Opportunity Information: Apply for CNCS 8 17 2017
The 2017 AmeriCorps State and National Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number CNCS-8-17-2017) is a discretionary grant program run by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) under CFDA 94.006. Its main purpose is to fund organizations that will place AmeriCorps members in structured national service roles to deliver evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions that strengthen communities. In practical terms, CNCS is looking for programs that can show a clear community need, a credible approach grounded in research or demonstrated results, and a plan to use AmeriCorps members as the “people power” to carry out the work in a measurable way across one or more community focus areas.
A central feature of this grant is the AmeriCorps member position itself. AmeriCorps members are individuals who commit to a defined term of service through an approved national service position. While serving, members may receive a living allowance and other benefits (the specific package varies by program design and member type). After successfully completing their service term, members earn the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award through the National Service Trust, which can be used for qualified higher education costs or applied to eligible student loans. The program is therefore designed to produce a dual outcome: direct community impact through service activities, and personal/economic mobility benefits for members through education support and service experience.
Funding awards generally include two interrelated components. First are operating funds, which support the costs of running the AmeriCorps program, such as staff supervision, training, program management, and other approved operating expenses necessary to recruit, support, and oversee members and deliver services. Second are the AmeriCorps member positions (often described as “slots”), which represent the authorized number and type of members the grantee may enroll. Award amounts can vary widely because programs differ in scope, the number of members requested, and the specific member types and cost structures used. The opportunity spans a broad set of eligible service domains, including (but not limited to) agriculture, arts, community development, disaster prevention and relief, education, employment and workforce development, energy and environment, food and nutrition, health, housing, income security and social services, law/justice/legal services, natural resources, and regional development.
The standard project period is generally three years unless the notice specifies otherwise. Even when a multi-year project period is approved, CNCS typically makes an initial award for the first year of operation, and applicants usually submit a one-year budget as part of the application. Future year support is treated as continuation funding and is not guaranteed, meaning grantees must meet requirements and successfully compete for or secure continuation to receive additional year funding. This structure matters for planning because organizations need to be prepared to operate year-to-year while still building a program designed for multi-year outcomes.
Eligibility is broad but specific to non-federal entities (as defined in 2 CFR 200.69) that have a DUNS number and are registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). Eligible applicants include state governments, local governments (including county and city or township governments), special district governments, and independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits that do not hold 501(c)(3) status (so long as they are not institutions of higher education in that category). The notice also explicitly states that prior CNCS funding (or prior federal funding of any kind) is not required to apply, and it encourages first-time CNCS applicants to submit proposals.
For organizations applying to CNCS for the first time, CNCS notes a general practice around the size of initial awards in terms of member positions: first-time grantees typically receive at least 20 member slots but no more than 50 slots. This is not framed as an absolute rule, but it signals what CNCS commonly considers an appropriate starting scale for a new AmeriCorps grantee, balancing meaningful community impact with an organization’s capacity to manage compliance, member support, performance measurement, and program oversight.
The opportunity also addresses continuation applicants, meaning organizations that already hold AmeriCorps awards that extend beyond fiscal year 2017. Those organizations must submit an application to be considered for funding for the next year of their project, even if their current award period has not ended. In other words, continuation is a formal process rather than automatic renewal, and current grantees must complete the application steps to remain eligible for the subsequent year’s support.
Administrative details included in the notice identify the original closing date as January 18, 2017, and list the funding instrument type as a grant. While the notice does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided text, it makes clear that awards will differ by program design and member-slot configuration, and that the program’s core expectation is the deployment of AmeriCorps members to deliver interventions that can credibly demonstrate community outcomes.Apply for CNCS 8 17 2017
- The Corporation for National and Community Service in the agriculture, arts, community development, disaster prevention and relief, education, employment, labor and training, energy, environment, food and nutrition, health, housing, income security and social services, law, justice and legal services, natural resources, regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2017 AmeriCorps State and National Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 94.006.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-08-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-01-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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2017 AmeriCorps State and National Grants (CNCS-8-17-2017) FAQs
What is the 2017 AmeriCorps State and National Grants opportunity?
It is a discretionary grant program run by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) under CFDA 94.006. The Funding Opportunity Number is CNCS-8-17-2017.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The purpose is to fund organizations that place AmeriCorps members in structured national service roles to deliver evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions that strengthen communities.
What is CNCS looking for in proposed programs?
CNCS is looking for programs that can show a clear community need, use a credible approach grounded in research or demonstrated results, and deploy AmeriCorps members as the service workforce to carry out measurable work in one or more community focus areas.
What is an AmeriCorps member position in this context?
An AmeriCorps member position is an approved national service role where an individual commits to a defined term of service through the grantee's program.
Do AmeriCorps members receive benefits during service?
Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. The specific benefit package varies by program design and member type.
What do members receive after completing their term of service?
After successfully completing their service term, members earn the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award through the National Service Trust, which can be used for qualified higher education costs or applied to eligible student loans.
What kinds of outcomes is the program designed to achieve?
The program is designed to produce two outcomes: (1) direct community impact through service activities, and (2) personal and economic mobility benefits for members through education support and service experience.
What are the main components of a typical award?
Awards generally include (1) operating funds and (2) AmeriCorps member positions (often called "slots"). Operating funds support program operations like supervision, training, and management, while slots represent the authorized number and type of members the grantee may enroll.
What can operating funds be used for?
Operating funds support the costs of running the AmeriCorps program, including staff supervision, training, program management, and other approved operating expenses necessary to recruit, support, and oversee members and deliver services.
What are "member slots"?
Member slots are the authorized number and type of AmeriCorps members a grantee may enroll as part of the funded program.
How much funding can an organization receive?
Award amounts can vary widely because programs differ in scope, the number of members requested, and the specific member types and cost structures used. The provided notice text does not state an award ceiling.
Does the notice specify the expected number of awards?
No. The provided notice text does not specify the expected number of awards.
What service areas or domains are eligible under this opportunity?
The opportunity spans a broad set of eligible service domains, including (but not limited to): agriculture, arts, community development, disaster prevention and relief, education, employment and workforce development, energy and environment, food and nutrition, health, housing, income security and social services, law/justice/legal services, natural resources, and regional development.
What is the standard project period?
The standard project period is generally three years unless the notice specifies otherwise.
Is funding guaranteed for all years of a multi-year project period?
No. CNCS typically makes an initial award for the first year of operation. Future year support is treated as continuation funding and is not guaranteed.
If the project period is three years, what budget is typically submitted with the application?
Applicants usually submit a one-year budget as part of the application, even when a multi-year project period is approved.
Why does the year-to-year funding structure matter for planning?
Organizations need to be prepared to operate year-to-year while still building a program designed for multi-year outcomes, because continuation funding is not guaranteed.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes non-federal entities (as defined in 2 CFR 200.69) that have a DUNS number and are registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). Eligible applicants include state governments, local governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits as described in the notice).
What registrations or identifiers are required to be eligible?
Applicants must have a DUNS number and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).
Are nonprofit organizations eligible if they are not 501(c)(3) organizations?
Yes. The notice states that nonprofit organizations may be eligible even if they do not hold 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education in that category.
Is prior CNCS or federal funding required to apply?
No. The notice explicitly states that prior CNCS funding (or prior federal funding of any kind) is not required to apply, and it encourages first-time CNCS applicants to submit proposals.
How many AmeriCorps member slots do first-time grantees typically receive?
CNCS notes that first-time grantees typically receive at least 20 member slots but no more than 50 slots. This is presented as a general practice rather than an absolute rule.
What does CNCS mean by "evidence-based" or "evidence-informed" interventions?
Based on the notice language, interventions should be grounded in research or demonstrated results, with a credible approach that can show measurable community outcomes.
What are continuation applicants, and do they need to apply again?
Continuation applicants are organizations that already hold AmeriCorps awards that extend beyond fiscal year 2017. They must submit an application to be considered for funding for the next year of their project; continuation is a formal process and not an automatic renewal.
What is the original closing date listed in the notice?
The notice identifies the original closing date as January 18, 2017.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type listed is a grant.
What is the core expectation for funded programs?
The core expectation is the deployment of AmeriCorps members to deliver interventions that can credibly demonstrate community outcomes.
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