AmeriCorps Performance Measures Instructions

AmeriCorps State and National Planning Grants

2021
2

Table of Contents

Planning Grant Performance Measure Requirements................................................................................... 3

Planning Grant Performance Measures Selection Rules............................................................................... 4

ALL FOCUS AREAS................................................................................................................................... 4

Appendix B: Performance Measures Checklist ............................................................................................ 5

Appendix C: Frequently Asked Questions.................................................................................................... 6
3

Planning Grant Performance Measure Requirements

All planning grant applications must include one applicant-determined performance measure that corresponds to the 

primary focus area of the project being planned (for projects being planned in the Capacity Building focus area, the 

performance measure should be entered under Other Community Priorities). The applicant-determined performance 

measure must consist of the specific title, output, and outcome listed in the instructions below, and should use target 

values of 1 for the output and outcome. No MSYs or members should be associated with the performance measure.
4

Planning Grant Performance Measures Selection Rules

ALL FOCUS AREAS

Notes

• Should correspond to the primary focus area of the project being planned (for projects in the Capacity 

Building focus area, use the Other Community Priorities focus area)

• Targets for the output and outcome should be set as 1

• No MSYs or members should be associated with the performance measure

Output Number of grantees engaged in a planning process

Definition of Key 

Terms Grantees: recipients of AmeriCorps planning grants

Planning process: activities outlined in the awarded grant application

How to Measure/ 

Collect Data

N/A

Outcome Number of grantees that intend to submit an application for an AmeriCorps program grant

Definition of Key 

Terms Grantees: recipients of AmeriCorps planning grants

AmeriCorps program grant: single- or multi-state grant application for a program

designed to enroll and place AmeriCorps members

How to Measure/

Collect Data

Self-assessment by planning grantee
5

Appendix B: Performance Measures Checklist

This checklist is used to assess performance measures during the review process. Items on the checklist are 

common problems that require resolution but do not represent a comprehensive list. Refer to the Performance 

Measure Instructions for full requirements.

Checklist Item Primary Aligned 

Measure (required)

Resource Allocation

1 MSY and member allocations to focus areas and objectives are zero*

2 MSY and member allocations to the performance measure are zero*

Performance Measure Requirements

3 The application includes one applicant-determined performance measure connected to 

the primary focus area of the project being planned. (For projects in the Capacity 

Building focus area, the performance measure should be connected to the Other 

Community Priorities focus area.)

4 The performance measure title is “Planning Grant”

5 The output measure is “Number of grantees engaged in a planning process”

6 The outcome measure is “Number of grantees that intend to submit an application for 

an AmeriCorps program grant”

Interventions

7 The intervention associated with the performance measure is “Plan an AmeriCorps 

program”

8 The intervention description is “NA”

9 No other interventions are included in the performance measure

Targets

10 Output and outcome targets are both 1

11 The unit of measure for both output and outcome is “grantees”

Performance Measure Instructions

12 No National Performance Measures are included in the planning grant

Data Collection/Instruments

13 The data collection method is “Other”

14 The instrument description for the output measure is “NA”

15 The instrument description for the outcome measure is “Self-assessment by planning 

grantee”

* If you are unable to submit your application with 0 MSYs in the Performance Measure screens, enter 1 MSY and 1 

member on the MSYs/Members tab
6

Appendix C: Frequently Asked Questions

1. Must State Commission planning grants follow these same performance measure instructions?

Yes. These instructions apply to all planning grants, regardless of whether they are commission subgrants or direct 

grants. They also apply to both formula and competitive planning grants. 

2. Can I include other performance measures besides the one required applicant-determined measure?

No. Planning grantees should not include any other national or applicant determined performance measures in their 

applications.

3. When I try to submit my application with 0 MSYs in the performance measures, I get an error message. 

What should I do?

If you are unable to submit your application with 0 MSYs in the Performance Measure screens, enter 1 MSY and 1 

member on the MSYs/Members tab.