requirements. The amount of funding AmeriCorps provides will be limited to a percentage based on year of funding of the total allowable costs for the funded activity, as identified by C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching and as under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles Please see C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching.

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.

Applicants who will function as pass-through entities must include in their subawards terms and conditions that will ensure that the pass-through entity’s award under this Notice will comply with the cost share and matching requirements. See 2 CFR 200.332.

mailto:LateApplications@americorps.gov https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=74a79d9a3a38ee2ca26d377daeacebb7&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1306&rgn=div8 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd/section-200.332

D.6.b. Indirect Costs Application budgets may include indirect costs. Based on qualifying factors, applicants may either use a Federally approved indirect cost rate, or a 15 percent de minimis rate of modified total direct costs, or claim certain costs directly, as outlined in 2 CFR 200.413. States and local governments, 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. No more than five percent of award funds may be used to recover indirect costs on grants under section 121(d) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended and AmeriCorps’ regulations at 45 CFR 2521.95 and 2540.110.

Use the eGrants Indirect Cost Rate 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 indirect 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.d. Pre-Award Costs Pre-award costs, where authorized, are allowed after receiving written approval from AmeriCorps.

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.

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

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 resolved 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://www.americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/manage-your-grant 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 below. Applicants must include a written explanation and any other documentation or evidence that support their inability to submit their application electronically.

AmeriCorps ATTN: FY26 Volunteer Generation Fund Application 250 E Street, SW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20525

Please use a non-U.S. Postal Service carrier to avoid security-related delays. 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

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 as a Word document, PDF, or any other document format may not be accepted.

Failure to submit the required additional documents, following the email instructions in this section, by the deadline may have a negative effect or on the determination of the application’s eligibility to advance for review.

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

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E.1. Selection Criteria Each applicant must describe a project that will build capacity to use volunteers to meet the needs of a community.

Applications should include a well-designed plan with clear and compelling justifications for receiving the requested funds. Reviewers will assess the quality of applications by using the selection criteria described below and will rate them accordingly. They will also consider the weights assigned to each criterion.

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".

Categories/Subcategories Percentage https://forms.office.com/g/kyH8TnGx6Q https://forms.office.com/g/kyH8TnGx6Q https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=p1D40s6Ns0-nnGhn-VFDEjnkDwxqS6VKilbFvGA_KhFUMFRPWk8xWjZXMlpVUzA3WU9SWjNRV0sxVSQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=p1D40s6Ns0-nnGhn-VFDEjnkDwxqS6VKilbFvGA_KhFUMFRPWk8xWjZXMlpVUzA3WU9SWjNRV0sxVSQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/12/2025-15344/improving-oversight-of-federal-grantmaking

Executive Summary 0 Program Design 50

• Goals and Objectives 25

• Program Impact 25

• Notice Priority 0

Organizational Capability 35

• Program Management 20

• Organizational Capability 15

Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 15

E.1.a. Executive Summary Please fill in the blanks of these sentences to complete the Executive Summary.

Do not deviate from the template below.

[1. Name of the State Service Commission] will utilize [2. amount of federal funds requested] to build capacity of [3. type of organization, group or agency] in [4. State] by [5. type of activity] volunteers to address [6. Primary Focus Area]. The [# of volunteers] will serve [7. type of community/population served by volunteer intervention] to meet [8. community need].

Applicants must provide:

1. Name of State Service Commission

2. Amount of AmeriCorps funding requested

3. Types of organizations receiving capacity building services

4. State being served

5. Capacity building activities volunteers will engage in

6. Primary Focus Area as selected in eGrants

7. Total number of volunteers engaged

8. Community or population who will be served by volunteer interventions

9. Community need to be met

A sample Executive Summary might look like:

The ABC State Service Commission will utilize $300,000 to build capacity of non-profits in ABC by training volunteers in disaster preparedness and response. The 300 volunteers will serve rural, veteran and military family, and other communities across the state to meet the need for increasing disaster resilience.

E.1.b. Program Design (50 percent):

E.1.b.i. Goals and Objectives (25 percent) Reviewers will assess the extent to which applicants:

• Explain convincingly how program design builds capacity to engage more volunteers to meet the identified community need. Explain how program design aligns with the purpose and priorities listed in the Notice.

E.1.b.ii. Program Impact (25 percent) Reviewers will assess the extent to which applications:

• Demonstrate the proposed project will likely have a notable, positive impact on the community need.

• Demonstrate the proposed project will likely have a notable increase in volunteers generated to meet the community need identified.

• Describe objectives and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project that are clearly specified and measurable.

• Describe a plan to measure and collect data on National Performance Measure outcomes and outputs and data performance elements.

Notice Priority (0 percent)

• The proposed program fits within one or more of the AmeriCorps funding priorities and meets all of the requirements within that bullet/section as outlined in Section A.2 Funding Priorities .

E.1.b. Organizational Capability (35 percent):

Reviewers will consider the extent to which applicants:

• 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, including:

o the extent to which the organization has an effective mechanism in place to report, without delay, any suspected criminal activity, waste, fraud, and/or abuse to both the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General and AmeriCorps and a plan for training staff and participants on these reporting protocols.

o the extent to which the organization has sufficient policies, procedures, and controls in place to prevent, detect, and mitigate the risk of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, this can include an assessment of appropriate segregation of duties, internal oversight activities, measures to prevent timekeeping fraud, etc.

E.1.c. Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (15 percent):

Budget 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

• The budget is clear and in alignment with the program narrative.

• the completeness and reasonableness of the budget

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 conduct an initial Compliance and Eligibility Review to determine if an application meets the eligibility requirements published in this Notice and advances to the next stage of the review process.

An application is compliant if the applicant:

• is an eligible organization

• submitted an application by the submission deadline

• has an active SAM registration,

• submitted an application that complies with the following program-specific requirements:

o Requested a minimum amount of funding (AmeriCorps Share) of $100,000 or greater o Requested no more than the maximum amount of $500,000 for a one-year budget

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 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.d. 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 the following criteria:

1. Due Diligence, including:

• Federal debt delinquency

• suspension and debarment

• information available through Office of Management and Budget (OMB) designated repositories of government-wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information, such as:

o U.S. Treasury Bureau of Fiscal Services o System for Award Management (SAM) o “Do Not Pay”

• reports and findings from single audits performed under Uniform Administrative Guidance and findings of any other available audits or investigations

• IRS Tax Form 990

• Oversight.gov

• Public Litigation Records

2. Operational and Financial Management, including:

• financial stability

• Operational and Financial Management Survey (OFMS)

3. Past Performance, including:

• an applicant’s record in managing previous AmeriCorps awards, cooperative agreements, or procurement awards, including:

o timeliness of compliance with applicable reporting requirements o accuracy of data reported o validity of performance measure data reported o conformance to the terms and conditions of previous Federal awards o applicant’s ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements imposed on award recipients o timely closeout of other awards o meeting matching requirements o the extent to which any previously awarded amounts will be expended prior to future awards o Meeting National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC) compliance.

4. Other Programmatic Risks, including:

• publicly available information, including from the applicant organization's website

• amount of funding requested by the organization

E.2.e. Consideration of Integrity and Performance System Information Before making any award that exceeds $250,000, AmeriCorps must consider information about the applicant from the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.gov.

Any applicant may comment upon information previously entered by another Federal agency in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM.gov.

AmeriCorps may consider applicant comments when completing its review of risk.

AmeriCorps may also consider other information about any applicant receiving an award, including those under $250,000.

E.2.f. Selection for Funding The review and selection process are designed to:

• identify how well eligible applications are aligned with the application selection criteria

• build a diversified portfolio based on the following strategic considerations:

o AmeriCorps Funding Priorities o meaningful representation of https://www.oversight.gov/ https://www.americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/manage-your-grant https://americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/history-check https://sam.gov/content/home https://sam.gov/content/home geographic diversity rural communities faith-based organizations focus areas o innovative community strategies for identified funding priorities o CEO discretion to advance strategic goals

In selecting applicants to receive awards under this Notice, the Chief Executive Officer will endeavor to include a diverse portfolio of applications based on staff recommendations, alignment with selection criteria, and strategic considerations.

AmeriCorps reserves the right to award applications in an amount other than at the requested level of funding and will document the rationale for doing so.

AmeriCorps reserves the right to adjust or make changes to the review process, if unforeseen challenges or urgent circumstances make it impossible, impracticable, or inefficient to conduct the review process as planned. AmeriCorps reserves the right to re-focus program dollars under this Notice in the event of disaster or other compelling needs.

E.2.f. Applicant Resolution After the application review process, before any grant awards are issued, AmeriCorps may ask an applicant for additional information to address any application compliance or risk issues. If an applicant does not respond promptly to these requests, then the applicant may be denied funding.

AmeriCorps will ask all grantees for a written compliance implementation plan that includes notification of waste, fraud, and abuse to the agency’s Office of Inspector General.

E.3. Feedback to Applicants Each compliant applicant will receive feedback from its application.

E.4. Transparency in Grantmaking

AmeriCorps is committed to transparency in grant-making. A list of all approved applications for new and re-competing applications will be published on AmeriCorps Funded Grants within 90 business days after all grants are awarded.

Further information about funded grants and subgrants is also available in USASpending.gov.

http://www.americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities/funded-grants https://www.usaspending.gov/

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

F.1. Federal Award Notices AmeriCorps will make awards following the selection announcement. AmeriCorps anticipates announcing the results of this funding opportunity in July 2026. All applicants, successful or not, will be notified of funding decisions via email.

F.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

F.2.a. Uniform Guidance All awards made under this Notice will be subject to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 2205.

F.2.b. Requests for Monitoring or Payment Integrity Information AmeriCorps will request documentation from award recipients in order to monitor the grantee and award to ensure compliance with legal requirements, including the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019. Failure to make timely responses to these requests may result in award funds being placed on manual hold, reimbursement only status, or other remedies may be applied as appropriate.

F.2.c. AmeriCorps Terms and Conditions All awards made under this Notice will be subject to the FY 2026 AmeriCorps General Terms and Conditions, and the FY 2026 Program-Specific Terms and Conditions for the particular program (when applicable). These Terms and Conditions contain detailed, mandatory compliance and reporting requirements. Current versions of the AmeriCorps General and Program-Specific Terms and Conditions for each of its programs is available on the AmeriCorps Manage Your Grant web page.

F.2.d. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements The National Service Criminal History Check, NSCHC, is a specific screening procedure established by law to protect the beneficiaries of national service. Use 45 CFR 2540.200– 2540.207 and National Service Criminal History Check Resources for complete information and FAQs.

F.2.e. Official Guidance AmeriCorps’ active guidance is available on the agency’s guidance webpage. The contents of these documents do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way unless incorporated into a contract or grant agreement. These documents are intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.

F.3. Use of Material To ensure that materials generated with AmeriCorps funding are available to the public and readily accessible to recipients and non-recipients, AmeriCorps reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to obtain, use, modify, reproduce, publish, or disseminate publications and materials produced under the award, including data, and to authorize http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=379c69c6a453c93b76142986a4ce5ad4&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=f7425ef67312ab84da9e76ed5d79dff7&node=pt2.1.2205&rgn=div5 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-116publ117/pdf/PLAW-116publ117.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-116publ117/pdf/PLAW-116publ117.pdf https://americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/manage-your-grant https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-B/chapter-XXV/part-2540/subpart-B?toc=1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-B/chapter-XXV/part-2540/subpart-B?toc=1 https://americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/history-check others to do so (2 CFR §200.315).

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

For more information, email VolunteerGeneration@americorps.gov.

For technical questions and problems with the eGrants system, call the AmeriCorps Hotline at

(800) 942-2677 Option 3. AmeriCorps Hotline hours are also posted. Be prepared to provide the application ID, organization’s name, and the name of the Notice to which the organization is applying.

H. OTHER INFORMATION

H.1. Technical Assistance AmeriCorps will host technical assistance calls to answer questions about the funding opportunity and eGrants. AmeriCorps strongly encourages all applicants to participate in these sessions. Information for these technical assistance calls is available on the AmeriCorps’ Funding Opportunities website

Resources you need to effectively manage your award, including eGrants instructions, terms and conditions, individual match waiver, pre-award requirements, financial reporting requirements, and training and technical assistance materials are found on the Manage Your Grant website.

H.2. Re-Focusing of Funding AmeriCorps reserves the right to re-focus program dollars under this Notice in the event of disaster or other compelling needs.

I. IMPORTANT NOTICES

Public Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for collection of information under this Notice of Funding is estimated to average six hours per submission, including reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing the application and reporting forms. AmeriCorps informs people who may respond to this Notice of Funding that they are not required to respond unless the OMB control number and expiration date are current valid. (See 5 C.F.R. 1320.5(b)(2)(i).) This collection is approved under OMB Control #:

This collection is approved under OMB Control #: 3045-0047 Expiration Date: September 30, 2026.

Privacy Act Statement: The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C §552a) requires that AmeriCorps notify applicants that the information requested under this Notice of Funding is collected pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§12592 and 12615 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.

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=74a79d9a3a38ee2ca26d377daeacebb7&mc=true&n=pt2.1.200&r=PART&ty=HTML#se2.1.200_1315 mailto:VolunteerGeneration@americorps.gov https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fy-2026-volunteer-generation-fund https://www.americorps.gov/funding-opportunity/fy-2026-volunteer-generation-fund https://www.americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/manage-your-grant https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=ba6a43c334f657907f5f8a02052e349b&mc=true&node=pt5.3.1320&rgn=div5#se5.3.1320_15

• Purposes and Uses - The information requested is collected for the purposes of reviewing grant applications and granting funding requests. 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 contractors that have a need to know the information for the purpose of assisting the government 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.

• Effects of Nondisclosure - The information requested is voluntary; however, to be a recipient of this award program, disclosure of personal or sensitive information is required to receive federal benefits.

This Notice was produced and published at US taxpayer expense.

APPENDIX I

AmeriCorps Focus Areas The National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended by the Serve America Act, emphasizes measuring the impact of service and focusing on a core set of issue areas. In order to carry out Congress’s intent and to maximize the impact of investment in national service AmeriCorps has the following Focus Areas:

Disaster Services Helping individuals and communities prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of disasters and increase community resiliency.

Economic Opportunity Improving the economic well-being and security of underserved individuals.

Education Improving educational outcomes for underserved people, especially children. AmeriCorps is particularly interested in program designs that support youth engagement and service learning as strategies to achieve high educational outcomes.

Environmental Stewardship Supporting communities to become more resilient through measures that conserve land and water, and improve at-risk ecosystems, especially in underserved households and communities.

Healthy Futures Supporting for health needs within communities, including mitigating the impacts of COVID- 19 and other public health crises, access to care, aging in place, and addressing childhood obesity, especially in underserved communities.

Veterans and Military Families Improving the quality of life of veterans and improve military family strength.

F.3. Use of Material