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2020 Terms and Conditions for AMERICORPS STATE and 

NATIONAL GRANTS 

These Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) Grant Program 

Specific Terms and Conditions and the General Terms and Conditions, are 

binding on the recipient.

Due to COVID-19, CNCS has provided guidance that informs the applicability, 

implementation, or enforcement of the terms and conditions due to legislative changes 

and new facts that support discretionary agency action. Please refer to the COVID-19 

FAQs.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

I. Changes from the 2019 AmeriCorps Grant Terms and Conditions 2 

II. Definitions 3 

III. Affiliation with the AmeriCorps National Service Network 4 

IV. Member Recruitment, Selection, and Exit 5 

V. Supervision and Support 7 

VI. Changes in Member Positions 11

VII. Release from Participation 13 

VIII. Living Allowances, Other In-Service Benefits, and Taxes 13 

IX. Member Records and Confidentiality 17 

X. Budget and Programmatic Changes 19 

XI. Reporting Requirements 20 

XII. Award Period and Incremental Funding 22 

XIII. Program Income 22 

XIV. Safety 23 

XV. National Service Criminal History Check Training 23 

XVI. Fixed Amount Awards 23 

 
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I. CHANGES FROM THE 2019 AMERICORPS GRANT TERMS 

AND CONDITIONS

For your convenience, we have identified changes from last year’s 

AmeriCorps State and National grant terms and conditions. The list below is 

general and informational in nature, not comprehensive. We reiterate the 

importance of reviewing all award terms and conditions, because recipients are 

responsible for knowing, understanding, and complying with all award terms 

and conditions. 

 

The following revisions were made to the 2019 AmeriCorps Grant Terms and 

Conditions: 

• Added references to Portfolio Managers, applicable to awards that have 

transitioned to the regions, as opposed to the Grants Officer or Program 

Officer, applicable to awards that have not yet transitioned. 

• Changed Office of Grants Management to Office of Grant Administration 

(OGA) and updated Grants Officer titles to Grants Award Specialist.

• Section IV.B. – Added the Application and Other Fees section. 

• Section IV.C. – Re-titled the section from pre-enrollment of selected member 

to enrollment of selected members. Added enrollment must be completed no 

later than 8 calendar days from the member’s start date.

• Section IV.F. – Changed to funding may be available for reasonable 

accommodation, from is available.

• Section IV.H. – Added programs must exit members before being re-enrolled 

in another term of service.

• Section V.B. – Added the start date in the Portal is the effective date of the 

service agreement.

• Section V.C. – Added Census Activities and Election and Polling Activities 

to the list of prohibited activities.

• Section V.C. – Added when possible for posting a list of prohibited activities.

• Section V.E. – Added the section on Teleservice.

• Section V.F. – Added the section on AmeriCorps members as Team Leaders.

• Section V.I. – Added the section on Jury Duty.

• Section VI.C.1. – Added healthcare or childcare costs are not available for 

less than full-time members unless serving in a full-time capacity.

• Section VII. – Added Compelling Personal Circumstances for 

Pregnancy/Childbirth.

• Section VIII.C.5 – Added Unemployment Insurance.

• Section VIII.E. – Added the section on Temporary Leave, HealthCare, and 

Benefits.
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• Section VIII.F. – Removed reference to FAQs to AmeriCorps Childcare 

Website.

• Section XI.A. – Added program reporting requirements for AmeriCorps 

planning grants.

• Section XI.B. – Added financial reporting requirements for AmeriCorps 

planning grants.

• Section XVI – Changed the name from full-time fixed amount awards to fullcost fixed amount awards. (Removed references to full-time fixed amount 

grants throughout.)

• Section XVI – Added CARES act language for fixed amount grants with 

members affected by COVID-19.

• XVII – Removed the section on Breaches of Personally Identifiable 

Information as it exists in the General Terms and Conditions.

II. DEFINITIONS

A. Recipient, for the purposes of this agreement, means the direct recipient 

of this award. The recipient is legally accountable to CNCS for the use 

of award funds, or member positions, and is bound by the provisions of 

the award. The recipient is responsible for ensuring that subrecipients or 

other organizations carrying out activities under this award comply with 

all applicable Federal requirements, including the CNCS General Terms 

and Conditions, these specific terms and conditions, regulations 

applicable to the program, and the NCSA. 

 

B. Planning Grant, for the purposes of this agreement, is an award or 

subaward for the planning of a national service program. State Service 

Commissions may also award planning grants as part of their Formula 

Cost Reimbursement prime award. Planning grants do not include 

member positions. Planning grants are awarded for a maximum of one 

year and may not exceed $75,000 per program. 

C. Subrecipient refers to an organization receiving AmeriCorps award 

funds or member positions from a recipient of CNCS funds. See 2 CFR § 

200.93. 

D. Operating site means the organization that manages the AmeriCorps 

program and places members into service locations. State subrecipients 

(programs) are operating sites. National recipients must identify at least 

one operating site to which they can assign service locations in the state 

where they are placing members. 

E. Program refers to the activities supported under the award. 
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F. Service Location means the organization where or with which a member 

actually provides his or her service in the community. Typical service 

locations are schools, food banks, health clinics, community parks, etc. 

The service location may be the same as the operating site, but only if the 

member actually serves at or with the operating site organization. A 

member may serve at multiple service locations, all of which must be 

listed in the Portal, although the program must select only one for the 

member’s primary assignment. 

G. Member or participant means an individual: 

1. Who has been selected by a recipient or subrecipient to serve in an 

approved national service position; 

2. Who is a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident 

alien of the United States; 

3. Who is at least 17 years of age at the commencement of service 

unless the member is out of school and enrolled in a full-time, yearround youth corps or full-time summer program as defined in the 

NCSA (42 U.S.C. § 12572 (a)(3)(B)(x)), in which case he or she 

must be between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, and 

4. Who has received a high school diploma or its equivalent, agrees to 

obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent (unless this 

requirement is waived based on an individual education assessment 

conducted by the program) and the individual did not drop out of an 

elementary or secondary school to enroll in the program, or is 

enrolled in an institution of higher education on an ability to benefit 

basis and is considered eligible for funds under 20 U.S.C. § 1091. 

H. NCSA means the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as 

amended. See 42 U.S.C. §§ 12501-12657. 

III. AFFILIATION WITH THE AMERICORPS NATIONAL SERVICE 

PROGRAM

A. Identification as an AmeriCorps Program or Member. The 

recipient shall identify the program as an AmeriCorps program and 

members as AmeriCorps members. All agreements with subrecipients, 

operating sites, or service locations, related to the AmeriCorps program 

must explicitly state that the program is an AmeriCorps program and 

AmeriCorps members are the resource being provided. 

B. The AmeriCorps Name and Logo. AmeriCorps is a registered service 

mark of CNCS. CNCS provides a camera-ready logo. All recipient and 

subrecipient websites shall clearly state that they are an AmeriCorps 
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recipient and shall prominently display the AmeriCorps logo. 

Recipients and subrecipients shall use the AmeriCorps name and logo 

on service gear and public materials such as stationery, application 

forms, recruitment brochures, on-line position postings or other 

recruitment materials, orientation materials, member curriculum 

materials, signs, banners, websites, social media, press releases, and 

publications related to their AmeriCorps program in accordance with 

CNCS requirements. 

To publicize the relationship between the program and AmeriCorps, the 

recipient shall describe their program as “an AmeriCorps program.” 

Recipients shall provide information or training to their AmeriCorps 

members about how their program is part of the national AmeriCorps 

program and about the other national service programs of CNCS. 

Recipients are strongly encouraged to place signs that include the 

AmeriCorps name and logo at their service sites and may use the slogan 

“AmeriCorps Serving Here.” AmeriCorps members should state that they 

are AmeriCorps members during public speaking opportunities. 

The recipient may not alter the AmeriCorps logo, and must obtain 

written permission from CNCS before using the AmeriCorps name or 

logo on materials that will be sold, or permitting donors to use the 

AmeriCorps name or logo in promotional materials. The recipient may 

not use or display the AmeriCorps name or logo in connection with any 

activity prohibited by statute, regulation, or CNCS General Terms and 

Conditions, and these specific award terms and conditions. 

 

IV. MEMBER RECRUITMENT, SELECTION, AND EXIT

Member recruitment and selection requirements are in CNCS’s regulations at 45 

CFR §§ 2522.210 and Part 2540, subpart B. In addition, the recipient must 

ensure that the following procedures are followed: 

A. Member Listings/Position Descriptions in the My AmeriCorps 

Portal. Programs must list all of their member listings/position 

descriptions by creating Service Opportunity Listings in the My 

AmeriCorps Portal. 

B. Application and Other Fees. Charging an application or other fee to 

a prospective member to apply to serve as an AmeriCorps member is 

not allowed. Programs may charge application fees to prospective 

members who are applying to their educational institution or 

participating in their academic program if such fees are required of all 

applicants, but not for applying to serve as an AmeriCorps member.
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For National Service Criminal History Checks, CNCS has allowed 

grant recipients to have applicants front the cost as long as applicants 

are reimbursed for the expense. This is for both applicants that are 

selected and those that are not.

C. Enrollment of selected members. Programs must enter applicants 

into the Portal prior to their first day of service and in sufficient time 

to ensure that the future member is citizenship eligible. Program staff 

must also certify that the future member’s required NSOPW has been 

run, reviewed, and approved as well as the State and/or FBI criminal 

history checks initiated no later than their first day of service. 

Applicants will not be permitted to enroll in the National Service Trust 

prior to those steps occurring. Enrollment must be completed no later 

than 8 calendar days from the member’s start date.

D. Notice to CNCS’s National Service Trust. The recipient must notify 

CNCS’s National Service Trust, via the My AmeriCorps Portal, within 

30 days of a member’s completion of, suspension from, or release from, 

a term of service. Suspension of service is defined as an extended period 

during which the member is not serving, nor accumulating service hours 

or receiving AmeriCorps benefits. AmeriCorps members must complete 

their own enrollment and exit forms on-line in the My AmeriCorps 

Member Portal except in rare cases when the recipient program has 

received written approval to waive this requirement from the Director of 

AmeriCorps State and National or her/his designee. 

The recipient also must notify the Trust, via the My AmeriCorps 

Portal, when a change in a member’s term of service is approved and 

changed (i.e. from full-time to less than full-time or vice versa). 

Failure to report such changes within the required time frames may 

result in sanctions to the recipient, up to and including, suspension or 

termination of the award. Recipients or subrecipients meet notification 

requirements by using the appropriate electronic system to inform 

CNCS of changes within the required time frames. Any questions 

regarding the Trust should be directed to the Hotline (800) 942-2677. 

E. Parental Consent. Parental or legal guardian consent must be 

obtained for members under 18 years of age before members begin a 

term of service. Recipients may also include an informed consent form 

of their own design as part of the member service agreement materials. 

F. Reasonable Accommodation. Programs and activities must be 

accessible to persons with disabilities, and the recipient must provide 

reasonable accommodation for the known mental or physical 
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disabilities of otherwise qualified members, service recipients, 

applicants, and staff. All selections and project assignments must be 

made without regard to the need to provide reasonable accommodation. 

As such, inquiries about the need for reasonable accommodation 

should take place after a member has been offered an AmeriCorps 

position. There may be funding available from CNCS to offset the 

recipients’ costs on a first come, first serve basis. Please email 

Accommodations@cns.gov for more information. 

G. Assigning Members to Service Locations. The recipient is required 

to ensure that all operating sites and all service locations are entered in 

the My AmeriCorps Portal for all members within eight (8) calendar 

days of members’ starting a term of service. The recipient is required to 

include the name of the organization, and the full address or zip-plusfour of the service locations where each member will be serving. If a 

member is serving at multiple service locations, the program must 

select as the site where the member serves the majority of his or her 

hours as the member’s primary assignment. However, all service 

locations must be listed in the Portal. 

H. Completion of Terms of Service. The recipient must ensure that each 

member has sufficient opportunity to complete the required 

number of hours of service to qualify for the education award. Members 

must be exited within 30 days of the end of their term of service. If this 

grant award expires or is not renewed, a member who was scheduled to 

continue in a term of service may either be placed in another program, 

where feasible, or if the member has completed at least 15% of the 

service hour requirement, the member may receive a pro-rated education 

award. 

While programs have up to 30-days to report a member’s completion of 

service, for those individuals intending to re-enroll in AmeriCorps, 

programs must exit the members before they can be re-enrolled in 

another term of service.

I. Member Exit. In order for a member to receive an education award 

from the National Service Trust, the recipient must certify to the 

National Service Trust that the member satisfactorily and successfully 

completed the term of service and is eligible to receive the education 

benefit. The recipient (and any individual or entity acting on behalf of 

the recipient) is responsible for the accuracy of the information 

certified on the end-of- term certification.
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Penalties for false information: Any recipient who makes a materially 

false statement or representation in connection with the approval or 

disbursement of an education award or other payment from the National 

Service Trust may be liable for the recovery of funds and subject to civil 

sanctions. Any individual involved in making a materially false statement 

may be subject to criminal sanctions. If CNCS determines that the 

certification of a member’s hours is erroneous, the award recipient may 

be charged for any payment or potential payment from the National 

Service Trust. In assessing the amount of the charge, CNCS shall 

consider the full facts and circumstances surrounding the erroneous or 

incorrect certification. (see 42 U.S.C. §12602a(b)). 

V. SUPERVISION AND SUPPORT

A. Planning for the Term of Service. The recipient must develop 

member positions that provide for meaningful service activities and 

performance criteria that are appropriate to the skill level of members. 

The recipient is responsible for ensuring that the positions do not 

include or put the AmeriCorps member in a situation in which the 

member is at risk for engaging in any prohibited activity (see 45 CFR 

§ 2520.65), activity that would violate the non-duplication and 

nondisplacement requirements (see 45 CFR § 2540.100), or exceeding 

the limitations on allowable fundraising activity (see 45 CFR §§ 

2520.40.45). The recipient must accurately and completely describe 

the activities to be performed by each member in a position 

description. Position descriptions must be provided to CNCS upon 

request. The recipient must ensure that each member has sufficient 

opportunity to complete the required number of hours to qualify for an 

education award. In planning for the member’s term of service, the 

recipient must account for holidays and other time off and must 

provide each member with sufficient opportunity to make up missed 

hours. 

B. Member Service Agreements. The recipient must require that each 

member sign a member service agreement that includes, at a minimum, 

the following: 

1. Member position description; 

2. The minimum number of service hours (as required by statute) and 

other requirements (as developed by the recipient) necessary to 

successfully complete the term of service and to be eligible for the 

education award; 
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3. The amount of the education award being offered for successful 

completion of the terms of service in which the individual is 

enrolling; 

4. Standards of conduct, as developed by the recipient or sub 

recipient; 

5. The list of prohibited activities, including those specified in the 

regulations at 45 CFR § 2520.65 (see paragraph C, below); 

6. The text of 45 CFR §§ 2540.100(e)-(f), which relates to 

Nonduplication and Nondisplacement; 

7. The text of 45 CFR §§ 2520.40-.45, which relates to fundraising by 

members; 

8. Requirements under the Drug-Free Workplace Act (41 U.S.C. § 

701 et seq.); 

9. Civil rights requirements, complaint procedures, and rights of 

beneficiaries; 

10. Suspension and termination rules; 

11. The specific circumstances under which a member may be released 

for cause; 

12. Grievance procedures; and 

13. Other requirements established by the recipient. 

The recipient should ensure that the service agreement is signed on or 

before commencement of service but the effective date will not be before 

the member is enrolled in the AmeriCorps Portal 

C. Prohibited Activities. While charging time to the AmeriCorps 

program, accumulating service or training hours, or otherwise 

performing activities supported by the AmeriCorps program or CNCS, 

staff and members may not engage in the following activities (see 45 

CFR § 2520.65): 

1. Attempting to influence legislation; 

2. Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes; 

3. Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing; 

4. Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining 

agreements; 

5. Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed 

to influence the outcome of an election to any public office; 

6. Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to 

include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, 

political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials; 

7. Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, 

providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory 
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religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities 

devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities 

primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, 

or engaging in any form of religious proselytization; 

8. Providing a direct benefit to— 

a. A business organized for profit; 

b. A labor union; 

c. A partisan political organization; 

d. A nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the 

restrictions contained in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 

Revenue Code of 1986 related to engaging in political 

activities or substantial amount of lobbying except that 

nothing in these provisions shall be construed to prevent 

participants from engaging in advocacy activities 

undertaken at their own initiative; and 

e. An organization engaged in the religious activities 

described in paragraph C. 7. above, unless CNCS 

assistance is not used to support those religious 

activities; 

9. Conducting a voter registration drive or using CNCS funds to 

conduct a voter registration drive; 

10. Providing abortion services or referrals for receipt of such 

services; and 

11. Such other activities as CNCS may prohibit. 

In addition to the above activities, the below activities are additionally

prohibited:

Census Activities. AmeriCorps members and volunteers associated with 

AmeriCorps grants may not engage in census activities during service 

hours. Being a census taker during service hours is categorically 

prohibited. Census-related activities (e.g., promotion of the Census, 

education about the importance of the Census) do not align with 

AmeriCorps State and National objectives. What members and 

volunteers do on their own time is up to them, consistent with program 

policies about outside employment and activities.

Election and Polling Activities. AmeriCorps member may not provide 

services for election or polling locations or in support of such activities.

AmeriCorps members may not engage in the above activities directly or 

indirectly by recruiting, training, or managing others for the primary 

purpose of engaging in one of the activities listed above. Individuals 
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may exercise their rights as private citizens and may participate in the 

activities listed above on their initiative, on non-AmeriCorps time, and 

using non-CNCS funds. Individuals should not wear the AmeriCorps 

logo while doing engaging in any of the above activities on their personal 

time. 

All locations where members serve should post a list of the prohibited 

activities, when possible. 

D. Supervision. The recipient must provide members with adequate 

supervision by qualified supervisors consistent with the award. The 

recipient must conduct an orientation for members, including training 

on what activities are prohibited during AmeriCorps service hours, and 

comply with any pre-service orientation or training required by CNCS. 

The recipient must ensure that no more than 20 percent of the 

aggregate of all AmeriCorps member service hours are spent in 

education and training activities as set forth in 45 CFR § 2520.50. 

E. Teleservice. AmeriCorps members should generally be providing 

service directly to the people and in the communities where they serve 

rather than performing service remotely. Therefore, teleservice should 

be limited to certain situations. Teleservice—like all service—should 

have appropriate documentation, supervision and oversight. 

A grantee may determine that teleservice is appropriate based on the 

situation (e.g., COVID-19 public health emergency) and type of 

service being delivered (e.g., tutoring via telephonic or video 

conference). Teleservice is appropriate only when the activity can be 

meaningfully supervised and the hours verified independently. If a 

grantee or subgrantee determines that its AmeriCorps members will be 

allowed to teleserve, the grantee must establish or update an existing 

policy to address the following: 

• Expectations of the communication requirements between 

supervisors and teleserving members 

• Mitigation of the increased risk of time and attendance abuse 

• Appropriate supervision including validation of the activities to be 

performed (and accompaniment, as necessary), and 

• Verification of hours claimed.

Further, the grantee should consider updating its insurance coverage to 

address legal liability attribution (for the grantee or teleserving 

member) for incidents that occur during teleservice. 
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F. AmeriCorps Members as Team Leaders. Programs may create 

positions where AmeriCorps members provide an additional layer of 

leadership and support for members under certain conditions. All the 

activities and prohibitions that apply to AmeriCorps members also 

apply to Team Leaders. Team Leaders are not permitted to act in a 

staff capacity, including supervising members. Team Leaders must not 

be responsible for program development and coordination; however, 

they may assist by providing information and resources on best 

practices or by helping to develop portions of the program such as the 

training curriculum. Under no circumstances should an AmeriCorps 

member serving as a Team Leader be the individual legally responsible 

for the program or other members. 

The Team Leader position description should emphasize activities that 

involve the member(s) in performing direct service or providing 

support to members engaged in direct service. Unallowable Team 

Leader activities include: signing member timesheets; evaluating 

member performance; disciplining AmeriCorps members; 

enrolling/dismissing AmeriCorps members; writing and/or signing 

program reports; managing the program’s payroll and budget.

G. Performance Reviews. The recipient must conduct and keep a record 

of at least a midterm and an end-of-term written evaluation of each 

member’s performance for full-time members and an end-of-term 

written evaluation for all less-than-full-time members. The end-of-term 

evaluation should address, at a minimum, the following factors: 

1. Whether the member has completed the required number of hours; 

2. Whether the member has satisfactorily completed assignments; 

and; 

3. Whether the member has met other performance criteria that were 

clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service. 

H. Timekeeping. The recipient is required to ensure that time and 

attendance recordkeeping is conducted by the AmeriCorps member’s 

supervisor. This time and attendance record is used to document 

member eligibility for in-service and post-service benefits. The 

recipient must have a timekeeping system that is compliant with 2 CFR 

§ 200.430. 

If a Professional Corps program wants to follow the timekeeping 

practices of its profession and certify that members have completed the 

minimum required hours, excluding sick and vacation days, it must get 

advance written approval from CNCS. If a State Commission Formula-
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funded Professional Corps program wants to follow the timekeeping 

practices of its profession and certify that members have completed the 

minimum required hours, excluding sick and vacation days, it must get 

advance written approval from the State Commission. 

I. Jury Duty. The grantee must allow AmeriCorps members to serve on 

a jury without being penalized for doing so. During the time 

AmeriCorps members serve as jurors, they should continue to receive 

credit for their normal service hours, a living allowance, healthcare 

coverage and, if applicable, childcare coverage regardless of any 

reimbursements for incidental expenses received from the court.

J. Member Death or Injury. The recipient must immediately report any 

member deaths or serious injuries to the designated CNCS Program 

Officer/Portfolio Manager. 

VI. CHANGES IN MEMBER POSITIONS 

A. Changes that Require CNCS Approval. Circumstances may arise 

within a program that necessitate changing the type of unfilled 

AmeriCorps member positions awarded to a recipient or subrecipient, or 

changing the term of service of a currently enrolled member. Note that 

once a member is exited with a partial education award, the remaining

portion of that education award is not available for use. The following 

changes require written approval from CNCS’s Office of Grant 

Administration as well as written approval and concurrence from the State 

Commission or Direct (including National Direct, State Direct, Tribal, 

Territory Direct, or Education Award Only (EAP)) recipient: 

1. A change in the number of member service year (MSY) positions 

in the award and 

2. A change in the funding level of the award. 

B. Changing Types of Unfilled member positions. Recipients or 

subrecipients may change the type of member positions awarded to their 

program if: 

1. The change does not increase the total MSYs authorized in the 

Notice of Grant Award (e.g. one half-time position cannot be 

changed to one full-time position); and 

2. The change does not result in an increase in the aggregate value of 

the education award. 

Changes in the above types of member positions may be made by the 

recipient directly in the My AmeriCorps Portal. 
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C. Changing a Term of Service for an enrolled Member. Changes in 

terms of service for enrolled members may not result in an increased 

number of MSYs for the program. 

1. Full-time. State Commissions and National Direct Organizations 

may authorize or approve occasional changes of currently enrolled 

full-time members to less than full-time members. Impact on 

program quality should be factored into approval of such requests. 

CNCS-provided or funded healthcare or childcare costs are not 

available for less than full-time members unless they are serving 

in a full-time capacity (see section VIII.D. and E.). Recipients and 

subrecipients may not transfer currently enrolled full-time 

members to a less than full-time status simply to provide the 

member a less than full-time education award. 

2. Less than Full-time. CNCS discourages changing less than 

fulltime members to full-time because it is very difficult to 

manage, unless done very early in the member’s term of service. 

State Commissions and Direct recipients (including National 

Direct, State Direct, Tribal, Territory Direct, and Education Award 

Only recipients) may authorize or approve such changes so long as 

their current budget can accommodate such changes. Programs 

must keep in mind that a member’s minimum 1700 hours must be 

completed within 12 months of the member’s original start date. 

3. Refilling Member Positions. With the exception of recipients 

whose awards have special award conditions under 2 CFR §§ 

200.207 or 200.338, AmeriCorps State and National programs that 

have fully enrolled their awarded member positions are allowed to 

replace any member who terminates service before completing 30 

percent of his/her term provided that the member who is 

terminated is not eligible for and does not receive a pro-rated 

education award. Programs may not refill the same member 

position more than once. 

As a fail-safe mechanism to ensure that resources are available in 

the National Service Trust to finance all earned education awards, 

CNCS will suspend refilling if either: 

a. Total AmeriCorps enrollment reaches 97 percent of 

awarded member positions; or 

b. The number of refills reaches five percent of awarded 

member positions. 

4. Direct recipients may transfer refill member positions between 

operating sites as long as they can ensure and document that the 

same member position is not refilled more than once. Recipients 

and subrecipients will require the assistance of a CNCS Program 

Officer/ Portfolio Manager in order to transfer refill member 
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positions between operating sites. Refilled member positions may 

not be combined with unfilled member positions. 

D. Formula and State Competitive Award Member Position Transfers. 

State commissions are allowed to transfer member positions among their 

state formula and competitive subrecipients within a given prime grant in 

order to maximize enrollment and cost effectiveness without prior 

approval. State commissions may not transfer member positions between 

competitive and formula subrecipients, or vice-versa. State commissions 

may not transfer funds among their competitive subrecipients. 

E. Notice to Childcare and Healthcare Providers. Recipients and 

subrecipients must immediately notify CNCS’s designated agents, in 

writing, when a Member’s status changes in a manner that affects their 

eligibility for childcare or healthcare. See Section VIII.D. 

VII. RELEASE FROM PARTICIPATION

Recipients may release members from participation for two reasons: (a) for

compelling personal circumstances; and (b) for cause. See 45 CFR § 2522.230 

for requirements. Whether the reason for the release amounts to circumstances 

beyond the member’s control is determined by the grant recipient, consistent with 

the criteria listed in 45 CFR § 2522.230(a). Failure to follow the requirements set 

forth in regulation (e.g., releasing an individual for a non-compelling personal 

circumstance, such as when the individual is leaving to go to school) is 

considered non-compliance with award requirements and may result in 

disallowed costs and other remedies for non-compliance. The recipient should 

retain the documentation supporting its determination that release for compelling 

personal circumstances is warranted. In addition to the regulations, the following 

applies: 

No Automatic Disqualification if Released for Cause: A release for cause covers 

all circumstances in which a member does not successfully complete his/her term 

of service for reasons other than compelling personal circumstances. Therefore, it 

is possible for a member to receive a satisfactory performance review and be 

released for cause. For example, a member who is released for cause from a first 

term–e.g. the individual has decided to take a job offer–but who otherwise 

performed well would not be disqualified from enrolling for a subsequent term as 

long as the individual received a satisfactory performance evaluation for the first 

period of service. 

Compelling Personal Circumstance for Pregnancy/Childbirth: Pregnancy 

and/or childbirth could be determined by the grantee to be compelling personal 
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circumstances if the member requests it. The program cannot require a member 

to justify wanting to leave a term of service for pregnancy. Likewise, a program 

cannot require that a member leave their term of service due to a pregnancy – that 

would be an instance of discrimination on the basis of gender in violation of 

CNCS’s anti-discrimination policy. A full-time member might qualify under the 

Family Medical Leave Act if the member is covered, or the program could 

suspend the member so that the member can return some time in the future 

(within 2 years) to complete their term of service.

VIII. LIVING ALLOWANCES, OTHER IN-SERVICE BENEFITS, AND TAXES

Requirements related to member living allowances and benefits are in 45 CFR §§ 

2522.240 and 2522.250. In addition, recipients must ensure that the following 

procedures are followed: 

A. Living Allowance Distribution. A living allowance is not a wage. 

Recipients must not pay a living allowance on an hourly basis. Recipients 

should pay the living allowance in regular increments, such as weekly or 

bi-weekly, paying an increased increment only on the basis of increased 

living expenses such as food, housing, or transportation. Payments should 

not fluctuate based on the number of hours served in a particular time 

period and must cease when the member’s service ceases. 

If a member serves all required hours and is permitted to conclude his or 

her term of service before the originally agreed upon end of term, the 

recipient may not provide a lump sum payment to the member. Similarly, 

if a member is selected after the program’s start date, the recipient must 

provide regular living allowance payments from the member’s start date 

and may not increase the member’s living allowance incremental payment 

or provide a lump sum to make up any missed payments. 

Education Award Program Fixed Amount awards (EAPs) may provide a 

living allowance or other in-service benefits to their members, but are not 

required to do so. Full-cost and other Fixed Amount recipients must 

provide a living allowance and other benefits to their full-time members. 

B. Waiving the Living Allowance. If a living allowance is paid, a member 

may waive all or part of the payment of a living allowance if, for 

example, he or she believes his or her public assistance may be lost or 

decreased because of the living allowance. Even if a member waives his 

or her right to receive the living allowance, it is possible—depending on 

the specific public assistance program rules—that the amount of the living 

allowance that the member is eligible to receive will be deemed available. 

A member who has waived the living allowance may revoke the waiver at 
 17

any time and may begin receiving the living allowance going forward 

from the date the individual revoked the waiver. A member may not 

receive any portion of the living allowance for the period of time the 

living allowance was waived. 

C. Taxes and Insurance. 

1. Liability Insurance Coverage. The recipient is responsible for 

ensuring adequate general liability coverage for the organization, 

employees and members, including coverage of members engaged 

in on- and off-site project activities. 

2. FICA (Social Security and Medicare taxes). Unless the 

recipient obtains a ruling from the Social Security Administration 

or the Internal Revenue Service that specifically exempts its 

AmeriCorps members from FICA requirements, the recipient must 

pay FICA for any member receiving a living allowance. The 

recipient also must withhold 7.65% from the member’s living 

allowance. 

3. Income Taxes. The recipient must withhold Federal personal 

income taxes from member living allowances, requiring each 

member to complete a W-4 form at the beginning of the term of 

service and providing a W-2 form at the close of the tax year. The 

recipient must comply with any applicable state or local tax 

requirements. 

4. Worker’s Compensation. Some states require worker’s 

compensation for AmeriCorps members. Recipients must check 

with State Departments of Labor or state commissions to 

determine worker’s compensation requirements. If worker’s 

compensation is not required, recipients must obtain 

Occupational, Accidental, and Death and Dismemberment 

coverage for members to cover in- service injury or incidents.

5. Unemployment Insurance. The U.S. Department of Labor 

ruled on April 20, 1995 that federal unemployment 

compensation law does not require coverage for members 

because no employer-employee relationship exists. The grantee 

may not charge the cost of unemployment insurance taxes to the 

grant unless mandated by state law. Programs are responsible 

for determining the requirements of state law by consulting their 

State Commission, legal counsel, or the applicable state agency. 

D. Healthcare Coverage. Except for EAPs, Professional Corps, or 

members covered under a collective bargaining agreement, the recipient 

must provide, or make available, healthcare insurance to those members 
 18

serving a 1700-hour full-time term who are not otherwise covered by a 

healthcare policy at the time the member begins his/her term of service. 

The recipient must also provide, or make available, healthcare insurance 

to members serving a 1700-hour full-time term who lose coverage during 

their term of service as a result of service or through no deliberate act of 

their own. CNCS will not cover healthcare costs for dependent coverage. 

Less-than-full-time members who are serving in a full-time capacity for a 

sustained period of time (e.g. a full-time summer project) are eligible for 

healthcare benefits. Programs may provide health insurance to less-thanfull-time members serving in a full-time capacity, but they are not 

required to do so. For purposes of this provision, a member is serving in a 

full-time capacity when his/her regular term of service will involve 

performing service on a normal full-time schedule for a period of six 

weeks or more. A member may be serving in a full-time capacity without 

regard to whether his/her agreed term of service will result in a full-time 

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. 

Any of the following health insurance options will satisfy the requirement 

for health insurance for full-time AmeriCorps members (or less than 

fulltime members serving in a full-time capacity): staying on parents’ or 

spouse plan; insurance obtained through the Federal Health Insurance 

Marketplace of at least the Bronze level plan; insurance obtained through 

private insurance broker; Medicaid, Medicare or military benefits. 

AmeriCorps programs purchasing their own health insurance for members 

must ensure plans are minimum essential coverage (MEC) and meet the 

requirements of the Affordable Care Act. 

On Friday May 2, 2014 the U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services (HHS) announced a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for 

members in AmeriCorps State and National programs, who are not 

provided health insurance options or who are provided short-term limited 

duration coverage or self-funded coverage not considered MEC. Members 

in the AmeriCorps State and National programs and their dependents in 

the Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM) are eligible to enroll in 

Marketplace coverage when they experience the following triggering 

events: 

• On the date they begin their service terms; and 

• On the date they lose any coverage offered through their 

program after their service term ends. (Source: 45 CFR § 

155.420(d)(9)). 

Members have 60 days from the triggering event to select a plan. 
 19

Coverage effective date is prospective based on the date of plan selection. 

A copy of the HHS Notice, which provides instructions on how to activate 

the special enrollment period is available at 

https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Regulations-andGuidance/Downloads/SEP-and-hardship-FAQ-5-1-2014.pdf. Members 

can also visit healthcare.gov for additional information about special 

enrollment periods: https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside- open 

enrollment-enrollment-period/. 

If coverage is being provided via the Healthcare Marketplace, and thus 

third-party payment is not an option, programs must develop a process to 

reimburse members for monthly premiums. Reimbursements for health 

insurance premiums are considered taxable income for the member, and 

programs must have a way to document such reimbursements. 

E. Temporary Leave, Healthcare, and Benefits. If temporary leave is 

appropriate, grantees have the flexibility to determine the duration of the 

absence and may choose to continue providing health or other benefits to 

the member during the period of absence. The member may be suspended 

(via compelling personal circumstances) during the period of temporary 

leave. If suspended, the member may not receive a living allowance. 

The length of the leave should be based on two considerations: (1) the 

circumstances of the situation; and (2) the impact of the absence on the 

member’s service experience and on the overall program. If the disruption 

would seriously compromise the member’s service experience or the 

quality of the program as a whole, then the grantee may offer the member 

the option of rejoining the program in the next class or completely 

withdrawing from the program.

The Federal Family Medical Leave Act, (FMLA) applies to full-time 

staff and members that have served for more than 12 months and at 

least 1,250 hours when the grantee has 50 or more employees/members 

at a work/service site per 29 U.S.C. 2611. See 42 U.S.C. 12631; 45 CFR 

§ 2540.220.

F. Administration of Childcare Payments. In general, CNCS will provide 

for childcare payments, which will be administered through an outside 

contractor. Requirements and eligibility criteria are in the AmeriCorps 

regulations, 45 CFR § 2522.250. CNCS will not cover childcare costs for 

members who serve on a less than full-time basis for a sustained period of 

time, or who have ceased serving. Programs may provide childcare to 

less-than-full-time members serving in a full-time capacity, but they are 

not required to do so. Recipients that choose to provide childcare and will 
 20

claim the costs of childcare as matching costs, as approved in their 

budget, may contact the childcare contractor for technical assistance. The 

criteria for member eligibility are contained in 45 CFR § 2522.250. Also,

see the AmeriCorps Childcare Benefits Program website 

(https://americorpschildcare.com/) for more detailed information on 

childcare benefits. 

G. Notice to Childcare Benefit Administrator and Providers. The 

program must notify CNCS’s designated agents in writing within five 

business days after a member’s status changes in a manner that affects the 

member’s eligibility for childcare. After five days, the recipient will be 

liable for any erroneous payments made to a childcare provider for an 

AmeriCorps member ineligible to receive AmeriCorps childcare benefits. 

Examples of changes in status include: changes to a member's scheduled 

service so that he/she is no longer serving on a full-time basis, terminating 

or releasing a member from service, suspending a member for cause for a 

lengthy or indefinite time period, temporarily suspending a member for 

cause and/or other disciplinary actions, and/or any other change in the 

member’s service status that could have an impact on childcare benefit 

eligibility. Program directors should contact the childcare provider on 

childcare related changes. 

IX. MEMBER RECORDS AND CONFIDENTIALITY

A. Recordkeeping. The recipient must maintain records, including the 

position description, sufficient to establish that each member was eligible 

to participate and that the member successfully completed all program 

requirements. A program may store member files electronically and use 

electronic signatures if the program can ensure the validity and integrity 

of the record and signature is maintained. 

The program’s electronic storage procedures and system must provide for 

the safe-keeping and security of the records, including: 

1. Sufficient prevention of unauthorized alterations or erasures of 

records; 

2. Effective security measures to ensure that only authorized persons 

have access to records; 

3. Adequate measures designed to prevent physical damage to 

records; and 

4. A system providing for back-up and recovery of records; and 

The electronic storage procedures and system provide for the easy 

retrieval of records in a timely fashion, including: 
 21

1. Storage of the records in a physically accessible location; 

2. Clear and accurate labeling of all records; and 

3. Storage of the records in a usable, readable format. 

B. Verification of Eligibility. Unless an individual’s social security number 

and citizenship are verified through the My AmeriCorps Portal, the 

recipient must obtain and maintain documentation as required by 45 CFR 

§ 2522.200(c). Programs that receive notice that one of their members 

was not verified – either the member’s social security number or their 

citizenship was not verified – must provide the requested documentation 

to CNCS or they will not be able to enroll the applicant in the program. 

Enrolling in the My AmeriCorps Portal requires members to certify their 

high school status. Such certification fulfills the recipient’s verification 

requirement to obtain and maintain documentation from the member 

relating to the member’s high school education. If the member is 

incapable of obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent, as 

determined by an independent evaluation, the recipient must retain a copy 

of the supporting evaluation. 

C. Confidential Member Information. The recipient must maintain the 

confidentiality of information regarding individual members. The 

recipient must obtain the prior written consent of all members before 

using their names, photographs and other identifying information for 

publicity, promotional or other purposes. Recipients may release 

aggregate and other non-identifying information and are required to 

release member information to CNCS and its designated contractors. The 

recipient must permit a member who submits a written request for access 

to review records that pertain to the member and were created pursuant to 

this award. 

D. National Service Criminal History Check. The specific requirements 

of the National Service Criminal History Check, including the timing and 

recordkeeping requirements, are specified at 45 CFR §§ 2540.200 - .207.

See also [https://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/criminalhistorycheck] for more information on how to correctly conduct and 

document the NSCHC. You must maintain documentation of the NSCHC, 

including the results or summary of the component checks. Failure to 

adhere to the NSCHC requirements may result in sanctions, including 

disallowance of all or part of the costs associated with the non-compliance 

or other remedies that may be legally available (see 2 CFR § 200.338).

 
 22

X. BUDGET AND PROGRAMMATIC CHANGES

A. Programmatic Changes. The recipient must first obtain the prior written 

approval of the CNCS Program Officer/Portfolio Manager before making 

any of the following changes (1-3): 

1. Changes in the scope, objectives or goals of the program, whether 

or not they involve budgetary changes; 

2. Substantial changes in the level of member supervision; 

3. Entering into additional sub awards or contracts for AmeriCorps 

activities funded by the award, but not identified or included in the 

approved application and award budget. 

Upon notification to the CNCS Program Officer/ Portfolio 

Manager, recipients may make programmatic changes due to, or in 

response to, an officially-declared state or national disaster

without written approval from CNCS. As soon as practicable, 

recipients making disaster-related programmatic changes must 

discuss the recordkeeping, member activities, performance 

measure adjustments, and other AmeriCorps award requirements 

with the CNCS Program Officer/ Portfolio Manager. While 

written approval from CNCS is not required before making 

disaster-related programmatic changes, CNCS reserves the right to 

limit or deny disaster-related programmatic changes, including 

disallowing costs associated with the disaster related activities. 

B. Program Changes for Formula Programs. State Commissions are 

responsible for approving the above changes for state formula programs. 

C. Budgetary Changes. The recipient must obtain the prior written 

approval of CNCS’s Office of Grant Administration before deviating 

from the approved budget in any of the following ways: 

1. Specific Costs Requiring Prior Approval before Incurrence under 

the uniform administrative requirement, cost principles, and audit 

requirements for Federal awards at 2 CFR Parts 200 and 2205. 

Certain cost items in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 2205 require approval 

of the awarding agency for the cost to be allowable such as preaward costs. Please ensure you consult the regulations prior to 

incurring costs to ensure allowability. 

2. Purchases of Equipment over $5,000 using award funds, unless 

specified in the approved application and budget. 
 23

3. Unless the CNCS share of the award is $100,000 or less, changes 

to cumulative and/or aggregate budget line items that amount to 10 

per cent or more of the total budget must be approved in writing in 

advance by CNCS. The total budget includes both the CNCS and 

recipient shares. Recipients may transfer funds among approved 

direct cost categories when the cumulative amount of such 

transfers does not exceed 10 percent of the total budget. 

D. Approvals of Programmatic and Budget Changes. CNCS’s Grant

Award Specialists/ Portfolio Managers are the only officials who have the 

authority to alter or change the terms and conditions or requirements of 

the award. The CNCS Grant Award Specialists/ Portfolio Manager will 

execute written amendments, and recipients should not assume approvals 

have been granted unless documentation from the Office of Grant 

Administration has been received. Programmatic changes also require 

final approval of CNCS’s Office of Grant Administration after written 

recommendation for approval is received from the Program Officer/ 

Portfolio Manager. 

E. Exceptions for Fixed Amount Awards. Recipients with Fixed Amount 

awards are not subject to the requirements in Section C., Budgetary 

Changes, above. 

XI. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

This section applies only to the recipient. The recipient is responsible for timely 

submission of periodic financial and progress reports during the project period 

and a final programmatic and financial report and for setting submission 

deadlines for its respective subrecipients that ensure the timely submission of 

recipient reports. 

A. Recipient Progress Reports. The recipient shall complete and submit 

annual progress reports in eGrants to report on progress toward 

achievement of its approved performance targets. 

For AmeriCorps program grants (grants that include member positions), 

the Progress Report schedule is as follows:

Due Date Reporting Period Covered 

December 31 Start of award year through September 30 

AmeriCorps planning grants awarded directly by CNCS submit only a 

Final Progress Report (see section F).
 24

B. Financial Reports. The recipient shall complete and submit financial 

reports in eGrants (Financial Status Reports on menu tree) to report the 

status of all funds. The recipient must submit timely cumulative financial 

reports in accordance with CNCS guidelines according to the following 

schedule: 

Due Date Reporting Period Covered 

April 30 Start of award through March 31 

October 31 April 1 – September 30 

 

A recipient must set submission deadlines for its respective subrecipients 

that ensure the timely submission of recipient reports. 

AmeriCorps planning grants awarded directly by CNCS submit only a 

Final Financial Report (see section E).

All recipients, including Fixed Amount recipients, must submit the 

Federal Financial Report (FFR) - Cash Transactions Report on a quarterly 

basis to the Department of Health and Human Services Payment 

Management System per the Electronic Funds Transfer Agreement. 

C. Reporting Other Federal Funds. The recipient shall report the amount 

and sources of federal funds, other than those provided by CNCS, claimed 

as matching funds. This includes other federal funds expended by 

subrecipients and operating sites and claimed as match. This information 

shall be reported annually on the financial report due October 31st or at the 

time the final financial report is submitted if the final report is due prior to 

October 31st. Fixed Amount recipients are not required to report this 

information. 

D. Requests for Extensions. Each recipient must submit required reports by 

the given dates. Extensions of reporting deadlines will be granted only 

when: 1) the report cannot be furnished in a timely manner for reasons, in 

the determination of CNCS, legitimately beyond the control of the 

recipient; and, 2) CNCS receives a written request explaining the need for 

an extension before the due date of the report. 

Extensions of deadlines for financial reports may only be granted by the

CNCS Grant Award Specialist/ Portfolio Manager, and extensions of 

deadlines for progress reports may only be granted by the CNCS Program 

Officer/Portfolio Manager. 
 25

E. Final Financial Reports. A recipient must submit, in lieu of the last 

semi-annual financial report, a final financial report. This final report is 

due no later than 90 days after the end of the project period. 

F. Final Progress Reports. A recipient must submit, in addition to the last 

annual progress report, a final progress report. This final report is due no 

later than 90 days after the end of the project period. 

G. Financial Reports for Fixed Amount Awards. Fixed Amount 

recipients are not required to submit financial reports to CNCS, including 

the final financial report. 

XII. AWARD PERIOD AND INCREMENTAL FUNDING

For the purpose of the award, a project period is the complete length of time the 

recipient is proposed to be funded to complete approved activities under the 

award. A project period may contain one or more budget periods. A budget 

period is a specific interval of time for which Federal funds are being provided to 

fund a recipient’s approved activities and budget. 

Unless otherwise specified, the award covers a three-year project period. In 

approving a multi-year project period, CNCS generally makes an initial award for 

the first year of operation. Additional funding is contingent upon satisfactory 

performance, a recipient’s demonstrated capacity to manage an award and 

comply with award requirements, and the availability of Congressional 

appropriations. CNCS reserves the right to adjust the amount of an award, or 

elect not to continue funding for subsequent years. The project period and the 

budget period are noted on the award document. 

A planning grant covers a one-year project period. 

XIII. PROGRAM INCOME

A. General. Income, including fees for service earned as a direct result of 

the award-funded program activities during the award period, must be 

retained by the recipient and used to finance the award’s non-CNCS 

share. 

B. Excess Program Income. Program income earned in excess of the 

amount needed to finance the recipient share must follow the appropriate 

requirements of 2 CFR Part 200 and be deducted from total claimed costs. 

Recipients that earn excess income must specify the amount of the excess 

in the comment box on the financial report. 
 26

C. Fees for Service. When using assistance under this award, the recipient 

may not enter into a contract for or accept fees for service performed by 

members when: 

1. The service benefits a for-profit entity, 

2. The service falls within the other prohibited activities set forth in 

these award provisions, or 

3. The service violates the provisions of 42 U.S.C. § 12637 –

Nonduplication and Nondisplacement. 

D. Full-Cost and Professional Corps Fixed Amount Awards. The 

recipient must notify its CNCS Grant Award Specialist/ Portfolio 

Manager if it earns program income in excess of the amounts needed to 

cover all expenditures under the award. The CNCS Grant Award 

Specialist/ Portfolio Manager will determine the disposition of the excess 

program income. 

XIV. SAFETY

The recipient must institute safeguards as necessary and appropriate to ensure the 

safety of members. Members may not participate in projects that pose undue safety 

risks. 

XV. NATIONAL SERVICE CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK TRAINING

All recipients and subrecipients must complete CNCS’s National Service 

Criminal History Check (NSCHC) training every year. The CNCS designated 

e-course provides a thorough overview of the requirements and can be found at: 

https://cncsonlinecourses.litmos.com. Please use the link 

https://cncsonlinecourses.litmos.com/self-signup and code CNCS-Litmos to set 

up your Litmos account. Each grant recipient and subrecipient must identify at 

minimum one staff person who has some responsibility for NSCHC compliance 

to fulfill this requirement on behalf of the recipient or subrecipient. The grant 

recipient and subrecipient must retain the certificate of completion and assign 

staff to retake the course annually prior to the expiration of the certificate. 

Grant recipients and subrecipients should save certificates of completion from 

each year as grant records. 

XVI. FIXED AMOUNT AWARDS

Fixed Amount awards are not subject to the cost principles in 2 CFR, Part 200, 

Subpart E. Fixed Amount awards must comply with the remaining provisions of 
 27

2 CFR Part 200, including Subpart F relating to audit requirements. Fixed 

Amount awards include Education Award program (EAP) Fixed Amount awards, 

Professional Corps Fixed Amount awards, and Full-cost Fixed Amount awards. 

For Education Award programs (EAP), the fixed federal assistance amount of the 

award is based on the approved and awarded number of full-time members 

specified in the award. For full-cost and Professional Corps Fixed Amount 

awards, the fixed federal assistance amount of the award is based on the approved 

and awarded numbers of full-time members and the members’ completion of 

their terms of service. 

For EAPs, the final amount of award funds that the recipient may retain is 

dependent upon the recipient’s notifying CNCS’s National Service Trust of the 

members that it has enrolled. All EAP members must carry out activities to 

achieve the specific project objectives as approved by CNCS. At closeout, CNCS 

will calculate the final amount of the award based on documentation provided to 

the National Service Trust. CNCS will recover any amounts drawn down by the 

recipient in excess of the final award amount allowed based on member selection 

documentation in the My AmeriCorps Portal. 

For full-cost and Professional Corps fixed amount awards, the recipient may 

draw funds from the HHS Payment Management System based on the number of 

members who complete a full term of service or if the member leaves before 

completing service, a pro-rated amount based on hours served. Bi-annually, in 

some cases quarterly, and at closeout, CNCS will calculate the final amount of 

the award for the year or entire project period (at closeout) based on the number 

of successfully completed terms of service (as certified by the program) as well 

as the hours served that were not certified as successfully completed. 

The CARES Act provides flexibilities for fixed amount grants with members 

affected by COVID-19: c) No Required Return of Grant Funds.--Notwithstanding 

section 129(l)(3)(A)(i) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 

(42 U.S.C. 12581(l)(3)(A)(i)), the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for 

National and Community Service may permit fixed-amount grant recipients under 

such section 129(l) to maintain a pro rata amount of grant funds, at the discretion 

of the Corporation for National and Community Service, for participants who 

exited, were suspended, or are serving in a limited capacity due to COVID-19, 

to enable the grant recipients to maintain operations and to accept participants.