My AmeriCorps / 

eGrants

User Guide

for

Grantee Administrators

Updated May 2021
eGrants / My AmeriCorps User Guide – Grantee Administrators i

Table of Contents

1. Introduction...........................................................................................................................1

2. System Overview ..................................................................................................................2

Using eGrants/My AmeriCorps ...............................................................................................2

2.1 eGrants: Grants Management ........................................................................................2

2.2 eGrants: Recruitment and Member Management...........................................................2

2.3 Hardware and Software Requirements ...........................................................................2

Computer..........................................................................................................................................2

Internet Connection .........................................................................................................................3

Browser.............................................................................................................................................3

Browser Settings..............................................................................................................................3

3. Creating an eGrants Account...............................................................................................4

Process.............................................................................................................................................4

Email Notifications:..........................................................................................................................8

4. Assigning User Roles.........................................................................................................10

4.1 Overview.......................................................................................................................10

4.2 Assigning User Roles....................................................................................................11

5. Additional Resources .........................................................................................................13
eGrants / My AmeriCorps User Guide – Grantee Administrators 1

1. Introduction

Audience

The audience for this user guide is VISTA grantee administrators.

Purpose

This guide instructs users how to:

• create an eGrants account

• understand various user roles in eGrants and My AmeriCorps

• assign user roles

Contents

Grantee administrators, VISTA sponsors, and site supervisors can access My 

AmeriCorps, or “the Portal,” through eGrants. My AmeriCorps is an online database that 

manages AmeriCorps volunteers’ data. Users can be assigned one or more roles. Roles 

determine what users can and cannot do within both eGrants and the Portal. This guide 

covers creating an eGrants account and assigning roles. For more information on the 

other functions within the Portal, please refer to the “My AmeriCorps User Guide for 

VISTA Sponsors” and other resources listed at the end of this document.
eGrants / My AmeriCorps User Guide – Grantee Administrators 2

2. System Overview

Using eGrants/My AmeriCorps

eGrants is an online system designed to automate the grants and project management 

process. It allows applicants to find funding opportunities, apply for grants or projects, and 

manage grant reporting online. The system also allows AmeriCorps staff to review 

applications, award grants, and manage those grants and projects efficiently and 

effectively.

2.1 eGrants: Grants Management

eGrants is primarily used to:

• Submit and track grant applications and concept papers

• Review grant applications online

• Award grants and negotiate cooperative agreements

• Manage grants and cooperative agreements, including processing amendments 

and continuations

• Update Financial Status and Progress Reporting

2.2 eGrants: Recruitment and Member Management

eGrants also collects recruitment and member management information, which is 

transferred to the My AmeriCorps Portal. Automated communication between these two 

systems allows users to:

• Create and update VISTA project descriptions (Note: In the Portal, “project 

descriptions” are called “service opportunities.”)

• View applications and references for VISTA applicants

• Submit Sponsor Recommendations and select applicants

• View and electronically sign members’ Future PlansForms

• Search for applicants and invite them to apply to the project

• Search for members serving on the project, access their contact information, and 

update their service site address

2.3 Hardware and Software Requirements

The following hardware, software, and settings are recommended to support eGrants:

Computer

eGrants works best with later version PC’s or Power Macintosh computers. Earlier or less 

powerful machines, such as 486 PCs or Mac Classics, will run eGrants with a high- speed 

internet connection and sufficient memory for specified browsers.
eGrants / My AmeriCorps User Guide – Grantee Administrators 3

Internet Connection

Machines using DSL, T1, cable modems, or dial-up connections with a modem rate of

28.8 K Baud or higher can access eGrants. "Online service providers”, such as AOL or 

Compuserve, are not recommended for eGrants.

Browser

eGrants works best with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, Firefox 1.5, Netscape 3.0, or 

later versions of these internet browsers.

Browser Settings

Pop-up blockers must be turned off to edit or view certain eGrants pages. It is not 

necessary to accept cookies or to have a Flash player loaded to view eGrants.

2.4 My AmeriCorps: Connecting Applicants and Members to Sponsors

VISTA sponsors can enter and manage recruitment and member data in eGrants as well. 

This data is automatically entered in My AmeriCorps, meaning that, when an individual is 

selected for a project in eGrants, the Portal automatically reflects that change and 

updates the applicant’s profile. The diagrams below outline this process.

Since the site is built to be interactive, users receive email notifications when certain 

actions have occurred. For example, when applicants submit their information to a project, 

the sponsor receives an email. Similarly, once the status of an application is updated, the 

applicant or member receives an email alert to check their status.

Applicant/Member Data Project Listings Future Plans Forms CNCS Event Information

eGrants

VISTA Sponsors 

Applicant/Member Data Project Listings Future Plans Forms CNCS Event Information

My AmeriCorps Portal

VISTA Applicants and Members 
eGrants / My AmeriCorps User Guide – Grantee Administrators 4

3. Creating an eGrants Account

To use the Portal, users must have an eGrants account. If a user does not have an 

eGrants account, they can create one from the eGrants login page 

(https://egrants.cns.gov). The process for creating an eGrants account is outlined below:

Process

1. Click “Create an account.”

2. Click “Create a Grantee 

account.”
eGrants / My AmeriCorps User Guide – Grantee Administrators 5

3. Click on the link that 

indicates “I want to create 

a new account with 

eGrants.”

4. Complete all the required 

fields. Verify that the 

contact information is 

correct. Create a 

password. The password:

a. Must contain at least 

eight characters

b. Must contain at least 

one number, but 

cannot begin with a 

number

c. Cannot contain a 

word found in the 

dictionary

d. Cannot contain 

special characters 

(!@#$%^&*()_?><)

e. Cannot contain a 

username

5. Click “save,” then click 

“next” to advance to the 

next screen.

6. Enter an Employer 

Identification Number 

(EIN) and click “next” to 

advance to the next 

screen.
eGrants / My AmeriCorps User Guide – Grantee Administrators 6

7. Select a radio button to 

create a new profile or to 

select an existing profile.

8. Click “next” to advance to 

the next screen.

9. Review the information 

and click “next” to 

advance to the next 

screen.

10. Enter phone number(s) 

and click “save” to save 

the information, then click 

“next” to advance to the 

next screen.
eGrants / My AmeriCorps User Guide – Grantee Administrators 7

11. Review the information:

a. Click “change” to 

either select a 

different organization 

or to create a new 

one.

b. Click “edit” to change 

login credentials.

c. Click “edit” to change 

a daytime phone.

d. Click “submit” if the 

information is correct.

12. View confirmation.

A grantee administrator 

will receive an email alert 

indicating that a new user 

now must be assigned the 

appropriate roles in 

eGrants.
eGrants / My AmeriCorps User Guide – Grantee Administrators 8

Email Notifications:

New users receive the following email. Grantee administrators receive a similar email 

notifying them of new accounts (see page 11.) The grantee administrator must log into 

eGrants to assign new users their appropriate roles.

This is an automated E-mail message. Please do not reply to it.

A new login account has been created for you with the username and password 

you have specified.

The grantee administrator(s) for your organization have been notified 

about your account. The administrator must complete the registration 

adding the “Grantee” role to your account. Once this is done, you will be 

able to access eGrants.

The grantee administrator(s) for your organization is/are listed below: 

Stephen M. Schmerin Email: test@cns.gov

Diane Sherwood Email: test@cns.gov

Mike Moran Email: moran@cns.gov

13. Proceed to login page.
eGrants / My AmeriCorps User Guide – Grantee Administrators 9

14. If a new user has not been 

assigned a role by the grantee 

administrator, the user will be 

directed to this screen once 

they log on to eGrants.
eGrants / My AmeriCorps User Guide – Grantee Administrators 10

4. Assigning User Roles

4.1 Overview

eGrants users are assigned specific roles. Each role allows the user to access specific tools 

and functions in the system. The roles are:

• Grantee Administrator

• Grantee with access to budget

• Grantee without access to budget

• Grantee Recruiter

• VISTA Grantee Member Management

• State & National Grantee Member Management

• Grantee Travel Profile

New users must first set up an eGrants account. Existing users may need to have their roles 

updated to access information. Users who recruit new members or complete member 

management tasks will need one or both of the following roles to use corresponding features in 

the Portal. Roles and their corresponding activities are listed below:

Grantee Recruiter:

• Create and update service opportunity descriptions

• Search by applicant, individual, skill set, language, education level, and 

availability

• Access applicants’ contact information, profile, and personal information

• View applications

• Contact applicants to alert them to service opportunities

• Review references submitted with applications

• Select or reject applicants

Grantee Member Management:

• View and approve Future Plans Forms

• Search for, view, and enroll members/supervisors in CNCS events

Grantee Travel Profile:

• Complete a trainee registration profile to attend CNCS events
eGrants / My AmeriCorps User Guide – Grantee Administrators 11

4.2 Assigning User Roles

Once a user has successfully set up an account, the grantee administrator will receive 

the following email:

This is an automated E-mail message. Please do not reply to it.

Jerome Bettis registered for a new eGrants user account on December 14, 2007 

at 11:20 AM.

For this person to have access to the system, you, as the grantee 

administrator, must grant the appropriate access. To do that, click on the 

"My Account" link, then select the "Edit User Role/Permissions" link in the 

"Edit My Organization Info" section.

This is an automated E-mail message. Please do not reply to it.

For this person to have access to the Portal, the grantee administrator must assign the 

proper role or roles to the user, as outlined in this process:

1. Log into eGrants. From the 

home page, click “My 

Account.”
eGrants / My AmeriCorps User Guide – Grantee Administrators 12

2. Click “Edit User/Role 

Permissions.”

3. Select the new roles from 

the list. To select multiple 

roles, hold the “ctrl” key.

Once the role or roles are 

selected, click “submit.”

4. View setting changes. Click 

“edit again” to return to the 

previous screen.

Return to account page to 

perform additional tasks or 

to log out.
eGrants / My AmeriCorps User Guide – Grantee Administrators 13

5. Additional Resources

The following resource is also available:

• My AmeriCorps User Guide for VISTA Sponsors

For additional assistance, you may contact the National Service Hotline at:

Phone: 888-942-2677

Internet: questions.nationalservice.gov