AmeriCorps Information Session

1. AmeriCorps Information Session WELCOME! A presentation for AmeriCorps grant applicants

2. Session Objectives • Provide information on AmeriCorps • Explore considerations for deciding if AmeriCorps is the right fit • Q & A

3. CaliforniaVolunteers (CV) • Mission:Increase the number & impact of Californians engaged in service and volunteering. • Leadership:California’s Chief Service Officer leads the agency in consultation with a 25-member Commission appointed by the Governor • Federal Partner: Receives federal funds from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support AmeriCorps programs

4. National Service Umbrella The Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) AmeriCorps Senior Corps AmeriCorps State & National Foster Grandparents AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) Senior Companion Program AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

5. What is AmeriCorps?(Think Domestic Peace Corps) • Provides partial funding to support AmeriCorps projects/programs. Grant recipients must contribute cash or in-kind match funds • Funds are specifically for creating and implementing an AmeriCorps program, not for other organizational expenses • Includes an allotment of AmeriCorps member positions and funds that are directly tied to the number of members

6. AmeriCorps Programs • Activities designed for AmeriCorps members must demonstrate an evidence-based or evidence-informed approach to strengthening communities and solving community problems. • Allows an organization to better address community needs by utilizing AmeriCorps resources to build capacity or deepen the impact of the service to individuals or communities • Broadens the scope of the service activities to reach previously underserved communities • AmeriCorps programs cannot be used to replace or outsource already-existing resources in communities

7. What do AC programs do? AmeriCorps impact includes:

9. AmeriCorps Members • Individuals enrolled for a specific term of service with an AmeriCorps program • Members are not volunteers or employees • Some members receive a living allowance, health insurance and child care assistance • AmeriCorps members receive the Segal Education Award upon completing a term of service

10. Member Eligibility Members must be: • U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals or Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States • At least 17 years of age – no upper age limit • High school graduates or GED recipients (or working towards this goal) • Subject to criminal history checks • AmeriCorps programs may add program-specific requirements

11. Member Benefits: Living Allowance • The stipend an AmeriCorps member receives during a term of service • CNCS publishes a maximum and minimum living allowance for each member position • Only full-time members are required to receive a living allowance

12. Member Benefits: Education Award • A benefit provided for completing a term of service in AmeriCorps • Funding for education awards comes from the National Service Trust and will not be part of your submitted budget

13. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit? Pre-Application Considerations: • Eligibility • Partnership involvement • Applicant organizational capacity • Member management capacity • Community need • Program intervention & desired outcomes • Ability to raise match (support cost share)

14. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit? Eligibility • New applicants not currently funded by CV • Type of Organization • Nonprofit organizations • Institutions of higher education • Local government/public agencies • State government agencies • Federally recognized Indian Tribes within the state of California • Community Partnership • Minimum Size Corps (20 FTE) • DUNS and SAM • Submit a Notice of Intent to Apply • Complete Application Submission

15. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit? Partnership Involvement AmeriCorps programs must be supported by public/private partnership of three independent entities that include one public and one private partner (nonprofit or for-profit). Partnerships can take multiple forms and are dependent on program design. Community partnership involvement can be helpful in: • Clarifying the community need • Helping identify partner/member placement sites • Providing financial or administrative support • Raising awareness of your organization, program, and its activities in your community • Making a stronger community impact

16. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit? Organizational Capacity: As AmeriCorps Grantees, organizations must: • Employ strong fiscal & program management systems • Monitor financial management, program performance, and member activities • Train and provide technical assistance to staff • Track progress toward meeting performance measures • Act as liaison between CV and other community partners • Recruit, select, train, and support members

17. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit? Member Management Capacity: AmeriCorps Grantees are responsible for: • Recruitment, placement, and management of members • Enrolling, exiting, and managing all paperwork for members • Tracking all members’ hours served • Training, development, and day-to-day support of members • Keeping current, accurate, and compliant member files • Managing member benefits • Conducting criminal history checks for members

18. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit? Community Need: • What is the community need that my program will address? • What data is available to document the identified need as a compelling need facing the community? • Why is AmeriCorps a good fit to meet the identified need? • What high-need population would directly benefit from our program? • Who else (if anyone) is addressing this need in the community? How can we work together? How is our work different? • What is the added value of having an AmeriCorps program in our community?

19. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit? Program Intervention & Desired Outcomes: • Is this program the right fit for our organization to meet this need? • An internal organizational assessment can help determine if your organization has the capacity to manage the grant. • Does our organization have commitment to the AmeriCorps program and its goals and outcomes? • At all levels of the organization. • Does our program have evidence to support that the intervention we are proposing will lead to the outcomes we identify in the logic model? • “Evidence” may mean evidence-informed or evidence-based

20. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit? AmeriCorps grants only provide partial funding to support the overall costs of a program. Does your organization have the means to raise the additional funds needed to operate the program? Match Requirements: New applicants are required to provide a single overall match of at least 24% for the first three-year funding period.

21. Is AmeriCorps the Right Fit? Implementation Considerations: • Demonstrated capacity to oversee & manage: • Federal grant dollars • Recruitment, selection, enrollment, training, supervision of at least 20 or more AmeriCorps members • Multiple service locations/partners • Consistent delivery of allowable grant activities • Demonstrated capacity to comply with: • AmeriCorps Federal Regulation and Grant Terms & Conditions • Reporting & Administrative requirements • OMB Circulars

22. Reporting Requirements & Grant Administration • Reporting • Federal Financial Reports (FFRs) submitted semi-annually and at the conclusion of your budget period • Programmatic Reports submitted quarterly • Other reports as required • Grant Administration • Monthly communication (at a minimum) with CV support team • Timely responses from appropriate program staff • Timely submission of reports and other documents • Attendance on webinars and at events by appropriate staff • Full enrollment and retention of members

23. AmeriCorps Program Requirements The AmeriCorps program is a Federally funded program. As such, the following requirements apply to the program activities and funds expended as part of the program. • Administrative Requirements • 2 CFR 200 & 2205 • National and Community Service Act of 1990 (as amended by Serve America Act) • 42 USC 12501 et seq., and 45 CFR 2510 et seq. • Applicable Federal Policies • AmeriCorps Regulations • AmeriCorps Grant Terms and Conditions • Applicable State/CaliforniaVolunteers Policies

24. How to Apply for AmeriCorps Funding • Respond to CaliforniaVolunteers’ Request for Applications (RFA). • Visit http://www.californiavolunteers.org/index.php/Grants/americorps/ for RFA application materials once released • Submit Notice of Intent to Apply • Follow RFA and accompanying Application Forms and Instructions.

25. T/TA Session 1 of 2 • Session 1 of 2 - Content AmeriCorps Grant Resources Overview, Possible Designs to Improve Law-Enforcement and Community Relations Using AmeriCorps, Roles and Responsibilities of Applicant Organization, and AmeriCorps Program Design and Management. A1 March 1, 2017 – Hayward, CA 10am-3pm A2 March 2, 2017 – Fresno, CA 10am-3pm A3 March 8, 2017 – Los Angeles, CA 10am-3pm

26. T/TA Session 2 of 2 • Session 2 of 2 - Content Developing an AmeriCorps Program Logic Model; Developing High Quality Performance Measures, Developing a Cost Effective and Adequate Program Budget, and Understanding the AmeriCorps Grant Application Process. B1 March 15, 2017 – Hayward, CA 10am-3pm B2 March 16, 2017 – Fresno, CA 10am-3pm B3 March 22, 2017 – Los Angeles, CA 10am-3pm

27. To Opt-In to a T/TA Session Set A & B Email: CaliforniaVolunteers at: Funding@CaliforniaVolunteers.ca.gov Identify the sessions you will be attending: Session A1 March 1, 2017 – Hayward, CA 10am-3pm A2 March 2, 2017 – Fresno, CA 10am-3pm A3 March 8, 2017 – Los Angeles, CA 10am-3pm B1 March 15, 2017 – Hayward, CA 10am-3pm B2 March 16, 2017 – Fresno, CA 10am-3pm B3 March 22, 2017 – Los Angeles, CA 10am-3pm

28. Getting Things Done for America For More Information Funding@CaliforniaVolunteers.ca.gov

29. CV Building Community Trust 2017-18Grant OpportunityKey Points!

30. Point #1The CV AmeriCorps Building Community Trust Grant Opportunity invites organizations across California to leverage AmeriCorps grant resources to aid their efforts in improving trust between law enforcement and their communities.

31. Point #2Unlike the CV Formula funding opportunity…The Building Community Trust grant is a CV National Competitive grant opportunity…meaning…

32. Point #3CV staff will support applicants in navigating the AmeriCorps federal grant application process as well as provide in-depth training and technical assistance to assist with the development of strongAmeriCorps program designs and national competitive grant applications.

33. Building Community Trust Application DevelopmentRequirements for On-Going Training and Technical Assistance • Applicant organizations must attend Two In-Person Technical Assistance Sessions (A & B) A Technical Assistance session set will lead to submitting an operating grant application to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)

34. Simply put…. • Attend two CV In-Person Technical Assistance Sessions - March 2017 • Formalize your AmeriCorps partnership • Develop your CV AmeriCorps Application with assistance from CV staff • Submit CaliforniaVolunteers’ Request for Applications (RFA) by the April 21, 2017 due date

35. Questions?