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Appendix C: Terms and Definitions

Last Updated: October 2023

10/2020

Term Definition

Advisory Council

A group of persons that the project sponsor formally organizes to ensure community 

participation in the project. Projects may also use other organizational structures to 

achieve this goal.

Agency-Wide

Performance

Measure

AmeriCorps’ Performance Measurement framework provides a common focal point 

for AmeriCorps' work across all programs and initiatives. Every AmeriCorps Program 

contributes to the Agency-Wide Performance Measures.

Capacity Building

A set of activities that expand the scale, reach, efficiency, or effectiveness of programs 

and organizations. Activities may also leverage resources for programs and/or 

organizations. For example, capacity building activities may expand services, enhance 

delivery of services, or generate additional resources. These activities achieve lasting 

positive outcomes for the beneficiary populations served by AmeriCorps-supported 

organizations.

AmeriCorpsSupportedAny organization that receives an AmeriCorps grant award or AmeriCorps national 

service members and volunteers.

Complementary

Program 

Measures

Standardized National Performance Measures that allow AmeriCorps to measure 

results of important programmatic activities not collected in the Agency-Wide Priority 

Measures, and also to assess the individual and collective results of programs and 

continue to enhance program effectiveness.

Continuation

An administrative process that provides funding for a new budget period within one 

project period. Grants are generally continued, given satisfactory performance, 

capacity and compliance, and appropriations.

Evidence-based

Programs

Interventions that have been consistently demonstrated through rigorous studies. 

The results of these studies then establish the causal impact of the program on 

beneficiaries.

Focus Areas One of a set of 6 core priority issue areas identified in the Serve America Act where 

AmeriCorps focuses national service and measures its impact.

Graduated 

Volunteer 

Stations

Volunteer stations that were part of the incumbent grant but will not be included as 

active volunteer stations for the proposed grant because the stations do not align 

with the new application’s program design. Volunteers associated with graduated 

volunteer stations as part of the incumbent grant can be provided other service

opportunities through other volunteer stations or may continue to volunteer outside
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of the AmeriCorps Seniors program.

Geographic 

Service Area

Indian Tribal 

Government

The counties in which volunteer stations are located and services are provided.

Any Indian Tribe, Band, Nation, or other organized group or community (including 

any Alaskan Native Village or Regional Village Corporation as defined in or 

established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act) that is recognized 

by the United States or the state in which it resides as eligible for special programs 

and services provided to Indians because of their status as Indians.

Indirect Costs

Costs that are incurred for common or joint objectives and cannot readily be 

associated with a particular budget line item. The cost of operating and maintaining 

facilities, depreciation, and administrative salaries are examples of the types of costs 

that may be treated as indirect. An approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement must be 

in place if indirect costs are included in the budget.

In-Kind 

Contributions

Budgeted amounts representing the value of non-cash contributions that may be 

provided by (1) the sponsor; or (2) public agencies and organizations, including Native 

American organizations; or (3) private organizations or individuals. They represent the 

value of real property, equipment, goods, maintenance, and services that directly 

benefit the project. Requirements for in-kind contributions are found in 45 CFR 

2541.420 and 45 CFR 2543.23

Memorandum of 

Understanding

(MOU)

A written statement prepared and signed by the sponsor and the volunteer 

station, which identifies project requirements, working relationships, and mutual 

responsibilities.

Objective A more specific focus and action plan within each Focus Area.

Output A type of measure that tabulates, calculates, or records the actual products or services 

delivered by a program, such as students receiving tutoring or houses built.

Outcome

A type of measure that indicates progress toward achieving the intended result of a 

program, which usually represents a change in the situation of beneficiaries of service, 

such as educational achievement or housing.

Renewal or 

Administrative

Renewal

An administrative process that allows a grant to begin a new three- year project period. 

The process is more extensive than a continuation, as organizations must re-apply for 

renewal. “Administrative Renewal” is used with the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP 

program to denote its connection to competition.
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Rural

AmeriCorps uses rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes to classify program 

addresses as either rural or urban for analytic purposes. RUCA codes classify U.S. 

census tracts using measures of population density, urbanization, and daily 

commuting. Census tracts with an urban cluster population less than 50,000 are 

considered rural (RUCA codes 4 – 10). Applicants are encouraged to designate

themselves as serving rural communities if some or all service locations are in rural

areas as defined by RUCA codes or if the program can provide other compelling 

evidence that the program is rural in the narrative portion of the application. This 

self-designation will be considered in grant-making decisions. For more information 

about RUCA codes, please visit the USDA website found here: 

http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/rural- urban-commuting-area-codes.aspx.

The Office of Grants Management uses Beale Codes when assessing alternative 

match requirements.”

Performance

Measure

A value or characteristic that measures progress toward goals, and is also used to 

improve progress, reduce risks, or improve cost-effectiveness.

Project Period The three-year period of a grant.

Proprietary health 

care facilities

Private, for-profit health care organization that serves one or more vulnerable 

populations.

Required NonFederal Share

The percentage share of non-Federal cash and in-kind contributions required to be 

raised by the sponsor in support of the grant, including non-AmeriCorps Federal funds 

as permitted by law, state and local governments and privately raised contributions.

This is also called grantee share.

Service Area Geographically defined area in which AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers are recruited, 

enrolled, and assigned.

Sponsor a public agency or private non-profit organization, either secular or faith- based, which 

is responsible for the operation of an AmeriCorps Seniors project.

Unduplicated 

Volunteers

Each volunteer or VSY can only be counted once when assigned to a service activity. 

The volunteer or VSY should be counted in the area where he/she/VSY will make the 

most impact – in terms of the focus area (such as primary focus area vs community

priority), in terms of the type of service, or in terms of the scope of service, (such as the 

most number of hours served).

Volunteer Service

Year (VSY)

A budget term which equals 1,044 hours. The standardized stipend cost per VSY is 

calculated by multiplying the number of hours served by the current cost per hour for 

the stipend (1,044 hours times the dollar amount per hour). *Dollar amount set in 

Notice. 
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Volunteer Station

A public agency, secular or faith-based private non-profit organization, or proprietary 

health care organization that accepts the responsibility for assignment and supervision 

of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in health, education, social service or related settings 

such as multi-purpose centers, home health care agencies, or similar establishments.

Each volunteer station must be licensed or otherwise certified, when required, by the 

appropriate state or local government. Private homes are not volunteer stations.

Work Plans Task plans with actions steps to address a specified community need. In the grant 

application, work plans form the basis for a proposed project plan; the need the

volunteers will address, what they will do, and what their service should accomplish in 

the third year of the grant.

Outcome Work

Plans

A task plan that includes both a measurable output target and a measurable outcome 

target. Outcome work plans describe a longer term or permanent change, or 

improvement expected in the community due to the volunteers and their services.