CNCS Performance Measures Instructions 

AmeriCorps State and National 

2018 
2

Table of Contents 

AmeriCorps State and National Performance Measures Requirements......................................................................... 3

AmeriCorps State and National Performance Measures Selection Rules .....................................................5

DISASTER SERVICES ................................................................................................................................................ 8

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ...................................................................................................................................12

EDUCATION ..............................................................................................................................................................23

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ......................................................................................................................39

HEALTHY FUTURES ................................................................................................................................................49

VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES ..................................................................................124

CAPACITY BUILDING .............................................................................................................................................66

Appendix A: MSY and Member Allocations

Appendix B: Performance Measure Checklist

Appendix C: Frequently Asked Questions
3

AmeriCorps State and National Performance Measures Requirements 

All applications must include at least one aligned performance measure (output paired with outcome) that 

corresponds to the proposed primary intervention. This may be a National Performance Measure or an applicantdetermined measure depending on the program’s theory of change. Starting in the 2018 grant year, applications may 

also include National Performance Measure outputs without associated outcome(s) provided that the output 

measures a significant program activity. These do not fulfill the requirement for an aligned performance measure, 

but may be selected in addition to the aligned measure(s).

Starting in the 2018 grant year, CNCS will no longer require National Performance Measure outputs to be paired 

with associated National Performance Measure outcomes. All National Performance Measure outputs may now be 

paired with an applicant determined outcome, or with no outcome at all (see above). CNCS does not require 

applicants to use National Performance Measures but expects them to do so if National Performance Measures 

reflect key outputs and/or outcomes of the theory of change. Applicants may not create applicant determined 

outputs or outcomes that duplicate existing National Performance Measures.

All performance measures should reflect significant program activities whose outputs and outcomes are aligned with 

the applicant’s core theory of change. CNCS recommends that applicants do not select their performance measures 

until after they have fully explored their program’s theory of change and created a logic model. This will ensure that 

performance measures are responsive to the theory of change, as opposed to the theory of change being responsive 

to performance measures.

CNCS values the quality of performance measures over the quantity of performance measures. Applicants are not 

expected to have performance measures for every program activity and should not select National Performance 

Measures if they are unable to comply with all of the requirements outlined in these instructions. All definitions and 

requirements specified in the National Performance Measure Instructions must be included in the text of the 

performance measures in the performance measures module, and it must be evident in in this text that all definitions 

and requirements outlined in the National Performance Measures Instructions and FAQs are met. Should an 

applicant choose to provide duplicate information about performance measures in the narrative, this information will 

also need to be in the performance measures module. 
4

AmeriCorps State and National Performance Measures Selection Rules 

These selection rules specify allowable output/outcome pairings for priority and complementary National 

Performance Measures. Applicants must follow these selection rules when using National Performance Measures. 

Applicants may not select any National Performance Measures that may appear in eGrants if they are not present on 

this list (applicants that are in continuation may retain any previously-selected measures until their next recompete 

cycle). Please see the NOFO for additional information about application requirements. 

Disaster Services 

Type of Measure Selection Rule Strategic Plan Objective

Output Outcome (if applicable)*

Priority D1 Applicant Determined Outcome Assistance Provided

Priority D2 Applicant Determined Outcome Assistance Provided

Priority D3 Applicant Determined Outcome Assistance Provided

Priority D4 Applicant Determined Outcome Assistance Provided

*Applicants may select National Performance Measure outputs without associated outcome(s) if the output measures 

a significant program activity. These do not fulfill the requirement for an aligned performance measure, but may be 

included in addition to the aligned measure(s).

Economic Opportunity 

Type of Measure Selection Rule Strategic Plan Objective

Output Outcome (if applicable)*

Priority O5 O11 and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome

Housing

Complementary O1 O9 and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome

Financial Literacy

Complementary O4 Applicant Determined Outcome Housing

Complementary O2 Applicant Determined Outcome Employment

Complementary O3 O10 and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome

Employment

Complementary** O12 O15 and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome

Find Opportunity

Complementary** O13 O16 and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome

Find Opportunity

Complementary** O14 O17 and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome

Find Opportunity
5

*Applicants may select National Performance Measure outputs without associated outcome(s) if the output measures 

a significant program activity. These do not fulfill the requirement for an aligned performance measure, but may be 

included in addition to the aligned measure(s).

**Applicants using these measures must also select a priority, complementary, or applicant-determined aligned 

performance measure to reflect the community impact of the program 

Education 

Type of Measure Selection Rule Strategic Plan Objective

Output Outcome (if applicable)*

Priority ED20 ED23, ED24, ED25, and/or 

Applicant Determined Outcome

School Readiness

Priority ED1 ED5, ED27A, ED27B, and/or

Applicant Determined Outcome

K-12 Success

Priority ED3A ED5, ED27A, ED27B, and/or 

Applicant Determined Outcome

K-12 Success

Complementary ED1 ED9, ED10, ED26, ED30, and/or 

Applicant Determined Outcome

K-12 Success

Complementary ED3A ED9, ED10, ED26, ED30, and/or 

Applicant Determined Outcome

K-12 Success

Complementary ED31 ED11 and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome

Post-HS Education Support

Complementary** ED12 ED17, and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome (ED18 and ED19 are 

optional)

Teacher Corps

*Applicants may select National Performance Measure outputs without associated outcome(s) if the output measures 

a significant program activity. These do not fulfill the requirement for an aligned performance measure, but may be 

included in addition to the aligned measure(s). 

**Teacher Corps programs must also select a priority, complementary, or applicant-determined aligned performance 

measure to reflect the community impact of the program 

Environmental Stewardship 

Type of Measure Selection Rule Strategic Plan Objective

Output Outcome (if applicable)*

Priority EN4 EN4.1 and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome

At-Risk Ecosystems

Priority EN5 EN5.1 and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome

At-Risk Ecosystems
6

Complementary EN1 EN1.1 and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome

Energy Efficiency

Complementary** EN2 EN2.1 and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome

Green Jobs

Complementary EN3 EN3.1, EN3.2, and/or Applicant 

Determined Outcome

Awareness & Stewardship

Complementary EN6 EN6.1 and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome

At-Risk Ecosystems

*Applicants may select National Performance Measure outputs without associated outcome(s) if the output measures 

a significant program activity. These do not fulfill the requirement for an aligned performance measure, but may be 

included in addition to the aligned measure(s). 

**Applicants using this measure must also select a priority, complementary, or applicant-determined aligned 

performance measure to reflect the community impact of the program

Healthy Futures 

Type of Measure Selection Rule Strategic Plan Objective

Output Outcome (if applicable)*

Priority H8 H9 and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome

Aging in Place

Priority H10 and/or H11 H12 and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome

Obesity & Food

Complementary H1 Applicant Determined Outcome Access to Care

Complementary H2 Applicant Determined Outcome Access to Care

Complementary H3 Applicant Determined Outcome Access to Care

Complementary H4 Applicant Determined Outcome Access to Care

Complementary H5 Applicant Determined Outcome Obesity & Food

Complementary H6 Applicant Determined Outcome Obesity & Food

Complementary H7 Applicant Determined Outcome Obesity & Food

*Applicants may select National Performance Measure outputs without associated outcome(s) if the output measures 

a significant program activity. These do not fulfill the requirement for an aligned performance measure, but may be 

included in addition to the aligned measure(s). 
7

Veterans and Military Families 

Type of Measure Selection Rule Strategic Plan Objective

Output Outcome (if applicable)*

Priority V1 Applicant Determined Outcome Veterans & Families Served

Priority V2 Applicant Determined Outcome Access & Attract

Priority V7 Applicant Determined Outcome Veterans & Families Served

Priority V8 Applicant Determined Outcome Veterans & Families Served

Priority V9 Applicant Determined Outcome Veterans & Families Served

Priority V10 Applicant Determined Outcome Access & Attract

Complementary V3 Applicant Determined Outcome Veterans & Families Served

Complementary V4 Applicant Determined Outcome Veterans & Families Served

Complementary V6 Applicant Determined Outcome Veterans & Families Served

*Applicants may select National Performance Measure outputs without associated outcome(s) if the output measures 

a significant program activity. These do not fulfill the requirement for an aligned performance measure, but may be 

included in addition to the aligned measure(s). 

Capacity Building 

Type of Measure Selection Rule Strategic Plan Objective

Output Outcome (if applicable)*

Priority G3-3.1 and/or 

G3-3.2

G3-3.3 and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome

Capacity Building & Leverage

Complementary G3-3.4, G3-3.5, 

G3-3.6, G3-3.7 

and/or G3-3.8

G3-3.9, G3-3.10, G3-3.11, G3-3.12, 

G3-3.13, G3-3.14, G3-3.15, G3-3.16, 

G3-3.17, and/or Applicant Determined 

Outcome (End outcomes G3-3.18 and 

G3-3.19 are optional)

Capacity Building & Leverage

*Applicants may select National Performance Measure outputs without associated outcome(s) if the output measures 

a significant program activity. These do not fulfill the requirement for an aligned performance measure, but may be 

included in addition to the aligned measure(s). 
8

DISASTER SERVICES

Review Notes 

 Grantees whose program model does not intentionally reach individuals affected by disasters, but who 

serve these individuals during the program year will be able to report on this activity in the GPR 

demographics. They do not have to opt into disaster measures at the time of application, unless disaster 

service activities are a significant part of their program design 

 Stating that “Members are ready to serve” does not qualify an applicant to select disaster measures.

Measure 

D1

Number of individuals that received CNCS-supported services in disaster preparedness.

Definition of Key 

Terms

CNCS-supported services: Could be a variety of different kinds of supports to help the 

individuals have a higher quality of life, but cannot only be referrals to federal services without 

supplementary assistance. The assistance may be delivered by phone, e-mail, or in person. It 

may be delivered individually or as a group.

Preparedness: Actions that involve a combination of planning, resources, training, exercising, 

and organizing to build, sustain, and improve operational capabilities. Preparedness is the 

process of identifying the personnel, training, and equipment needed for a wide range of 

potential incidents, and developing jurisdiction-specific plans for delivering capabilities when 

needed for an incident.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of individuals that received CNCS-supported services in disaster 

preparedness.

The data should be collected using a tracking mechanism appropriate for the type of service, 

such as: CNCS-supported agency’s call center records, referral logs, sign-in sheet, client 

tracking database, or other information management system.

Measure 

D2

Number of individuals that received CNCS-supported services in disaster response.

Definition of Key 

Terms

CNCS-supported services: Could be a variety of different kinds of supports to help the 

individuals have a higher quality of life, but cannot only be referrals to federal services without 

supplementary assistance. The assistance may be delivered by phone, e-mail, or in person. It 

may be delivered individually or as a group.

Response: Immediate actions to save lives, protect property and the environment, and meet 

basic human needs. Response also includes the execution of emergency plans and actions to 

support short-term recovery.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of individuals that received CNCS-supported services in disaster response.

The data should be collected using a tracking mechanism appropriate for the type of service, 

such as: CNCS-supported agency’s call center records, referral logs, sign-in sheet, client 

tracking database, or other information management system.
9

Measure 

D3

Number of individuals that received CNCS-supported services in disaster recovery.

Definition of Key 

Terms

CNCS-supported services: Could be a variety of different kinds of supports to help the 

individuals have a higher quality of life, but cannot only be referrals to federal services without 

supplementary assistance. The assistance may be delivered by phone, e-mail, or in person. It 

may be delivered individually or as a group.

Recovery: The development, coordination, and execution of service- and site-restoration plans; 

the reconstitution of government operations and services; individual, private-sector, 

nongovernmental, and public-assistance programs to provide housing and to promote 

restoration; long-term care and treatment of affected persons; additional measures for social, 

political, environmental, and economic restoration; evaluation of the incident to identify lessons 

learned; post incident reporting; and development of initiatives to mitigate the effects of future 

incidents.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of individuals that received CNCS-supported services in disaster recovery.

The data should be collected using a tracking mechanism appropriate for the type of service, 

such as: CNCS-supported agency’s call center records, referral logs, sign-in sheet, client 

tracking database, or other information management system.

Measure 

D4

Number of individuals that received CNCS-supported services in disaster mitigation.

Definition of Key 

Terms

CNCS-supported services: Could be a variety of different kinds of supports to help the 

individuals have a higher quality of life, but cannot only be referrals to federal services without 

supplementary assistance. The assistance may be delivered by phone, e-mail, or in person. It 

may be delivered individually or as a group.

Mitigation: Activities providing a critical foundation in the effort to reduce the loss of life and 

property from natural and/or manmade disasters by avoiding or lessening the impact of a 

disaster and providing value to the public by creating safer communities. Mitigation seeks to fix 

the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. These activities or actions, 

in most cases, will have a long-term sustained effect.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of individuals that received CNCS-supported services in disaster mitigation

The data should be collected using a tracking mechanism appropriate for the type of service, 

such as: CNCS-supported agency’s call center records, referral logs, sign-in sheet, client 

tracking database, or other information management system.

Performance Measure Example: 

Field What Should Be Entered Here Example

Title Enter a short, descriptive title for your 

performance measure. Different aligned 

performance measures should have different 

titles so that they can be easily referenced.

Disaster Preparedness Education

Problem Statement Briefly describe the problem your program 

will address with this performance measure. 

Your description should provide just 

enough context that the program’s theory of 

change will be evident without referencing 

the application narrative or logic model. 

Also address any definitions from the 

A community need survey conducted last 

year indicates that residents in 

communities in our state that are at-risk of 

disaster lack basic knowledge of disaster 

preparedness.
10

Performance Measures Instructions that are 

relevant to the aligned measure as a whole, 

e.g. definition of “economically 

disadvantaged.” 

Selected 

Interventions

Select only the interventions that contribute

to the outcomes of this aligned performance 

measure. For applicant-determined 

interventions, enter a one or two word 

description of the intervention.

Training

Description of 

Interventions

Describe the design and dosage of the 

interventions you have selected.

Ten full-time AmeriCorps members will 

deliver disaster preparedness training to 

youth and community residents, focusing 

on developing individual and family 

preparedness for home fires, tornadoes, 

earthquakes and flooding. Members will 

focus activities on those communities 

identified to be most at-risk for disaster 

and will deliver presentations to an 

average of 300 individuals per month for 

10 months.

Output Either select National Performance Measure 

output(s) or enter your own output title. If 

entering an applicant-determined output, it 

should be clear what the output is counting.

Number of individuals that received 

CNCS-supported services in disaster 

preparedness.

Select Method Select the data collection method you will 

use to measure the output. If the National 

Performance Measure(s) you have selected 

require a specific instrument, you must 

select that instrument.

Attendance log, tracking system

Instrument 

Description

In this text field you must provide the name 

of the instrument you will use to measure 

the output, a clear description of what the 

instrument will measure, and an explanation 

of how you will ensure that beneficiaries are 

not double counted. Also describe how the 

instrument is sufficient to meet the data 

collection requirements outlined in the 

Performance Measures Instructions, if 

applicable.

Individuals sign an attendance log at 

member presentations. Program staff 

enters participant information into our 

internal tracking system, which can 

identify and consolidate duplicate entries 

and ensure that individuals are not counted 

more than once.

Target # The number of beneficiaries described in 

the output title. Targets must be numbers, 

not percents.

30,000

Unit of Measure The unit of measure specified in the output 

title. The unit of measure auto-populates 

for National Performance Measures. For 

applicant-determined measures, the unit of 

measure should describe the population you 

intend to count (children, miles, etc.)

Individuals
11

Outcome Title Either select National Performance Measure 

outcome(s) or enter your own outcome title. 

If entering an applicant-determined 

outcome, it should clearly state a 

measurable change in knowledge, attitude, 

behavior or condition.

Number of individuals with increased 

knowledge of disaster preparedness

Select Method Select the data collection method you will 

use to measure the outcome. If the National 

Performance Measure(s) you have selected 

require a specific instrument, you must 

select that instrument.

Pre-Post Test

Instrument 

Description

In this text field you must provide the name 

of the instrument you will use to measure 

the outcome, a clear description of what the 

instrument will measure and how the 

construct to be measured is defined, the 

timeline for administering the instrument 

and the level of improvement that is 

necessary to be counted as having 

improved. Also provide details about the 

reliability and validity of the instrument, 

and how the instrument is sufficient to meet 

the data collection requirements outlined in 

the Performance Measures Instructions, if 

applicable.

Members will administer a pre- and posttest that measures knowledge of key 

disaster preparedness topics, using survey 

questions developed and validated on the 

national Public Readiness Index. An 

increase in knowledge of 30% or more will 

be considered sufficient for a participant to 

be considered as having increased 

knowledge. Pre- and post-tests will be 

administered to all beneficiaries. Results 

from the pre-post test will be entered into 

our internal tracking system, which allows 

us to track the number of interventions any 

individual has received.

Target # The number of beneficiaries described in 

the outcome title. Targets must be numbers, 

not percentages.

20,000

Unit of Measure The unit of measure specified in the output 

title. The unit of measure auto-populates 

for National Performance Measures. For 

applicant-determined measures, the unit of 

measure should describe the population you 

intend to count (children, miles, etc.)

Individuals
12

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY 

Measure O1 Number of economically disadvantaged individuals receiving financial literacy services.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Economically disadvantaged: Must be receiving or meet the income eligibility requirements to 

receive: TANF, Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8 housing assistance OR have 

a poor credit score OR are at least 60 days behind on one or more personal/family accounts. 

Individuals: May be a single individual or may represent a family; may be of any age 

considered an “adult” in the state where services are provided

Financial literacy services: Includes “financial literacy education with regard to credit 

management, financial institutions including banks and credit unions, and utilization of savings 

plans” (2009 Serve America Act).

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of individuals to whom the “financial literacy services” are provided. Note 

that this is not simply a referral service. Individuals may contact the organization more than 

once during the year to get help but each individual should be reported here only once. Services 

may be provided in-person, on the phone, or by email.

Tracking mechanism appropriate for type of service. May be a sign-in sheet or a tracking 

database.

Measure O2 Number of economically disadvantaged individuals receiving job training and other skill 

development services.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Economically disadvantaged individuals: Must be receiving or meet the income eligibility 

requirements to receive: TANF, Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8 housing 

assistance OR have a poor credit score OR are at least 60 days behind on one or more 

personal/family accounts.

Job training: occupational skill training delivered in an institutional or classroom setting or 

skill training provided in an experiential workplace setting (may be called on-the-job training or 

work experience). P. 3, Job Training Policy in the United States, The Upjohn Institute, 2004. 

Includes job training that results in obtaining a state or union certification in a skilled trade. 

Other skill development services: these include:

 Remedial Education such as Adult Basic Education, GED Education, Adult ESL 

Education.

 Classroom soft skills training that provides information about appropriate workplace 

behavior or job search skills.

(Job Training Policy in the United States, The Upjohn Institute, 2004.)

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of individuals completing the job training or skill development service for 

which they enrolled.

Course attendance records.
13

Measure O3 Number of economically disadvantaged individuals receiving job placement services.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Economically disadvantaged individuals: Must be receiving or meet the income eligibility 

requirements to receive: TANF, Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8 housing 

assistance OR have a poor credit score OR are at least 60 days behind on one or more 

personal/family accounts.

Job placement services: These services include job search and placement assistance (including 

career counseling); labor market information (which identifies job vacancies; skills needed for 

in-demand jobs; and local, regional and national employment trends); initial assessment of skills 

and needs; information about available services.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data:

Unduplicated count of individuals completing the job placement services for which they 

enrolled.

Course attendance records.

Measure O4 Number of housing units developed, repaired, or otherwise made available for low-income 

individuals, families or people with disabilities.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Housing unit: A single-family home (including a mobile home if permanently placed), an 

apartment, or a room in a group home for people with disabilities. 

Develop: Build new or substantially rehabilitate housing units that were uninhabitable or soon 

would have become so. Involves replacing major systems such as the roof, the plumbing, the 

wiring, the foundation, or elevating the unit as required by a flood plain standard. 

Repair: A more modest level of physical work on the unit, such as weatherizing, painting, 

replacing appliances and removing safety hazards.

Otherwise made available: Activities that make available through improved access a housing 

unit that is in the housing stock and likely to remain habitable. For example, assistance in 

searching for the unit, a rent subsidy that makes the unit affordable to the individual or family. 

Low-income: Must be receiving or meet the income eligibility requirements to receive: TANF, 

Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8 housing assistance OR have a poor credit 

score OR are at least 60 days behind on one or more personal/family accounts.

Individuals and families: The U.S. Census definition of “household,” which includes all the 

persons who occupy a housing unit. The occupants may be a single family, one person living 

alone, two or more families living together, or any other group of related or unrelated persons

who share living arrangements.

People with disabilities: Subset of individuals and families that meets a definition related to 

inability to live independently without support (could use HUD definition). 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of Housing Units developed, repaired, or otherwise made available as 

defined here for low income individuals, families or persons with disabilities. This count 

indicates that the work has been completed to make the units available but they may or may not 

have been occupied. 

Programs can use a dollar cut-off to distinguish “developed” from “repaired” (e.g., 30K/unit) or 

can distinguish by whether major systems are replaced. Dollar cut-off would require valuing 

volunteer labor, distinguishing between skilled trades and other workers. 

Programs that are able to count Individuals placed in the housing units they develop, repair or 

make available should report on Measure O5.

Inspection report, certificate of occupancy, or other verification from an external agency that the 

work was completed.
14

Measure O5 Number of economically disadvantaged individuals, including homeless individuals, receiving 

housing services.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Economically disadvantaged: Must be receiving or meet the income eligibility requirements to 

receive: TANF, Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8 housing assistance OR have 

a poor credit score OR are at least 60 days behind on one or more personal/family accounts.

Homeless: Individuals who spend the night in a place not intended for human habitation, in an 

emergency shelter, or in a transitional housing facility. See the Dept. of Housing and Urban 

Development definition at http://www.hud.gov/homeless/definition.cfm

Individuals: Each unique person who will be occupying the unit legally including adults and 

children but not unborn children.

Housing services: Helps qualifying individuals find appropriate housing, find the resources to 

support use of appropriate housing, and assists individuals in accessing the appropriate housing. 

May or may not result in an actual placement. May also include hands-on housing development 

and repair activities. Housing development adds to the housing stock by building a new unit or 

substantially rehabilitating a unit that was either uninhabitable or soon would have become so. 

Involves replacing major systems such as the roof, the plumbing, the wiring, the foundation, or 

elevating the unit as required by a flood plain standard. Housing repair is a more modest level 

of physical work on the unit, such as weatherizing, painting, replacing appliances and removing 

safety hazards. Service requires an engagement with the individual in person, by phone, or 

through a web-interface. Pamphlets, brochures, or web-based information that does not involve 

a human interaction is not sufficient.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of Individuals as defined above benefitting from the housing service. Can only count 

each individual once during the program year even though it may be necessary to provide 

services to the individual more than once.

Programs that are only able to count Housing Units should report on Measure O4.

The data should be collected using a tracking mechanism appropriate for the type of service, 

which may include: CNCS-supported agency’s administrative or call center records, referral 

logs, attendance logs or sign-in sheet, client tracking database, or other information management 

system.

The client tracking database should have unique IDs (e.g. Homeless Management Information 

System (HMIS).

Measure O9 Number of economically disadvantaged individuals with improved financial knowledge.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Disadvantaged individuals: those counted as participating in O1.

Improved Financial Knowledge: the financial literacy program should have learning 

objectives. The improved financial knowledge should be based on those pre-defined learning 

objectives. Individuals participating in the financial literacy services should know more after 

they participate than before.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of individuals provided services in O1 whose pre-test and post-test scores indicate that 

they know more about at least one of the financial literacy topics presented. 

Must conduct a pre-test/post-test to determine amount of knowledge gained. 
15

Measure O10 Number of economically disadvantaged individuals placed in jobs.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Economically disadvantaged individuals: Individuals counted for O3

Placed in jobs: individual is hired in a new job as a result of job placement services provided; 

individual may have been previously working in a different job or previously unemployed.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of individuals receiving services in O3 who are hired into a new job. Count each 

individual only once even if the individual receives placement in more than one job.

Suggested method is a copy of acceptance letter from employer or copy of first pay stub. 

Measure O11 Number of economically disadvantaged individuals, including homeless individuals, 

transitioned into safe, healthy, affordable housing.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Economically disadvantaged: Must be receiving or meet the income eligibility requirements to 

receive: TANF, Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8 housing assistance OR have 

a poor credit score OR are at least 60 days behind on one or more personal/family accounts.

Homeless: Individuals who spend the night in a place not intended for human habitation, in an 

emergency shelter, or in a transitional housing facility. See the Dept. of Housing and Urban 

Development’s definition at http://www.hud.gov/homeless/definition.cfm

Individuals: Each unique person who will be occupying the unit legally including adults and 

children but not unborn children.

Safe, healthy, affordable housing: Family or individual moves into a housing unit with secure 

tenure (lease or ownership document). Grantee certifies that the housing is safe and healthy, 

based on an inspection or other documentation. Grantee defines affordability and certifies that 

the housing unit is affordable to the household. See the Dept. of Housing and Urban 

Development’s Affordable Housing page at http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/affordablehousing/

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of individuals. Can only count each person once during the program year even though it 

may be necessary to provide services more than once.

An inspection report and certificate of occupancy, proof of residence such as lease or mortgage, 

or other verification from an external agency that the work was completed and is being occupied 

might be used.

 

Measure O12 Number of economically disadvantaged National Service Participants who are unemployed 

prior to their term of service.

Definition of Key 

Terms

This measure is a count of individuals who are entered into CNCS’ National Service Trust 

database. Individuals who are not enrolled in the National Service Trust will not be counted. 

Economically disadvantaged National Service Participants: Current National Service 

Participants who are receiving or meet the income eligibility requirements to receive: TANF, 

Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8 housing assistance. 

Unemployed: do not have paid, regular employment or were not serving in the military/national 

guard within the month prior to beginning their term of service. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Count of economically disadvantaged National Service Participants who are unemployed prior 

to their term of service according to above definition. 
16

Collect Data Suggested: Self-report of National Service Participant at beginning of term of service. 

Additional Notes If the applicant’s or grantee’s goal is to help the National Service Participants obtain 

employment during their term of service that may result in the National Service Participants

leaving service early, they should ensure that the program has approved design that includes exit 

for “compelling personal circumstances” as specified in 45 CFR §2522.230.

The program should collect the data at the time the National Service Participant begins service. 

What were you doing most of last month? 

 Working at a regular job

 Serving in the military / reserves 

 Working sporadically

 Looking for work

 Other _____________________

Review Notes MSYs and slots must be zero for Teacher Corps (ED12, ED17, ED18, ED19) and Member 

Development (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) performance measures and any other 

performance measures that are focused exclusively on member development rather than 

beneficiary outcomes (EN2, EN2.1, V2, V10).

Member development measures (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) or volunteer generation 

measures (G3-3.1, G3-3.2, G3-3.3) should only be present if these activities are the primary 

focus of the program or a significant component of the program's theory of change.

Applicants selecting this measure must also select a performance measure that reflects the 

community impact of the program from any focus area. 

Measure O13 Number of economically disadvantaged National Service Participants who have not obtained 

their high school diploma or equivalent prior to the start of their term of service.

Definition of Key 

Terms

This measure is a count of individuals who are entered into CNCS’ National Service Trust 

database. Individuals who are not enrolled in the National Service Trust will not be counted. 

Economically disadvantaged National Service Participants: Current National Service 

Participants who are receiving or meet the income eligibility requirements to receive: TANF, 

Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8 housing assistance. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

The program should collect the data at the time the National Service Participant begins service. 

Have you obtained your GED/diploma?

 Yes

 No 

 Not sure. Explain. _____________________________________
17

Review Notes MSYs and slots must be zero for Teacher Corps (ED12, ED17, ED18, ED19) and Member 

Development (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) performance measures and any other 

performance measures that are focused exclusively on member development rather than 

beneficiary outcomes (EN2, EN2.1, V2, V10).

Member development measures (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) or volunteer generation 

measures (G3-3.1, G3-3.2, G3-3.3) should only be present if these activities are the primary 

focus of the program or a significant component of the program's theory of change.

Applicants selecting this measure must also select a performance measure that reflects the 

community impact of the program from any focus area.

Measure O14 Number of economically disadvantaged National Service Participants who have their high 

school diploma or equivalent but have not completed a college degree prior to their term of 

service.

Definition of Key 

Terms

This measure is a count of individuals who are entered into CNCS’ National Service Trust 

database. Individuals who are not enrolled in the National Service Trust will not be counted. 

College, as defined for this performance measure, refers to any postsecondary higher education 

institution. Therefore, it includes colleges, universities, and technical and vocational schools 

(definition of college per US Census).

Economically disadvantaged National Service Participants: Current National Service

Participants who are receiving or meet the income eligibility requirements to receive: TANF, 

Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8 housing assistance

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

The program should collect the data at the time the National Service Participant begins service. 

Have you obtained your GED/diploma?

 Yes

 No 

 Not sure. Explain. _____________________________________

Have you completed a college degree?

 Yes

 No 

 Not sure. Explain. _____________________________________

Review Notes MSYs and slots must be zero for Teacher Corps (ED12, ED17, ED18, ED19) and Member 

Development (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) performance measures and any other 

performance measures that are focused exclusively on member development rather than 

beneficiary outcomes (EN2, EN2.1, V2, V10).

Member development measures (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) or volunteer generation 

measures (G3-3.1, G3-3.2, G3-3.3) should only be present if these activities are the primary 

focus of the program or a significant component of the program's theory of change.

Applicants selecting this measure must also select a performance measure that reflects the 

community impact of the program from any focus area.
18

Measure O15 Number of economically disadvantaged National Service Participants that secure employment 

during their term of service or within thirty days after finishing the program

Definition of Key 

Terms

This measure is a count of individuals who are entered into CNCS’ National Service Trust 

database who complete their term of service, earn an education award, or leave service due to 

compelling circumstances (see 45 CFR §2522.200). Individuals who are not enrolled in the 

Education Trust, or who are dismissed, will not be counted. 

Economically disadvantaged National Service Participants: Current National Service 

Participants who are receiving or meet the income eligibility requirements to receive: TANF, 

Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8 housing assistance 

Securing employment refers to paid, regular employment or serving in the military/national 

guard within the past week. 

The span of time for which a member will be counted under this measure includes enrollment to 

30 days after a member leaves service. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Program will have to wait until end of term of service to determine if the member should be 

counted here. Would only be counted if: (1) meet the count of individuals as define above and 

(2) have not been admitted for another term of service. 

If the applicant’s or grantee’s goal is to help the National Service Participants obtain 

employment during their term of service that may result in the National Service Participants

leaving service early, they should ensure that the program has approved design that includes exit 

for “compelling personal circumstances” as specified in 45 CFR §2522.230.

Count of individuals in O12 who are hired into a job during the term of service or within 30 

days after finishing the program. Count each individual only once even if the individual 

receives placement in more than one job.

Suggested: Copy of acceptance letter from employer or copy of first pay stub. 

Review Notes MSYs and slots must be zero for Teacher Corps (ED12, ED17, ED18, ED19) and Member 

Development (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) performance measures and any other 

performance measures that are focused exclusively on member development rather than 

beneficiary outcomes (EN2, EN2.1, V2, V10).

Member development measures (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) or volunteer generation 

measures (G3-3.1, G3-3.2, G3-3.3) should only be present if these activities are the primary 

focus of the program or a significant component of the program's theory of change.

Applicants selecting this measure must also select a performance measure that reflects the 

community impact of the program from any focus area.

Measure O16 Number of economically disadvantaged National Service Participants that obtain a 

GED/diploma while serving in a CNCS program or within 30 days after finishing the program.
19

Definition of Key 

Terms

This measure is a count of individuals who are entered into CNCS’ National Service Trust 

database who complete their term of service, earn an education award, or leave service due to 

compelling circumstances (see 45 CFR §2522.200). Individuals who are not enrolled in the 

Education Trust, or who are dismissed, will not be counted. 

Economically disadvantaged National Service Participants: Current National Service 

Participants who are receiving or meet the income eligibility requirements to receive: TANF, 

Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8 housing assistance. 

The span of time for which a member will be counted under this measure includes enrollment to 

30 days after a member leaves service.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Program will have to wait until end of term of service to determine if the member should be 

counted here. Would only be counted if member meets the count of individuals as define above.

Of the members counted in O13, count of how many obtained a GED/diploma either during 

their term of service or within 30 days after the term of service ends.

Have you obtained your GED/diploma since [enter date of enrollment]?

 Yes

 No 

Have you obtained your GED/diploma since leaving the program?

 Yes

 No

Review Notes MSYs and slots must be zero for Teacher Corps (ED12, ED17, ED18, ED19) and Member 

Development (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) performance measures and any other 

performance measures that are focused exclusively on member development rather than 

beneficiary outcomes (EN2, EN2.1, V2, V10).

Member development measures (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) or volunteer generation 

measures (G3-3.1, G3-3.2, G3-3.3) should only be present if these activities are the primary 

focus of the program or a significant component of the program's theory of change.

Applicants selecting this measure must also select a performance measure that reflects the 

community impact of the program from any focus area.

Measure O17 Number of economically disadvantaged members that register for a college course during the 

term of service or within 30 days after finishing a CNCS-supported program
20

Definition of Key 

Terms

This measure is a count of individuals who are entered into CNCS’ National Service Trust 

database, who complete their term of service, earn an education award, or leave service due to 

compelling circumstances (see 45 CFR §2522.200). Individuals who are not enrolled in the 

National Service Trust, or who are dismissed, will not be counted. 

College, as defined for this performance measure, refers to any postsecondary higher education 

institution. Therefore, it includes colleges, universities, and technical and vocational schools 

(definition of college per US Census).

Register for a college course: may have registered or enrolled in course during term of service 

or within 30 days after term of service ends. If student registered during the term of service, the 

student did not drop out and did not take an “incomplete.”

Economically disadvantaged National Service Participants: Current National Service 

Participants who are receiving or meet the income eligibility requirements to receive: TANF, 

Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8 housing assistance

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Program will have to wait until end of term of service to determine if the member should be 

counted here. Would only be counted if member meets the count of individuals as define above.

Of the members counted in O14, count of how many registered for a college course as defined 

above during the term of service or within 30 days after a member leaves service.

Have you registered for a college course while in the program or since leaving the program?

 Yes

 No

If yes, does this course contribute toward a recognized college degree or educational credential?

 Yes

 No

Review Notes MSYs and slots must be zero for Teacher Corps (ED12, ED17, ED18, ED19) and Member 

Development (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) performance measures and any other 

performance measures that are focused exclusively on member development rather than 

beneficiary outcomes (EN2, EN2.1, V2, V10).

Member development measures (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) or volunteer generation 

measures (G3-3.1, G3-3.2, G3-3.3) should only be present if these activities are the primary 

focus of the program or a significant component of the program's theory of change.

Applicants selecting this measure must also select a performance measure that reflects the 

community impact of the program from any focus area.

Performance Measure Example: 

Field What Should Be Entered Here Example

Title Enter a short, descriptive title for your 

performance measure. Different aligned 

performance measures should have different 

titles so that they can be easily referenced.

Improving Homes

Problem Statement Briefly describe the problem your program 

will address with this performance measure. 

Your description should provide just enough 

Ten percent of the housing stock in the 

rural areas of our state is classified as 

unhealthy or unsafe. The Adequate 
21

context that the program’s theory of change 

will be evident without referencing the 

application narrative or logic model. Also 

address any definitions from the 

Performance Measures Instructions that are 

relevant to the aligned measure as a whole, 

e.g. definition of “economically 

disadvantaged.” 

Housing for All AmeriCorps Program 

rebuilds or repairs severely distressed 

houses in a large rural area. The 

program will request information about 

the annual income of program 

beneficiaries, and only beneficiaries that 

meet the income eligibility requirements 

to receive TANF, Food Stamps (SNAP), 

Medicaid, SCHIP, and/or Section 8 

housing assistance will be counted.

Selected Interventions Select only the interventions that contribute 

to the outcomes of this aligned performance 

measure. For applicant-determined 

interventions, enter a one or two word 

description of the intervention.

Home Repair

Description of 

Interventions

Describe the design and dosage of the 

interventions you have selected.

Fifteen full-time AmeriCorps members, 

all of whom were unemployed prior to 

their service terms, repair severely 

distressed houses in a large rural area. 

Members receive extensive training in 

home rehabilitation techniques including 

roofing, plumbing, wiring and/or 

foundation repair. They work together 

in teams to identify homes in the area 

that are currently classified by inspectors 

as unhealthy or unsafe, then conduct the 

necessary building repair activity.

Output Either select National Performance Measure 

output(s) or enter your own output title. If 

entering an applicant-determined output, it 

should be clear what the output is counting.

Number of economically disadvantaged 

individuals, including homeless 

individuals, receiving housing services. 

Select Method Select the data collection method you will 

use to measure the output. If the National 

Performance Measure(s) you have selected 

require a specific instrument, you must 

select that instrument.

Other

Instrument Description In this text field you must provide the name 

of the instrument you will use to measure the 

output, a clear description of what the 

instrument will measure, and an explanation 

of how you will ensure that beneficiaries are 

not double counted. Also describe how the 

instrument is sufficient to meet the data 

collection requirements outlined in the 

Performance Measures Instructions, if 

applicable.

The program will record the number of 

economically disadvantaged individuals 

who reside in homes that are rebuilt 

and/or repaired by AmeriCorps 

members. Only beneficiaries that meet 

the income eligibility requirements to 

receive TANF, Food Stamps (SNAP), 

Medicaid, SCHIP, and/or Section 8 

housing assistance will be counted.
22

Target # The number of beneficiaries described in the 

output title. Targets must be numbers, not 

percents.

180

Unit of Measure The unit of measure specified in the output 

title. The unit of measure auto-populates for 

National Performance Measures. For 

applicant-determined measures, the unit of 

measure should describe the population you 

intend to count (children, miles, etc.)

Economically disadvantaged individuals

Outcome Title Either select National Performance Measure 

outcome(s) or enter your own outcome title. 

If entering an applicant-determined outcome, 

it should clearly state a measurable change 

in knowledge, attitude, behavior or 

condition.

Number of economically disadvantaged 

individuals, including homeless 

individuals, transitioned into safe, 

affordable housing.

Select Method Select the data collection method you will 

use to measure the outcome. If the National 

Performance Measure(s) you have selected 

require a specific instrument, you must 

select that instrument.

Other

Instrument Description In this text field you must provide the name 

of the instrument you will use to measure the 

outcome, a clear description of what the 

instrument will measure and how the 

construct to be measured is defined, the 

timeline for administering the instrument 

and the level of improvement that is 

necessary to be counted as having improved. 

Also provide details about the reliability and 

validity of the instrument, and how the 

instrument is sufficient to meet the data 

collection requirements outlined in the 

Performance Measures Instructions, if 

applicable.

When the repairs are completed, home 

inspections will be performed by a 

certified inspector to ensure that the 

completed home is safe and healthy. 

The residents of each household will 

also be asked what percentage of their 

household income will be considered 

affordable: Housing that costs 30% or 

less of the total household income will 

be considered affordable. All 

economically disadvantaged individuals 

who reside in rebuilt/repaired homes that 

pass inspection and meet the definition 

of “affordable” will be counted under 

this measure.

Target # The number of beneficiaries described in the 

outcome title. Targets must be numbers, not 

percents.

180

Unit of Measure The unit of measure specified in the output 

title. The unit of measure auto-populates for 

National Performance Measures. For 

applicant-determined measures, the unit of 

measure should describe the population you 

intend to count (children, miles, etc.)

Economically disadvantaged individuals
23

EDUCATION 

Measure ED1 Number of economically disadvantaged students or students with special/exceptional needs who 

start in a CNCS-supported education program.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Students: Individuals younger than 21 years of age who are enrolled or eligible for enrollment 

in grades K-12 

Economically disadvantaged: Eligible for free (at or below 130% of poverty) or reduced 

(between 130% to 185% of poverty) lunch or enrolled in a school where the majority of 

students are eligible for free or reduced lunch; may or may not actually be accessing 

free/reduced lunch. 

If data about free/reduced lunch eligibility is not available, economically disadvantaged may 

alternatively be defined as receiving or meet the income eligibility requirements to receive 

(either individually or at a family level): TANF, Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SCHIP, 

Section 8 housing assistance.

Students with special or exceptional needs: Students who are developmentally disabled, such 

as those who are autistic, have cerebral palsy or epilepsy, are visually impaired, speech 

impaired, hearing impaired, orthopedically impaired, are emotionally disturbed or have a 

language disorder, specific learning disability, have multiple disabilities, other significant health 

impairment or have literacy needs. Students who are abused or neglected; in need of foster care; 

adjudicated youth; homeless youth; teenage parents; and children in need of protective 

intervention in their homes. 

Education program: A program in which CNCS-supported activities help students maintain 

enrollment in and succeed in school (except mentoring programs). The help that grantees 

provide does not need to be in direct service to the students. However, the CNCS-supported 

activities must provide direct support that makes the program possible. 

Enrolled in a school where the majority of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch:

Grantees using this option to document economic disadvantage must demonstrate that the 

sites/schools they will engage already have a student population in which the largest percentage 

of students in the school come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, or explain an 

outreach strategy to increase the proportions of economically disadvantaged students in the 

program.

Start in: students enrolled in the education program at the beginning of the program. Counts 

may be updated if the number of participants increases.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of students who enroll in the program. Students may or may not complete 

the program. 

FAQs May programs opting into National Performance Measures in Education use a school or 

LEA’s participation in the Community Eligibility Provision to determine economic 

disadvantage for student beneficiaries?

Yes. The following definition of “Economically Disadvantaged” may be used as an alternative 

to the existing definitions in the National Performance Measure Instructions under performance 

measures ED1, ED3A, and/or ED20: “Students enrolled in schools that are participating in the 

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).”

Review Notes ED1 and ED3A cannot be used in the same aligned PM.

Mentoring may not be selected as an intervention in any education measures other than ED3A.

Measure ED3A Number of disadvantaged youth/mentor matches or youth with special or exceptional 

needs/mentor matches that are commenced by the CNCS-supported education program.

Definition of Key Mentors are adults who provide CNCS-sustained support to children or youth through either 
24

Terms community based programs or school based programs. Programs that involve peer to peer 

support should not be included in this measure- for those programs use Tutoring measures. For 

school-based mentorships, count mentees in those matches that are intended to be continuous, 

with the same mentor for one hour per week (or as age-appropriate for older mentees) with an 

intended duration of at least 6 months of one school year. For community-based mentorships, 

count mentees in those matches that are intended to be continuous, with the same mentor for 

two to three hours per week with an intended duration of at least 11 months. Mentoring 

relationships are ideally one mentor per child, but could be small group with a ratio of no more 

than 1:3.

Disadvantaged youth: “includes those youth who are economically disadvantaged and 1 or 

more of the following: (A) Who are out-of-school youth, including out-of-school youth who are 

unemployed. (B) Who are in or aging out of foster care. (C) Who have limited English 

proficiency. (D) Who are homeless or who have run away from home. (E) Who are at-risk to 

leave secondary school without a diploma. (F) Who are former juvenile offenders or at risk of 

delinquency. (G) Who are individuals with disabilities.” (From SAA). It is the grantee’s 

responsibility to ensure the beneficiaries of service meet the eligibility requirements provided in 

the definition.

Economically disadvantaged: 

Eligible for free (at or below 130% of poverty) or reduced (between 130% to 185% of poverty) 

lunch or enrolled in a school where the majority of students are eligible for free or reduced 

lunch; may or may not actually be accessing free/reduced lunch. 

If data about free/reduced lunch eligibility is not available, economically disadvantaged may be 

defined as receiving or meet the income eligibility requirements to receive (either individually 

or at a family level): TANF, Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8 housing 

assistance

Enrolled in a school where the majority of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch:

Grantees using this option to document economic disadvantage must demonstrate that the 

sites/schools they will engage already have a student population in which the largest percentage 

of students in the school come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, or explain an 

outreach strategy to increase the proportions of economically disadvantaged students in the 

program.

School-Based Mentoring: Mentoring that occurs on a school campus, either during the school 

day or before/after the traditional school day. Students are usually referred to school-based 

mentoring programs by teachers, counselors or other school staff.

Community-based mentoring: Mentoring that occurs at a site other than a school campus, at a 

time other than during the traditional school day.

Youth: Individuals younger than 21 years of age.

Youth with special or exceptional needs: Youth who are developmentally disabled, such as 

those who are autistic, have cerebral palsy or epilepsy, are visually impaired, speech impaired, 

hearing impaired, orthopedically impaired, are emotionally disturbed or have a language 

disorder, specific learning disability, have multiple disabilities, other significant health 

impairment or have literacy needs. Youth who are abused or neglected; in need of foster care; 

adjudicated youth; homeless youth; teenage parents; and youth in need of protective 

intervention in their homes.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data:

Programs will count the number of qualifying mentor-mentee matches that are initiated and/or 

or supported over the course of the program year. If the program model allows for “small 

group” mentoring instead of one-on-one matches, all participating mentees in the group should 

be counted. 

FAQs May programs opting into National Performance Measures in Education use a school or 

LEA’s participation in the Community Eligibility Provision to determine economic 

disadvantage for student beneficiaries?

Yes. The following definition of “Economically Disadvantaged” may be used as an alternative 

to the existing definitions in the National Performance Measure Instructions under performance 

measures ED1, ED3A, and/or ED20: “Students enrolled in schools that are participating in the 
25

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).”

Review Notes ED1 and ED3A are not used in the same aligned PM.

The mentoring intervention must be selected for ED3A, and no other interventions are selected 

for ED3A. Mentoring may not be selected as an intervention in any education measures other 

than ED3A.

Measure ED5 Number of students with improved academic performance in literacy and/or math.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Students: Those reported in either ED1 or ED3A.

Improved academic performance in literacy and/or math: as measured by an improved 

demonstration of skill/knowledge at post-test as compared to pre-test (gain score) using a 

standardized test/instrument. 

Literacy: includes English, language arts, and/or reading

Standardized test/instrument: has been validated externally on a randomly-selected population 

of students. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Programs will report the number of students from ED1 or ED3A who:

(1) achieved the “gain” or amount of progress that was approved at grant award, and/or

(2) performed on or above grade level if the post-test only method is being used. 

Amount of progress required:

The amount of progress required to count as “improved academic performance” must be specified 

in the approved grant application. If the program is using different tests for different groups of 

children, then different amounts of progress may be specified by test. Grantees/applicants should 

clearly justify in the approved grant application why the specified amount of progress is 

significant.

Standardized tests:

It is expected that most programs will use a standardized pre- and post-test to demonstrate 

improved academic performance. Only programs that demonstrate they are serving exclusively 

below grade level students and that provide a compelling reason why it is not feasible for them to 

conduct a pre-test/post-test may select the "Standardized post-test only" option. In these specific 

cases, the post-test must show the number of previously below-grade-level students that are 

performing at or above grade level after the program. 

Programs must select a standardized test that:

(1) measures the types of student skills/knowledge the program is trying to improve through its 

efforts, (2) is appropriate for the grade level, (3) has demonstrated validity or reliability for the 

population they are serving, and (4) is compatible with, and acceptable to, the school where the 

program is providing services (different tests may be used at different schools).

Pre-tests should be administered to the students participating in the program before they begin 

participation and again near the end of the service delivery period. Some tests suggest measuring 

improvement at more points during the year. Programs should follow the instructions provided by 

the test they have selected.

State standardized tests should generally not be used by most programs as it is expected that they 

will not be sufficiently tailored to the material taught by national service participants, may involve 

long delays before the data become available, and the child’s classroom teacher would have the 

primary effect on these scores. However, programs may request to use the state standardized test 

but need to demonstrate that it is appropriate for their circumstances. For all programs that 

propose to use the state standardized test, including Teacher Corps programs, please provide a 
26

justification that explains how the test is sufficiently tailored to the material taught, how the 

timeline for obtaining test data will meet national service reporting requirements, and why gains 

in the test are likely to be attributable, in part or in whole, to the efforts of national service 

participants. 

Obtaining test scores from school systems: 

For programs not themselves administering the test, the program will need to have some form of 

agreement, such as an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with the school or LEA (local 

education agency), to ensure that data for the needed children can be secured. Data are needed on 

the group of children you are serving, but not on individual children. Requesting data in this way 

is not likely to violate FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). 

The National Center on Response to Intervention website of the U.S. Department of Education 

provides some information about assessment tools (they call them progress monitoring tools).

Note that these are not specifically recommended, nor are these the only instruments that 

programs could use but the site provides good information about how to consider which tool your 

program might choose.

Review Notes If the applicant is measuring multiple subjects under ED5, it must be clear whether/how much 

students must improve in reading, math or both subjects in order to be counted.

FAQs Does the ED5 measure apply to adult education? 

Education measures are for K-12 and in some cases post-secondary education, not adult 

education. Adult education is addressed by Economic Opportunity measures.

Measure ED9 Number of students graduating from high school on time with a diploma.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Students: Those reported in ED1 or ED3A.

On Time: Within four years of starting 9th grade.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

School/district graduation records of individual students who participated in CNCS-supported 

program. 

Notes This performance indicator is best suited for CNCS-supported programs that primarily serve 

11th and 12th graders and whose objective is promoting high school graduation. Programs 

should consider the number of students served who would be eligible to graduate (i.e., the 

number of 12th grade students served) each year when setting performance measure targets. 

 Can you develop a reasonable baseline or “comparison” group consisting of the 

population you plan to serve? For example, what is the typical high school graduation 

rate of the population you intend to serve? This will become your comparison group or 

serve as your baseline. The youth served in your program should have a higher rate of

high school graduation than this group.

 Will you be able to set a “reach” target, the minimum anticipated percent of students 

participating in your education or mentoring program who you hope will graduate from 

high school; will the percentage you set challenge your program to reach that target?
27

Measure ED10 Number of students entering post-secondary institutions.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Students: those reported in ED1 or ED3A.

Post-secondary institutions may include two-year and four-year colleges 

Entering: means matriculating as a full-time or part-time student. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Registration records that confirm student enrollments or self-report on follow up surveys. 

Notes This performance indicator is best suited for CNCS-supported programs that focus on preparing 

high school students for college. Programs should consider the number of students served who 

would be eligible to apply to post-secondary institutions (e.g., the number of 12th grade students 

served) each year when setting performance measure targets.

 Can you develop a reasonable baseline or “comparison” group consisting of the 

population you plan to serve who enter post-secondary institutions? Or, what is the 

typical post-secondary school enrollment rate of the population you intend to serve? 

This will become your comparison group or serve as your baseline. The youth served 

in your program should have a higher rate of post-secondary school enrollment than 

this group.

 Will you be able to set a “reach” target, the minimum anticipated percent of students 

participating in your education or mentoring program who you hope will enter a postsecondary institution; will the percentage you set challenge your program to reach that 

target?

Measure ED11 Number of students earning a post-secondary degree.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Students: those reported in ED31.

Degree: may include an associate degree from an accredited academic program or an 

occupational or vocational program; a bachelor’s degree (ex., BA, AB, BS); a master’s degree 

(ex.: MA, MS, MEng, MEd, MSW); a professional school degree (ex.: MD, DDS, DVM); or a 

doctorate degree (ex.: PhD, EdD).

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Registration records that confirm degree was earned or self report on follow up surveys.

Notes This performance indicator is best suited for CNCS-supported programs that work with students 

in college to help them succeed. Programs may only select this measure if they are able to 

collect data during the one-year grant period. Programs should consider the number of students 

served who would be eligible to earn a post-secondary degree (i.e., the number of students 

served who are close to completing graduation requirements) each year when setting 

performance measure targets.

 Can you develop a reasonable baseline or “comparison” group? For example, of the 

students you plan to serve, what proportion of those who enter a degree program 

typically complete a post-secondary degree? This would be your comparison group or 

the group who do not receive your service.

 Will you be able to set a “reach” target, the minimum anticipated percent of students 

participating in your education or mentoring program who you hope will earn a postsecondary degree; will the percentage you set challenge your program to reach that 

target? Remember that the target you set would need to be higher than what occurs 

already in the comparison group so that you can show the difference that your program 

is making.
28

Measure ED12 Number of CNCS-supported National Service Participants who begin serving as teachers 

through a Teacher Corps program.

Definition of Key 

Terms

This measure is a count of individuals who are entered into CNCS’ National Service Trust 

database. Individuals who are not enrolled in the National Service Trust will not be counted. 

Teachers: individuals responsible for leading one or more classes of students in grades K-12. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Teacher Corps programs will identify the number of CNCS-supported National Service 

Participants who are serving as teachers. Individuals must be enrolled in the National Service 

Trust in order to be counted.

Review Notes MSYs and slots must be zero for Teacher Corps (ED12, ED17, ED18, ED19) and Member 

Development (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) performance measures and any other 

performance measures that are focused exclusively on member development rather than 

beneficiary outcomes (EN2, EN2.1, V2, V10).

Mentoring may not be selected as an intervention in any education measures other than ED3A.

FAQs What programs can select the Teacher Corps Measures in the Education Focus Area? 

The Teacher Corps measures are intended to be used by AmeriCorps programs where the 

AmeriCorps members serve as the primary teacher in a classroom setting during their terms of 

service. The AmeriCorps members may serve in public, charter, or private schools to address a 

critical shortage of teaching professionals in a high needs area or school.

Can Teacher Corps programs opt into non-Teacher Corps measures, such as ED5, ED27A or 

ED27B? 

Yes, Teacher Corps programs are required to select a National Performance Measure that 

reflects the community impact of the program. 

Measure ED17 Number of CNCS-supported National Service Participants remaining in the education field after 

their term of service.

Definition of Key 

Terms

This measure is a count of individuals who are entered into CNCS’ National Service Trust 

database, who complete their term of service, earn an education award, or leave service due to 

compelling circumstances (see 45 CFR §2522.200). Individuals who are not enrolled in the 

Trust, or who are dismissed, will not be counted.

Remaining in the education field: classroom teachers, school support staff, school 

administration, district administration policy, education non-profits, state, local or federal 

government positions in the field of education or other positions whose primary objective is to 

facilitate learning among K-12 students.

After Term of Service: refers to the school year after the term of service ends. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Follow-up survey of Teacher Corps members; program administrative records

Review Notes MSYs and slots must be zero for Teacher Corps (ED12, ED17, ED18, ED19) and Member 

Development (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) performance measures and any other 

performance measures that are focused exclusively on member development rather than 

beneficiary outcomes (EN2, EN2.1, V2, V10).
29

FAQs What programs can select the Teacher Corps Measures in the Education Focus Area? 

The Teacher Corps measures are intended to be used by AmeriCorps programs where the 

AmeriCorps members serve as the primary teacher in a classroom setting during their terms of 

service. The AmeriCorps members may serve in public, charter, or private schools to address a 

critical shortage of teaching professionals in a high needs area or school.

Can Teacher Corps programs opt into non-Teacher Corps measures, such as ED5, ED27A or 

ED27B?

Yes, Teacher Corps programs are required to select a National Performance Measure that reflects 

the community impact of the program. 

Measure ED18 Number of CNCS-supported National Service Participants who have had a positive impact on 

student learning as determined by observation-based assessments of teacher performance.

Definition of Key 

Terms

This measure is a count of individuals who are entered into CNCS’ National Service Trust 

database, who complete their term of service, earn an education award, or leave service due to 

compelling circumstances (see 45 CFR §2522.200). Individuals who are not enrolled in the 

Trust, or who are dismissed, will not be counted.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

This measure can be used as an optional supplement to academic achievement for assessing 

teacher effectiveness. Assessments should be completed by school principals, master teachers, or

other education professionals.

Other Notes Consider an observation-based assessment approach to supplement student performance. 

Review Notes MSYs and slots must be zero for Teacher Corps (ED12, ED17, ED18, ED19) and Member 

Development (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) performance measures and any other 

performance measures that are focused exclusively on member development rather than 

beneficiary outcomes (EN2, EN2.1, V2, V10).

FAQs What programs can select the Teacher Corps Measures in the Education Focus Area? 

The Teacher Corps measures are intended to be used by AmeriCorps programs where the 

AmeriCorps members serve as the primary teacher in a classroom setting during their terms of 

service. The AmeriCorps members may serve in public, charter, or private schools to address a 

critical shortage of teaching professionals in a high needs area or school.

Can Teacher Corps programs opt into non-Teacher Corps measures, such as ED5, ED27A or 

ED27B?

Yes, Teacher Corps programs are required to select a National Performance Measure that reflects 

the community impact of the program.

Measure ED19 Number of CNCS-supported National Service Participants receiving certification to teach in 

schools during or after their term of service.

Definition of Key 

Terms

This measure is a count of individuals who are entered into CNCS’ National Service Trust 

database, who complete their term of service, earn an education award, or leave service due to 

compelling circumstances (see 45 CFR §2522.200). Individuals who are not enrolled in the 

Trust, or who are dismissed, will not be counted.

Receiving certification: according to state and federal standards.

After Term of Service: refers to the school year after the term of service ends.
30

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Follow-up survey of members; program administrative records

Review Notes MSYs and slots must be zero for Teacher Corps (ED12,, ED17, ED18, ED19) and Member 

Development (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) performance measures and any other 

performance measures that are focused exclusively on member development rather than 

beneficiary outcomes (EN2, EN2.1, V2, V10).

FAQs What programs can select the Teacher Corps Measures in the Education Focus Area? 

The Teacher Corps measures are intended to be used by AmeriCorps programs where the 

AmeriCorps members serve as the primary teacher in a classroom setting during their terms of 

service. The AmeriCorps members may serve in public, charter, or private schools to address a 

critical shortage of teaching professionals in a high needs area or school.

Can Teacher Corps programs opt into non-Teacher Corps measures, such as ED5, ED27A or 

ED27B?

Yes, Teacher Corps programs are required to select a National Performance Measure that reflects 

the community impact of the program.

Measure ED20: Number of economically disadvantaged children or children with special or exceptional needs

who start in a CNCS-supported early childhood education program.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Children: Children younger than the age of kindergarten enrollment. 

Economically disadvantaged: Eligible for free (at or below 130% of poverty) or reduced 

(between 130% to 185% of poverty) lunch or enrolled in an early childhood education center 

where the majority of children are eligible for free or reduced lunch; may or may not actually be 

accessing free/reduced lunch. If data about free/reduced lunch eligibility is not available, 

economically disadvantaged may alternatively be defined as receiving or meet the income 

eligibility requirements at the family level to receive: TANF, Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, 

SCHIP, Section 8 housing assistance.

Children with special or exceptional needs: Children who are developmentally disabled, such 

as those who are autistic, have cerebral palsy or epilepsy, are visually impaired, speech impaired, 

hearing impaired, orthopedically impaired, are emotionally disturbed or have a language 

disorder, specific learning disability, have multiple disabilities, other significant health 

impairment or have literacy needs. Children who are abused or neglected; in need of foster care; 

adjudicated youth; homeless youth; teenage parents; and children in need of protective 

intervention in their homes. 

Early childhood education program: A program in which CNCS-supported activities help preK children maintain enrollment in and succeed in early childhood education. The ‘help’ that 

grantees provide does not need to be in direct service to the children. However, the CNCSsupported activities must provide direct support that makes the program possible. 

Start in: children enrolled in the early childhood education program at the beginning of the 

program. Counts may be updated if the number of participants increases.

Enrolled in an early childhood education center where the majority of children are eligible 

for free or reduced lunch: Grantees using this option to document economic disadvantage must 

demonstrate that the sites/early childhood centers they will engage already have a population in 

which the largest percentage of children in the center come from economically disadvantaged 

backgrounds, or explain an outreach strategy to increase the proportions of economically 

disadvantaged children served by the CNCS-sponsored program.

How to Calculate/

Measure/

Collect Data:

Count of children who enroll in the program. Children may or may not complete the program. 

Each child should be counted only once during the program. 
31

FAQs May programs opting into National Performance Measures in Education use a school or 

LEA’s participation in the Community Eligibility Provision 

(http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/cn/SP16-2015os.pdf) to determine economic 

disadvantage for student beneficiaries?

Yes. The following definition of “Economically Disadvantaged” may be used as an alternative 

to the existing definitions in the National Performance Measure Instructions under performance 

measures ED1, ED3A, , and/or ED20: “Students enrolled in schools that are participating in the 

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).”

Review Notes Mentoring may not be selected as an intervention in any education measures other than ED3A.

Measure ED23 Number of children demonstrating gains in school readiness in terms of social and/or emotional 

development.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Children: Those counted under ED20.

Social and emotional development: An indicator and element of school readiness that 

measures a child’s development in one or more of the following domains: self-concept, selfcontrol, cooperation, social relationships, and knowledge of families and communities. Each 

domain of social and emotional development has a set of specific, measurable indicators. The 

applicant/grantee should identify at the outset those specific domain(s) and indicator(s) of social 

and emotional development that (a) directly corresponds to the program intervention and (b) will 

be measured by the particular standardized data collection instrument you choose.

School readiness: Preparation for Kindergarten which includes multiple indicators assessed 

across multiple developmental and behavioral domains including but not limited to physical 

well-being, health and motor development, social and emotional development, approaches to 

learning, language development, cognitive development, and age-appropriate academic skills and 

behavior.

How to Calculate/

Measure/

Collect Data

Programs should obtain counts of the number of children demonstrating gains in school readiness 

based on social and/or emotional development. For AmeriCorps State and National Only: Data 

should be collected at the beginning and end of the intervention via a pre-post assessment that 

has been shown to be valid and reliable for the purposes for which it will be used and the 

populations that will be assessed.

Accredited early childhood education programs may already have state requirements in place for 

assessing the social and emotional development of children to determine school readiness. For 

example, such a measure may be: “The number of children who often or very often exhibit 

positive social behaviors when interacting with their peers”.

This suggested measure is from the National School Readiness Indicators Initiative Project (Feb 

2005) 

Measure ED24 Number of children demonstrating gains in school readiness in terms of literacy skills

Definition of Key 

Terms

Children: Those counted under ED20.

Literacy skills: An indicator and element of school readiness that measures a child’s 

development in one or more of the following domains: phonological awareness, book knowledge 

and appreciation, print awareness and concepts, early writing, and alphabet knowledge. Each 

domain of literacy skills development has a set of specific, measurable indicators. The 

applicant/grantee should identify at the outset those specific domain(s) and indicator(s) of literacy 

skills development that (a) directly corresponds to the program intervention and (b) will be 

measured by the particular standardized data collection instrument you choose.

School readiness: Preparation for Kindergarten which includes multiple indicators assessed 

across developmental and behavioral domains including but not limited to physical well-being, 

health and motor development, social and emotional development, approaches to learning, 

language development, cognitive development and age-appropriate skills and behavior.
32

How to Calculate/

Measure/

Collect Data

Programs should obtain counts of the number of children demonstrating gains in school readiness 

based on their literacy skills. For AmeriCorps State and National Only: Data should be collected 

at the beginning and end of the intervention via a pre-post assessment that has been shown to be 

valid and reliable for the purposes for which it will be used and the populations that will be 

assessed.

Accredited early childhood education programs have state requirements for assessing literacy 

skills of children to determine school readiness. For example, such a measure may be “Number of 

children almost always recognizing the relationships between letters and sounds at kindergarten 

entry.” This suggested measure is from the National School Readiness Indicators Initiative 

Project (Feb 2005)

Measure ED25 Number of children demonstrating gains in school readiness in terms of numeracy (math) skills.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Children: Those counted under ED20.

Numeracy skills: An indicator and element of school readiness that measures a child’s 

development in one or more of the following domains: numbers and operations, geometry and 

special sense, and pattern and measurement. Each domain of math (numeracy) skills development 

has a set of specific, measurable indicators. The applicant/grantee should identify at the outset 

those specific domain(s) and indicator(s) of math (numeracy) skills development that (a) directly 

corresponds to the program intervention and (b) will be measured as defined by the particular 

standardized data collection instrument you choose.

School readiness: Preparation for Kindergarten which includes multiple indicators assessed 

across developmental and behavioral domains including but not limited to physical well-being, 

health and motor development, social and emotional development, approaches to learning, 

language development, cognitive development and age-appropriate skills and behavior.

How to Calculate/

Measure/

Collect Data

Programs should obtain counts of the number of children demonstrating gains in school readiness 

based on their numeracy (math) skills. For AmeriCorps State and National Only: Data should be 

collected at the beginning and end of the intervention via a pre-post assessment that has been 

shown to be valid and reliable for the purposes for which it will be used and the populations that 

will be assessed.

Accredited early childhood education programs have state requirements for assessing numeracy 

(math) skills of children to determine school readiness. For example, such a measure may be 

“Number of children at kindergarten entry who can count beyond 10, sequence patterns and use 

nonstandard units of length to compare number.” .This suggested measure is from the National 

School Readiness Indicators Initiative Project (Feb 2005).

Measure ED26 Number of students acquiring a GED.

Definition of Key

Terms

Students: Those reported in ED1 or ED3A.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

GED completion records of individual students who participated in CNCS-supported program. 
33

Notes This performance indicator is best suited for CNCS-supported programs that primarily serve 11th 

and 12th graders or youth who are disconnected from school and whose objective is promoting 

GED completion. 

 Can you develop a reasonable baseline or “comparison” group consisting of the 

population you plan to serve? For example, what is the typical GED completion rate of 

the population you intend to serve? This will become your comparison group or serve as 

your baseline. The youth served in your program should have a higher rate of GED 

completion than this group.

 Will you be able to set a “reach” target, the minimum anticipated percent of students 

participating in your education or mentoring program who you hope will acquire a GED; 

will the percentage you set challenge your program to reach that target?

Measure 

ED27A

Number of students in grades K-12 that participated in the mentoring or tutoring or other 

education program, including CNCS-supported service learning, who demonstrated improved 

academic engagement (attitudes).

Definition of 

Key Terms

Students: Those reported in either ED1 or ED3A.

Service learning: Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful 

community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic 

responsibility, and strengthen communities.

Improved academic engagement: A positive and significant change in one of the following 

student attitudes over a specified period of time. Measures of student attitudes include: 

increased interest in school, improved perspective on school climate, increased attachment to 

school and increased educational aspirations. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Applicants and grantees should identify the aspect(s) of academic engagement that their 

programs most closely align with. The measure(s) of student attitudes that the program intends 

to address must be specified in the approved grant application. 

Programs should collect academic engagement data from school records, teacher surveys and/or 

student surveys at the beginning and end of the program. If the measure(s) of student attitudes 

specified in the approved grant application show improvement, the student should be counted as 

having demonstrated academic engagement. For programs that aim to address more than one 

measure of student attitudes, a student should only be counted as having demonstrated improved 

academic engagement if at least one of these elements shows improvement without any of the 

other elements worsening.

A survey or questionnaire may be used for grantee administration. See the National Service 

Knowledge Network, https://www.nationalserviceresources.gov/, to search for performance 

measurement tools that CNCS has developed for volunteer and service programs. Selection of 

tools should be based on whether the tools have been shown to be valid and reliable.

Determining whether a positive change in student attitudes is significant may be limited by 

small sample sizes. Applicants and grantees are encouraged to track the average size of the 

increase among participants as well as the number of students with a positive increase.

Review Notes For ED27A or ED27B, the applicant must specify which dimension(s) of academic engagement 

described in the Performance Measure Instructions will be measured.

FAQs Can summer programs select the ED27A or ED27B performance measures?

Summer programs may opt into the ED27A or ED27B measure and consider the definition of 

over the school year to be interpreted as over the course of the summer program. 
34

Measure 

ED27B

Number of students in grades K-12 that participated in the mentoring or tutoring or other 

education program, including CNCS-supported service learning, who demonstrated improved 

academic engagement (behaviors).

Definition of 

Key Terms

Students: Those reported in either ED1 or ED3A.

Service learning: Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful 

community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic 

responsibility, and strengthen communities.

Improved academic engagement: A positive and significant change in one of the following 

student behaviors over a specified period of time. Measures of student behaviors include 

increased attendance, increased completion of assignments including homework, increased 

teacher-reported participation, decreased disciplinary referrals, decreased suspensions, 

decreased arrest and gang involvement, and decreased reports of substance abuse. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Applicants and grantees should identify the aspect(s) of academic engagement that their 

programs most closely align with. The measure(s) of student behaviors that the program intends 

to address must be specified in the approved grant application. 

Programs should collect academic engagement data from school records or teacher surveys at 

the beginning and end of the program. If the measure(s) of student behaviors specified in the 

approved grant application show improvement, the student should be counted as having 

demonstrated academic engagement. For programs that aim to address more than one measure 

of student behaviors, a student should only be counted as having demonstrated improved 

academic engagement if at least one of these elements shows improvement without any of the 

other elements worsening. 

A survey or questionnaire may be used for grantee administration. See the National Service 

Knowledge Network, https://www.nationalserviceresources.gov/, to search for performance 

measurement tools that CNCS has developed for volunteer and service programs. Selection of 

tools should be based on whether the tools have been shown to be valid and reliable.

Determining whether a positive change in student behaviors is significant may be limited by 

small sample sizes. Applicants and grantees are encouraged to track the average size of the 

increase among participants as well as the number of students with a positive increase.

Programs measuring decreased disciplinary referrals or suspensions must demonstrate that these 

decreases are not the result of changes in school policies.

Review Notes For ED27A or ED27B, the applicant must specify which dimension(s) of academic engagement 

described in the Performance Measure Instructions will be measured.

FAQs Can summer programs select the ED27A or ED27B performance measures? 

Summer programs may opt into the ED27A or ED27B measure and consider the definition of 

over the school year to be interpreted as over the course of the summer program.

Measure ED30 Number of students with improved academic performance in core academic subjects other than 

literacy or math.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Students: Those reported in either ED1 or ED3A.

Improved academic performance: as measured by an improved demonstration of 

skill/knowledge at post-test as compared to pre-test (gain score) using a standardized 

test/instrument. 

Core academic subjects other than literacy or math: Science, foreign languages, civics and 

government, economics, arts, history, and geography (see Title IX of the Elementary and 

Secondary Education Act). Subjects other than mathematics that are considered STEM 

disciplines, including science, technology, engineering, and computer science, may also be 
35

included under this measure.

Standardized test/instrument: has been validated externally on a randomly-selected 

population of students. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Programs will report the number of students from ED1 or ED3A who:

(1) achieved the “gain” or amount of progress that was approved at grant award, and/or

(2) performed on or above grade level if the post-test only method is being used. 

Amount of progress required:

The amount of progress required to count as “improved academic performance” must be 

specified in the approved grant application. If the program is using different tests for different 

groups of children, then different amounts of progress may be specified by test. 

Grantees/applicants should clearly justify in the approved grant application why the specified 

amount of progress is significant.

Standardized tests:

It is expected that most programs will use a standardized pre- and post-test to demonstrate 

improved academic performance. Only programs that demonstrate they are serving exclusively 

below grade level students and that provide a compelling reason why it is not feasible for them

to conduct a pre-test/post-test may select the "Standardized post-test only" option. In these 

specific cases, the post-test must show the number of previously below-grade-level students that 

are performing at or above grade level after the program. 

Programs must select a standardized test that:

(1) measures the types of student skills/knowledge the program is trying to improve through its 

efforts, (2) is appropriate for the grade level, (3) has demonstrated validity or reliability for the 

population they are serving, and (4) is compatible with, and acceptable to, the school where the 

program is providing services (different tests may be used at different schools).

Pre-tests should be administered to the students participating in the program before they begin 

participation and again near the end of the service delivery period. Some tests suggest 

measuring improvement at more points during the year. Programs should follow the instructions 

provided by the test they have selected.

State standardized tests should generally not be used by most programs as it is expected that 

they will not be sufficiently tailored to the material taught by national service participants, may 

involve long delays before the data become available, and the child’s classroom teacher would 

have the primary effect on these scores. However, programs may request to use the state 

standardized test but need to demonstrate that it is appropriate for their circumstances. For all 

programs that propose to use the state standardized test, including Teacher Corps programs, 

please provide a justification that explains how the test is sufficiently tailored to the material 

taught, how the timeline for obtaining test data will meet national service reporting 

requirements, and why gains in the test are likely to be attributable, in part or in whole, to the 

efforts of national service participants. 

Obtaining test scores from school systems: 

For programs not themselves administering the test, the program will need to have some form of 

agreement, such as an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with the school or LEA (local 

education agency), to ensure that data for the needed children can be secured. Data are needed 

on the group of children you are serving, but not on individual children. Requesting data in this 

way is not likely to violate FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). 

The National Center on Response to Intervention website of the U.S. Department of Education 

provides some information about assessment tools (they call them progress monitoring tools). 

Note that these are not specifically recommended, nor are these the only instruments that 

programs could use but the site provides good information about how to consider which tool 
36

your program might choose.

Review Notes If the applicant is measuring multiple subjects under ED30, it must be clear whether/how much 

students must improve in each subject in order to be counted.

Measure ED31 Number of economically disadvantaged post-secondary students or post-secondary students

with special or exceptional needs who start in a CNCS-supported education program.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Students: Individuals enrolled in post-secondary education institutions. 

Economically disadvantaged: eligible for Pell grant or receiving or meet the income eligibility 

requirements to receive (either individually or at a family level): TANF, Food Stamps (SNAP), 

Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8 housing assistance

Students with special or exceptional needs: Students who are developmentally disabled, such 

as those who are autistic, have cerebral palsy or epilepsy, are visually impaired, speech 

impaired, hearing impaired, orthopedically impaired, are emotionally disturbed or have a 

language disorder, specific learning disability, have multiple disabilities, other significant health 

impairment or have literacy needs. Students who are abused or neglected; in need of foster care; 

adjudicated youth; homeless youth; teenage parents; and children in need of protective 

intervention in their homes. 

Education program: A program in which CNCS-supported activities help students maintain 

enrollment in and succeed in post-secondary education. The help that grantees provide does not 

need to be in direct service to the students. However, the CNCS-supported activities must 

provide direct support that makes the program possible.

Post-secondary education institutions: 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities, graduate 

or professional schools, and career and technical education institutions.

Start in: students enrolled in the education program at the beginning of the program. Counts 

may be updated if the number of participants increases.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of students who enroll in the program. Students may or may not complete 

the program. Each student should be counted only once during the program. 

Review Notes Mentoring may not be selected as an intervention in any education measures other than ED3A.

Performance Measure Example: 

Field What Should Be Entered Here Example

Title Enter a short, descriptive title for your 

performance measure. Different aligned 

performance measures should have 

different titles so that they can be easily 

referenced.

Helping Students Improve in Math

Problem Statement Briefly describe the problem your program 

will address with this performance 

measure. Your description should provide 

just enough context that the program’s 

theory of change will be evident without 

referencing the application narrative or 

logic model. Also address any definitions 

from the Performance Measures 

Instructions that are relevant to the aligned 

Students in District ABC lag fifteen 

percentage points behind the state average 

for 8th grade math proficiency. The purpose 

of the EduCorps program is to provide 

tutoring services that improve middle school 

students’ academic achievement in 

mathematics. All schools served by the 

program have a majority of students who are 
37

measure as a whole, e.g. definition of 

“economically disadvantaged.” 

eligible for free or reduced lunch.

Selected 

Interventions

Select only the interventions that 

contribute to the outcomes of this aligned 

performance measure. For applicantdetermined interventions, enter a one or 

two word description of the intervention.

Tutoring: One-on-one

Tutoring: Small group

Description of 

Interventions

Describe the design and dosage of the 

interventions you have selected.

The EduCorps Program has six half-time 

AmeriCorps members leading one-on-one 

and small group tutoring programs for 

middle-school students. Members typically 

meet with groups of 1-3 students after school 

each day for about an hour, using 

mathematics enrichment materials that 

complement the normal classroom 

curriculum. 

Output Either select National Performance 

Measure output(s) or enter your own 

output title. If entering an applicantdetermined output, it should be clear what 

the output is counting.

Number of students who start in a CNCSsupported education program.

Select Method Select the data collection method you will 

use to measure the output. If the National 

Performance Measure(s) you have selected 

require a specific instrument, you must 

select that instrument.

Attendance Log

Instrument 

Description

In this text field you must provide the 

name of the instrument you will use to 

measure the output, a clear description of 

what the instrument will measure, and an 

explanation of how you will ensure that 

beneficiaries are not double counted. Also 

describe how the instrument is sufficient to 

meet the data collection requirements 

outlined in the Performance Measures 

Instructions, if applicable.

Participation output: Members will record in 

the program’s secure database the name and 

ID number of each student who enrolls in the 

tutoring program. The list of names/IDs will 

be checked to ensure that no student is 

counted twice.

Target # The number of beneficiaries described in 

the output title. Targets must be numbers, 

not percents.

100

Unit of Measure The unit of measure specified in the output 

title. The unit of measure auto-populates 

for National Performance Measures. For 

applicant-determined measures, the unit of 

measure should describe the population 

you intend to count (children, miles, etc.)

Students

Outcome Title Either select National Performance 

Measure outcome(s) or enter your own 

Number of students with improved academic 
38

outcome title. If entering an applicantdetermined outcome, it should clearly state 

a measurable change in knowledge, 

attitude, behavior or condition.

performance in literacy and/or math

Select Method Select the data collection method you will 

use to measure the outcome. If the 

National Performance Measure(s) you 

have selected require a specific instrument, 

you must select that instrument.

Standardized Pre-Post Test

Instrument 

Description

In this text field you must provide the 

name of the instrument you will use to 

measure the outcome, a clear description 

of what the instrument will measure and 

how the construct to be measured is 

defined, the timeline for administering the 

instrument and the level of improvement 

that is necessary to be counted as having 

improved. Also provide details about the 

reliability and validity of the instrument, 

and how the instrument is sufficient to 

meet the data collection requirements 

outlined in the Performance Measures 

Instructions, if applicable.

When students enroll in the tutoring program 

at the beginning of the school year, they will 

take a standardized, district-approved pre-test 

in mathematics (insert name of actual test 

here) that aligns with the material being 

taught and is appropriate for the grade level 

and that has demonstrated reliability and 

validity for the population of middle school 

students served. The same test will be 

administered to students at the end of the 

school year. Scores will be recorded in the 

program’s secure database. Students who 

increase their scores in mathematics by at 

least 1.2 grade levels over the course of their 

participation in the tutoring program will be 

counted under this measure.

Target # The number of beneficiaries described in 

the outcome title. Targets must be 

numbers, not percents.

85

Unit of Measure The unit of measure specified in the output 

title. The unit of measure auto-populates 

for National Performance Measures. For 

applicant-determined measures, the unit of 

measure should describe the population 

you intend to count (children, miles, etc.)

Students
39

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP 

Review Notes 

 Programs need to use the same beneficiaries for outputs and outcomes (in most aligned measures). If they 

are counting acres of improved public lands in EN4 or miles in EN5, the outcome needs to be in acres (or 

miles) as well. Applicants should not be measuring the project sponsor's satisfaction or approval of their 

work but rather the condition of the land after their work. 

Measure EN1 Number of housing units of low-income households and public structures weatherized or 

retrofitted to improve energy efficiency.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Housing Unit: single family home, mobile home, apartment unit, each side of duplex would 

count as 1.

Low income: 200% of poverty or the updated level as found at: http://www.waptac.org/ 

Weatherization/retrofitted: See the U.S. Department of Energy. Helpful information can be 

found at the following links:

http://www.waptac.org/ or http://www.energysavers.gov/

Weatherization: Modifying a building to reduce energy consumption and costs and optimize 

energy efficiency. Whole-house weatherization includes the installation of modern energysaving heating and cooling equipment and looks at how the house performs as a system.

Retrofit: An energy conservation measure applied to an existing building or the action of 

improving the thermal performance or maintenance of a building.

Structures: Shelters, such as homeless shelters or emergency shelters operated by nonprofit or 

public organizations; government-owned buildings. Each structure would count as 1.

Improve energy efficiency: Physical improvements to housing or building structures that 

improve energy-efficiency compared to standard new units built to local building code or the 

unit’s existing energy efficiency, respectively.

How to Calculate/ 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count only those units/structures where the work was fully completed as evidenced by a 

Certificate of Occupancy; where not required, get a written statement from resident or owner or 

some other certification of completion.

Additional 

Notes

U.S. Department of Energy has training programs, definitions, and tools to assist in these 

efforts. Your program is not required to exactly match the way that DOE provides 

weatherization but we encourage you to create programs that reflect “the spirit of” the DOE 

programs.

FAQs The definition of structures in EN1 includes government owned buildings, but it looks like 

EN1.1 talks only about households. If the program is retrofitting government owned 

buildings, can they use this aligned measure?

Yes, if they are counting government buildings in EN1 they would include government 

buildings in EN1.1

Measure EN1.1 Number of weatherized or retrofitted low-income households with reduced energy consumption 

or reduced energy costs.

How to Calculate/ 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Survey from a member of the household or building owner that documents reduced energy 

consumption or reduced energy costs. 

Grantees can use an industry-accepted computer model (such as those available from the US 

Department of Energy) that estimates energy consumption reductions of at least 15% based on 

the weatherization or retrofits installed.
40

FAQs The definition of structures in EN1 includes government owned buildings, but it looks like 

EN1.1 talks only about households. If the program is retrofitting government owned 

buildings, can they not use this aligned measure?

Yes, if they are counting government buildings in EN1 they would include government 

buildings in EN1.1

Measure EN2 Number of AmeriCorps members trained and/or certified for green jobs including the 

conducting of energy audits.

Definition of 

Key Terms

This measure is a count of individuals who are entered into CNCS’ National Service Trust 

database. Individuals who are not enrolled in the National Service Trust will not be counted.

Green Jobs: Jobs that contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality. 

Specifically, but not exclusively, this includes jobs that help to protect ecosystems and 

biodiversity; reduce energy, materials, and water consumption through high efficiency 

strategies; de-carbonize the economy; and minimize or altogether avoid generation of all forms 

of waste and pollution. [Green Jobs: Towards decent work in a sustainable, low-carbon world

(September 2008), United Nations Environmental Programme.]

Trained: The program should result in the AmeriCorps member having acquired job skills that 

match the industry accepted skills for a designated green job.

Certified: The trained AmeriCorps member has received an industry-accepted certification that 

qualifies them for a green job.

Energy Audit: See U.S. Dept. of Energy information for suggested definition 

Review Notes MSYs and slots must be zero for Teacher Corps (ED12, ED17, ED18, ED19) and Member 

Development (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) performance measures and any other 

performance measures that are focused exclusively on member development rather than 

beneficiary outcomes (EN2, EN2.1, V2, V10).

Measure EN2.1 Number of trained AmeriCorps members placed in green jobs.

Definition of 

Key Terms

This measure is a count of individuals who are entered into CNCS’ National Service Trust 

database, who complete their term of service, earn an education award, or leave service due to 

compelling circumstances (see 45 CFR §2522.200). Individuals who are not enrolled in the 

Trust, or who are dismissed, will not be counted.

Placed in jobs: An AmeriCorps member is hired in a green job as a result of job skills training 

and/or certification provided; the AmeriCorps member may have been previously working in a 

different job or previously unemployed.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of individuals from EN2 who secure employment in a green job during their term of 

service or within thirty days after finishing the program. Count each individual only once even 

if the individual receives placement in more than one job.

Suggested method is a copy of acceptance letter from employer or copy of first pay stub. 

Review Notes MSYs and slots must be zero for Teacher Corps (ED12, ED17, ED18, ED19) and Member 

Development (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) performance measures and any other 

performance measures that are focused exclusively on member development rather than 

beneficiary outcomes (EN2, EN2.1, V2, V10).
41

Measure EN3 Number of individuals receiving education or training in environmental stewardship and/or 

environmentally-conscious practices.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Education or Training: May be one-time or an on-going series; cannot just be distribution of 

pamphlets or information available on a web-site; should have learning objectives; may be in 

person or through a web-based interface.

Environmental Stewardship and/or environmentally conscious practices: Organized efforts 

to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can 

manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. Grantees are encouraged to 

utilize service learning when possible. Environmental topics should relate to real conditions in 

the community being served.

How to Calculate/ 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of each individual participating in the educational event or training. Some individuals 

may attend multiple events or trainings but they should only be counted once. If providing the 

training through classroom curriculum, count the individuals present not just those enrolled. If 

providing the training through a school assembly presentation, get the best estimate from school 

officials of the number in attendance.

The educational events or training should be in response to a specifically identified need in the 

community to either increase knowledge or to change behavior.

Sign-in or attendance sheets from education/training sessions when possible. Tracking needs to 

enable unduplicated count when possible.

Review Notes Environmental education activities must entail real engagement of the individual with a specific 

education goal in mind – not just outreach, tabling at events or distributing pamphlets. The 

applicant should define what level of engagement (time of interaction) constitutes a countable 

event, e.g., a minimum of 15-20 minutes. Presentations to large audiences are acceptable.

Measure EN3.1 Number of individuals with an increase in knowledge of environmental stewardship and/or 

environmentally-conscious practices.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Increase in knowledge: Participants gain environmental information and/or understanding that 

they did not have prior to participating in the event/training. The outcome should align with the 

intended change of the output/activity as defined by the community need. Educational activities 

may be targeted to adults or youth. 

How to Calculate/ 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Grantees are encouraged to utilize pre- and post-tests to assess a change in the actual knowledge 

of the participants (not the individual's opinion of their level of knowledge). A mixture of basic 

knowledge and more challenging questions can be asked so that members of an audience with a 

wide range of initial level of knowledge are more likely to demonstrate an increase in correct 

answers from the pre- to the post-test. In developing targets, grantees should take into account 

that the projected number of returned post-surveys or tests is unlikely to be 100% of the 

educated population. Grantees can use a random sample or stratified random sample with CNCS 

approval of the sampling plan. In this case, results can be applied to the entire population.
42

Measure EN3.2 Number of individuals reporting a change in behavior or the intent to change behavior within 

one year in order to better protect the environment and/or reduce energy consumption as a result 

of the educational event or training they received.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Change in behavior or Intent to change behavior: Individuals state practices that they do 

now or plan to do that are encouraged or recommended by the training or educational event 

which are different than the practices they had prior to the training.

How to Calculate/ 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Grantees should utilize surveys to assess a change in (or intent to change) behavior of the 

participants. It is preferable to assess an actual change in behavior at some point after the 

educational event or training to determine if the change has actually occurred. However, 

assessments are expected to occur within the grant year. In developing targets, grantees should 

take into account that the projected number of returned post-surveys is unlikely to be 100% of 

the educated population. Grantees can use a random sample or stratified random sample with 

CNCS approval of the sampling plan. In this case, results can be applied to the entire 

population.

Studies have shown that the process of publicly committing to make a change in behavior 

increases the chances that the change will occur. (http://www.toolsofchange.com/en/tools-ofchange/obtaining-a-commitment/)

Measure EN4 Number of acres of national parks, state parks, city parks, county parks, or other public and 

tribal lands that are treated.

Definition of 

Key Terms

National parks, State parks, city parks, county parks: Park/recreation areas that are 

designated by national, state, city, or county governments (not trails or rivers; see #5)

Other public lands: Other publicly owned lands; land owned by nonprofits for public use or 

the public good (such as land conservancies): and public easements.

Tribal lands: Same meaning as imparted by the definitions of “Indian Lands” and “Indian 

Tribes” provided in. SEC. 101. [42 U.S.C. 12511] 

Treated: National service members and/or program volunteers removed invasive species, 

planted native plants, built riparian buffers, cleared of natural debris (such as fallen trees/limbs, 

hazardous fuel) and unnatural debris (such as disaster debris and improperly disposed waste). 

Treatment must go beyond basic trash removal. 

How to Calculate/ 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of number of acres that are treated for the intent of improvement. Count each acre that is 

treated only once during the program year. It may be necessary to treat an acre more than once, 

but it should be counted only once. Only count the acres that are actually treated; do not count 

the entire park/land area unless your project treats the entire area. 
43

Tracking document, survey or acknowledgement of receipt of services from entity that owns or 

administers the area improved. 

CNCS encourages applicants and grantees to perform service with the greatest impact versus 

providing minimal impact to the highest number of acres. The applicant or grantee should 

identify a certain deficiency or serious environmental risk or describe a compelling problem that 

is well documented and propose an evidence-based intervention to address the problem and 

enhance the land or habitat to a higher-quality ecosystem. The evidence-base could be a 

governmental land management improvement plan if it addresses the targeted problem, and is 

preferably an identified priority in the plan, although it is preferable to also describe how the 

proposed intervention will return the targeted area to a higher-quality environment and relevant 

evidence to support the value of the intervention. For example, while conducting seasonal 

maintenance may allow a grantee to report greater numbers of acres “improved”, it is less likely 

to be selected for funding if it does not address a compelling environmental problem, 

deficiency, risk or priority (ideally one that has been documented in a governmental land 

management improvement plan).

Measure EN4.1 Number of acres of national parks, state parks, city parks, county parks, or other public and 

tribal lands that are improved.

Definition of 

Key Terms

National parks, State parks, city parks, county parks: Park/recreation areas that are 

designated by national, state, city, or county governments (not trails or rivers; see #5)

Other public lands: Other publicly owned lands; land owned by nonprofits for public use or 

the public good (such as land conservancies); and public easements.

Tribal lands: Same meaning as imparted by the definitions of “Indian Lands” and “Indian 

Tribes” provided in. SEC. 101. [42 U.S.C. 12511] 

Improved: Renovated to reduce human impact or the negative impact of natural disasters or 

invasive species, restored native plants and habitat, reduced erosion, protected watersheds, 

reduced wildfire risk, upgraded or repaired outdoor recreation facilities or signage, increased 

public safe access, protected flora and fauna. Improvement should be consistent with an 

accepted natural resource restoration, maintenance or improvement plan. 

How to Calculate/ 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of number of acres that are assessed by the managing entity/land manager as having been 

improved to an acceptable level as defined by the sponsoring agency or land manager in 

accordance with their natural resource plan. Count each acre that is improved only once during 

the program year. It may be necessary to improve an acre more than once, but it should be 

counted only once. Only count the acres that are actually improved; do not count the entire 

park/land area unless your project improves the entire area. It is possible that the number of 

acres assessed by the land manager as having been improved in accordance with their natural 

resource plan is less than the total number of acres treated. 
44

Tracking document or survey stating the number of acres actually improved and a statement that 

the impact of this intervention will contribute to the return of the targeted area to a quality 

environment from entity that owns or administers the area improved. 

CNCS encourages applicants and grantees to perform service with the greatest impact or the 

highest priority versus deferring to only providing minimal impact to the highest number of 

acres. The applicant or grantee should identify a certain deficiency or serious environmental risk 

or describe a compelling problem that is well documented and propose an evidence-based 

intervention to address the problem and enhance the land or habitat to a higher quality 

ecosystem. The evidence-base could be a governmental land management improvement plan if 

it addresses the targeted problem, and is preferably an identified priority in the plan, although it 

is preferable to also describe how the proposed intervention will return the targeted area to a 

quality environment and relevant evidence to support the value of the intervention. For example, 

while conducting seasonal maintenance may allow a grantee to report greater numbers of acres 

“improved”, it is less likely to be selected for funding if it does not address a compelling 

environmental problem, deficiency, risk or priority (ideally one that has been documented in a 

governmental land management improvement plan).

Measure EN5 Number of miles of trails or waterways (owned/maintained by national, state, county, city or 

tribal governments; nonprofits when for public use or the public good; and public easements) 

that are treated and/or constructed.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Trails: For walking, running, biking, horses or other forms of recreation.

Waterways: Includes rivers, lakes and other bodies of water on or abutting public land.

Treated: Removed invasive species, planted native plants, built riparian buffers, improved 

tread/corridor of existing trail or made changes to increase the trail lifespan, removed unsafe 

trail structures, repaired damage caused by visitor use, made changes to increase accessibility, 

cleared of natural debris (such as fallen trees/limbs and hazardous fuel) and unnatural debris 

(such as disaster debris and improperly disposed waste). Treatments must go beyond basic trash 

removal. 

Constructed: Making new trails available by implementing safety measures, making 

handicapped accessible, or environmental protection measures such as boardwalks, grading, 

trail-blazing, converting a railroad bed to a trail, etc. that make trails newly available.
45

How to Calculate/ 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

The applicant or grantee should identify a certain deficiency or serious environmental risk or 

describe a compelling problem that is well documented and propose an evidence-based 

intervention (treatment) to address the problem that will lead to the improvement or restoration 

of the trail or waterway to a higher quality ecosystem. The prescribed treatment/intervention 

could be a governmental land management improvement plan if it addresses the targeted 

problem, and is preferably an identified priority in the plan. For example, adhere to the resource 

management standards for riparian work specified by USDA’s Natural Conservation Practice 

Standard “Riparian Herbaceous Cover.”

Sum of number of miles of trails and/or waterways that are treated, and/or constructed. Count 

each mile only once during the program year. Count the area treated on/in the trail/waterway 

and immediately next to the trail/waterway. It may be necessary to treat the same mile of 

trail/waterway more than once but include in count only once. If, for example, the program or 

project is to repair a trail, then the whole width of the trail that is being repaired can be counted, 

not just the width of the fencing. If the lack of a trail has led to damage in the area, then the area 

of that restoration/repair work would count too.

CNCS encourages applicants and grantees to perform service with the greatest impact versus 

providing minimal impact to the highest number of miles. The applicant or grantee should 

identify a certain deficiency or serious environmental risk or describe a compelling problem that 

is well documented and propose an evidence-based intervention to address the problem and 

restore the trail or waterway to a safe and useable status or enhance the waterway to a higherquality ecosystem. The evidence-base could be a governmental land management improvement 

plan if it addresses the targeted problem, and is preferably an identified priority in the plan.

Describe how the proposed intervention will return the targeted area to a quality environment 

and relevant evidence to support the value of the intervention. For example, while conducting 

seasonal maintenance may allow a grantee to report greater numbers of miles “treated”, it is less 

likely to be selected for funding if it does not address a compelling environmental problem, 

deficiency, risk or priority.

Tracking document, survey or acknowledgement of receipt of services from entity that owns or 

administers the trail or waterways improved. 

Measure EN5.1 Number of miles of trails or waterways (owned/maintained by national, state, county, city or 

tribal governments; nonprofits such as land conservancies when the land is for public use or the 

public good; and public easements) that are improved, and/or put into use.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Trails: For walking, running, biking, horses or other forms of recreation.

Waterways: Includes rivers, lakes and other bodies of water on or abutting public land.

Improved: Restored to reduce human impact, reduced the impact of natural disasters, removed 

invasive species, restored native plants and habitat, protected watersheds, created new trail, 

increased safe condition of useable trails, increased accessibility, protected flora and fauna. 

Improvement should be consistent with an accepted natural resource restoration, maintenance or 

improvement plan.

Put into use: Established safe and useable trails or waterways.
46

How to Calculate/ 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Sum of number of miles of trails and/or waterways that are assessed by the managing entity/land 

manager as having been improved to an acceptable level as defined by the sponsoring agency or 

land manager in accordance with their natural resource plan. Count each mile only once during 

the program year. It is possible that the number of acres assessed by the land manager as having 

been improved in accordance with their natural resource plan is less than the total number of 

miles treated.

The improvement should be the acceptable level of implementation of the prescribed 

intervention to address a certain deficiency or serious environmental risk that is well 

documented. The evidence-base could be a governmental land management improvement plan 

if it addresses the targeted problem, and it is preferable to describe how the proposed 

intervention will contribute to the return the targeted area to a quality environment. For 

example, while conducting seasonal maintenance may allow a grantee to report greater numbers 

of miles “improved”, it is less likely to be selected for funding if it does not address a 

compelling environmental problem, deficiency, risk or priority (ideally one that has been 

documented in a governmental land management improvement plan).

Tracking document or survey from entity that owns or administers the trail or waterways 

improved. 

Measure EN6 Number of tons of materials collected.

Definition of 

Key Terms

See the Environmental Protection Agency website for helpful information on recycling.

1 Ton = 2,000 pounds.

Collected: Materials may be brought to your program or your program may collect them from 

places that would otherwise not benefit from free recycling programs.

How to Calculate/ 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of tons of materials collected. Use the EPA volume translator to add up the number of 

pounds of materials collected: Then perform the following calculation to get number of tons: # 

of pounds/2,000 = # of tons.

EPA has suggested tracking methods.

Measure EN6.1 Number of tons of materials recycled.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Recycled: The collected materials will be reused in some form and not disposed of. Your 

program may deliver them to a reputable recycling site or may recycle the materials directly; 

recycling includes a variety of techniques including composting, re-using, deconstruction, and 

take back programs in addition to programs typically called recycling. The program needs to 

verify that there are contracts for the sale or transfer of materials to a processor for reuse or an 

end user. 

How to Calculate/ 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of tons of materials recycled. Use the EPA volume translator to add up the number of 

pounds of materials recycled. Then perform the following calculation to get number of tons: # 

of pounds/2,000 = # of tons.

Review Notes Deconstruction refers to the removal of materials from a building in a manner and intent to 

reuse them in the construction of another building.
47

Performance Measure Example: 

Field What Should Be Entered Here Example

Title Enter a short, descriptive title for your 

performance measure. Different aligned 

performance measures should have 

different titles so that they can be easily 

referenced.

Improving Public Lands

Problem Statement Briefly describe the problem your program 

will address with this performance 

measure. Your description should provide 

just enough context that the program’s 

theory of change will be evident without 

referencing the application narrative or 

logic model. Also address any definitions 

from the Performance Measures 

Instructions that are relevant to the aligned 

measure as a whole, e.g. definition of 

“economically disadvantaged.” 

Public lands in Beautiful National Park 

require improvements to wildlife habitat and 

to reduce the risk of wildfires.

Selected 

Interventions

Select only the interventions that 

contribute to the outcomes of this aligned 

performance measure. For applicantdetermined interventions, enter a one or 

two word description of the intervention.

Invasive species removal

Other

Description of 

Interventions

Describe the design and dosage of the 

interventions you have selected.

18 half-time AmeriCorps members working 

in a full-time capacity will restore high 

priority areas on federal lands through 

agreements with the National Park Service, 

US Forest Service and other government 

agencies. The purpose of the program is to 

improve federal lands and the existence of 

wildlife habitat and reduce the risk of 

wildfires. Members will remove invasive 

species, conduct fuels reduction to reduce the 

risk of wildfire or plant new native species. 

Output Either select National Performance 

Measure output(s) or enter your own 

output title. If entering an applicantdetermined output, it should be clear what 

the output is counting.

Number of acres of national parks, state 

parks, city parks, county parks, or other 

public and tribal lands treated.

Select Method Select the data collection method you will 

use to measure the output. If the National 

Performance Measure(s) you have selected 

require a specific instrument, you must 

select that instrument.

Project reports provided by the host

Instrument 

Description

In this text field you must provide the 

name of the instrument you will use to 

measure the output, a clear description of 

what the instrument will measure, and an 

explanation of how you will ensure that 

For each of their ten projects, the program 

will secure a report from the host site 

specifying the number of acres that are 

treated to remove invasive species, conduct 

fuels reduction (to reduce the risk of wildfire) 
48

beneficiaries are not double counted. Also 

describe how the instrument is sufficient to 

meet the data collection requirements 

outlined in the Performance Measures 

Instructions, if applicable.

or plant new native species.

Target # The number of beneficiaries described in 

the output title. Targets must be numbers, 

not percents.

150

Unit of Measure The unit of measure specified in the output 

title. The unit of measure auto-populates 

for National Performance Measures. For 

applicant-determined measures, the unit of 

measure should describe the population 

you intend to count (children, miles, etc.)

Acres

Outcome Title Either select National Performance 

Measure outcome(s) or enter your own 

outcome title. If entering an applicantdetermined outcome, it should clearly state 

a measurable change in knowledge, 

attitude, behavior or condition.

Number of acres of national parks, state 

parks, city parks county parks, or other 

public and tribal lands that are improved.

Select Method Select the data collection method you will 

use to measure the outcome. If the 

National Performance Measure(s) you 

have selected require a specific instrument, 

you must select that instrument.

Survey

Instrument 

Description

In this text field you must provide the 

name of the instrument you will use to 

measure the outcome, a clear description 

of what the instrument will measure and 

how the construct to be measured is 

defined, the timeline for administering the 

instrument and the level of improvement 

that is necessary to be counted as having 

improved. Also provide details about the 

reliability and validity of the instrument, 

and how the instrument is sufficient to 

meet the data collection requirements 

outlined in the Performance Measures 

Instructions, if applicable.

Members will send a survey to project 

hosts/sponsors after the project has been 

completed and ask them to use their 

professional knowledge to rate the condition 

of the treated land compared to its initial 

condition and the prescribed treatment to 

improve it on a scale of one to five. For nine 

of the ten projects, the rating will be 4 

(improved) or 5 (greatly improved).

Target # The number of beneficiaries described in 

the outcome title. Targets must be 

numbers, not percents.

130

Unit of Measure The unit of measure specified in the output 

title. The unit of measure auto-populates 

for National Performance Measures. For 

applicant-determined measures, the unit of 

measure should describe the population 

you intend to count (children, miles, etc.)

Acres
49

HEALTHY FUTURES 

Measure H1 Number of individuals who are uninsured, economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, 

or living in rural areas utilizing preventive and primary health care services and programs. 

Definition of 

Key Terms

Uninsured: An individual lacks insurance coverage. (This definition is consistent with the 

National Health Information Survey (NHIS). 

Economically disadvantaged: Meet income eligibility criteria for Medicaid or SCHIP in the 

state where the individual/family accessing services resides; do not have to meet other eligibility 

criteria.

Medically underserved: An individual who lives in a medically underserved area or is a 

member of a medically underserved population, as defined by HHS. HHS makes these 

designations to identify areas and population groups with a shortage of primary care health 

services. The criteria for these designations include indicators of health status, ability to pay for 

and access to health services, and availability of health professionals (per the Public Health 

Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 254b(b)(3)). Programs may also provide justification for other medically 

underserved populations.

Healthcare services: Accessible, comprehensive, continuous, and coordinated care to preserve 

health and prevent, treat or manage disease or infirmity, provided and consistently available in 

the context of family and community.

Preventive health care services: Preventive health behavior is "any activity undertaken by an 

individual who (believed to be) healthy for the purpose of preventing or detecting illness in an 

asymptomatic state" (Kasl and Cobb 1966, p.246). 

Primary health care: The concept of primary health care was defined by the World Health 

Organization in 1978 as both a level of health service delivery and an approach to health care 

practice. Primary care, as the provision of essential health care, is the basis of a health care 

system. This is in contrast to secondary health care, which is consultative, short term, and 

disease oriented for the purpose of assisting the primary care practitioner.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count unduplicated new individuals who actually use the preventive and primary health care 

services and programs, as a result of the grantee’s activities.

Grantee records that are follow-up data on clients referred to health care services and programs. 

Requires grantee to follow-up with client.

Measure H2 Number of clients to whom information on health insurance, health care access and health 

benefits programs is delivered.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Health insurance: Risk arrangement that assures financial coverage for a defined range of 

health care services, known as benefits, only if these are required. Coverage is offered to an 

individual or group in exchange for regular payments (premiums paid regardless of use of 

benefits) by a licensed third party (not a health care provider) or entity, usually an insurance 

company or government agency that pays for medical services but does not receive or provide 

health care services. 

Preventive health care services: Preventive health behavior is "any activity undertaken by an 

individual who is (believed to be) healthy for the purpose of preventing or detecting illness in an 

asymptomatic state" (Kasl and Cobb 1966, p.246). In the context of healthcare services this 

may include the provision of a range of activities such as immunizations, family planning, and 

health/wellness education. More broadly this includes individuals engaging in lifestyle changes 

(e.g., nutrition, exercise) to help mitigate risk of disease.
50

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

The information may be delivered using methods such as individual-level interactions, grouplevel interactions, hotlines, clearinghouses, etc. 

Count unduplicated new individuals who are provided with information, as a result of the 

grantee’s activities. If more than one method of delivery is used (e.g., a group-level interaction 

followed by an individual-level interaction), count the client only once. 

Grantee reports and logs of interactions with clients.

Measure H3 Number of clients enrolled in health insurance, health services, and health benefits programs.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Enrolled: Newly enrolled as a result of grantee activities. Clients may or may not have existing 

health insurance, or previous use of health services and health benefits programs. 

Health insurance: Risk arrangement that assures financial coverage for a defined range of 

health care services, known as benefits, only if these are required. Coverage is offered to an 

individual or group in exchange for regular payments (premiums paid regardless of use of 

benefits) by a licensed third party (not a health care provider) or entity, usually an insurance 

company or government agency that pays for medical services but does not receive or provide 

health care services. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

The new unduplicated clients that were ultimately enrolled in a health insurance, health 

services, or health benefits program. Count each client only once. For example, enrolling a 

client in health insurance and then enrolling that same client in a health service would count as 

one client.

Grantee records or data (application and follow-up) on client enrollment and health insurance 

status.

Measure H4 Number of clients participating in health education programs.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Health education program: “Any planned combination of learning experiences designed to 

predispose, enable, and reinforce voluntary behavior conducive to health in individuals, groups 

or communities.” (Green, LW and Kreuter, MW. Health Promotion Planning: An Educational 

and Ecological Approach, 3rd ed. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company; 1999.) 

An educational process by which the public health system conveys information to the 

community regarding community health status, health care needs, positive health behaviors and 

health care policy issues. (National Public Health Performance Standards Project.) 

How to Calculate/ 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count unduplicated new clients who participate in the grantee’s health education program. If 

the health education program has multiple sessions, topics, etc., count the client once. Do not 

count clients by number of sessions. For example, if a health education program meets once a 

month for one year, and has 12 participants who complete, then only report 12 (not 144).

Grantee collects data on clients attending each session. Logs, case management systems, etc.

Measure H5 Number of children and youth engaged in in-school or afterschool physical education activities 

with the purpose of reducing childhood obesity.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Children and youth must be enrolled in elementary, middle, or high school programs within a 

public, charter, private, or home-school arrangement.

Physical education activities must be in addition to regular activities that would have been 

provided by the school or afterschool program (cannot supplant existing activities). One goal of 

the physical activity should be to reduce or prevent childhood obesity.
51

How to Calculate/ 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of the number of children actively participating in the activities. Not just the number 

enrolled or even the number attending, but rather the number who engage in the activities. 

Count each child only once.

FAQs Can summer programs select the H5 performance measure?

The H5 output could apply to summer programming, provided the programming meets the 

criterion of being in addition to regular activities that would have been provided by the school 

or camp during the summer term.

Measure H6 Number of children and youth receiving nutrition education with the purpose of reducing 

childhood obesity.

Definition of Key

Terms

Children and youth must be enrolled in elementary, middle, or high school programs within a 

public, charter, private, or home-school arrangement.

Nutrition education must be in addition to what they would have regularly received as part of 

planned school curriculum or afterschool activity (cannot supplant existing activities). The 

education should be appropriate to the grade level. 

How to Calculate/ 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of the number of children attending the nutrition education sessions. If delivered to a 

classroom, count the number of children in attendance that day (not the enrollment of children 

in the classroom). Every effort should be made to count each child only once. If the nutrition 

education program includes multiple topics or sessions, count each child once.

Measure H7 Number of clients receiving language translation services at clinics and in emergency rooms.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Clinic: Any medical facility or establishment where medical services are provided, and where 

more than one medical specialty is practiced. This may include public health clinics, hospitals, 

etc.

Emergency rooms: Located in hospitals or care facilities and handle cases that require 

immediate attention.

Translation: Includes both written and verbal, interpretive services to help patients not fluent in 

English writing and/or speaking better communicate their medical needs and understand their 

medical instructions.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count unduplicated new clients who receive the language translation services. If an encounter 

involved more than one person (e.g., family members), count each individual separately. 

Grantee collects data on clients who received translation services at clinics or emergency rooms. 

Logs, case management systems, etc.

Measure H8 Number of older adults or individuals with disabilities receiving food, transportation, or other 

services that allow them to live independently.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Older Adults: Individuals age 65 or older.

Individual with a Disability: An individual who has a physical or mental impairment that 

substantially limits one or more major life activities; has a record of such an impairment; or is 

regarded as having such an impairment.

Receiving food, transportation, or other services: Individual should receive the supports 

needed to maintain independent living; not all individuals will require the same supports; may 

include food deliveries, legal and medical services, nutrition information, transportation, etc.

Live independently: Individuals live in a private residence (house, apartment, mobile home, 

etc.) rather than in a nursing home or group home. 
52

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

At the outset of the activity the grantee should indicate the “dosage,” or how many sessions, 

days or hours of the service are required to influence the desired outcomes. 

Only count clients who received some minimum “dosage” that can be expected to have some 

effect in terms of reducing social isolation. 

Count number of qualifying individuals as defined above who receive the service. Each 

individual should be counted only once. If two eligible individuals live at the same address, 

they should both be counted. If an eligible individual lives with someone else who is not 

eligible, the non-eligible individuals in the household should not be counted. Each individual 

should be counted only once during the program year even though most individuals are likely to 

need on-going support.

Grantees need to develop a tracking system to record the number of individuals receiving 

companionship services. 

Measure 

H9

Number of older adults or individuals with disabilities who reported having increased social 

ties/perceived social support.

Definition of Key 

Terms

Older Adults: Individuals age 65 or older.

Individual with a Disability: An individual who has a physical or mental impairment that 

substantially limits one or more major life activities; has a record of such an impairment; or is 

regarded as having such an impairment.

Social ties/perceived social support: Relationships with other people and/or the belief that 

these people will offer (or have offered) effective help during times of need.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

At the outset of the activity the grantee should indicate the “dosage,” or how many sessions, 

days or hours of the service are required to influence the desired outcomes. 

Only count clients who received some minimum “dosage” that can be expected to have some 

effect in terms of reducing social isolation. 

Programs should collect data for this measure from surveys of the older adults/individuals with 

disabilities who received companionship services or a survey of a family member or caseworker 

for those unable to respond to a survey themselves.

Grantees are encouraged to use the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study 

Survey which is available free of charge. The University of Michigan Health and Retirement 

Study (HRS) surveys more than 22,000 Americans over the age of 50 every two years. 

Supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA U01AG009740) and the Social Security 

Administration, the HRS is a large-scale longitudinal project that studies the labor force 

participation and health transitions that individuals undergo toward the end of their work lives 

and in the years that follow. Health and Retirement Study data products are available without 

cost to researchers and analysts; certain Conditions of Use apply. Registration is required in 

order to download files. 

Measure H10 Number of individuals receiving emergency food from food banks, food pantries, or other 

nonprofit organizations.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Emergency food: “Emergency” food assistance is not meant to designate routine help in 

meeting a family’s needs. The emergency may be experienced by the family personally, such as 

their house burning down, or it may be experienced by the community more broadly, such as a 

natural disaster.
53

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of unduplicated individuals for whom the distributed food is intended. Should only be 

counted the first time they are served. 

All members of a family should be counted. For example, if the food is given to an individual 

to bring home to a family of “4” including the individual, then the count is “4” rather than “1”.

Client tracking database or tracking form.

Measure H11 Number of individuals receiving support, services, education and/or referrals to alleviate longterm hunger.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Long-term hunger: refers to the USDA’s definition of “low food security” or “very low food 

security” 

Support, services, education, or referrals: helps qualifying individuals access food, provides 

nutritional services, education and life skills to alleviate the food insecurity experienced by the 

individual/family. May include community garden programs. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

At the outset of the activity the grantee should indicate the “dosage,” or how many sessions, 

days or hours of the service are required to influence the desired outcomes. 

Only count clients who received some minimum “dosage” that can be expected to have some 

effect in terms of alleviating hunger. 

Service requires an engagement with the individual in person, by phone, or through a webinterface. Pamphlets, brochures, or web-based information that does not involve a human 

interaction is not sufficient.

Count of unduplicated individuals receiving the support, services, education or referrals as a 

result of the grantee’s activities. If more than one method of delivery is used (e.g., a group-level 

interaction followed by an individual-level interaction), count the individual only once. Only 

count individuals directly engaged in the service. 

Grantee client tracking database or tracking forms or logs of interactions with clients. 

Other Notes Programs may not focus their services solely on providing referrals to Federal assistance 

programs.

Measure

H12

Number of individuals that reported increased food security of themselves and their children 

(household food security) as a result of CNCS-supported services.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Food security: “Access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household 

members. Food security includes at a minimum: (1) the ready availability of

nutritionally adequate and safe foods, and (2) an assured ability to acquire acceptable

foods in socially acceptable ways (e.g., without resorting to emergency food supplies,

scavenging, stealing, or other coping strategies).” USDA.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Data collection for H12 will be based on a survey of the adult family member who received the 

food services. See the National Service Knowledge Network, 

https://www.nationalserviceresources.gov/, to search for performance measurement tools that 

CNCS has developed for volunteer and service programs. 

Survey questions could be modeled after those used to assess household food security for the 

Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. The Household Food Security Survey is 

administered annually as a supplement to the Monthly Current Population Survey conducted by 

the U.S. Census Bureau. The questionnaire includes about conditions and behaviors known to

characterize households having difficulty meeting basic food needs. 

The report on Household Food Security in the United States (2007) measures the food security 

status of households by determining “the number of food-insecure conditions and behaviors the 
54

household reports. Households are classified as food secure if they report no food insecure 

conditions or if they report only one or two food-insecure conditions. (Food-insecure conditions 

are indicated by responses of “often” or “sometimes” to questions 1-3 and 11-13, “almost every 

month” or “some months but not every month” to questions 5, 10, and 17, and “yes” to the other 

questions.) They are classified as food insecure if they report three or more food-insecure 

conditions.” 

Two different approaches to administering the survey could be used. 

(1) “Pre/post” questionnaire. The same questionnaire would be administered to the adult family 

member at the beginning of the education/training program. The questionnaire would ask about 

the food security of the adults and children in the household. The same questionnaire would be 

administered three to six months after completion of the education/training. 

(2) Post-program questionnaire only. Three to six months after completion of receiving the 

education/training, a questionnaire would be administered to the adult family member asking 

about a) the current level of food security of the adults and children in the household and b) 

their level of food security prior to receiving the service. The questions would address the same 

topics as those in the pre/post questionnaire but reworded to ask separately about current and 

prior food security.

Survey responses can be analyzed to calculate the differences in the number and percent of 

respondents who reported being food insecure prior to receiving the service and after receiving 

the service. Each individual should be surveyed only once regardless of the number or type of 

different services (e.g., education/training, counseling) received during the year. 

FAQs Can summer programs select the H12 performance measure? 

The H12 outcome measure is specifically about long-term food security, so it would not apply 

to summer programs that are filling a summer gap. Filling a summer gap would not translate to 

increased food security a few months out. If you are a summer program working on this issue, 

you can create and enter your on applicant-determined measure. 

Performance Measure Example: 

Field What Should Be Entered Here Example

Title Enter a short, descriptive title for your 

performance measure. Different aligned 

performance measures should have 

different titles so that they can be easily 

referenced.

Food Assistance

Problem Statement Briefly describe the problem your 

program will address with this 

performance measure. Your description 

should provide just enough context that 

the program’s theory of change will be 

evident without referencing the 

application narrative or logic model. 

Also address any definitions from the 

Performance Measures Instructions that 

are relevant to the aligned measure as a 

whole, e.g. definition of “economically 

disadvantaged.” 

10 percent of families in our community report 

experiencing food insecurity within the past 12 

months due to emergencies. 
55

Selected 

Interventions

Select only the interventions that 

contribute to the outcomes of this 

aligned performance measure. For 

applicant-determined interventions, enter 

a one or two word description of the 

intervention.

Emergency Food Distribution

Description of 

Interventions

Describe the design and dosage of the 

interventions you have selected.

Four 300-hour members in the Food Depot 

Nutrition Program provide support services and 

case management with the local food bank.

Output Either select National Performance 

Measure output(s) or enter your own 

output title. If entering an applicantdetermined output, it should be clear 

what the output is counting.

Number of individuals receiving emergency food 

from food banks/other organizations

Select Method Select the data collection method you 

will use to measure the output. If the 

National Performance Measure(s) you 

have selected require a specific 

instrument, you must select that 

instrument.

Client Database, Tracking Form

Instrument 

Description

In this text field you must provide the 

name of the instrument you will use to 

measure the output, a clear description 

of what the instrument will measure, and 

an explanation of how you will ensure 

that beneficiaries are not double 

counted. Also describe how the 

instrument is sufficient to meet the data 

collection requirements outlined in the 

Performance Measures Instructions, if 

applicable.

Client database maintained via quarterly reports 

submitted by the ABC Food Depot’s partner 

agencies are documented through quarterly 

reports submitted to the ABC Food Depot and 

stored in order to be able to track aggregate 

numbers reached. Tracking form is used for ABC 

Food Depot food pantry to track food donations 

as well as lbs of food distributed to individuals in 

need. The client database and tracking form will 

only count individuals for whom the distributed 

food is intended, the first time they are served. 

During the quarterly report review we will ensure 

that beneficiaries are only counted once. The 

client database and tracking form will distinguish 

individuals visiting the food banks for routine 

help vs. individuals with true emergency food 

assistance needs, such as their house burning 

down, a natural disaster, etc.

Target # The number of beneficiaries described in 

the output title. Targets must be 

numbers, not percents.

1,000

Unit of Measure The unit of measure specified in the 

output title. The unit of measure autopopulates for National Performance 

Measures. For applicant-determined 

measures, the unit of measure should 

describe the population you intend to 

count (children, miles, etc.)

Individuals

Outcome Title Either select National Performance Number of individuals that reported increased 
56

Measure outcome(s) or enter your own 

outcome title. If entering an applicantdetermined outcome, it should clearly 

state a measurable change in knowledge, 

attitude, behavior or condition.

food security

Select Method Select the data collection method you 

will use to measure the outcome. If the 

National Performance Measure(s) you 

have selected require a specific 

instrument, you must select that 

instrument.

Standardized Pre-Post Test

Instrument 

Description

In this text field you must provide the 

name of the instrument you will use to 

measure the outcome, a clear description 

of what the instrument will measure and 

how the construct to be measured is 

defined, the timeline for administering 

the instrument and the level of 

improvement that is necessary to be 

counted as having improved. Also 

provide details about the reliability and 

validity of the instrument, and how the 

instrument is sufficient to meet the data 

collection requirements outlined in the 

Performance Measures Instructions, if 

applicable.

The standardized pre-post test will be distributed 

to individuals receiving community meals and 

other wrap-around services. The test will include 

questions from the USDA’s Household Food 

Security Survey. Individuals will be classified as 

“food secure” if they report two or fewer food 

insecure conditions. Additionally, it will assess 

increase in knowledge of where to access needed 

food assistance services, support services to end 

long-term hunger, participation in food assistance 

programs such as SNAP, use and benefit of 

referral services to end hunger. The post-test will 

occur 3 to 6 months after the first one. 

Individuals must visit ABC Food Depot or one of 

its partner agencies to receive a meal and/or other 

education session about wrap-around services at 

least twice in order to be counted.

Target # The number of beneficiaries described in 

the outcome title. Targets must be 

numbers, not percents.

700

Unit of Measure The unit of measure specified in the 

output title. The unit of measure autopopulates for National Performance 

Measures. For applicant-determined 

measures, the unit of measure should 

describe the population you intend to 

count (children, miles, etc.)

Individuals
57

VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES

Measure V1 Number of veterans that received CNCS-supported assistance.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Veteran: “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was 

discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.” section 101 of title 

38, 23 United States Code. 

CNCS-supported assistance: A variety of different supports that enhance the quality of life of 

veterans, military members, and their families, including:

 Coordinate community needs for military families during pre-deployment, deployment, 

and reintegration.

 Promote community-based efforts to meet the unique needs of military families while a 

family member is deployed and upon that family member’s return home.

 Recruit veterans for national service and volunteer opportunities, including 

opportunities that utilize their military experience, such as disaster response projects.

 Assist veterans with access to educational benefits and services.

 Develop educational opportunities for veterans, including opportunities for 

professional certification, licensure, or other credentials.

 Coordinate activities with and assist State and local agencies that provide veterans with 

educational benefits.

 Assist veterans with access to employment benefits and services. 

 Coordinate activities with and assist agencies that serve veterans and military families 

with internships and fellowships that may lead to employment in the private and public 

sectors.

 Assist veterans and active-duty military to access state and federal benefits.

 Promote efforts within a community to serve the needs of veterans and active-duty 

military.

 Assist veterans to file benefits claims.

 Mentor military children.

 Develop mentoring relationships between veterans and economically disadvantaged 

students.

 Assist veterans with transportation. 

 Develop projects to assist veterans with disabilities, veterans who are unemployed, 

older veterans, and veterans in rural communities with transportation and other 

supportive services.

 Provide veterans with legal assistance, assistance accessing mental healthcare, and 

assistance accessing affordable housing.

Assistance cannot simply be referrals to federal services without supplementary assistance.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of veterans receiving services or assistance from the CNCS-supported 

program. Regardless of the number of times the veteran returns for services or the number of 

different services the veteran may receive from the CNCS-supported program, each veteran 

should be counted only once per grant year.

Requires a tracking system appropriate to the service. Sign-in sheet, database tracking system, 

etc.
58

Measure V2 Number of veterans engaged in service opportunities as a National Service Participant or 

volunteer

Definition of 

Key Terms

Veterans: See definition under V1.

Engaged in: Not simply enrolled or signed up to participate; program should set a minimum 

level at start of year for what “engaged in” means and then count based on that level. 

Service opportunities: Helping others through actions including but not limited to: disaster 

services assistance; education services (including tutoring and mentoring); environmental 

stewardship and conservation; independent living; housing, financial services or employment 

assistance (including training and/or job placement services); and access to health care services 

(mental health and/or family supports). The assistance may be provided to other veterans, 

people within the military community or external to it.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of veterans (who are either National Service Participants or are recruited as 

volunteers) participating in service opportunities either directly sponsored by the CNCSsupported project or for which the CNCS-supported project acted as a direct connection between 

the veteran and the service opportunity. Regardless of how many times the veteran participates 

or in how many different service opportunities, each veteran should only be counted once. It is 

suggested that service hours be tracked as well.

Aligned outcome may focus on benefits to the veterans, benefits to the population they are 

serving, or both.

If the veteran is engaged in a CNCS-sponsored opportunity, s/he should sign in on a tracking 

sheet. If it is an opportunity to serve through another organization, proof of service may be 

documented by a letter from the organization indicating the veteran’s level of service or a 

tracking sheet from that organization.

Review Notes MSYs and slots must be zero for Teacher Corps (ED12, ED17, ED18, ED19) and Member 

Development (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) performance measures and any other 

performance measures that are focused exclusively on member development rather than 

beneficiary outcomes (EN2, EN2.1, V2, V10).

Measure V3 Number of veterans assisted in pursuing educational opportunities.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Veterans: See definition under V1.

Assisted in: Does not include educational counseling or referrals; service must result in 

enrollment of veteran in an educational program.

Pursuing educational opportunities: Enrollment in GED, post-secondary programs, proprietary 

schools, certification programs (including on-line educational opportunities) as indicated in the 

GI Bill and at institutions approved by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of veterans (beneficiaries of service, not members) enrolling in an approved 

educational program. It may be necessary to assist the same veteran more than once but each 

individual should be counted only once during the program year.

Proof of school enrollment and grantee service tracking documents.

Measure V4 Number of veterans assisted in receiving professional certification, licensure, or credentials.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Veterans: see definition under V1.

Assisted in: Helping the veteran stay in school, earn passing grades, and achieve the 

certification, licensure, credentials, or degree. 

Receiving professional certification, licensure, credentials: licensing board, degree granting 

authority, credentialing organization, etc. certifies that the veteran has successfully completed 

their educational program.
59

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of veterans (beneficiaries of service, not members) successfully completing 

their educational program. A single veteran may complete more than one educational program 

during the year but each individual should be counted only once during the program year.

Official copy of educational attainment (transcript, diploma, etc.) and grantee service tracking 

documents.

Measure V6 Number of housing units developed, repaired, or otherwise made available for veterans.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Veterans: See definition under V1.

Housing unit: A single-family home (including a mobile home if permanently placed), an 

apartment, or a room in a group home for people with disabilities.

Develop: Build new or substantially rehabilitate a unit was uninhabitable or soon would have 

become so. Involves replacing major systems such as the roof, the plumbing, the wiring, the 

foundation, or elevating the unit as required by a flood plain standard. 

Repair: A more modest level of physical work on the unit, such as weatherizing, painting, 

replacing appliances. 

Can use dollar cut-off to distinguish “developed” from “repaired” (e.g., 30K/unit) or can 

distinguish by whether major systems are replaced. Dollar cut-off would require valuing 

volunteer labor, distinguishing between skilled trades and other workers. 

Otherwise made available: Activities that make available through improved access a housing 

unit that is in the housing stock and likely to remain habitable. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of housing units developed, repaired, or otherwise made available as 

defined here for veterans. This count indicates that the work has been completed to make the 

units available but they may or may not have been occupied. 

Inspection report, certificate of occupancy, or other verification from an external agency that the 

work was completed.

Measure V7 Number of family members of active duty military service members that received CNCSsupported assistance.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Active duty military service member: The term ‘‘active duty’’ means

“Full-time duty in the active military service of the United States, including the United States 

Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States Marine Corps, and 

the United States Coast Guard. This includes members of the Reserve Component serving on 

active duty or full-time training duty, but does not include full-time National Guard duty.” 

(Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, As Amended Through 15 

May 2011). CNCS considers National Guard members and reservists and wounded 

warriors sub-groups of active duty military service members for the purposes of grant 

applications and performance measure reporting.

Family members: Immediate family members related by blood, marriage, or adoption to a 

current member of the U.S. armed forces including one who was deceased. 

CNCS-supported assistance: A variety of different supports that enhance the quality of life of 

veterans, military members, and their families, including:

 Coordinate community needs for military families during pre-deployment, deployment, 

and reintegration.

 Promote community-based efforts to meet the unique needs of military families while a 

family member is deployed and upon that family member’s return home.

 Recruit veterans for national service and volunteer opportunities, including 

opportunities that utilize their military experience, such as disaster response projects.
60

 Assist veterans with access to educational benefits and services.

 Develop educational opportunities for veterans, including opportunities for 

professional certification, licensure, or other credentials.

 Coordinate activities with and assist State and local agencies that provide veterans with 

educational benefits.

 Assist veterans with access to employment benefits and services. 

 Coordinate activities with and assist agencies that serve veterans and military families 

with internships and fellowships that may lead to employment in the private and public 

sectors.

 Assist veterans and active-duty military to access state and federal benefits.

 Promote efforts within a community to serve the needs of veterans and active-duty 

military.

 Assist veterans to file benefits claims.

 Mentor military children.

 Develop mentoring relationships between veterans and economically disadvantaged 

students.

 Assist veterans with transportation. 

 Develop projects to assist veterans with disabilities, veterans who are unemployed, 

older veterans, and veterans in rural communities with transportation and other 

supportive services.

 Provide veterans with legal assistance, assistance accessing mental healthcare, and 

assistance accessing affordable housing.

Assistance cannot simply be referrals to federal services without supplementary assistance.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of family members receiving services or assistance from the CNCSsupported program. Count is based on the member of the family who is an active duty military 

service member. Services may be provided to the family as a group or to individual members 

but each family member, even if they are part of the same military family, should receive a 

count of “1”. Regardless of the number of times the family member returns for services or the 

number of different services the family member may receive from the CNCS-supported 

program, each family member should be counted only once per grant year.

Services may include referrals to federally supported military services but cannot be exclusively 

referrals/education about those services. Services may be provided in person, on the phone, or 

by email. 

Requires a tracking system appropriate to the service. Sign-in sheet, database tracking system, 

etc.

Measure V8 Number of veterans’ family members that received CNCS-supported assistance.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Veteran: “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was 

discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.” section 101 of title 

38,23 United States Code.

Family members: Immediate family members related by blood, marriage, or adoption to a 

veteran of the U.S. armed forces, including one who is deceased.

CNCS-supported assistance: could be a variety of different supports to help the veterans’ family 

members have a higher quality of life, but cannot simply be referrals to federal services without 

supplementary assistance. The assistance may be delivered by phone, e-mail, or in person. It 

may be delivered individually or as a group.

CNCS-supported assistance: A variety of different supports that enhance the quality of life of 

veterans, military members, and their families, including:

 Coordinate community needs for military families during pre-deployment, deployment, 
61

and reintegration.

 Promote community-based efforts to meet the unique needs of military families while a 

family member is deployed and upon that family member’s return home.

 Recruit veterans for national service and volunteer opportunities, including 

opportunities that utilize their military experience, such as disaster response projects.

 Assist veterans with access to educational benefits and services.

 Develop educational opportunities for veterans, including opportunities for 

professional certification, licensure, or other credentials.

 Coordinate activities with and assist State and local agencies that provide veterans with 

educational benefits.

 Assist veterans with access to employment benefits and services. 

 Coordinate activities with and assist agencies that serve veterans and military families 

with internships and fellowships that may lead to employment in the private and public 

sectors.

 Assist veterans and active-duty military to access state and federal benefits.

 Promote efforts within a community to serve the needs of veterans and active-duty 

military.

 Assist veterans to file benefits claims.

 Mentor military children.

 Develop mentoring relationships between veterans and economically disadvantaged 

students.

 Assist veterans with transportation. 

 Develop projects to assist veterans with disabilities, veterans who are unemployed, 

older veterans, and veterans in rural communities with transportation and other 

supportive services.

 Provide veterans with legal assistance, assistance accessing mental healthcare, and 

assistance accessing affordable housing.

Assistance cannot simply be referrals to federal services without supplementary assistance.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of family members receiving services or assistance from the CNCSsupported program. Regardless of the number of times the family member returns for services or 

the number of different services the family member may receive from the CNCS-supported 

program, each family member should be counted only once per grant year.

Requires a tracking system appropriate to the service. Sign-in sheet, database tracking system, 

etc.

Measure V9 Number of active duty military service members that received CNCS-supported assistance.

Definition of 

Key Terms

Active duty military service member: The term ‘‘active duty’’ means

“Full-time duty in the active military service of the United States, including the United States 

Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States Marine Corps, and 

the United States Coast Guard. This includes members of the Reserve Component serving on 

active duty or full-time training duty, but does not include full-time National Guard duty.” 

(Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, As Amended Through 15 

May 2011.). CNCS considers National Guard members and reservists and wounded 

warriors sub-groups of active duty military service members for the purposes of grant 

applications and performance measure reporting.

CNCS-supported assistance: A variety of different supports that enhance the quality of life of 

veterans, military members, and their families, including:

 Coordinate community needs for military families during pre-deployment, deployment, 

and reintegration.

 Promote community-based efforts to meet the unique needs of military families while a 
62

family member is deployed and upon that family member’s return home.

 Recruit veterans for national service and volunteer opportunities, including 

opportunities that utilize their military experience, such as disaster response projects.

 Assist veterans with access to educational benefits and services.

 Develop educational opportunities for veterans, including opportunities for 

professional certification, licensure, or other credentials.

 Coordinate activities with and assist State and local agencies that provide veterans with 

educational benefits.

 Assist veterans with access to employment benefits and services. 

 Coordinate activities with and assist agencies that serve veterans and military families 

with internships and fellowships that may lead to employment in the private and public 

sectors.

 Assist veterans and active-duty military to access state and federal benefits.

 Promote efforts within a community to serve the needs of veterans and active-duty 

military.

 Assist veterans to file benefits claims.

 Mentor military children.

 Develop mentoring relationships between veterans and economically disadvantaged 

students.

 Assist veterans with transportation. 

 Develop projects to assist veterans with disabilities, veterans who are unemployed, 

older veterans, and veterans in rural communities with transportation and other 

supportive services.

 Provide veterans with legal assistance, assistance accessing mental healthcare, and 

assistance accessing affordable housing.

Assistance cannot simply be referrals to federal services without supplementary assistance.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of active duty military service members receiving services or assistance 

from the CNCS-supported program. Regardless of the number of times the military service 

member returns for services or the number of different services the military service member 

may receive from the CNCS-supported program, each military service member should be 

counted only once per grant year.

Requires a tracking system appropriate to the service. Sign-in sheet, database tracking system, 

etc.

Measure V10 Number of military family members engaged in service opportunities as a National Service 

Participant or volunteer

Definition of 

Key Terms

Military family members: Immediate family members related by blood, marriage, or adoption 

to a current member of the U.S. armed forces including one who was deceased. 

Active duty military service member: See definition under V7.

Engaged in: Not simply enrolled or signed up to participate; program should set a minimum 

level at start of year for what “engaged in” means and then count based on that level. 

Service opportunities: Helping others through actions including but not limited to: disaster 

services assistance; education services (including tutoring and mentoring); environmental 

stewardship and conservation; independent living; housing, financial services or employment 

assistance (including training and/or job placement services); and access to health care services 

(mental health and/or family supports). The assistance may be provided to veterans, other 

people within the military community or external to it.
63

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Unduplicated count of military family members (who are either National Service Participants or 

are recruited as volunteers) participating in service opportunities either directly sponsored by the 

CNCS-supported project or for which the CNCS-supported project acted as a direct connection 

between the military family member and the service opportunity. Regardless of how many 

times the military family member participates or in how many different service opportunities, 

each military family member should only be counted once. It is suggested that service hours be 

tracked as well.

Aligned outcome may focus on benefits to the military family member, benefits to the 

population they are serving, or both.

If the military family member is engaged in a CNCS-sponsored opportunity, s/he should sign in 

on a tracking sheet. If it is an opportunity to serve through another organization, proof of 

service may be documented by a letter from the organization indicating the military family 

member’s level of service or a tracking sheet from that organization.

Review Notes MSYs and slots must be zero for Teacher Corps (ED12, ED17, ED18, ED19) and Member 

Development (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) performance measures and any other 

performance measures that are focused exclusively on member development rather than 

beneficiary outcomes (EN2, EN2.1, V2, V10).

Performance Measure Example: 

Field What Should Be Entered Here Example

Title Enter a short, descriptive title for your 

performance measure. Different 

aligned performance measures should 

have different titles so that they can be 

easily referenced.

Veteran Volunteers

Problem 

Statement

Briefly describe the problem your 

program will address with this 

performance measure. Your 

description should provide just enough 

context that the program’s theory of 

change will be evident without 

referencing the application narrative or 

logic model. Also address any 

definitions from the Performance 

Measures Instructions that are relevant 

to the aligned measure as a whole, e.g. 

definition of “economically 

disadvantaged.” 

More than half of all veterans struggle to re-engage 

with their communities after service. The Veterans 

Still Serve AmeriCorps Program helps recently 

returned veterans successfully re-engage with their 

communities through national and community 

service. 

Selected 

Interventions

Select only the interventions that 

contribute to the outcomes of this 

aligned performance measure. For 

applicant-determined interventions, 

enter a one or two word description of 

the intervention.

Volunteer activity

Description of 

Interventions

Describe the design and dosage of the 

interventions you have selected.

The Veterans Still Serve AmeriCorps program has 

20 AmeriCorps members placed in teams of 2-4 to 

involve local veterans in volunteer opportunities 
64

and to train veterans as volunteer and project 

leaders. Approximately 70% of the AmeriCorps 

members are veterans themselves. Members 

partner with local veteran serving organizations to 

identify projects and veteran volunteers.

Output Either select National Performance 

Measure output(s) or enter your own 

output title. If entering an applicantdetermined output, it should be clear 

what the output is counting.

Number of veterans engaged in service 

opportunities as National Service Participants or 

volunteers.

Select Method Select the data collection method you 

will use to measure the output. If the 

National Performance Measure(s) you 

have selected require a specific 

instrument, you must select that 

instrument.

Activity Log

Instrument 

Description

In this text field you must provide the 

name of the instrument you will use to 

measure the output, a clear description 

of what the instrument will measure, 

and an explanation of how you will 

ensure that beneficiaries are not double 

counted. Also describe how the 

instrument is sufficient to meet the data 

collection requirements outlined in the 

Performance Measures Instructions, if 

applicable.

Activity logs will be kept for each service 

opportunity and veteran volunteers will be asked to 

sign in and note the time. After the completion of a 

service event, veteran volunteers will be asked to 

sign out and note the time again. A veteran will be 

counted under this measure if he/she spends a total 

of 4 hours or more engaged in volunteer service 

through one or more service opportunities. 

Upon signing in at their first service event, veteran 

volunteers are assigned a unique identifier that is 

used for any subsequent volunteer activities so that 

no individual is counted more than once over the 

course of the year, and so that total volunteer hours 

can be tracked.

Note: All AmeriCorps members that are veterans 

and complete a minimum of 4 hours of service 

through the program will also be counted under this 

measure. The number of hours served by veteran 

AmeriCorps members will be documented via 

member time sheets.

Target # The number of beneficiaries described 

in the output title. Targets must be 

numbers, not percents.

514

Unit of Measure The unit of measure specified in the 

output title. The unit of measure autopopulates for National Performance 

Measures. For applicant-determined 

measures, the unit of measure should 

describe the population you intend to 

count (children, miles, etc.)

Veterans

Outcome Title Either select National Performance 

Measure outcome(s) or enter your own 

outcome title. If entering an applicantNumber of veterans who report an increased sense 

of connection to their community
65

determined outcome, it should clearly 

state a measurable change in 

knowledge, attitude, behavior or 

condition.

Select Method Select the data collection method you 

will use to measure the outcome. If the 

National Performance Measure(s) you 

have selected require a specific 

instrument, you must select that 

instrument.

Pre-Post Survey

Instrument 

Description

In this text field you must provide the 

name of the instrument you will use to 

measure the outcome, a clear 

description of what the instrument will 

measure and how the construct to be 

measured is defined, the timeline for 

administering the instrument and the 

level of improvement that is necessary 

to be counted as having improved. 

Also provide details about the 

reliability and validity of the 

instrument, and how the instrument is 

sufficient to meet the data collection 

requirements outlined in the 

Performance Measures Instructions, if 

applicable.

Before engaging in their first service opportunity, 

volunteers and AmeriCorps members who are 

veterans will complete a brief 7-question pre-survey 

assessing (on a five-point scale) the level of 

connection they feel to their community. After 

completing a minimum of 4 hours of service, 

veteran volunteers and AmeriCorps members will 

complete the survey again. Veterans whose postsurveys indicate an increase of one or more points 

on at least 5 of the 7 survey questions will be 

counted under this measure.

Target # The number of beneficiaries described 

in the outcome title. Targets must be 

numbers, not percents.

310

Unit of Measure The unit of measure specified in the 

output title. The unit of measure autopopulates for National Performance 

Measures. For applicant-determined 

measures, the unit of measure should 

describe the population you intend to 

count (children, miles, etc.)

Veterans
66

CAPACITY BUILDING 

Review Notes

The performance measures herein are intended to measure the impact of capacity building activities that leverage 

private investment in community solutions. These capacity building activities may be provided by national service 

participants working through our grantees and programs. 

As a general rule, CNCS considers capacity building activities to be indirect services that enable CNCS-supported 

organizations to provide more, better and sustained direct services. To determine whether assigned national service 

participants’ activities qualify as capacity building, think about the intended results of those activities. Applicants 

must understand and distinguish activities that build capacity. Capacity building activities cannot be solely intended 

to support the administration or operations of the organization. Capacity building activities must: 

1) Be intended to support or enhance the program delivery model. 

2) Respond to the organization’s goal of increasing, expanding or enhancing services in order to address the 

most pressing needs identified in the community, and 

3) Enable the organization to provide a sustained level of more or better direct services after the national 

service participant’s term of service has ended.

Definition of Key Terms 

Capacity Building: A set of activities that expand the scale, reach, efficiency, or effectiveness of programs and 

organizations. Activities may also leverage resources for programs and/or organizations. For example, capacity 

building activities may expand services, enhance delivery of services, or generate additional resources. These 

activities achieve lasting positive outcomes for the beneficiary populations served by CNCS-supported 

organizations. 

CNCS’ six Focus Areas: The 2009 Serve America Act directs CNCS to focus national service on a core set of six 

priority issue areas, as follows: Disaster Services, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental Stewardship, 

Healthy Futures, and Veterans and Military Families. 

CNCS-Supported Organization: Comprises a) organizations that have national service participants (AmeriCorps, 

VISTA and NCCC members, Senior Corps volunteers and Learn and Serve participants) and, b) organizations that 

receive CNCS funding. This may include K-12 local education agencies, state health agencies, other non-federal 

government agencies, tribes and tribal governments, tax-exempt, charitable organizations under section 501(c)(3) of 

the Internal Revenue Code, grantees and their sub grantees, and partner organizations with which the 

aforementioned organizations have developed formal collaborations and whose mission supports CNCS issue areas. 

Community Volunteer: Citizens or residents in the community who are recruited and/or managed by the CNCSsupported organization or assigned national service participant(s) to offer time, knowledge, skills, and expertise for 

free to support the CNCS-supported program or organization. Community volunteers differ from national service 

participants in that they are under no formal obligation to provide a specified amount of assistance (e.g., as measured 

by service hours), and said volunteers are not enrolled in a national service program. Also referred to as “leveraged 

volunteers.”

Direct Service: Within the context of our framework, direct service refers to any form of assistance provided 

directly to the individuals, targeted groups and communities that make up the beneficiary population. For example, 

direct service may entail face-to-face housing assistance, tutoring, or disaster response services. Direct service may 

also entail hands-on environmental improvements performed by national service participants. 

Effectiveness: Improved ability of the organization to achieve outcomes resulting in better success rates or better 

quality of outcomes achieved. 

Efficiency: Improved outcomes with the same level of resources; improved or consistent quality of services with 

fewer resources. 
67

Indirect Service: Within the context of our framework, indirect service refers to the provision of skills, abilities, 

knowledge, and efforts to support a program or organization in fulfilling its primary mission, obligations and 

programming. For example, indirect services do not involve the one-to-one provision of benefits between a national 

service participant and a member of the beneficiary community. Indirect services are capacity building activities 

provided by the national service participants to affect institutional change within CNCS-supported organizations 

with the intention of supporting or enhancing the program delivery model. 

Intermediary or Intermediary Organization: Within the context of our framework, an intermediary or 

intermediary organization coordinates the fundraising, logistics, and operations for multiple partner organizations or 

their own service sites. The intermediary organization typically has a primary mission to strengthen partner 

organizations and their programs. This may include grant making organizations. 

Leveraged Resources: Additional resources or assets garnered through capacity building activities (such as 

funding, volunteers, in-kind support, and partnerships). 

National service participant: Refers to the individuals supported by CNCS who carry out service activities. CNCS’ 

various programs refer to people who participate in national service in different ways, e.g. AmeriCorps members 

and Senior Corps volunteers. The broad term “national service participant” encompasses individuals in all CNCS 

programs. National service participants are NOT staff members of the CNCS-supported organization. 

Scale/Reach: The scope of a program’s services. Increased scale/reach can be measures by the number of new 

people served, new populations served, and/ or new or expanded services. 

Supporting/Enhancing the Program Delivery Model: Specifies that the services provided by the CNCS-supported 

organization or the national service participant engaged in the capacity building activity must be for the intended 

purpose of supporting or enhancing the CNCS-supported program delivery model. These capacity building activities 

cannot be solely intended to support the administration or operations of the organization. 

Sustainability: Within the context of our framework, sustainability is a lasting outcome of the capacity building 

activity or intervention. This may include maintaining service after the CNCS resource is gone, maintaining 

enhanced or increased services after the CNCS resource is gone, or both. Sustainable projects and programs have 

institutional procedures, resources and processes that assure the continuation of expanded or enhanced beneficiary 

services. 

Underserved Populations: Populations or groups that are specifically identified by the program as in need of 

program services or that currently receive inadequate service. 

Review Notes 

 Unlike Goal 1 measures, the aligned capacity building measures in many cases may not have the same units 

of measure. (e.g., the output may measure the number of volunteers and the aligned outcome may measure 

the number of organizations.) 

 Intermediate outcomes are organized by changes in: 

 Efficiency and Effectiveness (G3-3.3, G3-3.9 – G3-3.12) 

 Scale/Reach (G3-3.13 – G3-3.15) 

 Leverage (G3-3.16 - G3-3.17) 

 End outcomes are optional for all capacity building applicants (G3-3.18, G3-3.19) 

Common Issues and Points to Consider 

 Any one of the below disqualifies the activity from capacity building: 

o Direct service 

o Only builds a stronger organization (i.e. activities that support the administration or operations of 

the organization) 

o Increased capacity only during the member service term 

 Because capacity building measures are agency-wide, some of the activities may be prohibited or limited 

by AmeriCorps State and National requirements: 
68

o Fundraising that is more than 10% of a member’s term (per Sec. 2520.45) and/or is unallowable 

(per Sec. 2520.40) 

o Duplicates or displaces staff or volunteers or supplants other funding 

o Violates prohibited activities (indirectly or directly) 

o Note the warnings on G3-3.1, G3-3.2, G3-3.7, G3-3.8, G3-3.12, G3-3.16, andG3-3.17. 

 Applicants that are federated networks with chapters and not stand alone 501(c)(3) organizations, would 

report one (1) as the number of organizations receiving capacity building services from national service 

participants. This is relevant for G3-3.4. 

 Though an applicant may feel that capacity building (particularly volunteer management) is an integral part 

of the program design, the organization may not intend to or be able to track capacity building outcomes. In 

this case, the applicant should not opt into capacity building measures. Remember, they will have the 

opportunity to report the number of volunteers as a demographic. 

Measure 

G3-3.1

Number of community volunteers recruited by CNCS-supported organizations or national 

service participants

Definition of Key 

Terms

Community volunteers: Citizens or residents in the community who are recruited and/or 

managed by the CNCS-supported organization or assigned national service participant(s) to 

offer time, knowledge, skills, and expertise for free to support the CNCS-supported program or 

organization. Community volunteers differ from national service participants in that they are 

under no formal obligation to provide a specified amount of assistance (e.g., as measured by 

service hours), and said volunteers are not enrolled in a national service program. Also referred 

to as “leveraged volunteers.”

Recruited: Enlisted or enrolled as a direct result of an intentional effort to do so.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Only count community volunteers that were specifically recruited by the CNCS-supported 

organization or the national service participant engaged in the capacity building activity for the 

intended purpose of supporting or enhancing the program delivery model may be counted. At 

the outset of the activity, the applicant/grantee should indicate a minimum number of days or 

hours, or other units of service, that must be performed by the individual in order for him or her 

to be counted as a recruited volunteer.

The organization must use some form of volunteer management system, having processes or 

capabilities that allow them to track information about individual volunteers such as but not 

limited to: the volunteer’s name, relevant demographic information including location of 

residence, method of recruitment, participation in orientation and/or training activities, planned 

and actual role, assignment(s) or activities, start and end dates of service, and hours served 

related to the program that the capacity building activities were intended to support or enhance. 

The total number of volunteers recruited (G3-3.1) and managed (G3-3.2) should be an 

unduplicated count of community volunteers engaged by the CNCS-supported organization or 

the national service participant during the program year. Applicants/grantees should control for 

double counting or select the measure that best fits your program model.

Other Note National service participants may not recruit volunteers to do activities that they themselves are 

prohibited from doing, including but not limited to managing the CNCS-supported 

projects/grants or community organizing intended to promote advocacy activities.

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.

Member development measures (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) or volunteer generation 

measures (G3-3.1, G3-3.2, G3-3.3) should only be present if these activities are the primary 

focus of the program or a significant component of the program's theory of change.
69

Measure 

G3-3.2

Number of community volunteers managed by CNCS-supported organizations or national 

service participants

Definition of Key 

Terms

Community volunteers: Citizens or residents in the community who are recruited and/or 

managed by the CNCS-supported organization or assigned national service participant(s) to 

offer time, knowledge, skills, and expertise for free to support the CNCS-supported program or 

organization. Community volunteers differ from national service participants in that they are 

under no formal obligation to provide a specified amount of assistance (e.g., as measured by 

service hours), and said volunteers are not enrolled in a national service program. Also referred 

to as “leveraged volunteers.”

Managed: Includes training, direction, coordination and supervision of the community 

volunteer by the CNCS-supported organization or national service participant in tasks, duties 

and services for the intended purpose of supporting or enhancing the program delivery model. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Only count community volunteers that were specifically managed of the CNCS-supported 

organization or the national service participant engaged in the capacity building activity for the 

intended purpose of supporting or enhancing the program delivery model may be counted. At 

the outset of the activity, the applicant/grantee should indicate a minimum number of days or 

hours, or other units of service, that must be performed by the individual in order for him or her 

to be counted as a managed volunteer.

The organization must use some form of volunteer management system, having processes or 

capabilities that allow them to track information about individual volunteers such as but not 

limited to: the volunteer’s name, relevant demographic information including location of 

residence, method of recruitment, participation in orientation and/or training activities, planned 

and actual role, assignment(s) or activities, start and end dates of service, and hours served 

related to the program that the capacity building activities were intended to support or enhance. 

The total number of volunteers recruited (G3-3.1) and managed (G3-3.2) should be an 

unduplicated count of community volunteers engaged by the CNCS-supported organization or 

the national service participant during the program year. Applicants/grantees should control for 

double counting or select the measure that best fits your program model. 

Other Note National service participants may not manage volunteers in doing activities that they themselves 

are prohibited from doing, including but not limited to managing the CNCS-supported 

projects/grants or community organizing intended to promote advocacy activities.

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.

Member development measures (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) or volunteer generation 

measures (G3-3.1, G3-3.2, G3-3.3) should only be present if these activities are the primary 

focus of the program or a significant component of the program's theory of change.

Measure 

G3-3.3

Number of organizations implementing three or more effective volunteer management practices 

as a result of capacity building services provided by CNCS-supported organizations or national 

service participants
70

Definition of Key 

Terms

Volunteer management: A series of practices that collectively maximize the capacity of 

volunteers to have an impact on behalf of the organization or community. Examples of 

volunteer management practices include but are not limited to: development of a written 

volunteer generation plan, formal partnerships for volunteer recruitment, establishment of a 

volunteer unit within the program or organization, creation of volunteer 

manual/training/curriculum, regular supervision and communication with volunteers, liability 

coverage or insurance protection for volunteers, screening and matching volunteers to jobs*, 

regular collection of information on volunteer involvement, written policies and job descriptions 

for volunteer involvement, recognition activities, such as award ceremonies, for volunteers*, 

annual measurement of volunteer impact, training and professional development for 

volunteers*, and training for paid staff in working with volunteers.

* These practices correlate strongest to volunteer retention according to a 2004 study by the 

Urban Institute, “Volunteer Management Capacity in America's Charities and Congregations: A 

Briefing Report.”

Additional resources on effective volunteer management practices are available at the National 

Service Knowledge Network.

How to Calculate/ 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Only volunteer management practices implemented specifically as a result of capacity building 

activities provided by the CNCS-supported organization or national service participant(s) 

intended to support or enhance the program delivery model may be counted.

Count of three or more effective volunteer management practices from the examples listed in 

the above definition, or included in the certification standards of an accredited volunteer 

administration program such as the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration or 

university-based program, that were implemented by the CNCS-supported organization or 

national service participant(s). Each practice should support at least one of eight steps or 

functions for effectively managing volunteers as defined in the report “Volunteering 

Reinvented: Human Capital Solutions for the Nonprofit Sector.”

1. Market Research and Community Needs Assessments

2. Strategic Planning to Maximize Volunteer Impact

3. Recruiting and Marketing to Prospective Volunteers

4. Interviewing, Screening, and Selecting Volunteers

5. Orienting and Training Volunteers

6. Ongoing Supervision and Management

7. Recognition and Volunteer Development

8. Measuring Outcomes and Evaluating the Process

Source: Corporation for National and Community Service, 2007, page 4.

http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/07_0719_volunteering_reinvented.pdf

Organizations must use a pre-post organizational assessment tool that measures capacity in the 

area of volunteer management, and that includes questions related to the organization’s 

volunteer management practices. Intermediary applicants/grantees should ensure that their subgrantees and/or host sites use the same tool. The pre-assessment should be administered before 

capacity building services are provided, and the post-assessment should be done at the end of 

the term of service of the national service participant engaged in the capacity building activity. 

Organizations should follow the guidance of the assessment tool they select with respect to 

which individual(s) at the organization respond to the assessment and other protocol for 

administering the tool. Alternatively, the applicant/grantee may choose to use a volunteer 

management tracking log or system to collect these data.
71

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.

Member development measures (O12, O13, O14, O15, O16, O17) or volunteer generation 

measures (G3-3.1, G3-3.2, G3-3.3) should only be present if these activities are the primary 

focus of the program or a significant component of the program's theory of change.

Measure 

G3-3.4

Number of organizations that received capacity building services from CNCS-supported 

organizations or national service participants

Definition of Key 

Terms

CNCS-supported organizations: Comprises a) organizations that have national service 

participants (AmeriCorps, VISTA and NCCC members, Senior Corps volunteers and Learn and 

Serve participants), and b) organizations that receive CNCS funding. This may include K-12 

local education agencies, state health agencies, tribes, tax-exempt, charitable organizations 

under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, grantees and their sub grantees, and 

partner organizations with which the aforementioned organizations have developed formal 

collaborations and whose mission supports CNCS issue areas.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of the total number of organizations that received capacity building activities intended to 

support or enhance the program delivery model from CNCS-supported organization or national 

service participants. The activities must meet the criteria for capacity building described in the 

Goal Overview section of the document. It is the applicant/grantee’s responsibility to ensure the 

capacity building activities meet the criteria provided in these definitions.

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.

Measure 

G3-3.5

Number of staff and community volunteers that received training (of one or more types) as a 

result of capacity building services provided by CNCS-supported organizations or national 

service participants

Definition of 

Key Terms

Staff: Paid or unpaid employees of the CNCS-supported organization. National Service 

Participants are NOT considered staff members of the CNCS-supported organization.

Community Volunteer: Citizens or residents in the community who are recruited and/or 

managed by the CNCS-supported organization or assigned national service participant(s) to 

offer time, knowledge, skills, and expertise for free to support the CNCS-supported program or 

organization. Community volunteers differ from national service participants in that they are 

under no formal obligation to provide a specified amount of assistance (e.g., as measured by 

service hours), and said volunteers are not enrolled in a national service program. Also referred 

to as “leveraged volunteers.”

Training: An organized activity aimed at imparting information and/or instructions to improve

the training recipient's performance or to help him or her attain a required level of knowledge or 

skill.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count the number of individual staff members who received training that was developed, 

organized or delivered by the CNCS-supported organization or national service participant. The 

training received should be intended to support or enhance the program delivery model. Count 

each staff member once, even if they receive multiple types of training.

At the outset of the activity, the applicant/grantee should indicate the minimum amount of days, 

hours, or other units of service required to complete the activity and/or achieve results. When 

reporting on this performance measure, the grantee should only count the number of service 

beneficiaries who met or received that minimum by the end of the year.

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.
72

Measure 

G3-3.6

Number of organizations that completed a community assessment identifying goals and 

recommendations with the assistance of CNCS-supported organizations or national service 

participants

Definition of 

Key Terms

Community Assessment: Involves comprehensive information gathering, analysis and 

documentation to understand a community's concerns, effectively characterize its needs and 

respond with appropriate interventions. Discovering those things that matter to the community, 

what issues the community feels are most important to address, and what resources are available 

to bring about change may be accomplished through interviews with community members, and 

by conducting listening sessions, public forums, and other place-based research, resulting in an 

assessment (or profile) of the community that helps identify and prioritize critical issues and 

plan future interventions.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of organizations that received capacity building assistance from the CNCS-supported 

organization or assigned national service participant(s) that reported having completed a 

community assessment containing goals and recommendations intended to support or enhance 

the program delivery model,. 

At the outset of the activity, the applicant/grantee should indicate the minimum amount of days, 

hours, or other level of assistance required in order to determine that the assistance provided by 

the CNCS-supported organization or assigned national service participant was substantive and 

instrumental in completing the activity and/or achieving results. Applicants/grantees may define 

the level of assistance as including but not being limited to: coordinating the community 

assessment effort on behalf of the community and local organization; serving as the primary 

point of contact and liaison for all stakeholders involved in the community assessment effort; 

researching the community history, assets, issues, barriers, resources, goals etc. through 

document review, interviews, focus groups, etc., and/or writing or significantly contributing to 

the community assessment documentation.

Applicants are encouraged to use an established framework for conducting the community 

assessment. The framework should address the following core elements of a community 

assessment, as outlined by the Community Tool Box:

1. Describe the makeup and history of the community to provide a context within which 

to collect data on its current concerns. 

2. Describe what matters to people in the community.

3. Describe what matters to key stakeholders.

4. (For each candidate problem/goal) Describe the evidence indicating whether the 

problem/goal should be a priority issue.

5. Describe the barriers and resources for addressing the identified issue(s).

6. (Based on the assessment) Select and state the priority issue (or issues) to be addressed 

by the group.

Additional tools, examples and how-to information for assessing community needs and 

resources can be found on the Community Tool Box website: http://ctb.ku.edu/en

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.
73

Measure 

G3-3.7

Hours of service contributed by community volunteers who were recruited by CNCS-supported 

organizations or national service participants

Definition of 

Key Terms

Hours of service: Consists of all the hours that recruited community volunteers devote to 

serving, including training time that they may have to participate in. Does not include hours 

served by community volunteers engaged in prohibited activities for CNCS-supported 

organizations, such as community organizing intended to promote advocacy activities (see 

Other Note below).

Community volunteers: Citizens or residents in the community who are recruited and/or 

managed by the CNCS-supported organization or assigned national service participant(s) to 

offer time, knowledge, skills, and expertise for free to support the CNCS-supported program or 

organization. Community volunteers differ from national service participants in that they are 

under no formal obligation to provide a specified amount of assistance (e.g., as measured by 

service hours), and said volunteers are not enrolled in a national service program. Also referred 

to as “leveraged volunteers.”

Recruited: Enlisted or enrolled as a direct result of an intentional effort to do so.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

The count of hours served must include only those hours served by volunteers included in the 

count of community volunteers recruited by the CNCS-supported organization or assigned 

national service participant(s) engaged in the capacity building activity (measured in G3-3.1). 

This should be an unduplicated count of hours served by each recruited community volunteer 

during the program year.

The organization must use some form of volunteer management system, having processes or 

capabilities that allow them to track information about individual volunteers such as but not 

limited to: the volunteer’s name, relevant demographic information including location of 

residence, method of recruitment, participation in orientation and/or training activities, planned 

and actual role, assignment(s) or activities, start and end dates of service, and hours served 

related to the program that the capacity building activities were intended to support or enhance. 

Applicants/grantees may count both GAAP services (that may qualify as pro bono services) and 

non-GAAP volunteer services in the total count of hours served. GAAP stands for Generally 

Accepted Accounting Principles. 

 Pro bono services are professional services that are donated that someone, or another 

business or organization would normally have to pay the donor for. 

 Volunteer services come from individuals that would not normally charge for their 

time and skills they donate. 

Other Note The count of hours may not include time spent on activities that are outside the scope of 

allowable activity for Members and community volunteers, i.e. time spent doing activities that 

national service participants are prohibited from doing themselves. The following activities are 

prohibited in § 2520.65 AmeriCorps subtitle C programs:

(a) 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: 

(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 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—
74

(i) A business organized for profit; 

(ii) A labor union; 

(iii) A partisan political organization; 

(iv) A nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in section 

501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 except that nothing in this section shall be 

construed to prevent participants from engaging in advocacy activities undertaken at their 

own initiative; and

(v) An organization engaged in the religious activities described in paragraph (g) of this 

section, unless Corporation assistance is not used to support those religious activities; 

(9) Conducting a voter registration drive or using Corporation 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. 

(b) Individuals 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-Corporation funds. 

Individuals should not wear the AmeriCorps logo while doing so. 

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.

Measure 

G3-3.8

Hours of service contributed by community volunteers who were managed by CNCS-supported 

organizations or national service participants

Definition of 

Key Terms

Hours of service: Consists of all the hours that managed community volunteers devote to 

serving, including training time that they may have to participate in. Does not include hours 

served by community volunteers engaged in prohibited activities for CNCS-supported 

organizations, such as community organizing intended to promote advocacy activities (see 

Other Note below).

Community volunteers: Citizens or residents in the community who are recruited and/or 

managed by the CNCS-supported organization or assigned national service participant(s) to 

offer time, knowledge, skills, and expertise for free to support the CNCS-supported program or 

organization. Community volunteers differ from national service participants in that they are 

under no formal obligation to provide a specified amount of assistance (e.g., as measured by 

service hours), and said volunteers are not enrolled in a national service program. Also referred 

to as “leveraged volunteers.”

Managed: Includes training, direction, coordination and supervision of the community 

volunteer by the CNCS-supported organization or national service participant in tasks, duties 

and services for the intended purpose of supporting or enhancing the program delivery model.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

The count of hours served must include only those hours served by volunteers included in the 

count of community volunteers managed by the CNCS-supported organization or assigned 

national service participant(s) engaged in the capacity building activity (measured in G3-3.2) . 

This should be an unduplicated count of hours served by each managed community volunteer 

during the program year.

The organization must use some form of volunteer management system, having processes or 

capabilities that allow them to track information about individual volunteers such as but not 

limited to: the volunteer’s name, relevant demographic information including location of 

residence, method of recruitment, participation in orientation and/or training activities, planned 

and actual role, assignment(s) or activities, start and end dates of service, and hours served 

related to the program that the capacity building activities were intended to support or enhance. 

Applicants/grantees may count both GAAP services (that may qualify as pro bono services) and 

non-GAAP volunteer services in the total count of hours served. GAAP stands for Generally 

Accepted Accounting Principles. 

 Pro bono services are professional services that are donated that someone, or another 
75

business or organization would normally have to pay the donor for. 

 Volunteer services come from individuals that would not normally charge for their 

time and skills they donate. 

Other Note The count of hours may not include time spent on activities that are outside the scope of 

allowable activity for Members and community volunteers, i.e. time spent doing activities that 

national service participants are prohibited from doing themselves. The following activities are 

prohibited in § 2520.65 AmeriCorps subtitle C programs:

(a) 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: 

(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 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—

(i) A business organized for profit; 

(ii) A labor union; 

(iii) A partisan political organization; 

(iv) A nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in section 

501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 except that nothing in this section shall be 

construed to prevent participants from engaging in advocacy activities undertaken at their 

own initiative; and

(v) An organization engaged in the religious activities described in paragraph (g) of this 

section, unless Corporation assistance is not used to support those religious activities; 

(9) Conducting a voter registration drive or using Corporation 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. 

(b) Individuals 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-Corporation funds. 

Individuals should not wear the AmeriCorps logo while doing so. 

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.
76

Measure 

G3-3.9

Number of organizations reporting that capacity building activities provided by CNCSsupported organizations or national service participants have helped to make the organization 

more efficient

Definition of 

Key Terms

More efficient: Improved outcomes with the same level of resources, or improved or consistent 

quality of services with fewer resources.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of the number of organizations reporting that their organization is now more efficient as a 

result of the new capacity. The organizations included in the count should conform to what 

CNCS considers capacity building activities to be and not to be as defined in the Goal Overview 

section of this document. It is the applicant/grantee’s responsibility to ensure the activities 

performed by the CNCS-supported organization or national service participant(s) meet the 

eligibility requirements provided in these definitions.

Organizations must use a pre-post organizational assessment tool to measure sustained changes 

in efficiency within the organization. Intermediary applicants/grantees should ensure that their 

sub-grantees and/or host sites use the same tool. Applicants/grantees should select a tool that 

includes questions that measure the areas of efficiency in which the organization seeks to 

improve, and that are intended to support or enhance the program delivery model. The preassessment should be administered before capacity building services are provided, and the postassessment should be done at the end of the term of service of the national service participant 

engaged in the capacity building activity. Organizations should follow the guidance of the 

assessment tool they select with respect to which individual(s) at the organization respond to the 

assessment and other protocol for administering the tool.

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.

 

Measure 

G3-3.10

Number of organizations reporting that capacity building activities provided by CNCSsupported organizations or national service participants have helped to make the organization 

more effective

Definition of 

Key Terms

More effective: Improved ability of the organization to achieve outcomes resulting in better 

success rates or better quality of outcomes achieved. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of the number of organizations reporting that their organization is now more effective as 

a result of the new capacity. The organizations included in the count should conform to what 

CNCS considers capacity building activities to be and not to be as defined in the Goal Overview 

section of this document. It is the applicant/grantee’s responsibility to ensure the activities 

performed by the CNCS-supported organization or national service participant(s) meet the 

eligibility requirements provided in these definitions.

Organizations must use a pre-post organizational assessment tool to measure sustained changes 

in effectiveness within the organization. Intermediary applicants/grantees should ensure that 

their sub-grantees and/or host sites use the same tool. Applicants/grantees should select a tool 

that includes questions that measure the areas of effectiveness in which the organization seeks to 

improve, and that are intended to support or enhance the program delivery model. The preassessment should be administered before capacity building services are provided, and the postassessment should be done at the end of the term of service of the national service participant 

engaged in the capacity building activity. Organizations should follow the guidance of the 

assessment tool they select with respect to which individual(s) at the organization respond to the 

assessment and other protocol for administering the tool.

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.
77

Measure 

G3-3.11

Number of new systems and business processes (technology, performance management, 

training, etc.) or enhancements to existing systems and business processes put in place as a 

result of capacity building services provided by CNCS-supported organizations or national 

service participants

Definition of 

Key Terms

Business processes: A collection of related, structured activities or tasks that produce a specific 

service or product (serve a particular goal) for a particular customer or customers.

Enhancements: New features and functions or significant improvements made to existing 

systems or processes that improve efficiency and productivity or provide new capabilities that 

were not previously possible in support of the program delivery model. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of new and enhanced systems and business processes at organizations as a result of 

capacity building activities provided by the CNCS-supported organization or the national 

service participant(s) intended to support or enhance the program delivery model. Count each 

system or process only once. Do not count upgrades to new systems or processes already 

included in the count.

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.

Measure 

G3-3.12

Number of organizations that monitored their progress towards the goals identified in their 

community assessment with the assistance of CNCS-supported organizations or national service 

participants

Definition of 

Key Terms

Monitor progress: Having a systematic process for collecting data and tracking outputs and 

outcomes related to goals and recommendations identified in the assessment. 

Community Assessment: Involves comprehensive information gathering, analysis and 

documentation to understand a community's concerns, effectively characterize its needs and 

respond with appropriate interventions. Discovering those things that matter to the community, 

what issues the community feels are most important to address, and what resources are available 

to bring about change may be accomplished through interviews with community members, and 

by conducting listening sessions, public forums, and other place-based research, resulting in an 

assessment (or profile) of the community that helps identify and prioritize critical issues and 

plan future interventions. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of organizations that received capacity building assistance from the CNCS-supported 

organization or assigned national service participant(s) intended to support or enhance the 

program delivery model, reporting that: they have completed a community assessment; their 

organization identified goals as a part of that process, and they have continued monitoring their 

progress toward those goals at the time of reporting.

At the outset of the activity, the applicant/grantee should indicate the minimum amount of days, 

hours, or other level of assistance required in order to determine that the assistance provided by 

the CNCS-supported organization or assigned national service participant was substantive and 

instrumental in completing the activity and/or achieving results. Applicants/grantees may define 

the level of assistance as including but not being limited to: establishing a performance 

management systems and processes, creating evaluation instruments, and/or developing a 

reporting template for the organization to monitor progress against the goals identified in the 

community assessment.

Organizations must use a pre-post organizational assessment tool that includes questions related 

to the organization’s capacity to monitor and evaluate goals and objectives. Intermediary 

applicants/grantees should ensure that their sub-grantees and/or host sites use the same tool. The 

pre-assessment should be administered before capacity building services are provided, and the 

post-assessment should be done at the end of the term of service of the national service 

participant engaged in the capacity building activity. Organizations should follow the guidance 

of the assessment tool they select with respect to which individual(s) at the organization respond 

to the assessment and other protocol for administering the tool.
78

Other Note AmeriCorps State and National requirements that pertain to allowable capacity building 

activities (45 CFR 2520.30) stipulate that AmeriCorps capacity building activity must not 

include tasks that have to do with managing the CNCS-supported projects/grants such as 

measuring the impact of the AmeriCorps program.

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.

Measure 

G3-3.13

Number of additional activities completed and/or program outputs produced by the program as a 

result of capacity building services provided by CNCS-supported organizations or national 

service participants in a) Disaster Services, b) Economic Opportunity, c) Education, d) 

Environmental Stewardship, e) Healthy Futures and/or f) Veterans and Military Families

Definition of 

Key Terms

Additional activities/program outputs: Can include any capacity building activities or outputs 

that have been completed or produced, such as the number of community outreach meetings 

coordinated, communication tools developed, manuals written, trainings piloted, etc., which is 

more than what the organization could have completed or produced absent the capacity building 

services. 

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Only additional activities and program outputs specifically resulting from capacity building 

activities provided by the CNCS-supported organization or assigned national service 

participant(s) intended to support or enhance the program delivery model may be counted.

Organizations must use a pre-post organizational assessment tool that measures capacity in the 

area of program and service delivery, and that includes questions related to the organization’s 

specific services, activities and/or program offerings. Intermediary applicants/grantees should 

ensure that their sub-grantees and/or host sites use the same tool. The pre-assessment should be 

administered before capacity building services are provided, and the post-assessment should be 

done at the end of the term of service of the national service participant engaged in the capacity 

building activity. Organizations should follow the guidance of the assessment tool they select 

with respect to which individual(s) at the organization respond to the assessment and other 

protocol for administering the tool.

Alternatively, the applicant/grantee may choose to use a sample service request and program 

delivery tracking log to collect these data.

PO Review Note Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.

Measure 

G3-3.14

Number of organizations that have experienced an increase in requests for their programs and 

services as a result of capacity building services provided by CNCS-supported organizations or 

national service participants
79

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Only requests specifically resulting from capacity building activities provided by the CNCSsupported organization or assigned national service participant(s) intended to support or enhance 

the program delivery model may be counted. Requests may come from community members, 

partners, or other organizations. 

The organization must keep administrative records or other information management systems 

that enable them to track details about service requests that allow them to verify the nature and 

intent of the request, such as but not limited to: the stated reason or rationale for the request for 

services related to the program that the capacity building activities were intended to support or 

enhance, the date of the request, and relevant demographic and organizational details about the 

person and/or organization that made the request. 

Organizations must use a pre-post organizational assessment tool that measures capacity in the 

area of program and service delivery, and that includes questions related to the organization’s 

specific services, program offerings and/or recruitment and outreach activities. Intermediary 

applicants/grantees should ensure that their sub-grantees and/or host sites use the same tool. The 

pre-assessment should be administered before capacity building services are provided, and the 

post-assessment should be done at the end of the term of service of the national service 

participant engaged in the capacity building activity. Organizations should follow the guidance 

of the assessment tool they select with respect to which individual(s) at the organization respond 

to the assessment and other protocol for administering the tool.

Alternatively, the applicant/grantee may choose to use a sample service request and program 

delivery tracking log to collect these data.

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.

Measure 

G3-3.15

Number of additional types of services offered by organizations as a result of capacity building 

services provided by CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants in a) 

Disaster Services, b) Economic Opportunity, c) Education, d) Environmental Stewardship, e) 

Healthy Futures and/or f) Veterans and Military Families

Definition of Key 

Terms

Types of service: includes qualitatively distinct service activities that enable the program to 

address different needs or different populations in need of the organization’s services.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Only additional types of service specifically resulting from capacity building activities provided 

by the CNCS-supported organization or assigned national service participant(s) intended to 

support or enhance the program delivery model may be counted.

Organizations must use a pre-post organizational assessment tool that measures capacity in the 

area of program and service delivery, and that includes questions related to the organization’s 

specific services, activities and/or program offerings. Intermediary applicants/grantees should 

ensure that their sub-grantees and/or host sites use the same tool. The pre-assessment should be 

administered before capacity building services are provided, and the post-assessment should be 

done at the end of the term of service of the national service participant engaged in the capacity 

building activity. Organizations should follow the guidance of the assessment tool they select 

with respect to which individual(s) at the organization respond to the assessment and other 

protocol for administering the tool.

Alternatively, the applicant/grantee may choose to use a sample service request and program 

delivery tracking log to collect these data.

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.
80

Measure 

G3-3.16

Dollar value of cash resources leveraged by CNCS-supported organizations or national service 

participants

Definition of 

Key Terms

Cash resources: Cash, check, or other monetary gift.

Leverage: To garner additional resources or assets through capacity building activities (such as 

funding, volunteers, in-kind support, and partnerships).

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Only cash resources raised specifically as a result of capacity building activities provided by the 

CNCS-supported organization or assigned national service participant(s) engaged in the 

capacity building activity intended to support or enhance the program delivery model may be 

counted.

The organization must keep administrative records or other information management systems 

that enable them to track and verify the origin, intent and other transactional information on 

commitments and contributions of cash and in-kind resources. Inclusion of cash or in-kind 

resources in the count is subject to IRS limitations, and should not include contributions made 

to specific individuals, political organizations or candidates. Adhere to the following provisions 

adapted from the IRS’ Deducting Charitable Contributions: 

6. Regardless of the amount, to count a contribution of cash, check, or other monetary 

gift, the applicant/grantee must maintain a bank record, payroll deduction records or a 

written communication from the individual or organization containing the name of the 

organization, the date of the contribution and amount of the contribution. For text 

message donations, a telephone bill will meet the record-keeping requirement if it 

shows the name of the receiving organization, the date of the contribution, and the 

amount given.

Other Note These activities and measure primarily apply to VISTA members. 

For AmeriCorps State & National: AmeriCorps members may not raise funds for the 

organization in general. Only program-specific fundraising is allowable. AmeriCorps 

State/National fundraising requirements are: AmeriCorps members may raise resources directly 

in support of the program's service activities. AmeriCorps members may not: (1) Raise funds for 

living allowances or for an organization's general (as opposed to project) operating expenses or 

endowment; (2) Write a grant application to CNCS or to any other Federal agency. 45 CFR 

2520.40. An AmeriCorps member may spend no more than ten percent of his or her originally 

agreed-upon term of service, as reflected in the member enrollment in the National Service 

Trust, performing fundraising activities §2520.45.

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.

Measure 

G3-3.17

Dollar value of in-kind resources leveraged by CNCS-supported organizations or national 

service participants

Definition of 

Key Terms

In-kind resources: Non-cash contributions, including donated goods or services, expert advice, 

equipment or property.

Leverage: To garner additional resources or assets through capacity building activities (such as 

funding, volunteers, in-kind support, and partnerships).
81

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Only in-kind resources raised specifically as a result of capacity building activities provided by 

the CNCS-supported organization or assigned national service participant(s) d engaged in the 

capacity building activity intended to support or enhance the program delivery model may be 

counted.

The organization must keep administrative records or other information management systems 

that enable them to track and verify the origin, intent and other transactional information on 

commitments and contributions of cash and in-kind resources. The estimated value of in-kind 

resources should be calculated following IRS guidance for determining the value of non-cash 

charitable contributions, including donated property, for purposes of claiming tax deductions. 

Inclusion of cash or in-kind resources in the count is subject to IRS limitations, and should not 

include contributions made to specific individuals, political organizations or candidates. Adhere 

to the following provisions adapted from the IRS’ Deducting Charitable Contributions. 

3. If the applicant/grantee receives a benefit because of the contribution such as 

merchandise, tickets to a ball game or other goods and services, then only the amount 

that exceeds the fair market value of the benefit received can be included in the 

calculated value.

4. Donations of stock or other non-cash property are usually valued at the fair market 

value of the property. Clothing and household items must generally be in good used 

condition or better to be deductible. Special rules apply to vehicle donations.

5. Fair market value is generally the price at which property would change hands 

between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither having to buy or sell, and both 

having reasonable knowledge of all the relevant facts. 

If the tangible expenses of providing pro bono services or the costs associated with volunteering 

are paid for by the volunteer or assumed by another organization, these costs can be at least 

partially included in the valuation of in-kind resources contributed. Applicants/grantees should 

consult and conform to IRS regulations for deducting charitable contributions to determine 

whether to include such expenses in the value of non-cash contributions.

Examples of tools for calculating the value of in-kind resources include but are not limited to: 

Goodwill Industries’ Donation Value Guide , Charity Navigator’s Guide to Donating Noncash 

Items, and TurboTax’s free ItsDeductible product 

Other Note These activities and measure primarily apply to VISTA members. 

For AmeriCorps State & National: AmeriCorps members may not raise funds for the 

organization in general. Only program-specific fundraising is allowable. AmeriCorps 

State/National fundraising requirements are: AmeriCorps members may raise resources directly 

in support of the program's service activities. AmeriCorps members may not: (1) Raise funds for 

living allowances or for an organization's general (as opposed to project) operating expenses or 

endowment; (2) Write a grant application to CNCS or to any other Federal agency. 45 CFR 

2520.40. An AmeriCorps member may spend no more than ten percent of his or her originally 

agreed-upon term of service, as reflected in the member enrollment in the National Service 

Trust, performing fundraising activities §2520.45.

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.
82

Measure 

G3-3.18

Number of new beneficiaries that received services as a result of capacity building efforts in a) 

Disaster Services, b) Economic Opportunity, c) Education, d) Environmental Stewardship, e) 

Healthy Futures and/or f) Veterans and Military Families

Definition of 

Key Terms

New beneficiaries: Individuals who were clients or service recipients in the current reporting 

period who were not clients or service recipients in previous reporting periods.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of the number of new beneficiaries receiving assistance or services as a result of capacity 

building efforts provided by the CNCS-supported organization or assigned national service 

participant(s) in a) Disaster Services, b) Economic Opportunity, c) Education, d) Environmental 

Stewardship, e) Healthy Futures and/or f) Veterans and Military Families. Applicants/grantees 

consider beneficiaries as “new” if they have not received any services from the organization in 

the past grant cycle. At the outset of the activity, the applicant/grantee should indicate a 

minimum number of days or hours, or other units of service received are required in order for 

the person to be considered a beneficiary.

New beneficiaries of service should be the direct result of one or more capacity building 

activities intended to support or enhance the program delivery model, such as new or expanded 

programming, new outreach or marketing campaigns. 

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.

Measure 

G3-3.19

Number of new beneficiaries from one or more targeted or underserved populations (counts by 

target population, e.g., racial or ethnic group) that received services as a result of capacity 

building efforts in a) Disaster Services, b) Economic Opportunity, c) Education, d) 

Environmental Stewardship, e) Healthy Futures and/or f) Veterans and Military Families

Definition of 

Key Terms

New beneficiaries: Individuals who were clients or service recipients in the current reporting 

period who were not clients or service recipients in previous reporting periods.

Underserved populations: Populations or groups that are specifically identified by the program 

as in need of program services or that currently receive inadequate service.

How to Calculate/

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Count of the number of new beneficiaries from one or more targeted or underserved populations 

(counts by target population, e.g., racial or ethnic group) receiving assistance or services as a 

result of capacity building efforts provided by the CNCS-supported organization or assigned 

national service participant(s) in a) Disaster Services, b) Economic Opportunity, c) Education, 

d) Environmental Stewardship, e) Healthy Futures and/or f) Veterans and Military Families. 

Applicants/grantees consider beneficiaries as “new” if they have not received any services from 

the organization in the past grant cycle. At the outset of the activity, the applicant/grantee 

should indicate a minimum number of days or hours, or other units of service received are 

required in order for the person to be considered a beneficiary.

New beneficiaries of service should be the result of one or more capacity building activities 

intended to support or enhance the program delivery model, such as new or expanded 

programming, new outreach or marketing campaigns. 

The targeted or underserved population(s) that the applicant/grantee intends to reach should be 

identified in the application, or the position/assignment description of the national service 

participant before the start of the program. 

Review Notes Capacity Building interventions must meet the CNCS definition of capacity-building in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.
83

Performance Measure Example:

Field What Should Be Entered Here Example

Title Enter a short, descriptive title for your 

performance measure. Different 

aligned performance measures should 

have different titles so that they can be 

easily referenced.

Capacity Building

Problem Statement Briefly describe the problem your 

program will address with this 

performance measure. Your 

description should provide just enough 

context that the program’s theory of 

change will be evident without 

referencing the application narrative 

or logic model. Also address any 

definitions from the Performance 

Measures Instructions that are relevant 

to the aligned measure as a whole, e.g. 

definition of “economically 

disadvantaged.” 

Small, community-based organizations in the 

rural community of Small Town lack staff 

capacity to effectively recruit and manage 

volunteers.

Selected 

Interventions

Select only the interventions that 

contribute to the outcomes of this 

aligned performance measure. For 

applicant-determined interventions, 

enter a one or two word description of 

the intervention.

Volunteer Management

Description of 

Interventions

Describe the design and dosage of the 

interventions you have selected.

Full-time members recruit and manage volunteers 

at nonprofits in the areas of Education, 

Environmental Stewardship, and Economic 

Opportunity. Each member will manage an 

average of 5 volunteers. Members also 

implement effective volunteer management 

practices that can be sustained after their terms of 

service. 

Output Either select National Performance 

Measure output(s) or enter your own 

output title. If entering an applicantdetermined output, it should be clear 

what the output is counting.

Number of community volunteers managed by 

CNCS-supported organizations or national 

service participants.

Select Method Select the data collection method you 

will use to measure the output. If the 

National Performance Measure(s) you 

have selected require a specific 

instrument, you must select that 

instrument.

Volunteer Management System

Instrument 

Description

In this text field you must provide the 

name of the instrument you will use to 

measure the output, a clear description 

of what the instrument will measure, 

Members will track the number of volunteers they 

directly manage using an online Volunteer 

Management System. Each volunteer will be 

tracked by name and unique identifier to ensure 
84

and an explanation of how you will 

ensure that beneficiaries are not 

double counted. Also describe how 

the instrument is sufficient to meet the 

data collection requirements outlined 

in the Performance Measures 

Instructions, if applicable.

that each individual will be counted only once. In 

addition, members will record information in the 

system about each volunteer including relevant 

demographic information (e.g., age, address, and 

education), person managing the volunteer, status 

of orientation/training, and volunteer assignment. 

Each volunteer’s dates and hours of service will 

be tracked according to type of programming 

(i.e., Environmental Stewardship, Education or 

Economic Opportunity). Individuals must 

tutor/mentor for at least six one-hour sessions to 

be counted as a managed volunteer for Education 

or Economic Opportunity; volunteers serving 

with Environmental Stewardship programs will 

serve during at least two service projects in order 

to be counted as a managed volunteer. Each 

member will manage an average of 5 volunteers; 

volunteers managed by program staff, volunteer 

leaders, or other national service programs will be 

tracked and reported separately from the efforts 

of the AmeriCorps members.

Target # The number of beneficiaries described 

in the output title. Targets must be 

numbers, not percents.

50

Unit of Measure The unit of measure specified in the 

output title. The unit of measure autopopulates for National Performance 

Measures. For applicant-determined 

measures, the unit of measure should 

describe the population you intend to 

count (children, miles, etc.)

Volunteers

Outcome Title Either select National Performance 

Measure outcome(s) or enter your 

own outcome title. If entering an 

applicant-determined outcome, it 

should clearly state a measurable 

change in knowledge, attitude, 

behavior or condition.

Number of organizations implementing three or 

more effective volunteer management practices as 

a result of capacity building services provided by 

CNCS-supported organizations or National 

Service Participants.

Data Collection 

Method

Select the data collection method you 

will use to measure the outcome. If 

the National Performance Measure(s) 

you have selected require a specific 

instrument, you must select that

instrument.

Pre/Post Organizational Assessment Tool

Instrument 

Description

In this text field you must provide the 

name of the instrument you will use to 

measure the outcome, a clear 

description of what the instrument will 

measure and how the construct to be 

measured is defined, the timeline for 

administering the instrument and the 

The program will use a pre-post organizational 

assessment tool that includes questions related to 

the organization’s volunteer management 

practices, including a written volunteer generation 

plan and formal partnerships for recruitment; 

screening and matching volunteers to 

assignments; recognition events for volunteers; 
85

level of improvement that is necessary 

to be counted as having improved. 

Also provide details about the 

reliability and validity of the 

instrument, and how the instrument is 

sufficient to meet the data collection 

requirements outlined in the 

Performance Measures Instructions, if 

applicable.

written descriptions of volunteer assignments; 

written volunteer policies; and 

training/orientation curriculum. The AmeriCorps 

program staff will administer the assessment to 

the appropriate staff member(s) at each site. The 

assessment will be administered before the 

member provides capacity building services; the 

same assessment will be administered at the end 

of the member’s term of service. In order to be 

counted for this outcome, an organization must 

implement at least three of the effective volunteer 

management practices as a result of the 

AmeriCorps members’ activities. Volunteer 

management practices will be designated by the 

main focus area Environmental Stewardship, 

Education or Economic Opportunity. The 

relevant contributing member activities will be 

listed for each volunteer management practice.

Target The number of beneficiaries described 

in the outcome title. Targets must be 

numbers, not percents.

8

Unit of Measure The unit of measure specified in the 

output title. The unit of measure autopopulates for National Performance 

Measures. For applicant-determined 

measures, the unit of measure should 

describe the population you intend to 

count (children, miles, etc.)

Organizations
86

Appendix A: Understanding MSY and Member Allocations in the AmeriCorps State and National 

Application

How to Calculate MSY and Member Allocations 

In the performance measure module, applicants enter the total share of program resources (MSYs and members) that 

will be directed to each objective.1 Member and MSY allocations entered in the application are understood to be 

the program’s best estimate of how member time will be allocated to various program objectives. 

The charts below show how a sample program could calculate its MSY allocations for different member types and 

different percentages of member time spent per objective. In this example, the program has a total of 135 members. 

All members spend some time contributing to the K-12 Success objective. Only the program’s 105 full-time and 

half-time members contribute to the School Readiness objective. 

Objective #1: K12 Success

Type of Member MSY Multiplier 

for Type

X Number of 

Members for 

Type

X % of Member 

Time for 

Objective

= MSY 

Allocation

FT 1 X 100 X .50 = 50

HT .5 X 5 X .80 = 2

RHT .3809524 X 10 X 1.00 = 3.81

QT .26455027 X 10 X 1.00 = 2.65

MT .21164022 X 10 X 1.00 = 2.17

Total Members 135 Total MSYs 60.63

Objective #2: School Readiness

Type of Member MSY Multiplier 

for Type

X Number of 

Members for 

Type

X % of Member 

Time for 

Objective

= MSY 

Allocation

FT 1 X 100 X .50 = 50 MSY

HT .5 X 5 X .20 = .5 MSY

RHT .3809524 X 0 X 0 =

QT .26455027 X 0 X 0 =

MT .21164022 X 0 X 0 =

Total Members 105 Total MSYs 50.5

 

1 Objectives are objectives of the CNCS strategic plan. Activity that does not contribute to a strategic plan objective 

is categorized as “Other.”
How It Looks on the MSY Tab 

The program enters the total number of MSYs and members for each objective on the MSY/Members tab of the 

performance measures module. The system automatically calculates the percentage of MSYs allocated to each 

objective. 

Note: Programs that select the Find Opportunity objective (Economic Opportunity Focus Area) or the Teacher Corps 

objective (Education Focus Area) must enter 0 MSYs and members for these objectives and allocate their MSYs to 

other objectives. This is because the MSY allocations are designed to show how programs’ resources are allocated 

to activities that benefit the community. The Find Opportunity and Teacher Corps objectives are focused on 

benefits to members. 

How It Looks in the 424 PDF 

Table 1 and its corresponding pie chart show the total number of MSYs by Focus Area. Since both the K-12 

Success and School Readiness objectives are in the Education Focus Area, Table 1 shows 100% of MSYs in 

Education. 

87
88

Table 4 in the PDF report shows the number of MSYs and members allocated to each objective, as seen on the 

MSY/Members tab: 

Note that the total number of members does not accurately reflect the number of slots the program is requesting 

since some members are performing service in both objectives. The total number of MSYs does, however, reflect 

the total number of MSYs requested by the program. 

Table 2 and its corresponding pie chart show the same MSY information expressed as percentages of the total 

MSYs: 

How to Assign MSYs to Performance Measures 

When a program creates an aligned performance measure, it must indicate how many MSYs and how many 

members will contribute to the outcomes of the aligned measure. Based on the MSY allocations already entered for 

the sample program, the program may allocate no more than 60.63 MSYs to K-12 Success performance measures, 

and no more than 50.5 MSYs to School Readiness performance measures. However, programs are not required to 

measure all of their activities, so it is possible that not all of these MSYs will be allocated to performance measures. 

Our sample program has three performance measures, one for the K-12 Success objective and two for the School 

Readiness objective. 
89

Objective #1: K-12 Success

Intervention Aligned 

Performance 

Measure

Percent of K12 Success 

Time Spent 

on Achieving 

PM Outcomes

X Total MSYs in 

Objective

= MSYs 

Allocated to 

Performance 

Measure

Percent 

of Total 

MSYs

Mentoring ED3A, ED4A, 

ED27A

.75 X 60.63 = 45.47 41%

Parent 

Engagement

No 

performance 

measure.

.25 X 60.63 NA 14%

Objective #2: School Readiness

Intervention Aligned 

Performance 

Measure

Percent of K12 Success 

Time Spent 

on Achieving 

PM Outcomes

X Total MSYs in 

Objective

= MSYs 

Allocated to 

Performance 

Measure

Percent 

of Total 

MSYs

Tutoring 1:1 ED20, ED21, 

ED23

.75 X 50.5 = 37.88 34%

Parent 

Engagement

ApplicantDetermined 

Measure

.25 X 50.5 = 12.62 11%

Note: Any aligned performance measure that has member outcomes rather than beneficiary outcomes should have 

an MSY allocation of 0 members since MSY allocations are designed to show how programs’ resources are 

allocated to achieving beneficiary outcomes. 

How It Looks in the 424 PDF 

Table 3 and its corresponding pie chart in the 424 PDF report shows the percentage of MSYs allocated to National 

Performance Measures, applicant-determined performance measures, or to no performance measures. As seen in the 

table above, the program has two National Performance Measures (ED3A/4A/27A and ED20/21/23), accounting for 

75% of total MSYs. The program has one applicant-determined measure, and a small percentage of program 

activity is not being measured. 
90

CNCS requires all applicants to have one aligned performance measure for the primary intervention. Applicants 

may have additional measures provided that they measure significant programmatic activities. There is no 

expectation that 100% of program activity would be allocated to National Performance Measures, or to any 

performance measures at all. 
91

Appendix B: Performance Measures Checklist 

This checklist is used to assess performance measures during the review process. Items on the checklist are 

common problems that require clarification. The checklist is not a comprehensive list of all performance measure 

items that may require clarification. Refer to the Performance Measure Instructions for full requirements. 

Note: In this version of the PM Instructions, items pertaining to specific performance measures have been 

moved to the Review Notes Section for those performance measures. Assess the following items for ALL 

performance measures unless otherwise noted: 

Alignment with Narrative/TOC

1 Focus areas, objectives, interventions, outputs and outcomes are consistent with the application narrative, logic 

model, and theory of change.

Interventions

2 The interventions selected contribute directly to the outputs and outcomes.

3 Interventions are not repeated in multiple aligned performance measures.

Dosage

4 The dosage (frequency, intensity, duration of intervention) is described and is sufficient to achieve outcomes.

Resource Allocation

5 MSY and member allocation charts are consistent with the member activities/time spent on member activities 

described in the application narrative.

6 MSY allocations for performance measures are reasonable. (If it is clear that not all interventions are being 

measured, then 100% of MSYs should not be allocated to performance measures. CNCS expects an accurate 

estimate of MSYs that will lead to performance measure outputs and outcomes and does not require applicants 

to measure 100% of program activity or to allocate a certain percentage of activity to National Performance 

Measures.)

Selection Rules/Performance Measure Instructions

7 Unless the applicant is a continuation, no retired measures (e.g., measures marked deleted or not appearing in 

the Performance Measures Instructions) have been selected.

8 The applicant has at least 1 aligned performance measure (output + outcome) for the primary intervention.

9 National Performance Measures conform to selection rules, definitions and data collection requirements 

specified in the Performance Measure Instructions. (Compliance with definitions and data collection 

requirements must be clearly explained in the performance measure text boxes.)

10 It is clear that beneficiaries are not double-counted within a performance measure.

11 National Performance Measures count beneficiaries, not AmeriCorps members, unless the measure specifies 

that national service participants are to be counted. 

12 The population counted in each National Performance Measure is the population specified in the Performance 

Measure Instructions.
92

13 The applicant has at least 1 aligned performance measure that reflects the community impact of the program 

(not just member-focused impacts)

Alignment & Quality

14 Outputs and outcomes are aligned correctly.

15 Outputs and outcomes clearly identify what is counted.

16 Each output or outcome counts only one thing (except certain National Performance Measures).

17 Outcomes clearly identify a change in knowledge, attitude, behavior or condition. (Counts that do not measure 

a change are outputs and must be labeled as such. Completion of a program is considered an output, not an 

outcome.)

18 Outcomes clearly specify the level of improvement necessary to be counted as "improved" and it is clear why 

this level of improvement is significant for the beneficiary population served.

19 Outcomes count individual level gains, not average gains for the population served.

20 Outcomes measure meaningful/significant changes and are aligned with the applicant's theory of change. 

(Note: Outcomes that do not measure significant changes in knowledge, attitude, behavior or condition should 

be revised or removed. CNCS prefers that applicants measure a small number of meaningful outcomes rather 

than a large number of insignificant outcomes.)

21 Outcomes can be measured during a single grant year.

Data Collection/Instruments

22 Data collection methods are appropriate.

23 Instruments are likely to yield high quality data.

24 The instrument, and what it measures, is clearly described.

25 If the Performance Measure Instructions specify the instrument to be used, the applicant is using that instrument 

(e.g., pre/post test).

26 The instrument measures the change specified in the outcome. (For example, if the outcome is a change in 

knowledge, the proposed instrument measures a change in knowledge, not a change in attitude.)

27 Output instruments are sufficient to count all beneficiaries served and to ensure that individuals are not doublecounted.

28 Outcome instruments will be administered to all beneficiaries receiving the intervention. (Note, competitive 

grantees may propose a sampling plan for CNCS approval if this is not the case. Formula grantees are not 

permitted to sample.)

Pre/Post Test (Skip this section if the applicant is not using a pre/post test.)

29 If using a pre/post test to measure knowledge gains from training activities, it is clear how the pre/post test is 

connected to the learning objectives of the training.

30 The timeline for administering the pre/post test is clear.
93

31 The applicant can successfully match pre-test data with post-test data at the individual level. The same 

instrument must be used for the pre-test and the post-test.

Targets

32 Target values appear ambitious but realistic/it is clear how targets were set.

33 Outcome targets are smaller than output targets, with some exceptions (i.e., capacity-building National 

Performance Measures). Note: In some cases it may be appropriate for the outcome target to be equal to the 

output target.

34 The output and outcome targets are reasonably proportional. Note: What constitutes reasonably proportional 

may depend on what is being counted, how and when.

Unit of Measure

35 The unit of measure is not AmeriCorps members except in National Performance Measures that count national 

service participants.

36 The unit of measure is consistent for all outputs or outcomes in the PM unless otherwise specified in the 

Performance Measure Instructions.

37 The unit of measure is not member service hours.

38 The unit of measure is a number, not a percent.

Sampling (PO Note: If the applicant does not propose sampling, skip this section.)

39 If sampling is proposed, the targets represent the total for the population being served, not just the sample. 

(Note: Formula grantees are not permitted to sample.)

40 If sampling is proposed, the sampling plan is forwarded to CNCS for consideration. (Note: Formula grantees 

are not permitted to sample.)

Misc.

41 The applicant has not opted into National Performance Measures but has the potential to do so. (In this case, 

clarify why the applicant has not opted into National Performance Measures and, if applicable, direct them to 

select appropriate National Performance Measures.)

42 The applicant has not created applicant-determined measures that duplicate National Performance Measures, 

including extraneous member development or volunteer generation measures. (Note: this often occurs when 

applicants have not selected the correct objective. Applicants must review the selection rules and choose the 

correct objectives or the corresponding performance measures will not be available for selection. Applicantdetermined measures are recognizable by the labels OUTPT or OUTCM, followed by numbers. Any 

applications containing these labels are NOT National Performance Measures, even if the applicant has labeled 

them with the number of a national measure.)
94

Appendix C: Frequently Asked Questions 

Performance Measures 

 

How have the AmeriCorps performance measure requirements changed in 2018? 

The most significant changes are as follows: 

 CNCS will no longer require National Performance Measure outputs to be paired with associated National 

Performance Measure outcomes. All National Performance Measure outputs may now be paired with 

applicant-determined outcomes, or with no outcome at all. 

 Applicants may include National Performance Measure outputs without associated outcome(s) in their 

applications if the output measures a significant program activity. These output-only measures do not 

fulfill the requirement for an aligned performance measure, but may be selected in addition to the aligned 

measure(s). 

 National Performance Measure outputs related to program completion (e.g., ED2, ED4A, ED13, ED21, 

ED32) have been deleted and the associated selection rules have been revised. 

 National Performance Measure outcome ED14 has been eliminated. 

 Some definitions have been revised within National Performance Measures that focus on AmeriCorps 

member outputs or outcomes (e.g., O12-O17, ED12-ED19, EN2-EN2.1) and within the mentoring-focused 

National Performance Measure output ED3A. 

What are National Performance Measures? 

CNCS has established six Focus Areas: Disaster Services, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental 

Stewardship, Healthy Futures, and Veterans and Military Families based on the priorities included in the Serve 

America Act. Within these Focus Areas, as well as for Capacity Building, CNCS has created National Performance 

Measures in order to aggregate the results of similar programs and demonstrate the impact across our agency 

programs and initiatives. 

What is the difference between Priority Measures and Complementary Program Measures? 

 

The National Performance Measures are split into two groups: Priority Measures and Complementary Program 

Measures. Priority Measures are performance measures that are included in CNCS’s strategic plan. Complementary 

Program Measures are additional measures that are important to AmeriCorps but not included in the strategic plan. 

What is an “applicant-determined” performance measure? 

An applicant-determined performance measure is one in which the applicant identifies the outputs and/or outcomes 

that will be measured, based on its intervention. This is different from the National Performance Measures, where 

CNCS pre-determines common outputs and, in some instances, outcomes with specific definitions and data 

collection methods that applicants must use. 

 

 If I select particular performance measures this year, will I maintain the same measures next year? 

 

Yes. Performance measures should be consistent over the life of a three-year grant so that progress can be measured 

over time. However, changes made for the purpose of improving the performance measures may be allowed midcycle under some circumstances. Refer to the AmeriCorps State and National Guide to Performance Measure 

Changes (https://www.nationalservice.gov/sites/default/files/resource/AmeriCorps-State-and-National-Guide-toPerformance-Measure-Changes.pdf) for further guidance. 
95

What should a continuation grantee do if one or more of their National Performance Measures is no longer 

present in the Performance Measure Instructions? 

Continuation grantees may continue to use deleted National Performance Measures through the end of their current 

three-year grant cycle. If the grantee submits a new or recompete application, the grantee must follow the National 

Performance Measure selection rules specified in the updated Performance Measure Instructions. 

What should a continuation grantee who is measuring a National Performance Measure output or outcome that 

has a changed definition do in the continuation application? 

If the grantee is unable to measure the output or outcome as defined in the updated Performance Measures 

Instructions, the grantee should choose a different performance measure. 

Some performance measures are available for selection in eGrants but do not appear in the performance 

measure instructions. May I select these measures? 

New and recompete applicants should select only the performance measures that are included in the performance 

measures instructions. Some performance measures have been eliminated but are still available in the system for 

use by continuation applicants who wish to retain these measures through the end of their three-year grant. 

What is an aligned performance measure? 

An aligned performance measure is an output paired with an outcome. The paired output-outcome measures may be 

National Performance Measures, applicant-determined measures, or the combination of a National Performance 

Measure output and an applicant-determined outcome. Applicant-determined outputs cannot be paired with 

National Performance Measure outcomes in an aligned performance measure. 

What is an outcome-only performance measure? 

An outcome-only measure is a National Performance Measure output without associated outcome(s). Applicants 

may select outcome-only measures if the output measures a significant program activity. These do not fulfill the 

requirement for an aligned performance measure, but may be selected in addition to the aligned measure(s). 

How many performance measures should I propose? 

Each program must have at least one aligned measure (composed of an output and an outcome) reflecting its 

primary intervention. It is appropriate to have additional performance measures for other significant components of 

your program, but CNCS values the quality of performance measures more than the quantity. Performance measures 

reflecting activities that are not central to your program model should not be included in your application and will 

not be reported to CNCS, although you might still collect the data for your own purposes. 

Can I count AmeriCorps Members as beneficiaries of service under my performance measures? 

Most of the National Performance Measures are NOT designed to capture the impact the program may have on the 

AmeriCorps members. There are specific Teacher Corps measures in the Education Focus Area, and certain 

Measures in the Economic Opportunity, Environmental Stewardship, and Veterans and Military Families Focus 

Areas where AmeriCorps members are either the sole focus or may be included in the count of people served. Other 

than these exceptions, AmeriCorps members should not be counted as beneficiaries of service under National 

Performance Measures. Programs may create applicant-determined measures that count AmeriCorps members as 

beneficiaries, but only if the activities captured under the performance measure are the primary focus of the program 

or a significant component of the program's theory of change. 

Do the AmeriCorps members in my program have to be directly providing the service counted in the performance 

measures? 
96

The performance measures selected by an AmeriCorps program should reflect the expected result of the AmeriCorps 

program activities. The AmeriCorps members do not have to interact directly with the beneficiaries of the service, 

but they must provide meaningful support (either direct support, or, in the case of capacity building activities, 

indirect support) that makes the program‘s results possible.. For example, if a program’s AmeriCorps members 

recruit and manage volunteers who deliver a particular intervention, the program may report the outputs and 

outcomes of that intervention under their performance measures. 

Can I count the same people in more than one performance measure output? 

Read the Performance Measures Instructions carefully. Unless otherwise specified, the same individuals may be 

counted more than once across different measures for different services (interventions) they may be receiving. For 

example, if you helped the same individual both prepare for a disaster and then respond to a disaster, you may count 

that individual in both D1 and D2. However, programs cannot count the same individual more than once within any 

one specific performance measure. So, for example, a student who demonstrated improvement in both attendance 

and homework completion cannot be counted twice under ED27B. 

Can I count the same people more than once in one performance measure output or outcome if they receive 

service in more than one grant year? 

If the individual receives services in more than one grant year, they may be counted as having received services in 

the output measure for each of the grant years in which they receive services. They may only be counted in the 

outcome measure for each grant year if they meet the specified level of improvement for the outcome in each year. 

For example, a student receives tutoring in second and third grade. The program expects that students will improve 

their reading score by one grade level each year. If the student is served in both second and third grade and 

improves by one grade level in each year, the student may be counted in the output and outcome for both years. If 

the student improves by 1⁄2 grade level in second grade and one grade level in third grade, the student may be 

counted in both years’ outputs but only in the outcome for the third grade year. 

Can two or more performance measure outputs have the same outcome? 

It depends on the program model. If the program model represents a continuum of care/services where participating 

leads from one level of service to another, then it makes sense to create an aligned measure of multiple outputs that 

lead to a single outcome. If there are two completely different interventions that lead to the same outcome, those 

should be reported with each output/outcome as their own aligned measure. 

Can one performance measure have more than one outcome? 

Yes. There may be more than one desired outcome for a single output. Aligned measures should only be 

configured this way if it is expected that all of the individuals counted in the output will potentially achieve the 

outcome indicated. If the outcomes are resulting from different populations being served, there should be multiple 

outputs. 

If I select a National Performance Measures that includes a specific definition for the beneficiary population, 

will I be required to prove that my program is serving that population? 

Your application narrative should include a depiction of the problem your program will address, including the 

beneficiary population, and documentation that the problem exists for this population. The National Performance 

Measures you select should align with your application narrative. For instance, if you select an Education 

performance measure that defines the target population as students eligible for free or reduced lunch, then your 

application narrative might provide data to show that your AmeriCorps members will be serving at a school for 

which the majority of the population is eligible for free or reduced lunch. In this example, you would not be 

expected to collect and maintain eligibility data for each individual student served. Through your application 

narrative and the implementation of your program, you are expected to provide reasonable assurance that you are 

serving the intended population. 
97

Am I allowed to allocate funds for collecting and analyzing data? If so, how much? 

Costs related to measuring the performance of a program are allowable grant expenses. There is no standard 

recommended amount. As with all grant expenditures, these costs must be reasonable, allowable for the proposed 

program, and properly allocated across grant activities. 

Is my program expected to monitor member time to ensure that it corresponds to what is entered into the MSY 

charts for the Focus Areas and strategic plan objectives? 

Grant applicants will enter MSYs into the MSY charts according to the distribution of time that members are 

expected to engage in each Focus Area and strategic plan objective. Programs will not be required to report on how 

the members actually spent their time. MSY allocations in the application should present the program’s best 

estimate. 

Where do I find a copy of the webinar that helps applicants walk through the performance measures module? 

This tutorial, http://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/performance-measurement/egrants-performance-measuresmodule-americorps, guides users through the eGrants performance measures screens. It demonstrates how to 

complete the pages in the performance measure section of the application. The tutorial also includes some program 

specific content information as well as shows users how to create an aligned performance measure for their chosen 

primary focus area and intervention. 

On the logic model chart there are three outcome levels (short, medium and long) being requested. Should all of 

these outcomes be entered as performance measures? 

The logic model identifies key components of the proposed intervention (i.e., the active “ingredients” that are 

hypothesized to be critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the relationships among the key 

components and outcomes, theoretically and operationally. A program may have a theory of change that is based on 

accomplishing a long-term change in condition that is not measurable in the program year. However, there may be 

shorter-term changes that can be linked to this ultimate goal that are strong indicators that the long-term change is 

likely to happen. All of these outcomes may be included in the logic model, but grantees are not required to measure 

or report on all outcomes that appear in the logic model. For performance measurement purposes, outcomes must 

measure changes that can be observed within a single program year. 

Do all members have to work on the exact same activities or can the activities differ slightly, if they are all 

working toward the same performance measure targets? 

As long as the activities in which the AmeriCorps members engage are consistent with your program’s theory of 

change and align with the performance measure instructions for the National Performance Measures you wish to 

use, the activities do not have to be exactly the same for all members. 

Is there a guide that we can print out that defines interventions listed under each performance measurement 

objective? 

We do not have a list of interventions or a guide that describes them, as they are fairly generic under each objective, 

such as “training,” “tutoring,” etc. If the applicant does not see an intervention that describes their activity, they can 

always select “other.” 

What is the definition of "National Service Participant"? 

For AmeriCorps State and National programs, National Service Participant refers to the AmeriCorps members 

themselves. 

The National Performance Measure I want to select doesn’t appear in the drop-down menu. What should I do? 
98

Only performance measures corresponding to objectives selected on the Objectives tab will appear in the drop-down 

menu. Refer to the National Performance Measure selection rules to determine which objective to select for each 

performance measure. Do NOT create an applicant-determined measure that duplicates a National Performance 

Measure. 

Sampling 

Under what circumstances is it ok for grantees to use sampling? 

Methodologically speaking, sampling is appropriate for competitive grantees as long as the grantee has a solid plan 

for ensuring that its sample will be representative. Practically speaking, we would want grantees to use sampling 

only when they are able to make the case that it is unrealistic to collect data from the whole population. Formula 

grantees, with rare exceptions granted by CNCS, are not permitted to sample. 

When would CNCS not allow sampling? 

CNCS will not allow sampling when it is reasonable to expect a grantee to collect data from the whole population. 

CNCS will also not allow sampling if the grantee‘s sampling frame is not sufficient or if the grantee‘s methodology 

will not result in a representative sample. 

How does a grantee set targets and outputs when it is planning to sample? 

In most cases the grantee should be able to set targets based on the population as a whole. If a grantee‘s sampling 

methodology is sound and results in a representative sample, then the program can extrapolate their results to report 

on an outcome for the population as a whole. For example, a program reports an output of 1000 children served. The 

program selects a representative sample of 200 children. Of these, 180 students (90%) demonstrate the desired 

change. In this case, the program could report an extrapolated outcome of 900 students. 

If an existing program has not been sampling, can it switch to sampling now? 

We want grantees to use sampling only when they are able to make the case that it is unrealistic to collect data from 

the whole population. If a program is currently collecting data from the whole population, they would need to make 

a compelling case for why they can no longer do so. 

How do I request permission to sample? 

A detailed sampling plan must be forwarded to CNCS for consideration. Please consult the Notice of Funding 

Opportunity or your program officer for instructions on how to submit additional documents.