NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Federal Agency Name: AmeriCorps

Funding Opportunity Title: Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Q3 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP 

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement 

Assistance Listing Number: 94.002

Summary Statement: This funding announcement is for existing AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP 

grantees who are to submit a continuation or renewal application for FY24 funding.

Disclosure: Publication of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (Notice) does not obligate 

AmeriCorps to award any specific number of grants or to commit any particular amount of 

funding. The actual level, timing, and process of grant funding will be subject to the 

availability of annual appropriations. 

Important Dates

• Applications are due not later than Thursday, October 26, 2023, by 5:00 p.m.

Eastern Time.

• Successful applicants will be issued awards by March 2024.

Table of Contents

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................. 4

A.1. Purpose of RSVP Funding ...........................................................................................................4

A.2. Funding Priorities.........................................................................................................................4

A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes .............................................................................5

A.4. Program Authority........................................................................................................................5

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION .................................................................................. 6

B.1. Estimated Available Funds..........................................................................................................6

B.2. Estimated Award Amount ...........................................................................................................6

B.3. Period of Performance.................................................................................................................6

B.4. Type of Award...............................................................................................................................6

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION .............................................................................................. 6

C.1. Eligible Applicants .......................................................................................................................6

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching ...........................................................................................................7

C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements ...................................................................................................7

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION .................................................... 8

D.1. Address to Request an Application Package ...........................................................................8

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission.........................................................................8

D.2.a. Application Content.............................................................................................................................. 8

D.2.b. Page Limits............................................................................................................................................. 9

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM).....................................9

D.4. Submission Dates and Times .................................................................................................. 10

D.4.a. Application Submission Deadline ....................................................................................................10
D.4.b. Additional Documents Deadline......................................................................................................10

D.4.c. Late Applications................................................................................................................................. 10

D.5. Intergovernmental Review....................................................................................................... 11

D.6. Funding Restrictions................................................................................................................. 11

D.6.a. Award Funding Requirements ..........................................................................................................11

D.6.b. Indirect Costs.......................................................................................................................................12

D.6.c. Pre-Award Costs ..................................................................................................................................12

D.7. Other Submission Requirements............................................................................................ 12

D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants ...............................................................................12

D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents .............................................................................................13

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION ........................................................................ 13

Selection Criteria............................................................................................................................... 13

E.1. CONTINUATION APPLICATIONS......................................................................................................14

E.1.a. Executive Summary..................................................................................................................................14

E.1.b. Program Management (Program Design):......................................................................................15

E.1.c. Work Plan/Performance Measures:...................................................................................................15

E.2. RENEWAL APPLICATIONS..................................................................................................................17

E.3. Review and Selection Process.................................................................................................. 22

E.3.a. Initial Application Compliance and Eligibility Review....................................................................22

E.3.b. Application Review..............................................................................................................................23

E.3.c. Applicant Clarification.........................................................................................................................23

E.3.d. Pre-Award Risk Assessment...............................................................................................................23

E.3.e. Consideration of Integrity and Performance System Information................................................24

E.3.f. Selection for Funding...........................................................................................................................25

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION ............................................ 25

F.1. Federal Award Notices ............................................................................................................. 25

F.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements ................................................................ 26

F.2.a. Uniform Guidance................................................................................................................................26

F.2.b. Requests for Monitoring or Payment Integrity Information ..........................................................26

F.2.c. AmeriCorps Terms and Conditions...................................................................................................26

F.2.d. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements................................................................26

F.2.e. Official Guidance ................................................................................................................................. 27

F.3. Use of Material ........................................................................................................................... 27

F.4. Reporting.................................................................................................................................... 28

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS .............................................................. 28

H. OTHER INFORMATION ..................................................................................................... 29

H.1. Technical Assistance................................................................................................................. 29

H.2. Re-Focusing of Funding........................................................................................................... 29

I. IMPORTANT NOTICES ........................................................................................................ 29

APPENDIX A – LIST OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ...................................................... 31

APPENDIX A – List of Funding Opportunities................................................................................ 31

APPENDIX B – PERFORMANCE MEASURES .................................................................... 31

APPENDIX B – Performance Measures ........................................................................................... 31
APPENDIX C – TERMS AND DEFINITIONS........................................................................ 31

APPENDIX C – Terms and Definitions............................................................................................. 31

APPENDIX D – LITMOS RESOURCES .................................................................................. 31

APPENDIX D – Litmos Resources .................................................................................................... 31

APPENDIX E – APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS ................................................................ 31

APPENDIX E – Application Instructions .......................................................................................... 31

APPENDIX F – FOCUS AREAS ............................................................................................... 31

AmeriCorps Focus Areas ................................................................................................................. 31

APPENDIX G – CALCULATOR WORKSHEET .................................................................... 32

APPENDIX G – Calculator Worksheet............................................................................................. 32
A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1. Purpose of RSVP Funding

AmeriCorps improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through 

service and volunteering. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country’s 

most pressing challenges through national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps members

and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement 

of communities and those serving. AmeriCorps helps make service a cornerstone of our 

national culture. 

Established in 1971 and now one of the largest senior volunteer programs in the nation, RSVP

engages people ages 55 and older in a diverse range of volunteer activities. RSVP volunteers 

tutor children, renovate homes, assist victims of natural disasters, provide independent living 

services, recruit and manage other volunteers, and serve in their communities in many other 

ways. AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP volunteers choose how, where, and how often they want to 

serve, with commitments ranging from a few hours to a maximum of 40 hours per week. 

While serving, RSVP volunteers improve their own lives by staying active and civically 

engaged.

A.2. Funding Priorities

AmeriCorps’ 2022-2026 Strategic Plan defines the agency’s goals and objectives to advance

its mission to improve lives and strengthen communities. AmeriCorps will execute the 

following goals to better position the agency to respond to national and local needs and help 

the communities it serves prosper: 

• partner with communities to alleviate poverty and advance racial equity;

• enhance the experience for AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors

volunteers;

• unite Americans by bringing them together in service;

• effectively steward federal resources; and

• make AmeriCorps one of the best and most equitable places to work in the federal

government.

AmeriCorps will invest in existing and new partnerships with non-profit, faith-based, and 

Tribal organizations, and state service commissions, to get things done for America. The 

agency will prioritize investment in the most critical issues of our time — public health, climate 

and the environment, and education and economic opportunity — within AmeriCorps’ Focus 

Areas (Appendix 1) and will increase its efforts to ensure AmeriCorps members, AmeriCorps 

Seniors volunteers, and community-based volunteers reflect the communities where they 

serve. We will target our investments toward communities where the need is greatest, 

particularly those with populations that face racial inequality and poverty. These steps will 

enable more Americans than ever to strengthen the communities that need it most across the 

nation through their service.

AmeriCorps’ priorities for this funding opportunity are:
• To support civic bridgebuilding and reduce polarization and community divisions,

which could include providing training in civic bridgebuilding skills and techniques to

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers.

• To advance justice and equality in areas such as healthy futures.

• To focus on early learning and prepare AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to enter early

learning careers.

• To support organizations that serve people with arrest and/or conviction records and

provide meaningful reentry opportunities.

• To help local communities continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and its

economic challenges.

To receive priority consideration, applicants must show that the priority area is a significant 

part of the program focus and intended outcomes and must include a high-quality program 

design. Proposing programs that receive priority consideration does not guarantee funding. 

A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes

National Performance Measures 

AmeriCorps Seniors expects applicants to use National Performance Measures as part of a 

comprehensive performance measurement strategy that relies on both performance and 

evaluation data to learn from their work and make tactical and strategic adjustments to 

achieve their goals. 

Applicants are required to use the specific performance measures outlined in this Notice. For 

more information, please refer to the National Performance Measures Instructions found in 

Appendix B: AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Performance Measure Instructions. 

Applicants must identify a Primary Focus Area. Work plans must include at least one service 

activity in the selected Primary Focus Area. The Primary Focus Area should represent the area 

in which the incumbent aims to make the most impact.

All proposed volunteers and the intended impact of their service must be represented in the 

narratives, in a work plan, and in the budget. 

This funding opportunity requires applicants to demonstrate cost-effective practices in 

achieving performance goals through the services described in the proposed work plan. 

Applications must include a work plan that meet the following minimum requirements: For 

every $1,000 in annual base federal funding, at least one unduplicated volunteer must be 

incorporated in an outcome-based work plan.

A.4. Program Authority

Awards under this Notice are authorized by the National and Community Service Act of 1990, 

as amended, (42 U.S.C. §§ 12501 et seq.) and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as 

amended (42 U.S.C. §§ 4950 et seq.).
B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B.1. Estimated Available Funds

AmeriCorps anticipates funding approximately $50 million for AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP FY

2024 awards. The actual level of funding is subject to the availability of annual appropriations. 

B.2. Estimated Award Amount

Award amounts will vary as determined by the scope of the projects. AmeriCorps expects to 

make awards in the range of $47,000 to $700,000. 

B.3. Period of Performance

Successful applicants will be issued awards by March 2024.

For RSVP grants, AmeriCorps anticipates making one-year grant awards. Applications for 

funding must be based on a one-year period of performance and a one-year budget. While 

AmeriCorps may make multi-year awards, actual award periods may vary because of 

program requirements, the availability of future appropriations, or specific circumstances of 

an individual application.

B.4. Type of Award

The FY 2024 RSVP grants will be awarded on a cost reimbursement basis.

Award recipients will be assigned to an AmeriCorps Portfolio Manager, who will be 

responsible for assessing recipient performance, providing training and technical assistance, 

and serving as the agency’s primary point of contact. 

AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP grants will be awarded if an application is successful. 

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1. Eligible Applicants

The following non-Federal entities (all of which are defined in 2 CFR 200.1 or 42 U.S.C. 

12511(21)) are eligible to apply: 

• Indian Tribes

• institutions of higher education

• local governments

• nonprofit organizations

• state service commissions

• states and US Territories

• Through this Notice, only AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP grantees who currently receive

federal funds for an AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP grant or have an approved no-cost

grant ($0), may apply for funding.
In addition to Indian tribes as defined in 2 CFR 200.1, Tribal organizations that are controlled, 

authorized, or chartered by Federally recognized Indian Tribes are also eligible to apply. If an 

entity applies for an award as a tribal organization that is controlled or chartered by one or 

more Indian Tribes [and the organization does not meet any of the other applicant eligibility 

types] the organization must provide copies or links to documentation which demonstrates 

that the organization is controlled or chartered by a federally recognized Indian Tribe. If an 

entity applies as an organization authorized by a federally recognized Tribe, or multiple 

specific federally recognized tribes, it must submit a resolution or other authorization, 

adopted by the Tribal Council (or comparable tribal governing body) of each Indian Tribe. 

The authorization(s) must identify the entity applying for an AmeriCorps award by name as a 

tribal organization that is authorized by the Indian Tribe(s) for the purpose of applying for 

AmeriCorps funding (or federal grant funds generally). 

Applicants must have a valid and active SAM registration and Unique Entity Identifier to 

receive an award. See Section D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award 

Management (SAM) for more information.

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Typically, applicants are required to match funds equal to 10 percent of their total requested 

program budget in Year 1; at least 20 percent in Year 2; and at least 30 percent in Year 3 and 

subsequent years. Because this NOFO is directed at continuation and renewal applicants, the

match must be at least 20 percent (as continuation) or 30 percent (year three or renewals). 

The applicant’s match can be cash and/or in-kind contributions. Applicants must indicate 

whether the match is proposed or secured. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to meet 

the applicable percent match requirement at the time of application submission. See Section

D.6. Funding Restrictions for more information.

Non-AmeriCorps Federal Funds are allowed as match if the Federal agency that is the source 

of the funds approves its use as match. Applicants must maintain documentation of this 

approval.

Please see the AmeriCorps Seniors Individual Match Waiver Request or the AmeriCorps 

Seniors and AmeriCorps State and National Match Waiver FAQs (June 2022) located on the 

AmeriCorps website’s Manage Your Grant webpage.

C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

Applications that propose to engage in activities that are prohibited under AmeriCorps’ 

statutes, regulations, or the terms and conditions of its awards are not eligible to receive 

AmeriCorps funding.

Note that under appropriations provisions annually enacted by Congress, if AmeriCorps is 

aware that any corporation has any unpaid federal tax liability: 

• that has been assessed;

• for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have
lapsed; and 

• that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority

responsible for collecting the tax liability;

that corporation is not eligible for an award under this Notice. However, this exclusion will not 

apply to a corporation that a federal agency has considered for suspension or debarment 

and determined that suspension or debarment is not necessary to protect the interests of the 

federal government.

Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, an organization described in the Internal 

Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. §501 (c)(4) that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible 

to apply for AmeriCorps funding.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

This Notice should be read together with the RSVP regulations at 45 CFR Part 2553,

AmeriCorps Seniors Grant Application Instructions, Appendix A: List of Funding

Opportunities, and Appendix B: AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP National Performance Measure

Instructions. These documents are available online at https://americorps.gov/granteessponsors/rsvp.

D.1. Address to Request an Application Package

All information associated with this funding opportunity is available through the RSVP

Grantees web page. Applicants should refer to the RSVP Grantees web page for more 

information and instructions on how to fully respond to this Notice. Applicants can also send 

an email to americorpsseniors@cns.gov or to the assigned Regional Office for a printed copy 

of the Notice and Guidance. AmeriCorps also offers live text chat at 

https://americorps.gov/contact. 

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D.2.a. Application Content

Complete applications must include the following elements:

• Standard Form 424 (SF-424) Face Sheet: This is automatically generated when

applicants complete the data elements in the eGrants system.

• Narrative Sections:

o Executive Summary: This is a brief description of the proposed program.

Executive Summaries must match the language templates as provided in the

Notice. Executive Summaries of all compliant applications are made available

to the public following grant awards.

o Program Management: Inform of any changes or challenges to your program,

otherwise enter N/A if there are no continuation changes. Leave previous

information in this section.

o Work plan/Performance Measures: Update, if necessary, and make sure to

leave the previous information there.

o Cost-Effectiveness & Budget Adequacy: Update, if necessary, and make sure to

leave the previous information there.
o Other: Respond to questions specific to DEIA and retention. If other 

information is present, please leave it. 

• Standard Form 424A Budget

• Continuation Changes (if applicable)

• Clarification (this section will be used if there are clarification questions post review)

• Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications

If you are submitting a continuation application: Do not delete content in the other fields 

(such as Strengthening Communities, Recruitment and Development, and Organizational 

Capability) that have populated unless you are changing the number of unduplicated 

volunteers. Because eGrants is our system of record, it is critical that previous information 

stays and that you update only where specific items identified.

D.2.b. Page Limits

Applications may not exceed 17 double-spaced pages as according to the pages printed out 

from eGrants. The application sections that count toward the page limit are the:

• SF-424 Face Sheet; 

• Executive Summary; and 

• Program Management, Work Plan, Cost Effectiveness, Continuation Changes, and 

Other. 

The application page limit does not include the Budget, Performance Measures, or any 

required additional documents. Text entered into the Clarification section (if entered before 

requested to do so) will not be read or reviewed. This section may be used after the review 

process concludes. 

Please note that the length of the application as a word processing document may differ from 

the length of the document printed out from eGrants. The character limits in eGrants do not 

align with page limits set in the Notice. AmeriCorps strongly encourages applicants to 

print out the application from the “Review and Submit” tab in eGrants prior to 

submission in order to confirm that the application does not exceed the page limit.

AmeriCorps will not consider the results of any alternative printing methods when 

determining if an application complies with the page limit. Reviewers will also not consider 

material that is over the page limit, even if eGrants allows applicants to enter and submit

additional text.

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 

All applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) and maintain an 

active SAM registration until the application process is complete. If an applicant is awarded a 

grant, it must maintain an active SAM registration throughout the life of the award. See the 

SAM Quick Guide for Grantees. 
SAM registration must be renewed annually. AmeriCorps suggests that applicants finalize a 

new registration or renew an existing one at least three weeks before the application 

deadline, to allow time to resolve any issues that may arise. Applicants must use their SAMregistered legal name and physical address on all grant applications to AmeriCorps. 

The legal applicant’s name and physical address in eGrants must match exactly the 

applicant’s SAM-registered information.

Applications must include a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), which is generated as part of 

the SAM registration process. AmeriCorps will not make awards to entities that do not have a 

valid and active SAM registration and UEI. 

Applications must include an Employer Identification Number. The UEI and Employer 

Identification Number must be entered by the organization’s Grantee Administrator as an 

organization attribute, and this will apply the information to all applications for the 

organization.

If an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time AmeriCorps is 

ready to make a federal award, AmeriCorps may determine that the applicant is not qualified 

to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to 

another applicant.

D.4. Submission Dates and Times

D.4.a. Application Submission Deadline

Applications are due not later than Thursday, October 26, 2023, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern 

Time. 

AmeriCorps will not consider applications submitted after the deadline, except as noted in 

Section D.4.c. Late Applications. AmeriCorps reserves the right to extend the submission 

deadline. AmeriCorps will post a notification in the event of an extended deadline on 

AmeriCorps’ website. 

D.4.b. Additional Documents Deadline

Additional documents are due by the application submission deadline. See Sections D.4.a. 

Application Submission Deadline and D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents for more 

information.

D.4.c. Late Applications

All applications received after the submission deadline published in this Notice, of Thursday, 

October 26, 2023, at 5:00 pm Eastern Time, are presumed to be non-compliant. To 

overcome this presumption, the applicant must:

• submit a written explanation or justification of the extenuating circumstance(s) that 

caused the delay, including: 

o the timing and specific cause(s) of the delay
o the ticket number if a request for assistance was submitted to the AmeriCorps

Hotline

o any information provided to the applicant by the AmeriCorps Hotline

o any other documentation or evidence that supports the justification

• ensure that AmeriCorps receives the written explanation or justification and any other

evidence that substantiates the claimed extenuating circumstance(s), via email to

mailto:AmeriCorpsSeniors@cns.gov no later than 24 hours after the application

deadline as stated in the Notice

Communication with AmeriCorps staff, including an applicant’s portfolio manager, is not a 

substitute for a written explanation or justification of the extenuating circumstance that 

caused the delay as outlined above. Applicants are required to continue working in eGrants, 

AmeriCorps' web-based application system, and with the AmeriCorps Hotline to submit the 

application. AmeriCorps will determine whether or not to accept a late application on a caseby-case basis. 

Applicants that do not meet the application submission deadline and do not submit a written 

explanation or justification or any other evidence to overcome the presumption of noncompliance within the published timeframe will be deemed noncompliant. If AmeriCorps

sustains a noncompliant determination, the application will not be reviewed or selected for 

award.

AmeriCorps will not consider an advance request to submit a late application. Please 

carefully review and follow the guidance in this section and submit your application as soon 

as possible.

D.5. Intergovernmental Review

This Notice is not subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal 

Programs.” 

D.6. Funding Restrictions

D.6.a. Award Funding Requirements

Awards under this Notice are subject to cost share or matching requirements. The amount of 

funding AmeriCorps provides will be limited to 70 percent of the total allowable costs for the 

funded activity, as determined under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles. If your 

continuation application is for year two, the amount of funding is limited to 80 percent of the 

total allowable costs for the funded activity.

There are also limitations on the use of Federal funds to recover indirect costs. As provided in 

2 CFR 200.306(c), unrecovered indirect costs may be included as part of an applicant’s cost 

sharing or matching requirements. 
D.6.b. Indirect Costs

Application budgets may include indirect costs. Based on qualifying factors, applicants may 

either use a federally approved indirect cost rate or a 10 percent de minimis rate of modified 

total direct costs, or may claim certain costs directly, as outlined in 2 CFR 200.413. States, 

local governments, and Indian Tribes may use previously-approved indirect cost allocation 

plans. All methods must be applied consistently across all Federal awards. Applicants that 

have a federal negotiated indirect cost or de minimis rate must enter that information in the 

Organization section in eGrants. 

The instructions for how to enter the organization’s indirect cost rate are located

here: eGrants Indirect Cost Rate User Instructions. Applicants should not submit 

documentation addressing the indirect cost rate agreement via email.

Please note: To request a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, when 

AmeriCorps is the applicable cognizant agency for an organization’s indirect costs, the 

applicant must submit a request to IndirectCostRate@cns.gov. The applicant may also obtain 

instructions and additional information by contacting the email address above.

D.6.c. Pre-Award Costs

Pre-award costs, where authorized, are allowed after receiving written approval from 

AmeriCorps. 

D.7. Other Submission Requirements

D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants

Applicants must submit applications electronically via eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based 

application system. AmeriCorps recommends that applicants create an eGrants account and 

begin the application at least three weeks before the deadline. Applicants should draft the 

application as a Word document, then copy and paste the text into the appropriate eGrants 

field no later than 10 days before the deadline.

NEW/UPDATED: The applicant’s authorized representative must be the person who submits 

the application. The authorized representative must use their own eGrants account to sign 

and submit the application. A copy of the governing body’s authorization for this official 

representative to sign must be on file in the applicant’s office. The authorized representative 

and the project director may not be the same person and may not have the same email 

address. Please ensure different names are entered in your eGrants program information. 

Applications will be returned for corrections if the authorized representative and the project 

director have the same contact information. 

Applicants should contact the AmeriCorps Hotline at (800) 942-2677 if they have a problem 

when they create an account, prepare, or submit the application. AmeriCorps Hotline hours

are also posted on the website. 
Be prepared to provide the application ID, organization’s name, and the name of the Notice

to which the organization is applying. If the issue cannot be resolved by the deadline, 

applicants must continue working with the AmeriCorps Hotline to submit via eGrants.

If circumstances make it impossible for an applicant to submit in eGrants, applicants may 

send a paper copy of the application via overnight carrier to the address below. Applicants 

must include a written explanation and any other documentation or evidence that support 

their inability to submit their application electronically. 

AmeriCorps

ATTN: Office of AmeriCorps Seniors/FY 2024 RSVP Application 

250 E Street, SW, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20525

Please use a non-U.S. Postal Service carrier to avoid security-related delays. All deadlines 

and requirements in this Notice also apply to paper applications. AmeriCorps does not 

accept applications submitted via fax or email.

D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents

Applicants are required to submit the following additional documents by the application 

submission deadline:

1. All renewal applicants regardless of funding level are required to submit an

Operational and Financial Management Survey (OFMS). Please submit the OFMS

using the link to the online form, where you will be required to submit your response

electronically. Forms submitted as a Word document, PDF, or any other document

format may not be accepted

2. Tribal organization eligibility documentation (See Section C.1 Eligible Applicants), if

applicable

Failure to submit the required additional documents, following the email instructions in this 

section, by the deadline may have a negative effect on the assessment of your application. 

Do not submit any items that are not requested in this Notice. AmeriCorps will not 

review or return them.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Selection Criteria

Applications should include a well-designed plan with clear and compelling justifications for 

receiving the requested funds. AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Continuation Grantees must 

review section E.1. and Renewal Grantees must review section E.2. and provide the 

information as instructed. 
E.1. CONTINUATION APPLICATIONS

Continuation Funding Information and Requirements (Grantees entering Year 2 or

Year 3)

Organizations that have current program awards that continue beyond FY 2023 must submit 

an application in order to be eligible to receive funding for the following year. If a 

continuation application is not submitted by the due date, or if approval is not given for an 

extension of the application deadline, this will be an indication that the organization is no 

longer interested in receiving funding. 

To be approved for continuation funding, recipients must demonstrate satisfactory 

performance with respect to key program goals and requirements, as well as compliance 

with the terms and conditions of the grant. AmeriCorps reserves the right to award 

applications in an amount less than the requested level of funding and will document the 

rationale for doing so. 

Please pay attention to new requests for your FY24 continuation application. These 

items are important and may be repeated several times in this document.

NEW: In FY 2024, all organizations who submit a continuation application are required to 

review and update the executive summary, narratives (if there are proposed changes, enter in 

“Other Narrative” section. Do not delete previously entered information), and work plan for 

the remainder of the grant’s three-year cycle. In FY 2024 and FY 2025, the narratives and 

work plan of the continuation applications will be locked and not available for updates. 

NEW: Total Unduplicated Volunteers: All RSVP grantees in FY 2024 are required to update 

the number of unduplicated volunteers listed in the Executive Summary and work plan to the 

actual number of unduplicated volunteers currently in service. This number does not have to 

match what was approved in your previous award, but you must provide an explanation for 

the difference in the section “Other Narrative”. The requirement of having at least one 

unduplicated volunteer in an outcome-based work plan per $1,000 in federal funding 

remains in effect.

NEW: Define Geographical Service Area: Ensure your service area as identified on the SF424 Face Sheet of the application accurately reflects the community or communities currently 

served. You may identify county(ies) with the city(ies), town(s), or parish(es), or other 

jurisdictions being served in parentheses. Please note if you will serve a portion of a 

jurisdiction. 

E.1.a. Executive Summary

Please ensure the Executive Summary is in the correct format as noted below. Do not deviate 

from the template below. If the executive summary does not match the template below, 

applicants will be instructed to correct prior to award. Update the number of unduplicated

volunteers if adjusted to reflect actual unduplicated volunteers in performance measures. 

Remember your update to unduplicated volunteers will be expected for the remainder of 

your program period.
“The [Name of the organization] proposes to have [Number of unduplicated] 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who will [specific service activities] in [the locations the 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will serve]. The primary focus area of this project is [fill 

in AmeriCorps Focus Area]. At the end of the three-year grant, AmeriCorps Seniors 

volunteers will be responsible for [fill in the anticipated outcome (s)]. The AmeriCorps 

investment of $ [fill in the annual AmeriCorps grant amount or the requested amount] 

will be supplemented by $ [fill in the anticipated level of non-AmeriCorps resources].” 

An example of a compliant executive summary is The ABC School proposes to have 12 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers tutor and mentor preschool children at Headstart Academy in 

Crystal City, VA. Volunteers will use phonic and writing to develop reading growth of five-year 

olds. Senior volunteers will be trained on phonic usage and best mentoring practices. The 

primary focus area of this project is Education. At the end of the three-year grant, AmeriCorps 

Seniors volunteers will be responsible for 75 preschool students reading at first grade level. The 

AmeriCorps investment of $250,000 will be supplemented by $50,000 private sector funds.

E.1.b. Program Management (Program Design): 

In this section, continuation applicants are required to respond to the following: 

Ensure you update narratives and work plan for the remainder of your grant’s three-year 

cycle with changes to unduplicated volunteers. We recognize communities are still 

recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic and that volunteer numbers, service activities, 

service placements, and staff functions may have changed. Please take this opportunity to 

update us on the status of your program. In FY 25 and 26 RSVP continuations, changes to the 

narratives and work plan will only be permitted with prior approval from each incumbent 

grantees’ portfolio manager.

Total Unduplicated Volunteers: All RSVP grantees in FY 2024 are required to update the 

number of unduplicated volunteers listed in the Executive Summary and work plan to the 

actual number of unduplicated volunteers currently in service. This number does not have to 

match what was awarded in your most recent grant application. However, if the number is 

different, please provide an explanation in the “Other Narrative” section. The requirement of 

having at least one unduplicated volunteer in an outcome-based work plan per $1,000 in 

federal funding remains in effect.

Define Geographical Service Area: A reminder to ensure your service area(s) as identified 

on the SF-424 Face Sheet of the application accurately reflects the community or 

communities currently served. You may identify county(ies) with the city, town, parish, or 

other jurisdictions being served in parentheses. Please note if you will serve a portion of a 

jurisdiction. 

E.1.c. Work Plan/Performance Measures: 

Information will automatically copy from your previous awarded application into your 

continuation application. Grantees should take this opportunity to revise work plan to 

accurately reflect the number of active volunteers in their RSVP program who are working 
toward a National Performance Measure. They should also align the work plan to community

needs and service activities for the rest of their three-year cycle. The requirement of having at 

least one unduplicated volunteer in an outcome-based work plan per $1,000 in federal

funding remains in effect. In FY 25 and 26 RSVP continuations, changes to the narratives and

work plan will only be permitted with prior approval from each incumbent grantees’ portfolio 

manager.

NEW: Starting in FY 2024, AmeriCorps Seniors will be taking a critical look at all service 

activities that are included in an Other Community Priority Performance Measure. Incumbent

grantees should evaluate what service activities are included to ensure the service cannot be 

captured under a different Performance Measure. Incumbent grantees are encouraged to 

review the Capacity Building Performance Measures and utilize output/outcome options

available to better capture the impact of volunteers.

E.1.d. Budget:

NEW: All AmeriCorps Seniors grantees must budget for one staff person, primarily the

Project Director, to attend the AmeriCorps Seniors annual convening or, in the event an inperson convening does not occur, funds to attend another training event. Grantees may

budget for an additional staff member to attend the event, if funds permit. Long distance

travel funds may be re-budgeted later in the year depending on actual training activities.

In FY 2024 only, AmeriCorps Seniors will add $2,500 to every RSVP grant to cover expenses 

for program staff to attend the national convening. 

Link to Fiscal Year 2024 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP sample budget narrative

E.1.e. Other Narrative:

All Continuation Grantees must ensure there are responses to the DEIA questions 

below. If you responded to these questions in your FY23 application, please update if 

needed. Otherwise, provide your responses to the questions as directed below. 

Provide responses to the following questions on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

(DEIA) and Recruitment in the “Other Narratives” section of eGrants. Do not revise previous 

DEIA and recruitment responses in other sections of the application. 

• Describe your organization’s DEIA goals and demonstrate what progress has been

made toward achieving them?

• In what ways could your organization utilize training, technical assistance, and other

resources related to DEIA?

• Describe any challenges your organization is experiencing with recruitment and/or

retention of volunteers. Include any relevant information with regard to influencing

factors (e.g., Covid-19, inflation, school protocols), and how AmeriCorps can assist

your project in meeting those challenges?

Provide responses to the following questions relative to organizational capacity. 

• Describe the extent to which the organization has an effective mechanism in place to

report, without delay, any suspected criminal activity, waste, fraud, and/or abuse to

both the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General and AmeriCorps and a plan for

training staff and participants on these reporting protocols.
• Describe the extent to which the organization has sufficient policies, procedures, and

controls in place to prevent, detect, and mitigate the risk of fraud, waste, abuse, and

mismanagement, this can include an assessment of appropriate segregation of duties,

internal oversight activities, measures to prevent timekeeping fraud, etc.

• Finally, describe or update us on the extent to which the organization has a

monitoring and oversight plan to prevent and detect non-compliance and enforce

compliance with AmeriCorps rules and regulations including those related to

prohibited activities and criminal history checks at the grantee, subgrantee (if

applicable), and service site locations.

E.2. RENEWAL APPLICATIONS

Organizations that have current program awards and are eligible for renewal funding must 

submit an application in order to be eligible to receive funding for the following year. If a 

renewal application is not submitted by the due date, or if approval is not given for an 

extension of the application deadline, this will be an indication that the organization is no 

longer interested in receiving funding. 

NEW: In FY 2024, all organizations who submit a renewal application are required to review 

and update the executive summary, narratives and work plan for the entire three years of the 

grant cycle. In FY 25 and 26 RSVP continuations, changes to the narratives and work plan will 

only be permitted with prior approval from each incumbent grantees’ portfolio manager.

NEW: Total Unduplicated RSVP Volunteers: All RSVP grantees in FY 2024 who submit a 

renewal application are required to update the number of unduplicated volunteers listed in 

their Executive Summary and work plan to the number of actual unduplicated volunteers 

currently in service. This number does not have to match what was awarded in your most 

recent grant application. However, if the number is different, please provide an explanation 

in the “Other Narrative” section. The requirement of having at least one unduplicated 

volunteer in an outcome-based work plan per $1,000 in federal funding remains in effect.

NEW: Define Geographical Service Area: Ensure your service area, as identified on the SF424 Face Sheet of the application, accurately reflects the community or communities 

currently served. You may identify county(ies) with the city, town, parish, or other jurisdictions 

being served in parentheses. Please note if you will serve a portion of a jurisdiction.

See section D.2.a. for Renewal application content (Year 1). 

E.2.a. Executive Summary

Please fill in the blanks of these sentences to complete the Executive Summary. Do not

deviate from the template below. If applicant does not follow the template below, the

application will be returned for correction before an award can be made. Update number of

unduplicated if adjusted to reflect actual unduplicated volunteers in performance measures.

“The [Name of the organization] proposes to have [Number of unduplicated] 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who will [specific service activities] in [the locations the 
AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will serve]. The primary focus area of this project is [fill 

in AmeriCorps Focus Area]. At the end of the three-year grant, AmeriCorps Seniors 

volunteers will be responsible for [fill in the anticipated outcome (s)]. The AmeriCorps 

investment of $ [fill in the annual AmeriCorps grant amount or the requested amount] 

will be supplemented by $ [fill in the anticipated level of non-AmeriCorps 

resources].” 

An example of a compliant executive summary is The ABC School proposes to have 12 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers tutor and mentor preschool children at Headstart Academy in 

Crystal City, VA. Volunteers will use phonic and writing to develop reading growth of five-year 

olds. Senior volunteers will be trained on phonic usage and best mentoring practices. The 

primary focus area of this project is Education. At the end of the three-year grant, AmeriCorps 

Seniors volunteers will be responsible for 75 preschool students reading at first grade level. The 

AmeriCorps investment of $250,000 will be supplemented by $50,000 private sector funds.

E.2.b. Program Design

Reviewers will consider the quality of the application’s response to the criteria below. Do not

assume all sub-criteria are of equal value.

The Strengthening Communities narrative addresses: 

• The proposed interventions are responsive to the identified community

problem(s).

• The applicant’s proposed interventions are clearly articulated including the

design, dosage, target population, and roles of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers.

• The applicant’s intervention is likely to lead to the outcomes identified in the

applicant’s work plan.

• The expected outcomes articulated in the Strengthening Communities

narrative and Performance Measures represent meaningful progress in addressing

the community problems identified by the applicant.

• The rationale for utilizing AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to deliver the

intervention(s), addressing the community need is reasonable.

• How the service of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will produce significant

contributions to existing efforts to address the stated problem.

• For incumbent organizations, if the anticipated outcomes (Performance

Measures) were not met in the previous three-year grant cycle and those same

outcomes are included in this application, include what actions will be taken to

meet those outcomes under this new award.

• The applicant’s (organizations or institutions) definitions of diversity, equity,

inclusion, and accessibility, are included AND activities the organization is

engaged in related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are clearly

identified.

• The proposed plan to ensure the project engages a diverse and inclusive

group of volunteers is clearly articulated.

• The application clearly states how the project will serve members of the

community through an equity lens.

• The description of the community to be served includes demographic, income,

and additional relevant information.
E.2.c. Work Plan

Information will automatically copy from your previous awarded application into your renewal

application. Work plans are designed to align with the three-year performance period.

However, because you are given the opportunity to make corrections, if needed, to your

number of unduplicated volunteers, performance measures must be aligned with any

changes to your number of volunteers and service activities. If there are no changes, please

make no edits to the work plan.

Grantees must ensure their Performance Measures accurately reflect the number of active 

volunteers enrolled in their RSVP program who are working toward a National Performance 

Measure. We recognize communities are still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic and 

that volunteer numbers, service activities, service placements, and staff functions may have 

changed. Please take this opportunity to update us on the status of your program.

NEW: In FY 2024, all organizations who submit a renewal application are required to review 

and update the executive summary, narratives and work plan for the entire three years of the 

grant cycle. In FY 25 and 26 RSVP continuations, changes to the narratives and work plan will 

only be permitted with prior approval from each incumbent grantees’ portfolio manager.

Performance Measures should include:

• Description of the community problem being addressed by the individual

performance measure.

• Description of the service activities that address the community problem.

• Description of the intended outcome of the service activity.

• Each Performance Measure must logically connect the following four major

elements to each other and be aligned with National Performance Measures:

1. The community need(s) identified

2. The service activities that will be carried out by AmeriCorps Seniors

volunteers

3. The instrument description and data collection plans

4. Target numbers that lead to outcomes or outputs, and are appropriate

for the total number of volunteers assigned to the Performance

Measure

• The service activities that are defined in each Performance Measure must

include the intervention the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will implement or

deliver, including:

o The duration of the intervention (e.g., the total number of weeks,

sessions or months of the intervention)

o The dosage of the intervention (e.g., the number of hours per session

or sessions per week)

o The target population for the intervention (e.g., disconnected

seniors/youth, third graders at a certain reading proficiency level)

o The measurable outputs that result from delivering the intervention (i.e.,

number of beneficiaries served, types and number of activities conducted).

If applicable, identify which National Performance Measures will be used as

output indicators
o Outcomes that demonstrate changes in knowledge/skill, attitude,

behavior, or condition that occur because of the intervention. If applicable,

identify which National Performance Measures will be used as outcome

indicators.

o Work plan may include some combination of National Performance

Measures and other community priorities. For every $1,000 in annual base

federal funding, at least one unduplicated volunteer must be placed in

work plan that result in National Performance Measure outcomes.

E.2.d. Recruitment and Development

Ensure your proposed project demonstrates a plan and the organization’s infrastructure

provides for effective volunteer recruitment and management. Demonstrate this by

responding to the following:

• Describe how the proposed recruitment strategy is a strategic response to the

demographics in the community served.

• Demonstrate a plan and infrastructure to ensure volunteers receive training

needed to succeed in the service activities described in the Performance

Measures.

• Describe the demographics of the community served and plans to recruit

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers from geographic or demographic communities in

which the program operates. This could include but is not limited to the

following:

a. Volunteers from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color)

communities

b. Volunteers from LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and

Questioning) communities

c. Individuals with varying degrees of English language proficiency

d. Individuals with disabilities

e. Veterans and military family members as volunteers

• Demonstrate a plan and adequate infrastructure to retain and recognize

volunteers. This includes:

a. An explanation of how the applicant will foster an inclusive service

culture where different backgrounds, talents, and capabilities are

welcome.

b. A description of how engaged volunteers will remain active over the

course of grant funding.

• Demonstrate a plan for developing and growing a culture of inclusion at

volunteer stations to ensure volunteer station supervisors who are involved in the

recruitment of volunteers are invested in addressing community disparities and

the root causes of biases in recruitment efforts.

E.2.e. Organizational Capability

E.2.e.i Program Management

Make sure your application:

• Describes the plans and infrastructure to ensure management of volunteer

stations are in compliance with the program regulations.
• Demonstrates plans to address culture of volunteer stations to be safe inclusive

spaces for diverse volunteers.

• Demonstrates plans and infrastructure to develop and/or oversee volunteer

stations to ensure that volunteers are performing their assigned service activities,

including

a. Sufficient guidance and support of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to

provide effective service.

b. Adequate training and preparation of station supervisors to follow

AmeriCorps Seniors program regulations, priorities, and expectations.

E.2.e.ii Organizational Capability

Your application must:

• Describe the organization’s commitment to equity when addressing critical

community needs reflected in the organization’s mission and vision, as well as the

application’s Performance Measures.

• Describe the plans and infrastructure to provide sound programmatic and

fiscal oversight (both financial and in-kind) and day-to-day operational support to

ensure the following:

a. Compliance with program requirements (statutes, regulations, and the

Uniform Guidance/2 CFR 200 and related appendices);

b. Accountability;

c. Efficient and effective use of available resources; and

d. Plans to engage non-federal funding sources for sustainability of

programming.

• Clearly define paid staff positions, including identification of current staff

assigned to the project (name, title, and brief position description) and how these

positions will ensure the accomplishment of program objectives.

• Describe your organization’s experience with, and/or plans for diversity, equity,

and inclusion within your organization. This can include the inclusion of diversity

on the Board of Directors, agency staff and leadership, and/or volunteers.

• Demonstrate organizational capacity to develop and implement internal

policies and operating procedures to provide governance and manage risk, such

as accounting, personnel management, and purchasing.

• Describe the extent to which the organization has an effective mechanism in

place to report, without delay, any suspected criminal activity, waste, fraud, and/or

abuse to both the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General and AmeriCorps and a

plan for training staff and participants on these reporting protocols.

• Describe the extent to which the organization has sufficient policies,

procedures, and controls in place to prevent, detect, and mitigate the risk of fraud,

waste, abuse, and mismanagement (this can include an assessment of appropriate

segregation of duties, internal oversight activities, measures to prevent

timekeeping fraud, etc.)

• And, describe the extent to which the organization has a monitoring and

oversight plan to prevent and detect non-compliance and enforce compliance

with AmeriCorps rules and regulations including those related to prohibited

activities and criminal history checks at the grantee and service site locations.

E.2.f. Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy
Please describe the extent to which the proposal:

• Has a reasonable cost per volunteer in proposed work plan that will lead to

National Performance Measure requirements (See Appendix B and section A.3 of

the Notice).

• Has plans and infrastructure to secure the non-federal support for program

sustainability-including dedicated staff, grant proposal processes and other plans.

E.2.f.i. Budget

Update the budget as necessary. The non-AmeriCorps share must be a minimum of 30%. If

needed, you may request a match waiver.

NEW: All AmeriCorps Seniors grantees must budget for one staff person, primarily the

Project Director, to attend the AmeriCorps Seniors annual convening or, in the event an inperson convening does not occur, funds to attend another training event. Grantees may

budget for an additional staff member to attend the event, if funds permit. Long distance

travel funds may be re-budgeted later in the year depending on actual training activities.

In FY 2024 only, AmeriCorps Seniors will add $2,500 to every RSVP grant to cover expenses 

for program staff to attend the national convening. 

Link to Fiscal Year 2024 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP sample budget narrative

E.2.g. Evaluation

Evaluation is a tool for improvement and increases your program’s ability to serve people

more efficiently and effectively. To ensure there is a quality evaluation plan, describe the

following:

• The applicant’s data collection system and how it is sufficient to collect high

quality performance measurement data. If the applicant does not yet have a data

collection system, describe the plan and timeline for developing a high-quality

system during the proposed planning period.

• How the applicant will use performance data.

For more information about evaluation plans and data collection methods, please visit the 

AmeriCorps Evaluation Resources website. 

E.3. Review and Selection Process

AmeriCorps will engage Staff Reviewers with relevant knowledge and expertise to assess and 

provide input on the eligible applications. The review and selection process is intended to 

produce a diversified set of high-quality programs that represent the priorities and strategic 

considerations described in this Notice. The determinations made by AmeriCorps reviewers 

may be different from what the applicant self-determined upon submission of its application. 

The stages of the review and selection process follow:

E.3.a. Initial Application Compliance and Eligibility Review

AmeriCorps will conduct an initial Compliance and Eligibility Review to determine if an 

application meets the eligibility requirements published in this Notice and advances to the 

next stage of the review process. 
An application is compliant if the applicant: 

• is an eligible organization

• submitted an application by the submission deadline

Reviewing for eligibility is intended to ensure that only those applications that are eligible for 

award are further reviewed. However, determinations of eligibility can take place at any point 

during the application review and selection process. Applicants that are determined to be 

ineligible will not receive an award.

E.3.b. Application Review

Internal Review

AmeriCorps Staff Reviewers will assess the applications based on the Program Design, 

Organizational Capability, and Cost-Effectiveness, and Budget Adequacy Selection Criteria 

(E.1 and E.2). Staff Reviewers will also consider the priorities and strategic considerations 

detailed in this Notice. AmeriCorps will recruit and select Staff Reviewers on the basis of 

demonstrated expertise in RSVP programming and/or the Focus Areas, as well as experience 

assessing applications. All Staff Reviewers will be screened for conflicts of interest. 

E.3.c. Applicant Clarification

AmeriCorps may ask an applicant for clarifying information. AmeriCorps staff will use this 

information to make funding recommendations. A request for clarification does not guarantee 

an award. Applicants may be recommended for funding even if they are not asked for 

clarifying information. An applicant’s failure to respond to a request for clarification adequately 

and in a timely manner may result in the removal of its application from consideration. 

E.3.d. Pre-Award Risk Assessment

AmeriCorps staff will assess the risks to the program posed by each applicant to determine 

an applicant’s ability to manage Federal funds. This evaluation is in addition to those about

the applicant’s eligibility and the quality of its application on the basis of the Selection Criteria 

(E.1. and E.2.). Results from this assessment will inform funding decisions. If AmeriCorps

determines that an award will be made to an applicant with assessed risks, special conditions 

that correspond to the degree of assessed risk may be applied to the award. Applicants may 

not be selected for funding if AmeriCorps determines that the applicant’s risks cannot be 

mitigated. 

In assessing risks, AmeriCorps may consider the following criteria: 

1. Due Diligence, including:

• Federal debt delinquency

• suspension and debarment

• information available through Office of Management and Budget (OMB)- designated

repositories of government-wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity

information, such as:

o U.S. Treasury Bureau of Fiscal Services

o System for Award Management (SAM)
o “Do Not Pay”

• reports and findings from single audits performed under Uniform Administrative

Guidance and findings of any other available audits or investigations

• IRS Tax Form 990

• Oversight.gov

• Public Litigation Records

2. Operational and Financial Management, including:

• financial stability

• Operational and Financial Management Survey (OFMS)

3. Past Performance, including:

• an applicant’s record in managing previous AmeriCorps awards, cooperative

agreements, or procurement awards, including:

o timeliness of compliance with applicable reporting requirements

o accuracy of data reported

o validity of performance measure data reported

o conformance to the terms and conditions of previous Federal awards

o applicant’s ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other

requirements imposed on award recipients

o timely closeout of other awards

o meeting matching requirements

o the extent to which any previously awarded amounts will be expended prior to

future awards

o National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC) compliance. See section

F.2.d. National Criminal History Check Requirements and the NSCHC webpage

for more information

4. Other Programmatic Risks, including:

• publicly available information, including from the applicant organization's website

• amount of funding requested by the organization

• if the proposed program will engage in prohibited activities

Applicants will find information to help them understand pre-award due diligence checks in 

the AmeriCorps Due Diligence Review Process and Compliance training available on the 

Manage Your Grant website, This content will help applicants obtain due diligence 

compliance and remain compliant throughout the grant life.

E.3.e. Consideration of Integrity and Performance System Information

Prior to making any award that exceeds the $250,000, AmeriCorps is required to review and 

consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and 

performance system accessible through SAM.gov (See 41 U.S.C. §2313). Additionally, 

AmeriCorps may expand upon these requirements and use its discretion to review and 

consider information about any applicant receiving an award, including those under

$250,000. 
Any applicant may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems 

accessible through SAM.gov and comment on any information about itself that a Federal 

awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and 

performance system accessible through SAM.gov. 

AmeriCorps may consider comments by any applicant, in addition to the other information in 

the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the 

applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards when 

completing its review of risk posed by the applicant under the Risk Assessment Evaluation 

section of this Notice. 

E.3.f. Selection for Funding

The review and selection process are designed to:

• identify how well eligible applications are aligned with the application selection

criteria (E.1. and E.2.)

• build a diversified portfolio based on the following strategic considerations:

o AmeriCorps Funding Priorities (See Section A.2. Funding Priorities)

o meaningful representation of

 geographic diversity

 rural communities

 small and medium programs

 single and multi-state programs

 faith-based organizations

 focus areas

 evidence levels

 innovative community strategies for identified funding priorities

 AmeriCorps Seniors Director’s discretion to advance strategic goals

In selecting applicants to receive awards under this Notice, the AmeriCorps Seniors Director

will endeavor to include a diverse portfolio of applications based on staff recommendations, 

alignment with selection criteria, and strategic considerations.

AmeriCorps reserves the right to award applications in an amount other than at the 

requested level of funding and will document the rationale for doing so.

AmeriCorps reserves the right to adjust or make changes to the review process, if 

unforeseen challenges or urgent circumstances make it impossible, impracticable, or 

inefficient to conduct the review process as planned. Any such adjustments or changes 

will not affect the selection criteria (E.1. and E.2.) that will be used to assess applications. 

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

F.1. Federal Award Notices
Notification of an award is not an authorization to begin activities. The Notice of Grant Award 

signed by the Office of Grant Administration Grant Award Specialist or the Memorandum of 

Agreement signed by the Portfolio Manager is the authorizing document. An awardee may 

not expend Federal funds until the start of the Period of Performance identified on the Notice 

of Grant Award.

F.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

F.2.a. Uniform Guidance

All awards made under this Notice will be subject to the Uniform Administrative 

Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform 

Guidance), in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 2205. 

F.2.b. Requests for Monitoring or Payment Integrity Information

AmeriCorps will request documentation from award recipients in order to monitor the 

grantee and award to ensure compliance with legal requirements, including the Payment 

Integrity Information Act of 2019. Failure to make timely responses to these requests may 

result in award funds being placed on manual hold, reimbursement only status, or other 

remedies may be applied as appropriate. 

F.2.c. AmeriCorps Terms and Conditions

All awards made under this Notice will be subject to the FY24 AmeriCorps General Terms 

and Conditions, and the FY24 Program-Specific Terms and Conditions for the particular 

program (when applicable). These Terms and Conditions contain detailed, mandatory 

compliance and reporting requirements. Current versions of the AmeriCorps General and 

Program-Specific Terms and Conditions for each of its programs is available at the RSVP 

website, select terms and conditions from the dropdown menu.

F.2.d. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements

The National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC) is a specific screening procedure 

established by law to protect the beneficiaries of national service. We encourage grantees to 

minimize barriers to service without putting their program beneficiaries at genuine risk. The 

law requires grantees to conduct and document NSCHCs on persons (including awardfunded staff, national service participant, or volunteer) receiving a salary, living allowance, 

stipend, or education award through a program receiving AmeriCorps funds. This includes 

staff that receive part of their salary through a subgrant.

• Award recipients and subrecipients must conduct an NSCHC for AmeriCorps

members, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, and all staff funded under, or whose salary

is reflected as match on, the award. Limited exceptions are described in 45 CFR §

2540.201.
• AmeriCorps strongly encourages applicants to review the regulations and additional

guidance to fully understand how to comply with the requirements. See NSCHC

regulations and guidance.

• AmeriCorps also strongly encourages award recipients to utilize the two AmeriCorpsapproved vendors to conduct the required NSCHCs.

• The cost of conducting NSCHC is an allowable expense under the award and

individuals subject to the NSCHC must not be required to cover the cost.

• Failure to fully comply with all NSCHC requirements will result in significant disallowed

costs.

Recipients must complete the following criminal history checks: 

1. National Sex Offender Public website through NSOPW.gov (nationwide check);

2. State criminal history record repository or agency-designated alternative for the

individual's State of residence and State of service; and

3. Fingerprint-based check of the FBI criminal history record database through the State

criminal history record repository or agency-approved vendor.

All checks must be conducted, reviewed, and an eligibility determination made before the 

individual begins work or service.

An individual is not eligible to serve or work in a position subject to the NSCHC requirements 

if: 

• the individual refuses to consent to a criminal history check;

• makes a false statement in connection with a criminal history check;

• is registered, or is required to be registered, on a state sex offender registry or the

National Sex Offender Registry; or

• has been convicted of murder, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 1111.

See 45 CFR 2540.200– 2540.207 and National Service Criminal History Check Resources for 

complete information and FAQs.

F.2.e. Official Guidance

AmeriCorps’ active guidance is available on the agency’s guidance webpage. The contents of 

these documents do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the 

public in any way unless incorporated into a contract or grant agreement. These documents 

are intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the 

law or agency policies.

F.3. Use of Material

To ensure that materials generated with AmeriCorps funding are available to the public and 

readily accessible to recipients and non-recipients, AmeriCorps reserves a royalty-free, 

nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to obtain, use, modify, reproduce, publish, or disseminate 
publications and materials produced under the award, including data, and to authorize 

others to do so (2 CFR §200.315).

F.4. Reporting

Recipients are required to submit a variety of reports that are due at specific times during the 

life cycle of an award. All reports must be accurate, complete, and submitted on time.

Recipients are required to provide annual progress reports and semi-annual financial reports 

through eGrants, AmeriCorps’ web-based grants management system.

In addition, at the end of the award period, a grantee must submit final financial reports that 

are cumulative over the entire award period and consistent with the close-out requirements. 

The final reports are due 120 days after the end of the period of performance. 

Award recipients will be required to report at Federal Funding Accountability and 

Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) on all subawards over $30,000, and 

may be required to report on executive compensation for the recipient organization and its 

subrecipients. Recipients must have the necessary systems in place to collect and report this 

information. See 2 CFR Part 170 for more information and to determine how these 

requirements apply. 

Once the grant is awarded, recipients will be expected to have in place data collection and 

data management policies, processes, and practices that provide assurance that they are 

reporting high quality performance measure data. At a minimum, recipients should have 

policies, processes, and practices that address the following five aspects of data quality for 

themselves and for subrecipients (if applicable):

• data measures what it intends to measure

• data reported is complete

• grantee collects data in a consistent manner

• grantee takes steps to correct data errors

• grantee actively reviews data for accuracy prior to submission.

Failure to submit accurate, complete, and timely required reports may affect the recipient’s 

ability to secure future AmeriCorps funding.

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

For more information, call your portfolio manager or email americorpsseniors@cns.gov.

For technical questions and problems with the eGrants system, call the AmeriCorps Hotline at 

(800) 942-2677 Option 3. AmeriCorps Hotline hours are also posted. Be prepared to provide

the application ID, organization’s name, and the name of the Notice to which the organization

is applying.
H. OTHER INFORMATION

H.1. Technical Assistance

AmeriCorps will host technical assistance calls to answer questions about the funding 

opportunity and eGrants. AmeriCorps strongly encourages all applicants to participate in 

these sessions. Information for these technical assistance calls will be provided in

communication such as the monthly AmeriCorps Seniors Director’s Notes or Grantee 

Essentials calls. 

Resources you need to effectively manage your award, including eGrants instructions, terms 

and conditions, individual match waiver, pre-award requirements, financial reporting 

requirements, and training and technical assistance materials are found on the Manage Your

Grant website. 

H.2. Re-Focusing of Funding

AmeriCorps reserves the right to re-focus program dollars under this Notice in the event of 

disaster or other compelling needs. 

I. IMPORTANT NOTICES

Public Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for collection of information under this 

Notice of Funding is estimated to average six hours per submission, including reviewing 

instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing the application and 

reporting forms. AmeriCorps informs people who may respond to this Notice of Funding that 

they are not required to respond unless the OMB control number and expiration date are 

currently valid. (See 5 C.F.R. 1320.5(b)(2)(i).) This collection is approved under OMB Control 

#: 3045-0035, Senior Corps Grant Application, Expiration Date: November 30, 2024. 

Privacy Act Statement: The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C §552a) requires that AmeriCorps

notify applicants that the information requested under this Notice of Funding is collected 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§12592 and 12615 of the National and Community Service Act of 

1990 as amended, and 42 U.S.C. §4953 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 as 

amended. 

• Purposes and Uses - The information requested is collected for the purposes of

reviewing grant applications and granting funding requests. Routine uses may include

disclosure of the information to Federal, state, or local agencies pursuant to lawfully

authorized requests. In some programs, the information may also be provided to

Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to determine the existence of any

prior criminal convictions. The information may also be provided to appropriate

Federal agencies and contractors that have a need to know the information for the

purpose of assisting the government to respond to a suspected or confirmed breach

of the security or confidentiality or information maintained in this system of records,

and the information disclosed is relevant and unnecessary for the assistance.
• Effects of Nondisclosure - The information requested is voluntary; however, to be a

recipient of this award program, disclosure of personal or sensitive information is

required to receive federal benefits.
APPENDIX A – List of Funding Opportunities 

APPENDIX A – List of Funding Opportunities

APPENDIX B – Performance Measures 

APPENDIX B – Performance Measures

APPENDIX C – Terms and Definitions 

APPENDIX C – Terms and Definitions

APPENDIX D – Litmos Resources 

APPENDIX D – Litmos Resources

The following resources will be found in the Litmos course: 

• Quick Guide

• All recorded Training Calls

• Best Practices in Budget Development for Fiscal Year 2024 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP grant

applicants” recording

This 50-minute recording will help AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP grant applicants acquire the

knowledge and skills needed to understand the function of and develop an effective RSVP budget

and budget narrative. The submission of a complete and high-quality budget will help demonstrate

that applicants have the fiscal capacity to manage an RSVP program. Applicants are strongly

encouraged to review the budget related sections of the Notice of Funding Opportunity, the Grant

Application Instructions, and the Fiscal Year 2024 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP sample budget

narrative, before viewing the recording.

Link to Fiscal Year 2024 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP sample budget narrative

APPENDIX E – Application Instructions 

APPENDIX E – Application Instructions

APPENDIX F – Focus Areas 

AmeriCorps Focus Areas 

The National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended by the Serve America Act, 

emphasizes measuring the impact of service and focusing on a core set of issue areas. In 

order to carry out Congress’s intent and to maximize the impact of investment in national 

service, and to achieve the goals laid out in the Strategic Plan (2022-2026), AmeriCorps has 

the following Focus Areas:

Disaster Services

Helping individuals and communities prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate 

the effects of disasters and increase community resiliency. 

Economic Opportunity 

Improving the economic well-being and security of underserved individuals. 
Education 

Improving educational outcomes for underserved people, especially children. AmeriCorps is 

particularly interested in program designs that support youth engagement and service learning 

as strategies to achieve high educational outcomes. 

Environmental Stewardship

Supporting communities to become more resilient through measures that reduce 

greenhouse gas emissions, conserve land and water, increase renewable energy use and 

improve at-risk ecosystems, especially in underserved households and communities. 

Healthy Futures

Supporting for health needs within communities, including ongoing recovery from COVID-19 

and other public health crises, access to care, aging in place, and addressing childhood 

obesity, especially in underserved communities. 

Veterans and Military Families 

Improving the quality of life of veterans and improve military family strength. 

Capacity Building

Support indirect services that enable AmeriCorps-supported organizations to provide more, 

better, and sustained direct services. Capacity building activities cannot be solely intended 

to support the administration or operations of the organization. 

APPENDIX G – Calculator Worksheet 

APPENDIX G – Calculator Worksheet