FY 2022 Individual Match Waiver Overview and Process

for AmeriCorps Seniors and AmeriCorps State and National

In December of 2020, AmeriCorps issued a blanket match waiver on Fiscal Year

(FY) 2021 grants for AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps Seniors, Volunteer

Generation Fund, Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service, and Commission Support

Grants. The blanket waiver was responsive to the widespread uncertainty that

the pandemic was having on the economic conditions across the nation. This

followed a similar blanket match waiver for most grant programs for FY 2019 and

FY 2020 grants for the same reason.

As we approach the start of AmeriCorps’ FY 2022 grantmaking, we want to

formally share that the conditions that warranted blanket waivers for many of our

grants awarded in AmeriCorps’ FY 2019-2021 grants do not currently exist. More

specifically, the economic conditions that provided AmeriCorps the authority for

blanket match waivers do not exist nearly universally as they did previously. The

current impact of the pandemic and recovery is uneven across communities and

therefore warrant individual consideration. Additionally, non-AmeriCorps match is

more than a requirement for most of our programs. It enables our programs to

leverage critical non-AmeriCorps resources to implement their full program

models.

AmeriCorps recognizes that some grantees continue to experience hardships

securing matching resources. As a result, we are returning to the long-standing

prior practice that is rooted in the applicable regulations in 45 CFR for AmeriCorps

Seniors and AmeriCorps State and National programs and we created a

centralized process for AmeriCorps Seniors and AmeriCorps State and National

grantees to apply for match waivers.

It is important to note that requests should be submitted only during the last year

of the project period for the direct program or the commission prime. AmeriCorps

expects that grantees will do their due diligence throughout the entire project

period so that the overall match will be met by the end of the third year.

However, if circumstances are that grantees are unable to secure the required

match in year one or two of their project period, they may request a waiver in

year three of the direct program or commission prime. Match waivers should not

be requested in year one or two of a project period.

This is separate and distinct from the process for AmeriCorps State and National

applicants outlined in the respective Application Instructions to request

alternative match schedules and remains an option for those applicants, in

addition to the process outlined below for full match waivers. Alternative Match

Schedules are not an option for any AmeriCorps Seniors grantees.

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For AmeriCorps Seniors:

[§2551.92 (SCP), §2552.92 (FGP), §2553.72 (RSVP)]

AmeriCorps Seniors grantees must demonstrate that they meet at least one of the

following criteria for a full match waiver for awards that will be issued in FY 2022:

(1) Initial difficulties in the development of local funding sources during the

first three years of operations; or

What to submit: documentation that non-AmeriCorps funding requests were

denied during the final year of the grant period such as letters or denial or

other independent documentation that requests were not approved or are

not likely to be approved.

(2) An economic downturn, the occurrence of a natural disaster, or similar

events in the service area that severely restrict or reduce sources of local

funding support; or

What to submit: documentation that any of the above impacted grantees’

ability to secure non-AmeriCorps funds.

(3) The unexpected discontinuation of local support from one or more

sources that a project has relied on for a period of years.

What to submit: documentation that prior match providers will not provide

match for FY 2022 grant.

AmeriCorps Seniors grantees must also identify what activities on the grantee

share would not happen if the waiver is granted.

Grantees will submit the request and all supporting documentation in a single

email to matchwaivers@cns.gov.

For AmeriCorps State and National:

AmeriCorps National Direct grantees will submit their waiver requests and all

supporting documentation in a single email to matchwaivers@cns.gov.

AmeriCorps State subgrantees will submit their waiver requests to the State

Service Commission for review and approval. If the commission approves the sub

grantee(s) waiver request, the commission will submit the request(s) and all

supporting documentation on behalf of the sub grantee(s) in a single email to

matchwaivers@cns.gov. As stated above, the expectation is that request for
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[§2521.70]

(a) The Corporation may waive, in whole or in part, the requirements of

§§2521.45 and 2521.60 of this part if the Corporation determines that a waiver

would be equitable because of a lack of available financial resources at the

local level. 

(b) If you are requesting a waiver, you must demonstrate: 

(1) The lack of resources at the local level; and

What to submit: documentation specific to the local community(s) that the

program serves of a lack of resources.

(2) That the lack of resources in your local community is unique or unusual; and 

What to submit: documentation specific to the local community(s) that the

program serves of a lack of resources.

(3) The efforts you have made to raise matching resources; and 

What to submit: documentation of effort, including denial letters for funding

requests, that matching efforts have not been successful.

(4) The amount of matching resources you have raised or reasonably expect

to raise. 

What to submit: documentation of matching resources secured or likely to be

secured that ties back to the “source of funds” section of your budget

narrative. 

(c) You must also provide with your waiver request:

(1) A request for the specific amount of match you are requesting that the

Corporation waive; and

(2) A budget and budget narrative that reflects the requested level in

matching resources.