AMERICORPS VISTA 

PROJECT APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

PART VI.2 SUPPORT GRANT VISTA PROJECT BUDGET

OMB NO.: 3045-0038 EXPIRATION DATE: 05/03/20xx
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VI.2 SUPPORT GRANT VISTA PROJECT BUDGET

Introduction

This document, Part VI.2, Support Grant VISTA Project Budget, provides detailed instructions for 

completing Budget Section 1 and Budget Section 2 in an already started eGrants application. The 

following are instructions for completing a budget for a Support Grant VISTA Project.

NOTE: Applicants to be a VISTA sponsoring organization must complete an application, including 

a budget. The application is submitted using eGrants, CNCS’s integrated, secure, web-based 

system for applications. Organizations must have an eGrants account to submit the Application in 

eGrants. The account is free and can be created online at 

http://www.nationalservice.gov/egrants/index.asp. To complete the application, applicants use the 

VISTA Project Application Instructions provided by the CNCS State Office. Contact information 

for State Offices is available at http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/contact/index.asp. 

To complete the budget of the application, applicants use this specific budget guidance to supplement 

the VISTA Project Application Instructions. 

About Support Grant VISTA Projects

A Support Grant VISTA project is a project in which:

 CNCS awards a certain number of VISTA positions to a sponsor and provides benefits directly

to the VISTA;

 The sponsor provides local operating and logistics costs;

 The sponsor requests grant funds to provide:

o Supervision for the VISTAs, leaders, and summer associates;

o Project staff travel expenses incurred for subrecipient monitoring; 

o Service-related transportation expenses of VISTAs, leaders, and summer associates;

AND/OR

o Costs for implementing the Pre-Service Orientation (PSO) for VISTAs when it is in the 

interests of the VISTA program 

To be eligible to receive a grant for supervision, for service-related transportation and/or for training 

costs, you must demonstrate that:

 The expenditure is necessary and appropriate to ensure that a VISTA, leader, or summer 

associate has available support necessary to carry out the purpose of the VISTA program and to 

perform effectively the service to which the VISTA, leader, or summer associate is assigned; 

and

 The need for support cannot be met within your organization’s own structure and resources. 

While there is no specific match requirement, applicant organizations should indicate the type and 

level of resources they will provide to support the project. Examples of resources provided by 

applicant organizations include personnel costs, and supplies. Please include these resources whether 

they are financial contributions or in-kind contributions.
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Application Process

Log in to eGrants. In eGrants, you will need to:

 Select “View All.” A screen will appear that lists all the applications that are in “Grantee 

Initial Entry” status that are associated with your account.

 Find your application using the Application ID. It will be listed as “VISTA State” or 

“VISTA Headquarters” under the Programs column. 

 Select “Edit” next to your listing. 

 In the Application Info section, choose the correct Program Type by selecting “Support 

Grant” from the Program Type dropdown menu. Check the box next to Cost Share as 

appropriate. Consult your CNCS State Office if you are uncertain.

 Once you select the program type and cost share type and click save, the Budget Sections 1 

and 2 will be created and added to the application.

The Budget includes two sections: Budget Section 1 deals with volunteer support expenses incurred by

the project. 

Budget Section 2 deals with volunteer expenses incurred by members, including living allowance and 

end-of-service award. Applicants for Support Grant VISTA Projects are required to complete both 

sections. 

As you prepare your budget:

 Your detailed budget narrative must provide a full explanation of the proposed costs 

including their purpose and the basis of your calculation. 

 For the Personnel and Travel line items, and wherever else it may increase clarity, present 

your calculations in the form of an equation, e.g., Two (2) VISTAs traveling @ $25/trip for 

2 trips = $50; or, Salary $35,000 @ 30% devoted to program = $10,500.

 Do not include fractional amounts (cents).

 Your budget entries should reflect a twelve-month project period.

Please refer to the relevant OMB Circulars on allowable costs for further guidance. The OMB circulars 

are online at www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/circulars.

 A-21 - Cost Principles for Educational Institutions, 2 CFR 220

 A-87 - Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments, 2 CFR 225

 A-122 - Cost Principles for Non Profit Organizations, 2 CFR 230

Programs must comply with all applicable federal laws, regulations, and OMB circulars for grant

management, allowable costs, and audits, including providing audits to the A-133 clearinghouse

if they expend over $500,000 in federal funds, as required in OMB Circular A-133.

Budget Section 1. Volunteer Support Expenses (Required)

You are required to complete this section for financial funds that you are requesting from CNCS. You 

may also wish to add line items to document the resources that your organization will provide to 

support the VISTA project (personnel, in-kind donations, etc). 

Enter information into the “CNCS Share” box for resources you are requesting from CNCS. Enter 

information into the “Grantee Share” box for resources your organization is contributing. Do not enter 

any information into the “Member Support” box.
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Project Personnel Expenses

Complete this line item to apply for grant funds for the salary costs of supervising VISTAs, Leaders 

and/or Summer Associates assigned to your project. 

Supervision support funds can be directed to more than one staff member of your organization or a 

subrecipient, but all listed personnel must directly supervise VISTAs, Leaders and/or Summer 

Associates in: recruitment and selection; preparation of individual assignment descriptions; orientation 

to the project; day-to-day oversight; preparation of service verification documents; and/or preparation 

of project progress reports. Supervision support funds may not be used to pay for preparation of 

Concept Paper, Project Application or renewal/continuation applications. Staff other than the project 

supervisor(s) may be not reimbursed with VISTA grant dollars.

Information about each supervisor should be listed along with a position title; salary amount; and the 

percentage of time devoted to VISTA supervision. 

Click “add a new budget item” and complete the requested information to apply for supervision

support funds:

 For “Position/Title” enter the current or intended title of the individual(s) devoted to 

supervision.

 For “Qty” enter the number of individuals who match this exact title, salary and who will spend 

the same percentage of time devoted to supervision. You should complete new line items for 

individuals with different characteristics. 

 For “Annual Salary” enter the annual salary for one individual.

 For “% Time” enter the percentage of time that each person listed above will spend on 

supervision. The percent listed should not exceed the percentage of actual time devoted to 

supervision by each individual. 

 Click into the box called “CNCS Share.” Refer to the “Total Amount” calculated by eGrants 

and enter the portion of the amount that you are requesting from CNCS. For example, if the 

“Total Amount” field shows $10,000 and you wish to request CNCS will fund half of these 

supervision costs, then you would enter $5000 in the “CNCS Share” box.

 For “Grantee Share” refer to the “Total Amount” calculated by eGrants and enter the portion of 

the amount that your organization will provide. The amounts entered in “CNCS Share” and 

“Grantee Share” must add up to equal the “Total Amount.”

Note: Organizations with multiple supervisors with different salaries, titles or other differing 

characteristics should create separate line items.

Personnel Fringe Benefits

Complete this line item to apply for grant funds for the costs of personnel benefits for the individuals 

who will be supervising VISTAs, Leaders and/or Summer Associates. 
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Fringe benefits are allowable VISTA support grant line items only for individuals listed above in 

“Project Personnel Expenses” and who are receiving salary support from CNCS. Allowable benefits 

include FICA, Health Insurance, Retirement, and Life Insurance. Benefit items should only include 

the items that are paid by the organization to other staff. 

The percentage of benefits paid must be less than or equal to the percentage of salary support being 

requested. To determine the maximum percentage of salary support that can be requested, refer to the 

relevant “Project Personnel Expenses” line item pop-up window and divide “CNCS Share” by “Total 

Amount.” This percent can be multiplied by each fringe benefit’s total cost to determine the maximum 

amount that can be requested from CNCS.

Information about each fringe benefit request should be listed along with a description; total fringe 

benefit annual amount; the percentage of time devoted to VISTA supervision; and the percentage of 

the overall fringe benefit costs being requested from CNCS.

Click “add a new budget item” and complete the requested information to apply for fringe benefit 

support funds.

Example: An individual will spend 20% of their time devoted to VISTA supervision and the applicant

organization is requesting grant funds from CNCS for 50% of the costs of salary support for that time. 

In total, this applicant is requesting VISTA support grant funds to pay for 10% (0.20 * 0.50 = 0.10) of

the annual supervisor salary. Thus, they may only request CNCS Share to cover up to 10% of total 

annual fringe benefits:

 

 Item: Health Insurance for Supervisor 1

 Description of personnel fringe benefits: 

-Annual Health Insurance costs for Supervisor 1 are $4000. 

-20% of Supervisor 1’s time will be spent supervising VISTAs. 

-We are requesting that CNCS provide grant funds to cover 50% of the costs for

 Supervisor 1’s annual health insurance costs of this time, or 10% (20% * 50% = 10%).

 

 Total Amount: =($Total annual fringe costs) * (% of time supervising VISTAs) 

 = $4000 * 20% = $800

 

 CNCS Share: =($Total amount) * (% requested from CNCS) 

 = $800 * 50% = $400

 Grantee Share: =($Total Amount) – ($CNCS Share)

 = $800 - $400 = $400

NOTE: Grantees must complete National Service Criminal History Checks on the supervisors who 

receive part or all of the salary from CNCS federal funds. You can find more information on the CNCS 

website at http://www.nationalservice.gov/for_organizations/manage/history_checks.asp.

Local Travel

Complete this line item to apply for grant funds for the costs of travel incurred for local subrecipient 

monitoring by the individuals who will be supervising VISTAs, Leaders and/or Summer Associates. 
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Local travel support funds may be requested by your organization for full or partial funding to cover 

travel expenses incurred for local subrecipient monitoring, but only in those cases where such support 

is necessary for compliance and for the effective functioning of the VISTAs, leaders, or summer 

associates on the project and where such support for project staff travel cannot be met within the your 

organization’s own structure and resources.

Grants for project staff travel are in the amount of the costs of public transportation or, where public 

transportation is not adequate, in the amount of the Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) Mileage 

Reimbursement Rate. The POV mileage reimbursement rate should be at least the rate applied to all 

travel within your organization and no greater than the federal mileage rate. If there is no standard rate 

within your organization, then the federal mileage rate should be applied. (Current federal mileage 

rates can be found at: http://www.gsa.gov/mileage )

Your organization will be responsible for any expenses incurred for such travel over the agreed 

amount.

Click “add a new budget item” and complete the requested information to apply for local travel support 

funds for project staff:

For “Purpose” enter information about the purpose of local travel, including position title of 

project staff. (e.g. Project Supervisor travel to monitor local sites A, B and C.)

For “Calculation” enter a description in the form of an equation. (e.g., 1 Supervisor traveling @ 

$25/trip for 2 trips = $50. Include costs for transportation and other related expenses, such as 

bus passes to local sites, mileage rates, etc.)

Enter information into the “CNCS Share” box for resources you are requesting from CNCS. 

Enter information into the “Grantee Share” box for resources your organization is contributing. 

Do not enter any information into the “Member Support” box.

Long Distance Travel

Complete this line item to apply for grant funds for the costs of travel incurred for long distance 

subrecipient monitoring by the individuals who will be supervising VISTAs, Leaders and/or Summer 

Associates. 

Long distance travel support funds may be requested by your organization for full or partial funding to 

cover travel expenses incurred for subrecipient monitoring, but only in those cases where such support 

is necessary for compliance and for the effective functioning of the VISTAs, leaders, or summer 

associates on the project and where such support for project staff travel cannot be met within your 

organization’s own structure and resources.

Grants for project staff travel are in the amount of the costs of public transportation or, where public 

transportation is not adequate, in the amount of the Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) Mileage 

Reimbursement Rates. The POV mileage reimbursement rate should be at least the rate applied to all 

travel within your organization and no greater than the federal mileage rate. If there is no standard rate 

within your organization, then the federal mileage rate should be applied. (Current federal mileage 

rates can be found at: http://www.gsa.gov/mileage )
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Your organization will be responsible for any expenses incurred for such travel over the agreed 

amount.

Click “add a new budget item” and complete the requested information to apply for project staff travel 

support funds:

For “Purpose” enter information about the purpose of project staff travel, including position 

title. . (e.g. Project Supervisor travel to monitor sites A and B)

For “Calculation” enter a description in the form of an equation. (e.g., 1 Supervisor traveling @ 

$250/trip for 2 trips = $500. Include costs for transportation and other related expenses, such as 

bus passes, mileage rates, hotel expenses, etc.)

Enter information into the “CNCS Share” box for resources you are requesting from CNCS. 

Enter information into the “Grantee Share” box for resources your organization is contributing. 

Do not enter any information into the “Member Support” box.

Equipment/Supplies/Contractual Services

Equipment, supplies and contractual services are not allowable costs for VISTA Support Grants. You 

may - add line items to document the resources that your organization will provide to support the 

VISTA project.

Other Volunteer Support Costs

The Communications, Printing and Logistics line items are not allowable costs for VISTA Support 

Grants. You may wish to add line items to document the resources that your organization will provide 

to support the VISTA project.

Audits

Audits are allowable costs if your organization meets OMB threshold requirements. The current 

requirement sets forth that a single or program-specific audit is required if a Non-Federal entity 

expends $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards. If an audit is required because your 

organization meets the threshold, VISTA grant funds may be provided on a pro-rated charge that is 

determined among the federal programs involved. You may forecast the amount of audit costs based 

on your funding history and contact your CNCS State Office if the amount changes.

Information about audits can be added to this section. 

Click “Add a New Budget item” to enter audit information. For “Item” enter information about the 

audit, including the total amount and the portions of funding that your organization receives from 

various federal agencies. 

Example: If an organization received 50% of their federal funding from Health and Human Services, 

40% of federal funding from the Department of Education, and 10% of federal funding from CNCS, 

then a reasonable allocation of costs might be to charge the audit according to the percent of federal 

funds received (10% for CNCS in this example). This applicant might request CNCS to cover up to 

10% of total annual audit amount:

 Item: Our total audit costs are $4000. 50% of our funding is from HHS, 40% is from 
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DOE, and 10% will be from CNCS. We are requesting that CNCS provide funds to 

cover costs for 10% of total audit costs. 

 Total Amount: = ($Annual audit costs) * (% of funding from CNCS)

 = $4000 * 10% = $400

 CNCS Share: = ($Total amount) * (% requested from CNCS) 

= $400 * 100% = $400

 

 Grantee Share: = ($Total Amount) – ($CNCS Share)

= $400 - $400 = $0

Indirect Costs

Due to the limited scope of a VISTA Support Grant, this line item is not an allowable cost for VISTA 

Support Grants. 

Budget Section 2. Volunteer Expenses (Required)

You must complete certain budget line items in this section. Your proposed budget should be 

sufficient to allow you to perform the tasks described in your proposal narrative. You may wish to add 

line items to document the resources that your organization will provide to support the VISTA project. 

 

Full Time (Federal)

Only complete this line item to apply for non-cost share positions. For information about cost share, 

contact your CNCS State Office. 

Click “add a new budget item” under Full-time (Federal) and complete the requested information to 

apply for VISTAs or Leaders. 

For Description/sites, use a project site name and county (e.g., Crawford County Financial 

Fitness/Richland County). 

For the “# Mbr” field, enter the number of requested members that will serve with that project 

component.

Select the living allowance rate. Living allowance rates are determined by county. For the current

county living allowance rate, contact your CNCS State Office. 

The total amount should calculate and appear in the “Federal Share” column,

Note: If you propose to have VISTAs serving in different project components at different sites, 

add a new budget item and provide specific information about that component. For example, 

VISTAs proposed for three sites in three different counties may receive different living allowance 

rates, so you would complete a budget item for Site 1, then for Site 2, and then for Site 3. Also, 

VISTAs and Leaders receive different living allowance rates and should be entered separately. 

Add as many budget items as needed by selecting “add a new budget item.” 
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Full Time (non-Federal)

Only complete this section to apply for cost share positions. For information about cost share, contact 

your CNCS State Office. 

Click “add a new budget item” under Full-time (non-Federal) and complete the requested information 

to apply for cost share VISTAs or Leaders. 

For Description/sites, use a project site name and issue area (e.g., Crawford County Financial 

Fitness/Asset Building). 

For the “# Mbr” field, enter the number of requested cost share members that will serve with that 

project component.

Select the living allowance rate. Living allowance rates are determined by county. For the current

county living allowance rate, contact your CNCS State Office. 

The total amount should calculate and appear in the “Grantee Share” column.

Note: If you propose to have VISTAs serving in different project components at different sites, 

add a new budget item and provide specific information about that component. For example, 

VISTAs proposed for three sites in three different counties may receive different living allowance 

rates, so you would complete a budget item for Site 1, then for Site 2, and then for Site 3. Also, 

VISTAs and Leaders receive different living allowance rates and should be entered separately. 

Add as many budget items as needed by selecting “add a new budget item.” 

Summer Associate (Federal) and Summer Associate (non-Federal)

Summer Associate (Federal) and Summer Associate (non-Federal)

Only existing sponsors may participate in the Summer Associate program. Unless you have been 

directed to complete an amendment to specifically add Summer Associates or the CNCS State Office 

has not indicated in the system that your organization can apply for Summer Associates, you will not 

see this option in your budget. For information about the Summer Associate program, contact your

CNCS State Office.

Education and End of Service Awards

VISTAs have a choice between two end-of-service options, an education award and a cash stipend, 

both of which are provided after a successful completion of service. Nationally, about 80 percent of 

members choose the education award; 20 percent choose the cash stipend. However for the purposes 

of this project application it is not necessary to estimate the number of VISTAs selecting each option. 

The budget will calculate the total dollar amount of the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for each 

of the VISTAs and VISTA Leaders. 

Health coverage

The total amount of the cost of health care coverage will be auto-calculated using the current dollar 

amount per VISTA and VISTA Leader.
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Travel 

Complete this line item to request VISTA support grant funds for service-related transportation for 

VISTAs, Leaders and Summer Associates serving on the project. Service-related transportation is 

transportation related to fulfilling the VISTA's day-to-day service duties at the project site. Do not list 

daily commute, CNCS invitational training travel or relocation travel costs in this section. You may 

also wish document the resources that your organization will provide to support the VISTA project. 

Sponsors are responsible for the costs of service-related transportation for VISTAs, Leaders, and 

Summer Associates. Support grant funds may be requested by your organization for full or partial 

funding for service-related transportation of VISTAs, Leaders, or Summer Associates, but only in 

those cases where such support is necessary and appropriate to ensure that a VISTA, Leader, or 

Summer Associate has available such service-related transportation necessary to carry out the purpose 

of the VISTA program and to perform effectively the work to which they are assigned and where your 

organization is unable to provide such service-related transportation with its own structure and 

resources.

Grants for service-related transportation are in the amount of the costs of public transportation or, 

where public transportation is not adequate, in the amount of Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) Mileage 

Reimbursement Rates. The POV mileage reimbursement rate should be at least the rate applied to all 

travel within your organization, up to the federal mileage rate. If there is no standard rate within your 

organization, then use the federal mileage rate.

You will be responsible for any expenses incurred for service-related transportation over the agreed 

amount.

A grant for service-related transportation may not be used to: 

 Cover relocation costs of a VISTA, Leader or Summer Associate, since those costs are 

provided directly by CNCS

 Cover the costs of VISTAs, Leaders, or Summer Associates traveling from their residence 

to and from their service site (i.e., daily commuting costs)

 Cover costs of providing direct services to the beneficiaries of the VISTA project (e.g., 

delivering meals)

 Cover travel costs for training (e.g., Pre-Service Orientation)

Click “add a new budget item” and complete the requested information to apply for service-related 

transportation support grant funds.

For “Item/Description” enter a description of the purpose of the service-related transportation.

For “Calculation” provide a description in the form of an equation that includes costs for 

transportation and other related expenses for members to travel outside their service location or 

between sites, such as bus passes to local sites, mileage reimbursement for use of car, etc. For 

example: 3 VISTAs traveling @ $2.50/bus trip for 10 trips = $75. 

For “Total Amount” enter the total cost for service-related transportation for the VISTA project.
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For “CNCS Share” enter the portion of the “Total Amount” that you are requesting from CNCS.

For “Grantee Share” enter the portion of the “Total Amount” that your organization will provide 

from its own resources.

Do not enter any information into the “Member Support” box.

Other Volunteer Expenses

Pre-Service Orientation (PSO)

It is the responsibility of the VISTA program to provide funding and access to Pre-Service Orientation 

(PSO) to ensure the VISTAs’ ability to effectively carry out their assignments. 

In exceptional instances, CNCS may determine that a sponsor should implement the PSO curriculum

on behalf of CNCS. In such instances, the organization may be eligible to receive VISTA support grant 

funds to do so. To be eligible to receive VISTA support grant funds to implement PSO, CNCS must 

make a determination that:

 It is in the interests of the VISTA program

 The sponsor is capable of implementing the curriculum and managing the logistics to ensure 

that VISTAs have the training necessary to carry out the purpose of the VISTA program and to 

perform effectively the work to which the VISTAs are assigned.

An applicant interested in implementing the PSO should contact the CNCS State Office. 

If CNCS determines that an application for grant funds for PSO is warranted, the applicant requests

funds by clicking “add a new budget item” and completing the requested information. Applicants 

should:

 Describe the purpose of the training

 Identify the number of individuals that will be trained, along with an estimated cost per 

individual

 Describe any training-related travel needs, such as costs for transportation, lodging, per diem, 

and other travel related expenses multiplied by the number of trips/participant 

 Describe costs for fingerprinting of VISTA candidates and members for criminal history check

CNCS determines the amount of the grant for PSO based on the actual costs of the training and 

available funds. 

Once you have entered your budget information in eGrants, you will be asked to validate your 

budget, and eGrants will check your submission for errors.

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CASH GRANT APPLICANTS

CNCS uses the Health and Human Services (HHS) “Payment Management System” for the 

disbursement of grant funds. HHS requires that all CNCS grantees and potential CNCS grantees 

complete these account set-up forms to be ready for entry in the “Payment Management System.” 
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Preparation and submission of the forms in coordination with your grant application is encouraged. 

However, submission of these forms does not guarantee that your application will be approved for 

funding. Please note that current grantees already using the PMS system do not need to re-submit the 

forms.

Before a grant award can be made, you must complete the following three documents to prepare to set 

up your “Payment Management System” account:

 Direct Deposit Sign-Up form (SF-1199A);

 Recipient Contact Form; and

 Financial Management Survey (FMS) Form.

Please read the instructions very carefully. Any mistakes that are made on the forms will cause 

HHS/PMS to reject them. Mistakes include: any alteration of the text of the form; erasure of text; 

whited out text; or scratched out text. The documents may be downloaded from the Forms Library on 

the CNCS website or requested from your CNCS State Office.

Please submit original forms only (photocopies will not be accepted) via traceable mail or courier to 

the address below.

ATTN: 1199A FORMS VISTA

Corporation for National and Community Service

Field Financial Management Center (FFMC)

The Curtis Center

601 Walnut Street

Room 876-E

Philadelphia, PA 19106
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