Produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense. 1 

Improving Lives, Strengthening

Communities, and Fostering Civic 

Engagement Through Service

AmeriCorps offers transformative resources including 

funding and personnel to address pressing social 

challenges, strengthen communities, and generate 

potential benefits beyond the invested dollars. Return on 

investment (ROI) studies offer a way to demonstrate the 

value of national service investments. This fact sheet 

provides ROI estimates on dollars returned in short-term 

and long-term scenarios for every funder dollar invested 

in select AmeriCorps programs organized by AmeriCorps’ 

key focus areas (see side box for more information on 

these calculations).1

ROI Among AmeriCorps Programs

PROGRAM | ASSESSED ROI PER FUNDER DOLLAR | INSIGHTS AND TAKEAWAYS

SBP AmeriCorps

• AmeriCorps members benefit from living allowances during service and experience 

increased wages, reduced unemployment, and increased educational attainment 

after service.

• Government experiences reductions in housing construction time, which decreases 

costs associated with housing displaced families, and benefits from lower construction 

costs when rebuilding homes.

• Government realizes increased tax revenue from the improved employment and 

earnings of AmeriCorps members and program participants, savings on other 

expenditures for corrections, public assistance, and social insurance.

1 The AmeriCorps Return on Investment Studies (2020-2023) were independently conducted by ICF International and 

commissioned by AmeriCorps. For information on all performed ROI calculations, view these studies on the 

AmeriCorps Evidence Exchange: https://americorps.gov/evidence-exchange/return-investment-roi-studies. 

NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMS PROVIDE A POWERFUL RETURN ON INVESTMENT

RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI)

ROI analyses compare a program’s 

benefits to its costs to help assess program

performance, demonstrate value to

stakeholders, and build the evidence base 

to support decision making.

ROI analyses conducted consist of 

three calculations:

1. Total benefits per federal dollar

2. Total benefits per funder dollar

3. Federal government benefits per 

federal dollar

Each analysis estimated benefits under 

different assumptions that increased 

earnings attributable to the programs last 

for one year (short-term scenario), 15 years 

(medium-term), or 30 years (long-term).

Disaster Services

-$1.27–$4.14
Produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense. 2 

YouthBuild AmeriCorps

• 72.5% of YouthBuild AmeriCorps member participants are placed in a job after 

serving. 67.8% without a high school diploma/equivalency earned one after 

serving.

• 59.9% of YouthBuild AmeriCorps member participants complete the program and 

earn an education award after serving. 12.8% enroll in post-secondary education.

• YouthBuild AmeriCorps member participants increase earnings with greater 

employment and use of education awards to pursue post-secondary education.

• Government increases tax revenue with economic activity and earnings, plus 

reduces spending on corrections, public assistance, and social insurance.

Breakthrough Central Texas, Austin Program

• Program participants experience additional lifetime earnings from increased 

educational attainment as a result of educational support services.

• AmeriCorps members enjoy increased wages, reduced unemployment, and 

increased educational attainment after serving. 

• Government benefits from increases in tax revenue from participants' and

AmeriCorps members' improved employment and earnings; and savings on other 

government expenditures as a result of improved education and employment 

outcomes for members and program participants.

Community Empowerment Technology Project (CTEP)

• Employment and earnings increased for 10.3% of previously unemployed 

participants who credit the program with their employment success. 

• AmeriCorps members enjoy increased wages, reduced unemployment, and 

increased educational attainment after serving. 

• Government realizes increased tax revenue from the improved employment 

and earnings of AmeriCorps members and program participants, savings on 

other expenditures for corrections, public assistance, and social insurance. 

Green City Force

• New York City Housing Authority residents benefit by receiving free fresh produce 

distribution. 

• Society benefits from reduced carbon emissions through composting efforts.

• AmeriCorps members enjoy increased wages, reduced unemployment, and 

increased education attainment after services. 

• Government benefits from increases in tax revenue from participants' and 

AmeriCorps members' improved employment and earnings; and savings on other 

government expenditures as a result of improved education and employment 

outcomes for members and program participants.

Habitat for Humanity (HFH): AmeriCorps

• Host sites rehab an average of eight and build five more homes than non-host sites.

• AmeriCorps members enjoy increased wages, reduced unemployment, and 

increased educational attainment after service.

• Homeowners benefit from cost savings when buying a new home and in home 

rehabilitation work. HFH household members benefit from medical cost savings 

due to improved health after move-in.

• Private insurance companies and other healthcare payers (including 

government) benefit from medical cost savings.

Economic Opportunity

PROGRAM | ASSESSED ROI PER FUNDER DOLLAR | INSIGHTS AND TAKEAWAYS

Education

-$0.40-$9.58

$0.03-$10.22

$2.95–$34.26

$0.69-$7.60

$0.62-$2.61
Produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense. 3 

College Possible’s College Access Program

• High school students are more likely to enroll in college, leading to improved 

employment prospects and earnings.

• AmeriCorps members enjoy increased employment, earnings, and educational 

attainment after serving.

• Government realizes increased tax revenue from the improved employment 

and earnings of AmeriCorps members and program participants.

Colorado Home Instruction for Parent of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Program

• Government benefits from decreased spending on education because fewer 

HIPPY preschooler participants are held back in 9th grade. 

• AmeriCorps members enjoy increased employment, earnings, and educational 

attainment after service.

• Government benefits from increases in tax revenue and savings on expenditures 

for crime, welfare, Medicare, and Medicaid due to increased education 

attainment of AmeriCorps members and preschooler participants. 

Minnesota Reading Corps (MRC): Kindergarten

• MRC Kindergarten participants have higher high school graduation rates.

• AmeriCorps members enjoy increased employment, earnings, and educational 

attainment after service.

• Government benefits from increases in tax revenue and savings on expenditures 

for crime, welfare, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Montana Conservation Corps • AmeriCorps members benefit from living allowances during service and 

experience increased wages, reduced unemployment, and increased 

educational attainment after service.

• Government realizes increased tax revenue from the improved employment and 

earnings of AmeriCorps members; savings on other potential government 

expenditures, such as safety net costs.

• Society enjoys benefits to its ecosystem from wildfire mitigation, habitat 

improvements, and maintenance of trail systems. 

Nevada Conservation Corps

• AmeriCorps members benefit from living allowances during service and 

experience increased wages, reduced unemployment, and increased 

educational attainment after service.

• Government realizes increased tax revenue from the improved employment and 

earnings of AmeriCorps members; savings on other potential government 

expenditures, such as safety net costs.

• Society benefits from ecosystem services preservation and reductions in human 

health impacts due to lowering carbon dioxide emissions and air particulates 

from smoke.

Washington Conservation Corps

• Native plant coverage increases, and noxious weed coverage decreases at 

restoration sites following the planting intervention.

• AmeriCorps members enjoy increased wages, reduced unemployment, and 

increased educational attainment after service.

• Government realizes increased tax revenue from the improved employment and 

earnings of AmeriCorps members and program participants; savings on other 

potential expenditures, such as safety net costs.

Environmental Stewardship

$1.50-$6.41

$2.11-$35.84

$5.47-$6.99

$0.12-$6.77

$0.52-$8.36

$2.20-$27.55

PROGRAM | ASSESSED ROI PER FUNDER DOLLAR | INSIGHTS AND TAKEAWAYS
Produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense. 4 

 

AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) & Senior Companion Program (SCP)

• Programs improve health for participants, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, and 

caregivers.

• Participants who received services from SCP volunteers are able to remain in 

their homes longer and save on assisted living expenses.

• Participants saved on assisted living expenses and received less costly services at 

home.

• Government saves on health care expenditures.

AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program Detroit

• Neighborhoods served benefit from reduced criminal activity and related 

economic costs. 

• Government benefits from reduced spending on criminal justice activities such as 

policing, legal services, and corrections. 

• Households served enjoy increased lifetime earnings resulting from decreased 

lead exposure. 

Birth & Beyond Home Visitation Program

• Mothers who participate at least one hour are 29% less likely to have Child 

Protective Services referrals.

• Lifetime government spending is less for healthcare, child welfare, criminal 

justice, and special education due to reduced child maltreatment.

• Government spending decreases for corrections, public assistance, and social 

insurance.

Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Corps

• Vet Corps members experience additional lifetime earnings from increased 

educational attainment as a result of educational support services.

• AmeriCorps members benefit from living allowances during service and 

experience increased wages, reduced unemployment, and increased 

educational attainment after service. 

• Government realizes increased tax revenue from the improved employment and 

earnings of AmeriCorps members and program participants; savings on other 

expenditures for corrections, public assistance, and social insurance. 

For more information about these return on investments studies, contact evaluation@americorps.gov.

About the Office of Research and Evaluation

The AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation assists AmeriCorps and its partners in collecting, analyzing, and disseminating 

data and insights about AmeriCorps programs and civic life in America.

About AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country

domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each 

year, the agency places more than 200,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and 

empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.

Healthy Futures

$3.50

$2.75 per funder dollar for FGP

$5.08 per funder dollar for SCP

$0.50-$2.11

$1.63-$3.07

PROGRAM | ASSESSED ROI PER FUNDER DOLLAR | INSIGHTS AND TAKEAWAYS

Veteran and Military Families

$0.82–$13.66