Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism

1. Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism 2010-2011 AmeriCorps Notice of Funding Opportunity Technical Assistance September, 2009

2. Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism www.AmeriCorpsGA.org Department of Community Affairs 60 Executive Park South, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 John Turner Executive Director 404-327-6846 Kate Webb Grants Program Consultant 404-327-6860

3. 2010 AmeriCorps NOFO Does AmeriCorps Fit Your Organization? Suggested Application Steps 2010 AmeriCorps NOFO 2010 AmeriCorps Application Instructions 2010 GCSV Grant Selection Criteria and Requirements for Georgia Applicants Georgia Statewide Common Performance Measures Kit Budget Spreadsheet Intent to Apply Form

4. The Basics Who is eligible to apply for AmeriCorps funding? Nonprofit Organizations (501 (c) 3) Institutions of Higher Education School Districts Tribes Faith-Based Organizations State and Local Governments

5. The Basics What kind of funding is available? For 2010, AmeriCorps*State Competitive, EAP, Formula and Planning grants (pending Congressional approval) We fund high quality community service programs Education Environment Disaster Preparedness/ Homeland Security Human Services Public Safety

6. The Basics In the FY 2010 competition, the Corporation’s funding priorities are projects that address compelling, unmet needs in one or a combination of the following five national service priority areas which are described more fully in the Notice of Funding Opportunity document available on our website. Education Clean Energy/Environment Healthy Futures Veterans Opportunity The GCSV funding priorities are projects that address Water Conservation Rural Poverty Ethnic Diversity Assistance to Seniors

7. What is the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)? “The Corporation”What is the Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism (GCSV)?  “The Commission”

8. “The Corporation” Funds 3 National Service Programs AmeriCorps – members ages 17 to ? AmeriCorps State AmeriCorps National Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Senior Corps – volunteers ages 55 & over RSVP Foster Grandparents Senior Home Companion Program Learn and Serve – K-12 students Service Learning – Schools and Community-Based After School Programs Presidential Freedom Scholarships *Over 1.6 million Americans serving who will recruit another 1 million community volunteers*

9. What is AmeriCorps? 1990 National and Community Service Act CNCS founded in 1994 to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet community needs In 2007, there were more than 75,000 AmeriCorps members nationwide

10. AmeriCorps members recruit, train and supervise community volunteers and provide focused and intensive educational, environmental, disaster preparedness, human needs and public safety services. In exchange for a year of service, AmeriCorps members receive a small stipend and a college scholarship (education award.) Since 1994, more than 525,000 Americans have served in AmeriCorps.

11. 2010 Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity Please review Program Requirements in AmeriCorps Regulations hereafter referred to as “The Rules.” Full Time 1700 hours Half Time 900 hours Reduced Half Time 675 hours Quarter Time 450 hours Minimum Time 300 hours

12. Average Corporation Cost per Member is $13,000. Full time members must receive a living allowance between $11,800 and $23,600. Minimum grantee share of 24% of operating costs. Overall grantee share of total program costs increases gradually to 50% overall share by the 10th year of funding and any year thereafter.

13. 2010-2011 AmeriCorps Grant Application Instructions Grant Selection Criteria Program Design – 50% Rationale & Approach – 10% Member Outputs & Outcomes – 20% Community Outputs & Outcomes – 20% Organizational Capacity – 25% Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy – 25% Cost Effectiveness – 15% Budget Adequacy – 10% We strongly recommend that you create your eGrants account and begin your application at least three weeks before the deadline and begin pasting your application into eGrants no later than ten days before the deadline. This will allow you time to address technical issues prior to the deadline.

14. General Submission InformationFinal Application consists of:I. SF424 FacesheetII. Program Model, Design, Location and FocusIII. NarrativeIV. Service CategoriesV. Evaluation Summary or Plan VI. Additional Required InformationVII. BudgetVIII. Review, Authorization, Assurances and CertificationsIX. Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants

15. Narrative Executive Summary – concise overview of proposed program that summarizes purpose, need, planned service activities to address need, anticipated outcomes & how outcomes will be measured. Include organization’s mission statement. Summary of Accomplishments and Outcomes – if you currently receive AmeriCorps funds, provide clear description of accomplishments, outputs & outcomes achieved to date in relation to performance measures for the three year grant period. - if you received other Corporation program funds of any type within the past 3 years, list amounts received from each CNCS program.

16. Program Design *ANSWER EVERY QUESTION EXACTLY* Rationale and Approach Compelling Community Need Description of Activities and Member Roles Measurable Outcomes - reference GA Common Performance Measures Plan for Self Assessment and Improvement Community Involvement Relationship to other National & Community Service Programs Potential for Replication

17. Narrative ~ continued Member Outputs and Outcomes Member Recruitment and Recognition Member Development, Training, Supervision Ethic of Service and Civic Responsibility Measurable Outputs and Outcomes Re-competing Grantees only Member Enrollment & Retention Re-competing Grantees only

18. Narrative ~ continued Community Outputs and Outcomes Community Impact Sustainability Volunteer Recruitment and Support Capacity Building – explain members’ roles in your capacity-building activities.

19. Narrative ~ continued Organizational Capacity Sound Organizational Structure Ability to Provide Sound Programmatic and Fiscal Oversight Board of Directors, Administrators, Staff Plan for Self-Assessment or Improvement Plan for Effective Technical Assistance Sound Record of Accomplishment as an Organization Volunteer Generation and Support Organizational and Community Leadership Success in Securing Match Resources Success in Securing Community Support that Recurs, Expands in Scope, Increases in Amount and is More Diverse Collaboration Local Financial and In-Kind Contributions Wide Range of Community Stakeholders Special Circumstances

20. Narrative ~ continued Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy Cost Effectiveness Corporation Cost Per Member Service Year (MSY) Diverse Non-Federal Support Decreased Reliance on Federal Support Budget Adequacy

21. Evaluation Summary or Plan Submit any completed evaluation report as described on Page 22 of the CNCS Application Instructions. Select Evaluation and Select Sent once you have submitted a completed evaluation report to both CNCS and GCSV. Federally Approved Indirect Cost Agreement Applicants with a federally-approved indirect cost agreement in their budget must submit the approved agreement to both CNCS and GCSV.

22. Service Categories - Appendix Cchoose 1 primary and 1 secondary Performance Measures - Appendix D Use Georgia’s Common Performance Measures for Participant Development (First Aid & CPR)

23. Create a minimum of 1 set of aligned performance measures for Needs & Service Activities: At least 1 OUTPUT At least 1 INTERMEDIATE OUTCOME At least 1 FINAL OUTCOME *EVERY SERVICE ACTIVITY MUST BE MEASURED* Include the GCSV performance measures for Member Development. You may also include your own performance measure in this category.

24. Make performance measures (PMs) meaningful and relevant. PM’s should be generated from a logic model PM’s should provide meaningful data for program evaluation Why am I measuring these activities? What can I do with the data I will collect?

25. The Performance Measurement Test Think SMART! Specific Measurable Ambitious Realistic Timed

26. Performance Measurement GCSV recommends: Project STAR as a resource www.nationalserviceresources.org/resources/online_pubs/perf_meas/ac_home.php *Successful program outcomes are critical for refunding.*

27. Additional Required Information By mail to GCSV’s Office at DCA: A-133 Audit including Management Letter or Recent Financial Statements if no audit. Labor Union Concurrence Organizational Chart and Strategic Plan Financial Letter of Commitment from Legal Applicant for Cash Match Change status in eGrants from “Not Sent” to “Sent”, “Not Applicable” or “Already on File at CNCS.”

28. BUDGET- Appendix F & G Cost Per Member (MSY) - $13,000 Living Allowance = $11,800 (minimum) and $23,600 (maximum) GCSV does not recommend grant applications without living allowances unless the program design contains allowances for Education Award Only (EAP) members. Full time Members or Part time Members? Base decision on your program design AND availability of potential applicants in your area. Effect on budget (MSY) Documenting In-Kind Contributions – same standards apply to in-kind as to other expenses Must be reflected in ledgers Must be backed up with source documentation that reflects its valuation 5% Admin. is in addition to In-Kind for most programs

29. BUDGET- Appendix F & G Time and Activity Reporting must be after-the-fact distribution of employee activity. Prepare budgets according to the Budget Worksheets in eGrants. Use only whole numbers. No cents. Use only allowable expenses and refer to OMB circulars online at: www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars The budget is part of the contractual obligation. Base budget on actual historical information & estimates A cost allocation plan should be considered as part of the overall budgeting process.