U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
        Here’s how you know
    Goverment symbol**Official websites use .gov**
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
        Lock symbol**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            A lock (
              A locked padlock
                 ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive
              information only on official, secure websites.
 Skip to main content JoinDonate
    About
    About
          About
        
About menu block one
  

        
        What We Do
                Our Impact
                Agency FAQs
About menu block two
  

        
        Our Team
                Careers
About menu block three
  

        
        Agency Overview
                            Budget and Performance Plans
                Disability and Accessibility
                Federal Register Notices
                Open Government
                Plain Writing
                Privacy Policy
                Strategic Plan

  

  
Serve
    Serve
          Serve
        
Serve menu block one
  

        
        AmeriCorps
                            AmeriCorps NCCC
                AmeriCorps State and National
                AmeriCorps VISTA
                AmeriCorps Seniors
                            AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program
                AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
                AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program
Serve menu block two
  

        
        Volunteer
                            9/11 Day
                MLK Day
Serve menu block three
  

        
        Find Your Fit
                Serve FAQs

  

  
Partner
    Partner
          Partner
        
Partner menu block one
  

        
        How it Works
                            AmeriCorps NCCC
                AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent
                AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
                AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion
                AmeriCorps State and National
                AmeriCorps VISTA
                Research and Evaluation
                Volunteer Generation Fund
Partner menu block two
  

        
        Partnerships
                Communities and Initiatives
                Funding Opportunities
Partner menu block three
  

        
        Partner FAQs

  

  
Members & Volunteers
    Members & Volunteers
          Members & Volunteers
        
Members & Volunteers menu block one
  

        
        Your Benefits
                Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
                Education Award FAQs
Members & Volunteers menu block two
  

        
        Alumni
                Members in VISTA
Members & Volunteers menu block three
  

        
        Member and Volunteer FAQs
                Safety and Security

  

  
Grantees & Sponsors
    Grantees & Sponsors
          Grantees & Sponsors
        
Grantee & Sponsors menu block one
  

        
        State Service Commissions
                State and National Direct Grantees
                State Subgrantees
                VISTA Sponsors
                Research and Evaluation Grantees
                Volunteer Generation Fund and Days of Service Grantees
Grantee & Sponsors menu block two
  

        
        RSVP Grantees
                Foster Grandparent Program Grantees
                Senior Companion Program Grantees
                Senior Demonstration Program Grantees
                NCCC Project Sponsors
Grantee & Sponsors menu block three
  

        
        Manage Your Grant
                Grantee and Sponsor FAQs

  

  
Newsroom
    Newsroom
          Newsroom
        
Newsroom menu block one
  

        
        News
                Blog
Newsroom menu block two
  

        
        Stories
                Events
Newsroom menu block three
  

        
        In the News
                Communication Resources



  
Contact
    Contact
    JoinDonate
search Breadcrumb
    About
                                                      Agency Overview

              Statutes and Regulations
              AmeriCorps is the operating name for the Corporation for National and Community Service, which was created under sec. 191 of the National and Community Service Act (42 U.S.C. 12651).
      Agency OverviewAgency-Wide Policies and NoticesAmeriCorps Fraud AlertAmeriCorps’ Equity Action PlanBudget and Performance PlansCivil Rights for Employees, Service Members, and VolunteersDigital StrategyDisability and AccessibilityFederal Register NoticesFOIA and the Privacy ActNo FEAR ActOfficial GuidanceOpen GovernmentPlain WritingPrivacy PolicyResults of Grant CompetitionsStatutes and RegulationsStrategic PlanVulnerability Disclosure Policy
                The Corporation for National and Community Service, now operating as AmeriCorps, is the result of a merger between two previously existing agencies, ACTION and the Commission on National and Community Service. For two decades, ACTION administered the AmeriCorps VISTA and Senior Corps (now AmeriCorps Seniors) programs: Foster Grandparents, RSVP, and Senior Companions. ACTION was authorized by the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended.

Statutes

Domestic and Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended by P.L. 111-13 (DVSA)
	National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended by P.L. 111-13 (NCSA)Regulations

45 CFR Chapter XII
	45 CFR Chapter XXVLegislative History

**1990:**National and Community Service Act of 1990 – A renewed focus on volunteerism in America led to the passage of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. The act created a new independent federal agency called the Commission on National and Community Service. The Commission was charged with supporting four streams of service:

Service-learning programs for school-aged youth
	Higher education service programs
	Youth corps
	National service demonstration models

**1992:** National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) – A bipartisan group of senators, working with the George H.W. Bush administration, drafted legislation to create NCCC as a demonstration program to explore the possibility of using post-Cold War military resources to help solve national challenges. NCCC, enacted as part of the 1993 Defense Authorization Act, was created to be a residential service program modeled on the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps and the United States military.

**1993:**The National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 – Both NCCC and the Commission on National and Community Service were incorporated into the Clinton administration’s National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. A bipartisan coalition of Congress members introduced the bill, signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1993. The Act created the Corporation for National and Community Service, with the responsibility of mobilizing Americans into service.

**2002:**USA Freedom Corps – In his 2002 State of the Union address, President George W. Bush announced the creation of the USA Freedom Corps. Chaired by the President, the USA Freedom Corps was a coordinating council that worked to strengthen the American culture of service and helped connect citizens to volunteer opportunities.

**2009:**Serve America Act – On April 21, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act at an elementary school in Washington, DC. The Serve America Act reauthorized and expanded national service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Detailed Summary of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
	Highlights of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
	Letter from the Office of Management and Budget on National Service Legislation

Service Process

Service Process of Legal Documents Upon the Corporation for National and Community Service (operating as AmeriCorps)

Government Paperwork Elimination Act

Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) requires Federal agencies to allow individuals or entities that deal with the agencies the option to submit information and to maintain records electronically, when feasible. The Act specifically states that electronic records and their related electronic signatures are not to be denied legal effect, validity, or enforceability merely because they are in electronic form, and encourages Federal government use of a range of electronic signature alternatives. This capability should be in place at each agency by October 21, 2003.

AmeriCorps currently makes grants and service participant applications available electronically. For more information, please visit eGrants.

Implementation of the Government Paperwork Elimination Act Back to main content Sign up to hear about our latest news, events, and opportunities.
  Sign up for our newsletter
    Footer about
  

        
        About
                            What We Do
                Our Impact
                Our Team
                Careers
                Agency OverviewFooter serve
  

        
        Serve
                            AmeriCorps
                AmeriCorps Seniors
                Volunteer
                Find Your FitFooter partner
  

        
        Partner
                            How it Works
                Funding OpportunitiesFooter Members & Volunteers
  

        
        Members & Volunteers
                            Your Benefits
                Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
                Alumni
                Safety and SecurityFooter grantees & sponsors
  

        
        Grantees & Sponsors
                            eGrants
                History Checks
                LitmosFooter newsroom
  

        
        Newsroom
                            News
                Blog
                Stories
                Events
                In the News
                Communication Resources
      Bringing Americans together to serve communities

Follow us
  
  1-800-942-2677
            
    help@americorps.gov
    USA.gov / Office of Inspector General / FOIA and Privacy Act / Federal Register notices / No FEAR Act/ Employee Whistleblower Rights / Contractor and Grantee Whistleblower Rights / Office of Special Counsel / STOCK Act / Fraud Alert

Accessibility / Privacy policy / Site map / Donate / Join

**AmeriCorps.gov**
An official website of AmeriCorps. Produced and published at taxpayer expense. 
 You are leaving AmeriCorps.gov
 The website you’re going to is not part of the AmeriCorps domain and may not be under AmeriCorps’ control. Its privacy and security practices and policies may differ from AmeriCorps’. AmeriCorps is not responsible for the link, nor does it endorse the content of the third-party website. Click on the continue button to proceed to the external website; otherwise click cancel to stay on AmeriCorps.gov.
 Cancel Continue