1

NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY

Federal Agency Name: AmeriCorps

Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2021 AmeriCorps State and National Tribal Grants

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement

Assistance Listing Number: 94.006

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

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 Friday, July 23, 2021 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to AmeriCorps. 

• Successful applicants will be notified by late August 2021.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Funding

AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges through 

national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers 

serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make 

service a cornerstone of our national culture.

AmeriCorps State and National grants are awarded to eligible organizations (See Section C.1

Eligible Applicants) proposing to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidenceinformed interventions/practices to strengthen communities. An AmeriCorps member is an 

individual who engages in community service through an approved national service position. 

Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. Upon successful 

completion of their service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from the 

National Service Trust that members can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to 

qualified student loans.

A.2. Funding Priorities 

AmeriCorps seeks to prioritize the investment of national service resources in the following 

areas:

• Efforts to help local communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants may 

propose programming in any AmeriCorps focus area to aid communities as they recover 

from the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Programs that actively engage in removing structural racial inequities, advancing racial 

equality, and increasing opportunity in order to achieve sustainable change in 

 communities.

• Economic Opportunity – a program model that increases economic opportunities for 

communities by preparing people for the workforce i.e. broad band and 

building/renovating low income housing. 

• Education – improving student academic performance in Science, Technology,
2

Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and/or serving students who attend Bureau of 

Indian Education (BIE) schools. 

• Environmental Stewardship – i.e. traditional food systems

• Healthy Futures – a program model that reduces and/or prevents prescription drug and 

opioid abuse. 

• Veterans and Military Families – a program model that improves the quality of 

life outcomes of veterans and improves military family strength.

• Programs that reduce child poverty.

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 

All applications must include at least one aligned performance measure (output and outcome) 

that corresponds to the proposed primary intervention. This may be a National Performance 

Measure or an applicant-determined measure. Additional performance measures, including 

output-only National Performance Measures, may also be included if desired; however, all 

performance measures must be consistent with the program’s Theory of Change and represent 

significant program activities. AmeriCorps does not expect applicants to select performance 

measures to correspond to each and every potential member activity or community outcome. 

AmeriCorps values the quality of performance measures over the quantity of performance 

measures.

The agency expects applicants to use National Performance Measures as part of their 

comprehensive performance management strategy if the National Performance Measures are part 

of the applicant’s Theory of Change. Applicants should use both performance and evaluation 

data to learn from their work as well as make tactical and strategic adjustments to achieve their 

goals. For more information, please refer to https://americorps.gov/partner/fundingopportunities

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. ) 

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B.1. Estimated Available Funds

The agency expects a highly competitive AmeriCorps grant competition. The agency reserves 

the right to prioritize providing funding to existing awards over making new awards. The actual 

level of funding will be subject to the availability of annual appropriations.

B.2. Estimated Award Amount

Award amounts will vary, as determined by the scope of the projects. 
3

B.3. Period of Performance

AmeriCorps anticipates making three-year grants. The agency generally makes an initial award 

for the first year of the period of performance, based on a one-year budget. Continuation awards

for subsequent years are not guaranteed; they depend upon availability of appropriations and 

satisfactory performance. 

The project start date may not occur prior to the date AmeriCorps awards the grant. AmeriCorps 

members may not enroll prior to the start date of the award. AmeriCorps members may not begin 

service prior to the beginning of the member enrollment period as designated in the grant award. 

A program may not certify any hours a member performs prior to the beginning of the member 

enrollment period.

B.4. Type of Award 

AmeriCorps Operating Grants: The agency may award a Cost Reimbursement or a Fixed 

Amount grant to any successful applicant, but the availability of a Full-Cost Fixed Amount grant 

is limited to certain applicants. Professional Corps are not eligible to apply for Cost 

Reimbursement grants. See the C.1.Eligible Applicants section and the Mandatory Supplemental 

Information for more information. AmeriCorps will not provide both types of grants for the same 

project in one fiscal year.

AmeriCorps Planning Grants: The agency is seeking applications for planning grants that will be 

used to develop national service models. Planning grants are only available as a Cost 

Reimbursement grant.

Grant Types Cost Reimbursement Fixed Amount

Available 

Subtypes

Traditional Planning 

Grant

Full-Cost Education 

Award 

Program 

(EAP)

Professional 

Corps See 

Sec. D.6.a.2 for 

further 

requirements

No Cost 

Slots

Maximum 

Cost per MSY

$18,000 N/A $18,000 $800 or 

$1,000*

$1,000 $0

Type of Slots 

in the National 

Service Trust

Full-Time, 

Three QuarterTime, Half-time, 

Reduced HalfTime, QuarterTime, 

Minimum-Time, 

AbbreviatedTime

N/A Full-Time, Three 

Quarter-Time, HalfTime, Reduced HalfTime, Quarter-Time, 

Minimum-Time, 

Abbreviated-Time

Full-Time, 

Three 

Quarter-Time, 

Half-Time, 

Reduced 

Half-Time, 

QuarterTime, 

MinimumTime, 

AbbreviatedTime

Full-Time only Full-Time, 

Three 

QuarterTime, HalfTime, 

Reduced 

Half-Time, 

QuarterTime, 

MinimumTime, 

AbbreviatedTime
4

Budget 

Submission 

Required

Yes No Yes, if 

requesting 

operating funds

No

Availability of 

Funds linked to 

enrollment and 

retention of 

awarded 

MSYs

No Yes No

Special 

Requirements

N/A N/A Must place 

qualified 

professionals in 

communities 

with an 

inadequate 

number of such 

professionals. 

Member salaries 

and benefits 

must be paid 

entirely by 

organization 

where member 

serves and not 

included in 

budget.

N/A

Financial 

Reporting 

Requirements

Yes No

Available to 

new 

Applicants

Yes No Yes

*Per 42 U.S.C. § 12581a, AmeriCorps may provide the operational support under this section for 

a program in an amount that is not more than $800 per individual enrolled in an approved 

national service position, or not more than $1,000 per such individual if at least 50 percent of the 

persons enrolled in the program are disadvantaged youth.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1. Eligible Applicants

The following non-federal entities (all of which are defined in 2 CFR 200.1) are eligible to 

apply: 

• Indian Tribes 

In addition to Indian Tribes as defined in 2 CFR 200.1, Tribal organizations that are controlled, 

sanctioned, 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, the organization must provide copies of, or links to, documentation which 
5

demonstrates that the organization is controlled or chartered by a federally recognized Indian 

tribe. If an entity applies as an organization sanctioned by a federally recognized Tribe, or 

multiple specific federally recognized Tribes, it must submit a sanctioning resolution, adopted by 

the Tribal Council (or comparable tribal governing body) of each Indian Tribe. The resolution(s) 

must identify the entity applying for an AmeriCorps award by name as a Tribal organization that 

is sanctioned by the Indian Tribe(s) for the purpose of applying for AmeriCorps funding (or 

federal grant funds generally). 

 

Entities must have a valid SAM registration and DUNS to receive an award. See Section D.3. 

Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) for more information.

New Applicants

AmeriCorps encourages organizations that have not received prior funding from the agency to 

apply. The general practice is to award no more than 50 member positions (slots) to 

organizations receiving an AmeriCorps grant for the first time. 

New applicants are eligible to apply for Cost Reimbursement and Education Award Program 

(EAP) grant but are not eligible to apply for Full-Cost Fixed Amount grants. 

Threshold Issues

Applications should reflect that they meet the following threshold requirements for the grant type 

for which they are applying. 

• Professional Corps applicants and/or applicants determined to be a Professional Corps by 

AmeriCorps must demonstrate that the community in which it will place AmeriCorps 

members serving as professionals has an inadequate number of said professionals. 

• If the proposed service activities require specialized member qualifications and/or training 

(for example, tutoring programs: 45 CFR 2522.910-.940), the applicant must describe how 

the program will meet these requirements. 

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Fixed Amount Grants 

There is no match requirement for Fixed Amount grants. AmeriCorps does not provide all the 

funds necessary to operate the program, therefore organizations should raise the additional 

revenue required to operate the program. 

Cost Reimbursement Grants 

Applicants are required to match funds based on the chart below. The applicant’s match can be

non-AmeriCorps cash and/or in-kind contributions. Applicants must indicate whether the match 

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

the time of application submission. However, in December 2020, AmeriCorps issued a match 

waiver on FY 2021 AmeriCorps State and National awards. Applicants who wish to take 

advantage of this waiver do not need to submit additional requests to have the match waived. 

While match does not have to be included in the proposed applications’ budgets, it is 

encouraged, when applicable, to represent full support of the program.

See Section D.6. Funding Restrictions for more information.
6

A first-time successful applicant is required to match at 24 percent for the first three-year 

funding period. Starting with year four, the match requirement gradually increases every year to 

50 percent by year ten, according to the minimum overall share chart found in 45 CFR 2521.60 

and below.

AmeriCorps 

Funding Year

1, 2, 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+

Grantee Share 

Requirements

24% 26% 30% 34% 38% 42% 46% 50%

Section 121(e)(5) of NCSA (42 U.S.C. §12571(e)) requires programs that use other federal funds 

as match for an AmeriCorps grant to report the amount and source of these funds to the agency

on a Federal Financial Report. Grantees must track and be prepared to report on that match 

separately each year and at closeout. 

The living allowance or salary provided to AmeriCorps members in Professional Corps programs 

(see Mandatory Supplemental Information) does not count toward the matching requirement.

Alternative Match

Under certain circumstances, applicants may qualify to meet alternative matching requirements 

that increase over the years to 35 percent instead of 50 percent as specified in the regulations at 

45 CFR 2521.60(b). To qualify, applicants must demonstrate that the proposed program is either 

located in a rural county or in a severely economically distressed community as defined in the 

Application Instructions. Applicants who plan to request an alternative match schedule must 

submit a request at the time the application is submitted. Tribes will submit requests to directly 

to ACAlternateMatchRequests@cns.gov.

C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

Under Section 132A(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended, 

organizations that have been convicted of a federal crime may not receive assistance described in 

this Notice. 

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 the agency 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 

• 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 which a federal agency has considered for suspension or debarment and 

has made a determination that suspension or debarment is not necessary to protect the interests of 

the federal government.
7

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 AmeriCorps Regulations, 45 CFR 2520–2550, the 

Mandatory Supplemental Information, Application Instructions, and Performance Measure 

Instructions which are incorporated by reference. These documents can be found on 

http://www.americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities. The full Regulations are available 

online at www.ecfr.gov. 

D.1. Address to Request an Application Package

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

Funding Opportunities webpages. Applicants should refer to AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities

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

send an email to americorpsgrants@cns.gov or call (202) 606-7508 for a printed copy of the 

application materials. The agency also offers live text chat at 

https://www.americorps.gov/contact. 

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D.2.a. Application Content

In the agency’s web-based management system, applicants will enter the following components 

of a complete application: 

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

complete the data elements in the system

• Narratives:

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

• Program Design 

• Organizational Capability 

• Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 

• Evaluation Plan (if applicable)

• Logic Model

• Standard Form 424A Budget

• Performance Measures

• Authorization, Assurances, and Certification

(https://espan.cns.gov/cnsmisc/ECERTS.HTM, and 

https://espan.cns.gov/cnsmisc/EASSUR.HTM).
8

D.2.b. Page Limits

There are page limits for the Narratives and Logic Model.

Narratives

Applications must not exceed 10 double-spaced pages for the Narratives. Planning grants may 

not exceed more than seven pages.

The application sections that count towards the page limit are the:

• SF-424 Face Sheet 

• Executive Summary 

• Program Design, Organizational Capability, and Cost-Effectiveness & Budget Adequacy 

narratives.

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

additional documents.

Logic Model

The Logic Model may not exceed three pages when printed with the application from the 

“Review” tab in the agency’s web-based management system. 

Both Narratives and Logic Model

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) at 

https://www.sam.gov/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 at:

https://sam.gov/SAM/transcript/Quick_Guide_for_Grants_Registrations.pdf.

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 SAM-registered 

legal name and address on all grant applications to AmeriCorps.

The agency will not make awards to entities that do not have a valid SAM registration and

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

ready to make a Federal award, the agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to 
9

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

applicant.

Applications must include an Employer Identification Number.

The Federal government is implementing Unique Entity Identifiers (UEI) as part of the SAM 

registration process to eventually replace DUNS numbers. AmeriCorps may ask applicants to 

add the UEI to their application as part of the clarification or pre-award process. The agency is 

adding a field to capture the UEI in eGrants. If you already have a UEI and the UEI field is 

available in eGrants, you can enter it at the time you submit your application. 

Applicants can obtain a DUNS number at no cost by calling the DUNS number request line at 

(866) 705-5711 or by applying online at the DUNS Request Service. AmeriCorps recommends 

registering at least 30 days before the application due date.

D.4. Submission Dates and Times

D.4.a. Application Submission Deadline

Applications are due Friday, July 23, 2021 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. The agency reserves the right to extend the submission 

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

agency’s 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 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: 

 the timing and specific cause(s) of the delay

 the ticket number if a request for assistance was submitted to the National Service 

Hotline

 any information provided to the applicant by the National Service Hotline

 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 

LateApplications@cns.gov no later than Monday, July 26, 2021 at 5:00pm ET.

Communication with agency 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 
10

outlined above. Applicants are required to continue working in eGrants, the agency’s web-based 

application system and with the National Service Hotline to submit the application. AmeriCorps

will determine whether or not to accept a late application on a case-by-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.

Please note: 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

1. Member Living Allowance

A living allowance is not considered a salary or a wage. Programs are not required to provide a 

living allowance for members serving in less than full-time terms of service. If a program 

chooses to provide a living allowance to a less than full-time member, it must comply with the 

maximum limits in the table below. For Cost Reimbursement grants, the amount must be 

included in the proposed budget as either AmeriCorps or grantee share. Exceptions are noted 

below. 

While Fixed Amount grant applicants are not required to submit detailed budgets, they are still 

required to provide a living allowance to members that complies with the minimum and 

maximum requirements. Exceptions are noted below. Fixed Amount grant applicants are not 

required to indicate that amount in the application and should request those positions as “without 

living allowance” in the budget. 

Table: Minimum and Maximum Living Allowance

Service Term Minimum 

# of 

Hours

Minimum 

Living 

Allowance

Maximum Total 

Living Allowance 

Full-time 1,700 $16,000 $32,000

Three Quarter-time 1,200 n/a $22,588

Half-time 900 n/a $16,941

Reduced Half-time 675 n/a $12,706

Quarter-time 450 n/a $8,471

Minimum-time 300 n/a $5,647

Abbreviated-time 100 n/a $1,882
11

Exceptions to the Living Allowance Requirements 

a. Programs existing prior to September 21, 1993 are not required to offer a living allowance. If 

an applicant chooses to offer a living allowance, it is exempt from the minimum requirement, but 

not the maximum requirement.

b. EAP Grantees are not required to provide a living allowance, but if a living allowance is 

provided, it must comply with the maximum requirements set forth in the Living Allowance 

Table above.

c. Professional Corps Grantees must provide members a living allowance or salary, which must 

meet the minimum, but may exceed the maximum living allowance set in the Living Allowance 

Table above. Professional Corps member salaries and benefits including childcare are paid 

entirely by the organizations with which the members serve; and are not included in the budget 

request to AmeriCorps (federal or matching share).

2. Maximum Cost per Member Service Year (MSY) 

The AmeriCorps State and National cost per MSY is determined by dividing the AmeriCorps

share of budgeted grant costs by the number of MSYs requested. It does not include childcare or 

the value of the education award a member may earn. The maximum amount an applicant may 

request from AmeriCorps State and National per MSY is determined on an annual basis. 

Table: Maximum Cost per MSY

Grant Program Maximum

Indian Tribes (cost reimbursement) $18,000

Professional Corps Fixed Amount Applicants/Grantees $1,000**

Education Award Program Fixed Amount Grant $800 or 

$1,000***

Full-cost Fixed Amount Grant $18,000

**AmeriCorps requires Professional Corps programs to cover the operating expenses associated 

with the AmeriCorps program through non AmeriCorps resources. The agency will only 

consider operating funds of up to $1,000 per MSY if an applicant is able to demonstrate 

significant organizational financial need.

*** Per 42 U.S.C. 12581a, the AmeriCorps may provide the operational support under this 

section for a program in an amount that is not more than $800 per individual enrolled in an 

approved national service position, or not more than $1,000 per such individual if at least 50 

percent of the persons enrolled in the program are disadvantaged youth.

For purposes of fundamental fairness, AmeriCorps may review an application which meets the 

statutory characteristics of a professional corps as a professional corps, regardless of whether the 

organization applied as a professional corps program. The agency reserves the right to determine 

whether an applicant (whether or not the applicant has applied as a Professional Corps) has 

sufficiently demonstrated that they cannot effectively operate an AmeriCorps program without 

receiving AmeriCorps operating funds. There may be specific circumstances where the agency

determines that a legal applicant has not demonstrated the need for operational grant funds due to 
12

other funding resources. Where the agency’s due diligence review of an application shows that 

the applicant has a historically high level of support from non-AmeriCorps sources, and as a 

result has levels of unrestricted funding that is in excess of the requested level of AmeriCorps

funding, the agency may choose to not provide operational grant funding.

3. Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

AmeriCorps members who successfully complete a term of service will be eligible for an 

Education Award from the National Service Trust. The amount of the Education Award is linked 

to the value of the Pell Grant. A member has up to seven years after his or her term of service to 

use the Education Award. The agency will provide the updated Education Award amounts at the 

time of grant award. 

4. Cost Sharing or Matching

a. Please see Section C. Eligibility Information 3. Cost Sharing or Matching earlier in the Notice. 

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, 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 rate or that will be using the 10 percent de minimis rate must enter that 

information in the Organization section in eGrants. However, under section 121(d) of the NCSA 

and the agency’s regulations at 45 CFR 2521.95 and 2540.110, no more than five percent of 

award funds may be used to recover indirect costs on AmeriCorps State and National grants. 

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 the Office 

of Grant Administration. 

D.7. Other Submission Requirements

D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants

Applicants must submit applications electronically via eGrants, the agency’s 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.
13

The applicant’s authorized representative must be the person who submits the application. The 

authorized representative must use his or her 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.

Applicants should contact the AmeriCorps Hotline at (800) 942-2677 or via eGrants Questions if 

they have a problem when they create an account, prepare, or submit the application. 

AmeriCorps Hotline hours are posted at https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask.

Be prepared to provide the application ID, organization’s name, and the competition 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 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 Grant Administration (OGA)/FY21 AmeriCorps State & National 

Tribal Grants

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. The agency 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:

All applicants

• Evaluation briefs, reports, studies. Please refer to the Evidence Base section and Mandatory 

Supplemental Information for detailed instructions by evidence tier. If multiple evaluation 

briefs/reports/studies are submitted by the applicant, the most recent (as measured by the date 

of completion or publication) will be reviewed first, and any documents submitted beyond

the allowable number will not be reviewed.

• All applicants regardless of funding level are required to submit an Operational and Financial 

Management Survey (OFMS) located at:

https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/OFMS-Control-Number3045_0102_FY20%20%282%29.docx . Please submit the OFMS as a Word document. 

Forms submitted as a PDF or any other document format may not be accepted.

• Labor union concurrence (if applicable)
14

Recompeting applications

• Evaluation report, if required. Please submit in Word. The evaluation report should include 

a title page with the AmeriCorps grant ID for the project that was evaluated, the name of the 

project, and the date of completion of the report. If any of this required information is 

missing, the applicant may not receive credit for meeting their evaluation requirements.

Please see the Evidence Tiers definitions in the Mandatory Supplemental Information and 

Section E. Evaluation Plan for further information. 

Entities applying on behalf of a Federally Recognized Tribe (New and recompeting)

• Tribal organization eligibility documentation. (See Section C.1. Eligible Applicants section.)

Failure to submit the required additional documents by the deadline may have a negative effect 

on the assessment of your application and/or on the determination of the application’s eligibility 

to advance for review.

Additional documents must be emailed to AdditionalDocuments@cns.gov with the following 

subject line: “Legal Applicant Name” – “Application ID Number.” Emails should include:

• the legal applicant name and its point of contact information

• the application ID number

• a list of documents that are attached to the email

• individually attached files that are clearly labeled, and that include the legal applicant 

name and application ID number within the heading of each document. To ensure that all 

required additional documents are received, please provide each document as an 

individual file. Please do not send all documents as one scanned file.

• If the size of an applicant’s files requires multiple emails, please also include an ordering 

system in the subject line, such as “(1 of 3).”

Do not submit any items that are not requested in this Notice and Guidance. The agency will 

not review or return them.

AmeriCorps will assess an applicant’s strategic considerations. Applicants must check the 

relevant boxes in the Program Information tab in the agency’s web-based management system in 

order to be considered for the agency’s assessment of the strategic considerations (see Selection 

for Funding section.) Applicants should only check the boxes if the strategic consideration is a 

significant and intentional part of their program design and if implementation strategies are 

described in the application.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E.1. Review Criteria

Each applicant must describe a project that will deploy AmeriCorps members effectively to solve 

a significant community problem. AmeriCorps urges applicants to submit high quality 

applications that carefully follow the guidance in this Notice and in the Application Instructions. 

The quality of an application will be an important factor in determining whether an organization 

will receive funding. 
15

Categories/Subcategories Percentage

Executive Summary 0

Program Design 50

Theory of Change and Logic Model 24

Evidence Tier 12

Evidence Quality 8

Notice Priority 0

Member Experience 6

Organizational Capability 25

Organizational Background and Staffing 9

Compliance and Accountability 8

Culture That Values Learning 4

Member Supervision 4

Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 25

E.1.a. Executive Summary (Required - 0 percent)

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

from the template below.

The [Name of the organization] proposes to have [Number of] AmeriCorps members who 

will [service activities the members will be doing] in [the locations the AmeriCorps members 

will serve]. At the end of the first program year, the AmeriCorps members will be 

responsible for [anticipated outcome of project]. In addition, the AmeriCorps members will 

leverage [number of leveraged volunteers, if applicable] who will be engaged in [what the 

leveraged volunteers will be doing.] 

This program will focus on the AmeriCorps focus area(s) of [Focus Area(s)].* The 

AmeriCorps investment of $[amount of request] will be matched with $[amount of projected 

match], $[amount of local, state, and federal funds] in public funding and $[amount of nongovernmental funds] in private funding. 

*If the program is not operating in an AmeriCorps focus area, omit this sentence. 

Fixed-Amount grant applicants (EAP, Full-Cost Fixed, No Cost Slots) should list their Other 

Revenue (see Mandatory Supplemental Information) because they are not required to provide a 

specific amount of match, but still raise significant additional resources to operate the program. 

E.1.b. Program Design (50 percent)

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

assume all sub-criteria are of equal value. 

1. Theory of Change and Logic Model (24 points)

The Theory of Change shall address: 

• The proposed intervention is responsive to the identified community problem. 

• The applicant’s proposed intervention is clearly articulated including the design, dosage, 

target population, and roles of AmeriCorps members and (if applicable) leveraged 

volunteers.
16

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

Theory of Change. 

• The expected outcomes articulated in the application narrative and logic model represent 

meaningful progress in addressing the community problem identified by the applicant. 

• The rationale for utilizing AmeriCorps members to deliver the intervention(s) is reasonable.

• The service role of AmeriCorps members will produce significant contributions to existing 

efforts to address the stated problem. 

The Logic Model shall depict:

• A summary of the community problem.

• The inputs or resources that are necessary to deliver the intervention, including but not 

limited to:

• Locations or sites in which members will provide services

• Number of AmeriCorps members who will deliver the intervention

• The core activities that define the intervention or program model that members will 

implement or deliver, including:

• The duration of the intervention (e.g., the total number of weeks, sessions or months of 

the intervention)

• The dosage of the intervention (e.g., the number of hours per session or sessions per 

week)

• The target population for the intervention (e.g., disconnected youth, third graders at a 

certain reading proficiency level)

• 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

• Outcomes that demonstrate changes in knowledge/skill, attitude, behavior, or condition that 

occur as a result of the intervention. If applicable, identify which National Performance 

Measures will be used as outcome indicators.

Note: The logic model is a visual representation of the applicant’s Theory of Change. Programs 

should include short, medium or long-term outcomes in the logic model. Applicants are not 

required to measure all components of their Theory of Change. The applicant’s performance 

measures should be consistent with the program’s Theory of Change and should represent 

significant program activities. 

In the application narrative, applicants should discuss their rationale for setting output and 

outcome targets for their performance measures. 

Rationales and justifications should be informed by the organization’s performance data (e.g., 

program data observed over time that suggests targets are reasonable), relevant research (e.g. 

targets documented by organizations running similar programs with similar populations), or prior 

program evaluation findings.

Applicants with multiple interventions should complete one Logic Model chart which 

incorporates each intervention. Logic model content that exceeds three pages will not be 

reviewed.
17

2. Evidence Base (20 points)

The assessment of an applicant’s evidence base has two parts. First, the applicant will be 

assigned to an evidence tier (see the Mandatory Supplemental Information.) Second, the quality 

of the applicant’s evidence and the degree to which it supports the proposed program design will 

be assessed and scored.

Evidence Tier (12 points):

An evidence tier will be assessed for each applicant for the purpose of understanding the relative 

strength of each applicant’s evidence base and the likelihood that the proposed intervention will 

lead to outcomes identified in the logic model. 

In 2020, the evidence tiers of successful AmeriCorps State and National applicants that were 

competing were as follows: Strong 26%, Moderate 18%, Preliminary 24%, and Pre-Preliminary 

32%. As these figures indicate, AmeriCorps values and funds programs at all points along the 

evidence continuum and expects programs to progress along the evidence continuum over time. 

Thus, do not be deterred from applying for funding due to your current evidence level. 

Applicants who have outcome or impact evaluation reports of the same intervention described in 

the application (see Mandatory Supplemental Intervention for a definition of “same 

intervention”) may submit up to 2 of those reports, plus (if applicable) the evaluation report from 

their last three-year grant cycle, to qualify for the Preliminary, Moderate, or Strong evidence tier. 

In order to qualify for consideration, the intervention evaluated in the submitted report(s) must 

match the intervention proposed by the applicant in the following areas, all of which must be 

clearly described in the Program Design and Logic Model sections of the application:

• Characteristics of the beneficiary population 

• Characteristics of the population delivering the intervention 

• Dosage (frequency, duration) and design of the intervention, including all key 

components and activities

• The context in which the intervention is delivered 

• Outcomes of the intervention

Submitted reports that do not sufficiently match the intervention proposed by the applicant in all 

of these areas will not be considered applicable and will not be reviewed or receive any points. 

Submission of additional documents that are not consistent with the guidance and requirements 

described in the Notice (e.g., advocacy pieces, policy briefs, other narratives that are not research 

studies or program evaluations) will not be reviewed.

In the Evidence Tier section of the application narrative, applicants must (1) summarize the 

study design and key findings of any outcome or impact evaluation report(s) submitted and (2) 

describe any other evidence that supports their program, including past performance measure 

data and/or other research studies that inform their program design. Applicants who submit 

evaluation reports for consideration must also describe in the Evidence Base section of the 

application narrative how the intervention described in the submitted reports is the same as the 

intervention described in the application (see Mandatory Supplemental Information). 
18

Applicants should provide citations for the studies they describe, if applicable; however, 

reviewers will not review any documents external to the application other than evaluation 

report(s) submitted in accordance with the Notice instructions.

Applicants must meet all requirements of an evidence tier in order to be considered for that tier. 

If the evaluation reports submitted by the applicant do not meet the definitions in the Mandatory 

Supplemental Information, the applicant may be considered for a lower evidence tier. 

Evidence Quality (8 points)

After the applicant’s evidence tier has been assessed, the quality of the applicant’s evidence and 

the extent to which it supports the proposed program design will be assessed and scored. 

For applicants who are assessed as being in the Preliminary, Moderate, or Strong evidence tiers, 

reviewers will score the submitted evaluation reports using the following standards:

• The submitted reports are of satisfactory methodological quality and rigor for the type of 

evaluation conducted (e.g., adequate sample size and statistical power, internal and/or 

external validity, appropriate use of control or comparison groups, etc.); 

• The submitted reports describe evaluations that were conducted relatively recently, 

preferably within the last six years;

• The submitted reports show a meaningful and significant positive effect on program 

beneficiaries in at least one key outcome of interest.

For applicants who are assessed as being in the Pre-Preliminary evidence tier, reviewers will 

score the narrative provided in the Evidence Base section of the application using the following 

standards:

• The applicant uses relevant evidence, including past performance measure data and/or 

cited research studies, to inform their proposed program design;

• The described evidence is relatively recent, preferably from the last six years;

• The evidence described by the applicant indicates a meaningful positive effect on 

program beneficiaries in at least one key outcome of interest.

All applicants, including new grantees, are required to provide additional information in the 

Evaluation Summary or Plan field of the application (See Section E. Evaluation Plan); however, 

information provided in the Evaluation Summary or Plan field will not be scored and will not be 

reviewed until after funding decisions have been made.

3. Notice Priority (0 points)

• The applicant proposed program fits within one or more of the AmeriCorps funding priorities 

as outlined in the Funding Priorities section and more fully described in the Mandatory 

Supplemental Information and the proposed program meets all of the requirements detailed 

in the Funding Priorities section and in the Mandatory Supplemental Information.

4. Member Experience (6 points)

• AmeriCorps members will gain skills as a result of their training and service that can be 

utilized and will be valued by future employers after their service term is completed.
19

• The program will recruit AmeriCorps members from the geographic or demographic 

communities in which the programs operate. 

• The applicant will foster an inclusive service culture where different backgrounds, talents, 

and capabilities are welcomed and leveraged for learning and effective service delivery.

E.1.c. Organizational Capability (25 percent)

Reviewers will consider the quality of the application’s response to the following criteria below. 

Do not assume all sub-criteria are of equal value.

1. Organizational Background and Staffing (9 points)

• The organization details the roles, responsibilities, and structure of the staff that will be 

implementing the AmeriCorps program as well as providing oversight and monitoring for the 

program. 

2. Compliance and Accountability (8 points)

• 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 and unallowable activities and criminal history checks at the grantee, subgrantee 

(if applicable), and service site locations.

• The AmeriCorps-required evaluation report meets AmeriCorps requirements (if applicable).

• The AmeriCorps-required evaluation report is of satisfactory quality (if applicable).

3. Culture that Values Learning (4 points)

• The applicant's board, management, and staff collect and use information, including 

performance data, for learning and decision making.

4. Member Supervision (4 points)

• AmeriCorps members will receive sufficient guidance and support from their supervisor to 

provide effective service.

• AmeriCorps supervisors will be adequately trained/prepared to follow AmeriCorps and 

program regulations, priorities, and expectations.

E.1.d. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25 percent)

Reviewers will assess the quality of the application’s budget to the following criteria below. Do 

not assume all sub-criteria are of equal value.

These criteria will be assessed based on the budget submitted. No narrative should be 

entered in the narrative box except for “See budget”

1. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25 points)

• Budget is submitted without mathematical errors and proposed costs are allowable, 

reasonable, and allocable to the award.

• Budget is submitted with adequate information to assess how each line item is calculated.

• Budget is in compliance with the budget instructions.

• Match is submitted with adequate information to support the amount written in the budget.

• The budgeted match is equal to or more than the required match for the given program year.
20

• The cost per MSY is equal to or less than the maximum cost per MSY. 

Proposed budgets that contain MSY costs that exceed the maximum cost per MSY and/or less 

than required match will be considered unresponsive to the application criteria.

Applicants must complete the budget and ensure the following information is in the budget 

screens:

• Current indirect rate cost rate information if used to claim indirect/administrative costs.

• Identify the non-AmeriCorps funding and resources necessary to support the project, 

including Fixed Amount applicants.

• Indicate the amount of non-AmeriCorps resource commitments, type of commitments (inkind and/or cash), the sources of these commitments, and if the commitments are proposed or 

secured.

E.1.e. Evaluation Plan (Required for recompeting grantees - 0 percent)

If the applicant is competing for the first time, please provide a data collection plan in the 

“Evaluation Summary or Plan” field that includes the following:

• A description of the applicant’s data collection system and how it is sufficient to collect high 

quality performance measurement data during the first three years of the grant. If the 

applicant does not yet have a data collection system, describe the plan and timeline for 

developing a high-quality system.

• A description of how the applicant will use performance data (including AmeriCorps

performance measures and other process and outcome measures if applicable) to improve its 

program in the first three years of funding.

First-time applicants should be aware that AmeriCorps may require submission of data collection 

instruments if a grant is approved for funding.

If the applicant is recompeting for AmeriCorps funds for the first time (see definition of 

“recompeting” below) the program must submit its evaluation plan in the “Evaluation Summary 

or Plan” section of the Narratives field in the agency’s web-based management system. If the 

applicant is recompeting for a subsequent time, the program must submit its evaluation report as 

an attachment (see the Submission of Additional Documents section for more information), and 

must also submit an evaluation plan for the next three-year period in the “Evaluation Summary 

or Plan” field in the system. Evaluations plans submitted outside of the system will not be 

reviewed. 

Evaluation plans must include as much information as possible for each of the following:

• A short description of the Theory of Change - why the proposed intervention is expected to 

produce the proposed results

• Outcome(s) of interest - clear and measurable outcomes that are aligned with the Theory of 

Change and will be assessed during the evaluation

• Research questions to be addressed by the study - concrete research questions (or 

hypotheses) that are clearly connected to the outcomes

• Proposed research design for the evaluation including a rationale for the design selected, an 

assessment of its strengths and limitations, and a description of the main components; 
21

• Description of the data sources, sampling methods, measurement tools, and data collection 

procedures that will be used in the evaluation 

• Analysis plan that clearly describes the methodology/ies that will be used to analyze the 

collected data

• A timeline for the evaluation that describes how the evaluation will cover at least one year of 

AmeriCorps-funded activity and will be completed within the three-year timeframe of the 

grant

• Qualifications needed for the evaluator

• The proposed budget

Information provided in the Evaluation Summary or Plan field will not be scored and will not be 

reviewed until after funding decisions have been made.

The evaluation requirements differ depending on the amount of the grant, as described in 45 CFR 

2522.700-710:

• If the applicant is a Tribal/National Direct Grantee (other than an Education Award Program 

grantee), and its average annual AmeriCorps program grant is $500,000 or more, it must 

arrange for an external impact evaluation of the program (see Mandatory Supplemental 

Information), and it must submit the evaluation with any subsequent application to the 

agency for competitive funds as required in 45 CFR 2522.730.

• If the applicant is a Tribal/National Direct Grantee whose average annual AmeriCorps

program grant is less than $500,000, or an Education Award Program Grantee, it must 

conduct an internal or an external evaluation of the program, and it must submit the 

evaluation with any subsequent application to the agency for competitive funds as required in 

45 CFR 2522.730.

For purposes of compliance with evaluation plan and report requirements, an application will be 

considered a recompeting application if it has previously been funded competitively for at least 

three years for the same project (see Mandatory Supplemental Information for the AmeriCorps

definition of “same project”).

• If the applicant has received competitive funding for the same project for at least three 

years, it will be required to submit an evaluation plan. 

• If the applicant has received at least six years of competitive funding for the same project, 

the applicant will be required to submit an evaluation report as well as an evaluation plan 

for the upcoming 3-year grant. If the applicant does not satisfy the definition of 

recompeting, it will not be required to submit an evaluation plan or completed evaluation 

report.

The “Evaluation Summary or Plan” field of the Narrative does not count toward the page limit of 

the application; however, it does have a set character limit of 20,000 characters. 

Tribal/National Direct Grantees that are recompeting for funds may be eligible to apply for 

approval of an alternative evaluation approach (AEA). Grantees requesting approval of an 

alternative evaluation approach should submit this request along with their evaluation plan in the 

Evaluation Summary or Plan field in the system. AmeriCorps guidance on alternative evaluation 

approaches can be found on the agency website: 
22

http://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/2021_04_21_Alternative_Evaluation_Approac

h_ASN.pdf.

If the request for the alternative evaluation approach plus the Evaluation Plan itself will exceed 

the character limit of the Evaluation Summary or Plan field in the system, the applicant should 

do the following:

• Enter the Evaluation Plan in the Evaluation Summary or Plan field in the system.

• Include a note in the Evaluation Summary or Plan field stating that the applicant is requesting 

an alternative evaluation approach.

• Include the alternative evaluation approach at the END of the application narrative with the 

heading “REQUEST FOR ALTERNATIVE EVALUATION APPROACH.” This section of 

the application narrative will not count against the page limit.

E.1.f. Amendment Justification (0 percent)

Enter N/A. This field will be used if the applicant is awarded a grant and needs to amend it. 

E.1.g. Clarification Information (0 percent)

Enter N/A. This field will be used to enter information that requires clarification in the postreview period. 

E.1.h. Continuation Changes (0 percent)

Enter N/A. This field will be used to enter changes in the application narratives in continuation 

requests. 

E.2. Criteria for Planning Grants

Categories/Subcategories Percentage

Executive Summary 0

Program Design 50

Problem/Need 20

Planning Process/Timeline 30

Organizational Capability 25

Organizational Background and Staffing 25

Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 25

E.2.a. Executive Summary (Required - 0 percent)

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

from the template below.

The [Name of the organization] proposes a planning grant to ultimately have [Number of] 

AmeriCorps members who will [service activities the members will be doing] in [the 

locations the AmeriCorps members will serve]. At the end of the first program year, the 

AmeriCorps members will be responsible for [anticipated outcome of project]. In addition, 
23

the AmeriCorps members will leverage [number of leveraged volunteers, if applicable] who 

will be engaged in [what the leveraged volunteers will be doing.] 

This program will focus on the AmeriCorps focus area(s) of [Focus Area(s)].* The 

AmeriCorps investment of $[amount of request] will be matched with $[amount of projected 

match], $[amount of local, state, and federal funds] in public funding and $[amount of nongovernmental funds] in private funding. 

*If the program is not operating in an AmeriCorps focus area, omit this sentence. 

E.2.b. Program Design (50 percent)

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

assume all sub-criteria are of equal value. 

1. Problem/Need (20 points):

• The problem is prevalent and severe in communities where the program plans to serve and 

has been documented with relevant data. 

• The applicant provides a clear explanation for why a planning grant is needed. 

2. Planning Process/Timeline (30 points):

• The applicant describes a clear and logical planning process, including: 

o A detailed description of who is leading the planning process. 

o A clear description of how the planning period will be used to develop the necessary 

components to effectively manage an AmeriCorps program in the future. 

• The planning timeline includes development of the following program elements:

o Theory of Change/Logic Model

o Intervention and evidence base

o Member training and supervision plans

o Commitment to AmeriCorps Identity

o Program Compliance and Accountability

o Securing Match Support for the Program

E. 2.c. Organizational Capability (25 percent)

Reviewers will consider the quality of the application’s response to the following criteria below. 

Do not assume all sub-criteria are of equal value.

1. Organizational Background and Staffing(25 points)

• The applicant describes how it has the experience, staffing, and management structure to plan 

the proposed program.

• The applicant describes its prior experience in the proposed area of programming (if any). 

• The applicant describes its plans to engage community members and partner organizations in 

the planning process.
24

E.2.d. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25 percent)

Reviewers will assess the quality of the application’s budget to the following criteria below. Do 

not assume all sub-criteria are of equal value.

This criteria will be assessed based on the budget submitted. No narrative should be 

entered in the narrative box except for “See budget”

1. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25 points)

• Budget is submitted without mathematical errors and proposed costs are allowable, 

reasonable, and allocable to the award.

• Budget is submitted with adequate information to assess how each line item is calculated.

• Budget is in compliance with the budget instructions.

• Match is submitted with adequate information to support the amount written in the budget.

• The budgeted match is equal to or more than the required match for the given program year.

Applicants must complete the budget and ensure the following information is in the budget 

screens:

• Current indirect rate cost rate information if used to claim indirect/administrative costs.

• Identify the non-AmeriCorps funding and resources necessary to support the project, 

including for Fixed Amount applicants.

• Indicate the amount of non-AmeriCorps resource commitments, type of commitments (inkind and/or cash), the sources of these commitments, and if the commitments are proposed or 

secured.

E.2.e. Evaluation Plan (0 percent)

Planning applicants should enter “N/A” in this section.

E.3. Review and Selection Process

AmeriCorps will engage External and 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 than 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 and eligible if the applicant: 

• is an eligible organization

• submitted an application by the submission deadline
25

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 

External Review 

External Reviewers will review and assess the evidence criteria in the Notice. AmeriCorps will 

recruit and select reviewers on the basis of demonstrated expertise. All External Reviewers will 

be screened for conflicts of interest.

Internal Review

The agency staff will evaluate the applications using the application review criteria and assess 

the priorities and strategic considerations detailed in the Notice. Reviewers will be screened for 

conflicts of interest. 

Post-Review Quality Control

After the initial review process is complete, the agency staff will review the results for fairness 

and consistency. Some applications may be selected for a Quality Control assessment. This 

additional level of review may be used to assess applications for which there are significant 

reviewer anomalies. 

E.3.c. Applicant Clarification

AmeriCorps may ask an applicant for clarifying information. The agency 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 evaluate the risks to the program posed by each applicant to assess an 

applicant’s ability to manage federal funds. This evaluation is in addition to assessment of the 

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

Results from this evaluation will inform funding decisions. If the agency 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. Additionally, if the agency concludes that 

the reasons for applicants having a poor risk assessment are not likely to be mitigated, those 

applications may not be selected for funding. 

In evaluating risks, AmeriCorps may consider the following criteria: 

Due Diligence:

• federal debt delinquency

• suspension and debarment

• information available through OMB-designated repositories of government-wide 

eligibility qualification or financial integrity information, such as:

o Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)
26

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

Operational and Financial Management:

• financial stability

• Operational and Financial Management Survey

Past Performance: 

• applicant’s record in managing previous agency awards, cooperative agreements, or 

procurement awards, including: 

• timeliness of compliance with applicable reporting requirements

• accuracy of data reported

• conformance to the terms and conditions of previous federal awards

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

imposed on award recipients

• meeting matching requirements

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

awards

• Grant progress reports – attainment of Performance Measures

• Enrollment and retention

• Monitoring findings - the agency and/or OIG (if applicable) 

Other Programmatic Risks:

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

website

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

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

any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system 

accessible through SAM and FAPIIS (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, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance 

systems accessible through FAPIIS 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 FAPIIS.
27

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 is designed to: 

• identify how well eligible applications are aligned with the application review criteria

• 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

 faith-based organizations

 focus area representation

Based on the evaluation of these strategic considerations, applications may be selected for 

funding over applications with a greater degree of alignment with the review criteria. In selecting 

applicants to receive awards under this Notice, the Chief Executive Officer will endeavor to 

include a diverse portfolio of applications based on staff recommendations and strategic 

considerations.

AmeriCorps reserves the right to prioritize funding existing awards over making new awards. 

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 that will be used to assess applications.

E.4. Feedback to Applicants

Following awards, applicants will receive feedback from the External Review and Staff Review 

of their compliant applications. This feedback will be based on the review of the original 

application and will not reflect information provided during clarification.

E.5. Transparency in Grant-making

AmeriCorps is committed to transparency in grant-making. The following information for new 

and re-competing applications will be published on the agency AmeriCorps Results of Grant 

Competitions

within 90 business days after all grants are awarded:

• a list of all compliant applications submitted

• executive summaries of all compliant applications

• data extracted from the SF-424 Face Sheet 
28

• a blank template of the external review worksheet

• a list of all external reviewers who completed the review process

• a summary of external reviewer comments for successful applications.

Submitted program narratives for successful applications will be available upon request via 

email to OGAGarp@cns.gov.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

F.1. Federal Award Notices

AmeriCorps will make awards following the grant selection announcement. AmeriCorps

anticipates announcing the results of this competition by late August 2021 contingent on the 

availability of congressional appropriations. All applicants, successful or not, will be notified of 

funding decisions via email.

Notification of an award is not an authorization to begin grant activities. The Notice of Grant 

Award signed by the Office of Grant Administration Grant Award Specialist 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 unless it has received a written pre-award cost approval 

from AmeriCorps.

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 Improper Payment Information

AmeriCorps may request documentation from recipients in order to monitor the award or to 

comply with other legal requirements, such as the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002, 

as amended. 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 FY 2021 AmeriCorps General Terms 

and Conditions, and the FY 2021 AmeriCorps 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

https://americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/directs-territories-tribes

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. Applicants are strongly 
29

encouraged to review the regulations and additional guidance at https://americorps.gov/granteessponsors/history-check to fully understand how to comply with these requirements. 

Failure to conduct a compliant NSCHC may result in significant disallowed costs.

An NSCHC consists of the following components:

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

(2) A check of the State criminal history record repository or agency-designated alternative for 

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

(3) A fingerprint-based check of the FBI criminal history record database through the State 

criminal history record repository or agency-approved vendor.

All NSCHC components must be conducted, reviewed, and an eligibility determination made 

before the individual begins work or service. AmeriCorps strongly encourages funded applicants 

to utilize the two AmeriCorps-approved vendors to conduct the required NSCHCs. Information 

regarding use of these two vendors can be found at https://americorps.gov/granteessponsors/history-check

In general, award recipients and subrecipients must conduct an NSCHC for AmeriCorps 

members, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, and staff funded under, or whose salary is reflected as 

match on, the award. 

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. 

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

subject to the NSCHC may not be required to cover the cost without being reimbursed.

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

complete information and FAQs.

F.2.e. Official Guidance

All AmeriCorps active Guidance is available on the agency’s Guidance webpage: 

https://www.americorps.gov/about/agency-overview/official-guidance. 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.
30

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, the agency 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 which are due at specific times during the 

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

Cost reimbursement grantees are required to provide annual progress reports, semi-annual 

financial reports, and an internal or external evaluation report as required by the AmeriCorps 

regulations 45 CFR 2522.500-2522.540 and 2522.700-2522.740. Final financial and progress

reports are due 90 days after the end of the agreement. 

Fixed Amount grantees are required to provide annual and final progress reports and an internal 

or external evaluation report. 

All grantees, including Fixed Amount grantees, must submit quarterly financial reports to the 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System.

In addition, at the end of the award period, recipients must submit final financial and progress 

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 project period. 

Award recipients will be required to report at www.FSRS.gov 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 data collection and data 

management policies, processes, and practices that provide reasonable 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):

• the data measures what it intends to measure

• the data reported is complete

• the recipient collects data in a consistent manner

• the recipient takes steps to correct data errors

• the recipient actively reviews data for accuracy prior to submission. 

In addition to annual reporting of progress toward the grant’s approved performance measure 

outputs and outcomes, additional performance data and narrative data must be reported annually 
31

(as applicable), including the number of applicants for AmeriCorps positions and the number of 

volunteers recruited and/or supported by AmeriCorps members. 

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

ability to secure future AmeriCorps funding.

F.5. Continuation Funding Information and Requirements 

Organizations that have current awards that continue beyond FY 2021 must submit an 

application in order to be eligible to receive funding for the following year. Please see the 

Application Instructions, if applicable. Requests by existing continuation applicants for increases 

in the level of funding or number of positions will be assessed using the review criteria published 

in this Notice. The review will also be based on progress reports, the federal financial report, 

evaluation plans, and the agency’s staff’s knowledge of the grant program. 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 other than at the requested 

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

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

For more information, call (202) 606-7508 or email americorpsgrants@cns.gov. The agency

offers live text chat at www.americorps.gov/contact..

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

(800) 942-2677. AmeriCorps Hotline hours are posted at 

https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask. 

Potential applicants can also use this link: https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask. 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. The agency strongly encourages all applicants to participate in these 

sessions. The schedule and call-in information for the technical assistance calls is on the 

agency’s website: https://americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities.

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. 
32

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 current 

valid. (See 5 C.F.R. 1320.5(b)(2)(i).) The OMB Control Number for the information collection is 

3045-0187. It expires on 9/30/2022.

Privacy Act Statement: The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C 552a) requires that we notify you 

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 grant program, 

disclosure of personal or sensitive information is required to receive federal benefits.