NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Federal Agency Name: AmeriCorps

Funding Opportunity Title: Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 AmeriCorps Seniors Q4 Senior 

Companion Program Continuation or Renewal

Announcement Type: Final Announcement 

Assistance Listing Number: 94.016

Summary Statement: The purpose of this funding announcement is to award FY 2024 

funding to AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Programs that are in continuation or 

renewal. New applicants are not accepted. AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Programs 

engage adults aged 55 and over to provide companionship and support to other adults in 

need of extra assistance to remain at home or in the community for as long as possible. 

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

AmeriCorps to award any specific number of grants or to commit any particular amount of 

funding. The actual level, timing, and process of grant funding will be subject to the 

availability of annual appropriations.

Important Dates

• Applications are due not later than Monday, March 11, 2024 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern 

Time. 

• Successful applicants will be issued awards in June 2024. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NOTICE of Funding Opportunity ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

A.1. Purpose of Senior Companion Program Funding ---------------------------------------------- 4

A.2. Funding Priorities ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4

A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes ------------------------------------------------------ 5

A.4. Program Authority ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

B.1. Estimated Available Funds --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

B.2. Estimated Award Amount ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

B.3. Period of Performance ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

B.4. Type of Award -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7

C.1. Eligible Applicants -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7

C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- 9

D.1. Address to Request an Application Package-------------------------------------------------------- 9

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission------------------------------------------------------ 9

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) ---------------- 10

D.4. Submission Dates and Times ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11

D.5. Intergovernmental Review -------------------------------------------------------------------------------12

D.6. Funding Restrictions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12

D.7. Other Submission Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------- 13

D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents-------------------------------------------------------------14

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------- 15

Selection Criteria ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15

E.1. CONTINUATION APPLICATIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------- 15

E.2. RENEWAL APPLICATIONS----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19

E.2.e. Work Plans/Performance Measures ----------------------------------------------------------------25

E.3. Review and Selection Process ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 26

E.3.a. Initial Application Compliance and Eligibility Review ----------------------------------------27

E.3.b. Application Review---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------27

E.3.c. Applicant Clarification -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------27

E.3.d. Pre-Award Risk Assessment---------------------------------------------------------------------------27

E.3.e. Consideration of Integrity and Performance System Information------------------------29

E.3.f. Selection for Funding-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------30

F. FEDERAL Award Administration Information -------------------------------------------------------- 31

F.1. Federal Award Notices --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31

F.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements ------------------------------------------ 31

F.2.a. Uniform Guidance ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------31

F.2.b. Requests for Monitoring or Payment Integrity Information --------------------------------31

F.2.c. AmeriCorps Terms and Conditions ----------------------------------------------------------------- 31

F.2.d. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements-------------------------------------31

F.2.e. Official Guidance------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------33

F.3. Use of Material --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33
F.4. Reporting ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33

F.5. Continuation Funding Information and Requirements------------------------------------- 34

G. FEDERAL AWARDING Agency Contacts --------------------------------------------------------------- 34

H. Other Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34

H.1. Technical Assistance ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 34

H.2. Re-Focusing of Funding ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35

I. IMPORTANT NOTICES ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35

APPENDIX A – List of Funding Opportunities ----------------------------------------------------------- 36

APPENDIX B – Performance Measures --------------------------------------------------------------------- 36

APPENDIX C – Terms and Definitions ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 36

APPENDIX D – Litmos Resources ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 36

APPENDIX E – Application Instructions -------------------------------------------------------------------- 36

Appendix F: Focus Areas ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 36

Appendix G: Calculator Worksheet ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37
A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1. Purpose of Senior Companion Program Funding

AmeriCorps improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through 

service and volunteering. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country’s 

most pressing challenges through national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps members 

and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement 

of communities and those serving. AmeriCorps helps make service a cornerstone of our 

national culture. 

Established in 1974, the AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program engages adults 

aged 55 and over to provide companionship and support to other adults in need of extra 

assistance to remain at home or in the community for as long as possible. AmeriCorps 

Seniors’ volunteers in the Senior Companion program serve with most of the volunteer 

service taking place in the homes of their clients. Among other activities, they provide 

companionship to ease loneliness and social isolation, assist with transportation and light 

chores, help to serve as eyes and ears to professionals who can intervene in the case of 

medical or other deterioration on the part of the clients, and give support to informal 

caregivers. While serving, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the Senior 

Companion Program improve their own lives by staying active and civically engaged.

A.2. Funding Priorities 

AmeriCorps’ 2022-2026 Strategic Plan defines the agency’s goals and objectives to advance

its mission to improve lives and strengthen communities. AmeriCorps will execute the 

following goals to better position the agency to respond to national and local needs and help 

the communities it serves prosper: 

• partner with communities to alleviate poverty and advance racial equity; 

• enhance the experience for AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors 

volunteers; 

• unite Americans by bringing them together in service; 

• effectively steward federal resources; and 

• make AmeriCorps one of the best and most equitable places to work in the federal 

government. 

AmeriCorps will invest in existing and new partnerships with non-profit, faith-based, and 

Tribal organizations, and state service commissions, to get things done for America. The 

agency will prioritize investment in the most critical issues of our time — public health, climate 

and the environment, and education and economic opportunity — within AmeriCorps’ Focus 

Areas (Appendix F) and will increase its efforts to ensure AmeriCorps members, AmeriCorps 
Seniors volunteers, and community-based volunteers reflect the communities where they 

serve. We will target our investments toward communities where the need is greatest, 

particularly those with populations that face racial inequality and poverty. These steps will 

enable more Americans than ever to strengthen the communities that need it most across the 

nation through their service.

The AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program emphasizes grantmaking in the Healthy 

Futures focus area. Under this focus area, grants must establish programming that engages 

adults fifty-five (55) years and older to serve as volunteers who help seniors live 

independently. Activities may include providing support and/or facilitating access to services 

and resources that contribute to independent living. 

A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes

National Performance Measures 

AmeriCorps Seniors expects applicants to use National Performance Measures as part of a 

comprehensive performance measurement strategy that relies on both performance and 

evaluation data to learn from their work and make tactical and strategic adjustments to 

achieve their goals. 

Applicants are required to use the specific performance measures outlined in this Notice. For 

more information, please refer to the National Performance Measures Instructions found in 

Appendix B: AmeriCorps Seniors SCP Performance Measure Instructions. 

Applicants must identify Healthy Future as the Primary Focus Area. Work plans must include 

at least one service activity in the selected Primary Focus Area of Healthy Future. The Primary 

Focus Area represents the area in which the incumbent aims to make the most impact.

All proposed volunteers and the intended impact of their service must be represented in the 

narratives, in a work plan, and in the budget. 

This funding opportunity requires applicants to demonstrate cost-effective practices in 

achieving performance goals through the services described in the proposed work plan. 

Applications must include work plans that meet the following minimum requirements: 

• National Performance Measure outcomes using Healthy Futures as the primary focus 

area.

• Federal funding requests cannot exceed $9,000 per Volunteer Service Year (VSY*.) At 

least one Volunteer Service Year per $9,000 of federal funds must be placed in a work 

plan that results in national performance measure outcomes for selected focus areas. 

Appendix F: Cost per Volunteer Calculator can be used to determine a minimum 

number of Volunteer Service Years (VSYs) for a funding request.

*A Volunteer Service Year (VSY) equals 1,044 hours of volunteer service activity. Volunteer 

Service Years (VSYs)s are used in the budget and work plans. The standardized stipend cost 
per Volunteer Service Years (VSYs) is calculated by multiplying the number of hours served 

by the current cost per hour for the stipend (1,044 hours x $4.00 per hour). Volunteer Service 

Year (VSY) also refers to work plan requirements as noted above. 

A.4. Program Authority

Awards under this Notice are authorized by the National and Community Service Act of 1990, 

as amended, (42 U.S.C. §12501 et seq.) and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as 

amended (42 U.S.C. §4950 et seq.).

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B.1. Estimated Available Funds

AmeriCorps anticipates approximately $40 million for FY 2024 AmeriCorps Seniors Senior 

Companions Program (SCP). The actual level of funding is subject to the availability of annual 

appropriations. 

B.2. Estimated Award Amount

Award amounts will vary as determined by the scope of the projects. AmeriCorps expects to 

make awards in the range of $80,000 to $800,000. 

B.3. Period of Performance

Successful applicants will be issued awards by June 2024.

Program and budget period should be July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.

AmeriCorps anticipates making three-year grant awards. Applications for funding must be 

based on a one-year period of performance and a one-year budget. While AmeriCorps may 

make multi-year awards, actual award periods may vary because of program requirements, 

the availability of future appropriations, or specific circumstances of an individual application. 

B.4. Type of Award 

FY 2024 Senior Companion Program grants will be awarded on a cost reimbursement basis. 

Award recipients will be assigned to an AmeriCorps portfolio manager, who will be 

responsible for assessing recipient performance, providing training and technical assistance, 

and serving as the agency’s primary point of contact.
C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1. Eligible Applicants

Existing grantees are required to submit a continuation or renewal application.

The following non-Federal entities (all of which are defined in 2 CFR 200.1 or 42 U.S.C. 

12511(21)) are eligible for AmeriCorps funding: 

• Indian Tribes 

• institutions of higher education 

• local governments 

• nonprofit organizations 

• state service commissions

• states and US Territories

• Through this Notice, only AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program grantees 

who have an active AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program grant, including 

a no-cost grant ($0), may apply for funding.

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

controlled, authorized, or chartered by federally recognized Indian Tribes are also eligible to 

apply. If an entity applies for an award as a tribal organization that is controlled or chartered 

by one or more Indian Tribes and the organization does not meet any of the other applicant 

eligibility types, the organization must provide copies or links to documentation which 

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

Indian Tribe. If an entity applies as an organization authorized by a federally recognized 

Tribe, or multiple specific federally recognized tribes, it must submit a resolution or other 

authorization, adopted by the Tribal Council (or comparable tribal governing body) of each 

Indian Tribe. The authorization(s) must identify the entity applying for an AmeriCorps award 

by name as a tribal organization that is authorized by the Indian Tribe(s) for the purpose of 

applying for AmeriCorps funding (or federal grant funds generally). 

Applicants must have a valid SAM registration and Unique Entity Identifier to receive an 

award. See Section D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

for more information.

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Applicants are required to match funds equal to 10 percent of their total one-year program 

budget. The applicant’s match can be non-AmeriCorps cash and/or in-kind contributions. 
Applicants must indicate whether the match is proposed or secured. Applicants must 

demonstrate the ability to meet the 10 percent match requirement at the time of application 

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

To calculate the minimum grantee share, divide the baseline funding amount (i.e., federal 

share) listed for the grant in Appendix A by 0.9. Then, subtract baseline funding from that 

result. This will give the minimum amount of grantee share. For example, if the baseline 

funding listed in Appendix A is $288,000:

$288,000 / 0.9 = $320,000

$320,000 – $288,000 = $32,000

The grantee share is at least $32,000, the federal share is $288,000, and the total 

project budget is at least $320,000. 

Non-AmeriCorps federal funds are allowed as match if the federal agency that is the source 

of the funds approves its use as match. Applicants must maintain documentation of this 

approval. 

For information about a match waiver, please see the AmeriCorps Seniors Individual Match 

Waiver Request or the AmeriCorps Seniors and AmeriCorps State and National Match Waiver 

FAQs (June 2022) located on the AmeriCorps website’s Manage Your Grant web page.

C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

Applications that propose to engage in activities that are prohibited under AmeriCorps’ 

statutes, regulations, or the terms and conditions of its awards are not eligible to receive 

AmeriCorps funding.

Note that under appropriations provisions annually enacted by Congress, if AmeriCorps is 

aware that any corporation has any unpaid federal tax liability

• that has been assessed; 

• for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have 

lapsed; and 

• that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority 

responsible for collecting the tax liability; 

that corporation is not eligible for an award under this Notice. However, this exclusion will not 

apply to a corporation that a federal agency has considered for suspension or debarment 

and determined that suspension or debarment is not necessary to protect the interests of the 

federal government.
Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, an organization described in the Internal 

Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. §501 (c)(4) that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible 

to apply for AmeriCorps funding.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

This Notice should be read together with the AmeriCorps Seniors SCP regulations at 45 CFR 

Part 2552, AmeriCorps Seniors Grant Application Instructions, Appendix A. Fiscal Year 2024 

AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program Continuation and Renewal (July 1 Start 

Dates), and Appendix B: AmeriCorps Seniors SCP National Performance Measure 

Instructions. These documents are available online at the AmeriCorps Seniors Senior 

Companion Program grantee web page. 

D.1. Address to Request an Application Package

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

Seniors Senior Companion Program web page, under Grantee Resources. Select “Submit 

continuation and renewal” as the action type and click “Apply.” Applicants can also send an 

email to AmeriCorpsSeniors@ameriCorps.gov. 

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D.2.a. Application Content 

Complete applications must include the following elements: 

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

applicants complete the data elements in the eGrants system. 

• Narrative Sections: 

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

Executive Summaries must match the language templates as provided in the 

Notice. Executive Summaries of all compliant applications are made available 

to the public following grant awards. 

o Strengthening Communities

o Recruitment and Development

o Program Management

o Organization Capability

o Other
• Work Plans/Performance Measures

• Standard Form 424A Budget

• Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications

If you are submitting a continuation application: Do not delete content in the other fields 

(such as Strengthening Communities, Recruitment and Development, and Organizational 

Capability) that have populated. Because eGrants is our system of record, it is critical that 

previous information stays and that you update only where specific items identified.

D.2.b. Page Limits

Applications may not exceed 20 double-spaced pages as according to the pages printed out 

from eGrants. The application sections that count toward the page limit are the:

• SF-424 Face Sheet; 

• Executive Summary; and 

• Strengthening Communities, Recruitment and Development, Program Management, 

Organizational Capability, and Other narratives. 

The application page limit does not include the Budget, Work Plans/Performance Measures, 

or any required additional documents. Clarifications, if necessary, will be reviewed after 

receipt and review of your application, if applicable. 

Please note that the length of the application as a word processing document may differ from 

the length of the document printed out from eGrants. The character limits in eGrants do not 

align with page limits set in the Notice. AmeriCorps strongly encourages applicants to 

print out the application from the “Review and Submit” tab in eGrants prior to 

submission in order to confirm that the application does not exceed the page limit.

AmeriCorps will not consider the results of any alternative printing methods when 

determining if an application complies with the page limit. Reviewers will also not consider 

material that is over the page limit, even if eGrants allows applicants to enter and submit

additional text.

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 

All applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) and maintain an 

active SAM registration until the application process is complete. If an applicant is awarded a 

grant, it must maintain an active SAM registration throughout the life of the award. See the 

SAM Quick Guide for Grantees. 

SAM registration must be renewed annually. AmeriCorps suggests that applicants finalize a 

new registration or renew an existing one at least three weeks before the application 
deadline, to allow time to resolve any issues that may arise. Applicants must use their SAMregistered legal name and physical address on all grant applications to AmeriCorps. 

The legal applicant’s name and physical address in eGrants must match exactly the 

applicant’s SAM-registered information.

Applications must include a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), which is generated as part of 

the SAM registration process. AmeriCorps will not make awards to entities that do not have a 

valid SAM registration and UEI. 

Applications must include an Employer Identification Number. The UEI and Employer 

Identification Number must be entered by the organization’s Grantee Administrator as an 

organization attribute, and this will apply the information to all applications for the 

organization.

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

ready to make a federal award, AmeriCorps may determine that the applicant is not qualified 

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

another applicant.

D.4. Submission Dates and Times

D.4.a. Application Submission Deadline

Applications are due not later than Monday, March 11, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 

AmeriCorps will not consider applications submitted after the deadline, except as noted in 

Section D.4.c. Late Applications. AmeriCorps reserves the right to extend the submission 

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

AmeriCorps’ website. 

D.4.b. Additional Documents Deadline

Additional documents are due by the application submission deadline. See Sections D.4.a. 

Application Submission Deadline and D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents for more 

information.

D.4.c. Late Applications

All applications received after the submission deadline published in this Notice, of Monday, 

March 11, 2024, at 5:00 pm Eastern Time, are presumed to be non-compliant. To 

overcome this presumption, the applicant must:

• submit a written explanation or justification of the extenuating circumstance(s) that 

caused the delay, including: 

o the timing and specific cause(s) of the delay
o the ticket number if a request for assistance was submitted to the AmeriCorps

Hotline

o any information provided to the applicant by the AmeriCorps Hotline

o any other documentation or evidence that supports the justification

• ensure that AmeriCorps receives the written explanation or justification and any other 

evidence that substantiates the claimed extenuating circumstance(s), via email to 

AmericorpsSeniors@americorps.gov no later than 24 hours after the application deadline 

as stated in the Notice. AmeriCorps will not consider an advance request to submit a 

late application. Please carefully review and follow the guidance in this section and 

submit your application as soon as possible.

Communication with AmeriCorps staff, including an applicant’s portfolio manager, is not a 

substitute for a written explanation or justification of the extenuating circumstance that 

caused the delay. The written explanation or justification must be sent to 

AmeriCorpsSeniors@americorps.gov to be compliant with the late application process. 

mailto:AmeriCorpsSeniors@americorps.govApplicants are required to continue working in 

eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based application system, and with the AmeriCorps Hotline to 

submit the application. AmeriCorps will determine whether or not to accept a late application 

on a case-by-case basis. 

Applicants that do not meet the application submission deadline and do not submit a written 

explanation or justification or any other evidence to overcome the presumption of noncompliance within the published timeframe will be deemed noncompliant. If AmeriCorps

sustains a noncompliant determination, the application will not be reviewed or selected for 

award.

D.5. Intergovernmental Review

This Notice is not subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal 

Programs.” 

D.6. Funding Restrictions 

D.6.a. Award Funding Requirements

Awards under this Notice are subject to cost share or matching requirements. The amount of 

funding AmeriCorps provides will be limited to 90 percent of the total allowable costs for the 

funded activity, as determined under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles. 

There are also limitations on the use of Federal funds to recover indirect costs. As provided in 

2 CFR 200.306(c), unrecovered indirect costs may be included as part of an applicant’s cost 

sharing or matching requirements. 
D.6.b. Indirect Costs

Application budgets may include indirect costs. Based on qualifying factors, applicants may 

either use a federally approved indirect cost rate or a 10 percent de minimis rate of modified 

total direct costs, or may claim certain costs directly, as outlined in 2 CFR 200.413. States, 

local governments, and Indian Tribes may use previously approved indirect cost allocation 

plans. All methods must be applied consistently across all Federal awards. Applicants that 

have a federal negotiated indirect cost or de minimis rate must enter that information in the 

Organization section in eGrants. 

The instructions for how to enter the organization’s indirect cost rate are located 

here: eGrants Indirect Cost Rate User Instructions. Applicants should not submit 

documentation addressing the indirect cost rate agreement via email.

Please note: To request a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, when 

AmeriCorps is the applicable cognizant agency for an organization’s indirect costs, the 

applicant must submit a request to IndirectCostRate@cns.gov. The applicant may also obtain 

instructions and additional information by contacting the email address above.

D.6.c. Pre-Award Costs

Pre-award costs, where authorized, are allowed after receiving written approval from 

AmeriCorps.

D.7. Other Submission Requirements

D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants

Applicants must submit applications electronically via eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based 

application system. AmeriCorps recommends that applicants create an eGrants account and 

begin the application at least three weeks before the deadline. Applicants should draft the 

application as a Word document, then copy and paste the text into the appropriate eGrants 

field no later than 10 days before the deadline.

NEW/UPDATED: The applicant’s authorized representative must be the person who submits 

the application. The authorized representative must use their own eGrants account to sign 

and submit the application. A copy of the governing body’s authorization for this official 

representative to sign must be on file in the applicant’s office. The authorized representative 

and the project director may not be the same person and may not have the same email 

address. Please ensure different names are entered in your eGrants program information. 

Applications will be returned for corrections if the authorized representative and the project 

director have the same contact information. 

Applicants should contact the AmeriCorps Hotline at (800) 942-2677 if they have a problem 

when they create an account, prepare, or submit the application. AmeriCorps Hotline hours

are also posted on the AmeriCorps Hotline website. 
Be prepared to provide the Hotline with the application ID, organization’s name, and the 

name of the Notice to which the organization is applying. If the issue cannot be resolved by 

the deadline, applicants must continue working with the AmeriCorps Hotline to submit via 

eGrants. Applicants should refer to section D.4.c for the late application process.

If circumstances make it impossible for an applicant to submit in eGrants, applicants may 

send a paper copy of the application via overnight carrier below. Applicants must include a 

written explanation and any other documentation or evidence that support their inability to 

submit their application electronically. 

AmeriCorps

ATTN: Office of AmeriCorps Seniors/FY 2024 Senior Companion Program Application 

250 E Street, SW, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20525

Please use a non-U.S. Postal Service carrier to avoid security-related delays. All deadlines 

and requirements in this Notice also apply to paper applications. AmeriCorps does not 

accept applications submitted via fax or email.

D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents 

Applicants are required to submit the following additional documents by the application 

submission deadline:

1. All renewal applicants regardless of funding level are required to submit an 

Operational and Financial Management Survey (OFMS). Please submit the OFMS 

using the link to the online form, where you will be required to submit your response 

electronically. Forms submitted as a Word document, PDF, or any other document 

format may not be accepted. 

2. Tribal organization eligibility documentation (See Section C.1 Eligible Applicants), if 

applicable 

Additional documents must be emailed to AmeriCorpsSeniors@AmeriCorps.gov with the 

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

include:

• the legal applicant name and its point of contact information

• the application ID number

• a list of documents that are attached to the email by filename, labeling each 

document type according to the above numbered list

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

name and application ID number within the file name and heading of each document. 

To ensure that all required additional documents are considered, please provide each 
document as a separate single file, labeled appropriately. Please do not send multiple 

documents in one combined file, and do not send a single document in multiple files.

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

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

• Prime applicants should send separate emails with each subapplicant’s materials, 

referencing the subapplicant’s Application ID

Failure to submit the required additional documents by the deadline following the 

instructions in this section by the deadline may have a negative effect on the assessment of 

your application.

Do not submit any items that are not requested in this Notice. AmeriCorps will not 

review or return them.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Selection Criteria

Applications should include a well-designed plan with clear and compelling justifications for 

receiving the requested funds. AmeriCorps Seniors SCP Continuation Grantees must 

review section E.1. and Renewal Grantees must review section E.2. and provide the 

information as instructed. 

E.1. CONTINUATION APPLICATIONS

Continuation Funding Information and Requirements (Grantees entering Year 2 or Year 

3)

Organizations that have current program awards that continue beyond FY 2023 must submit 

an application in order to be eligible to receive funding for the following year. If a 

continuation application is not submitted by the due date, or if the late application process 

outlined in D.4.c is not followed, this will be an indication that the organization is no longer 

interested in receiving funding. 

To be approved for continuation funding, recipients must demonstrate satisfactory 

performance with respect to key program goals and requirements, as well as compliance 

with the terms and conditions of the grant. AmeriCorps reserves the right to award 

applications in an amount less than the requested level of funding and will document the 

rationale for doing so. 

Please pay attention to new information for your FY 2024 continuation application. 

These items are important and may be repeated several times in this document.
NEW: In FY 2024, all organizations who submit a continuation application are required to: (1) 

review and update the executive summary; and (2) enter proposed changes or edits in the 

Other Narrative section and work plans for the remainder of the grant’s three-year cycle. Do 

not make any changes to the rest of the narratives or delete previously entered information. 

All changes and edits must be concentrated in the executive summary, Other Narrative, and 

work plans. Note: In FY 2025 and FY 2026, the narratives and work plans of the continuation 

applications will be locked and not available for updates. 

NEW: Define Geographical Service Area: Ensure your service area as identified on the SF424 Face Sheet of the application accurately reflects the community or communities currently 

served. This information is entered into the “Areas affected by the project” box in the 

Application Info tab in eGrants.

You should list county(ies) only and list the city(ies), town(s), parish(es), or other jurisdictions 

being served in parentheses. Please note if you will serve a portion of a jurisdiction.

• If you serve the whole county, you may list just the county name. For example, Mason 

County, Lewis County, and Fleming County. 

• If your project is serving 5 or fewer cities, towns, etc. in one county, you should list the 

county name with the cities, towns, etc. in parentheses. For example, Mason County 

(Maysville, Somo, Orangeburg, Rectorville), Lewis County (Tollesboro, Epworth, 

Ribolt), and Fleming County (Flemingsburg, Mt. Carmel). 

• If your project is serving a large metropolitan area or 6 or more cities, towns, etc. in 

one county, you can list the county and the metro area or the general region of the 

county you are serving. For example, Cuyahoga County (Cleveland Metro area) or 

Lincoln County (western side of the county)

E.1.a. Executive Summary 

Please ensure the Executive Summary is in the correct format as noted below. Do not deviate 

from the template below. If the executive summary does not match the template below, 

applicants will be instructed to correct prior to award. 

“The [Name of the organization] proposes to have [Number of unduplicated] 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who will [specific service activities] in [the locations the 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will serve]. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will serve 

[XX number, do not include carry forward ] Volunteer Service Years (VSY) each year. 

The primary focus area of this project is Healthy Future. [(If applicable) Other priorities 

include [List priority areas to be addressed.] AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will be 

responsible for [fill in the anticipated outcome (s)]. The AmeriCorps investment of $ 

[fill in the annual AmeriCorps grant amount, t also known as baseline funding] will be 

supplemented by $ [fill in the anticipated level of non-AmeriCorps 

resources/match].” 

An example of a compliant executive summary is: 
The ABC School proposes to have 25 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers tutor and 

mentor preschool children at Head Start Academy in Crystal County, VA. Americorps 

Seniors volunteers will be trained to use phonics and writing to develop reading 

growth of five-year-olds. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will serve 28 volunteer 

service years (VSYs) each year. The primary focus area of this project is Heathy Future. 

Other priorities include programming that focuses on early learning and preparing 

AmeriCorps Senior volunteers to enter early learning careers. AmeriCorps Seniors 

volunteers will be responsible for 75 preschool students reading at first-grade level. 

The AmeriCorps investment of $250,000 will be supplemented by $50,000 in privatesector funds. 

Note: Number of Volunteer Service Years (VSYs) should not include carry forward. Baseline 

funding does not include the one-time $2,500 for travel to the AmeriCorps Seniors 

convening or any carry forward funds. If you include carry forward funds in your budget, add 

a note in the Other narrative.

E.1.b. Program Design and E.1.c. Organization Capability:

Do not make any adjustments to the following sections: Strengthening Communities, 

Recruitment and Development, Program Management, Organizational Capability. If you have 

updates for any of these sections, please see section E.1.d Other Narrative for instructions.

E.1.d. Other:

NEW FY 24 Programmatic Updates: If making adjustments to your application that would 

normally impact other narratives, including but not limited to the number of Volunteer 

Service Years, recruitment, policies, and/or staffing changes, briefly summarize these 

changes in the Other Narrative. You may use headings or titles to help organize information. 

Do not make any changes to the rest of the narratives or delete previously entered 

information. Do not delete existing information in the Other Narrative section. 

If you are including carry forward funds in your budget, please add a statement in the Other 

narrative that includes the amount of carry forward and the number of Volunteer Service 

Years (VSYs) you are adding because of the carry forward. 

All Continuation Grantees must ensure there are responses to the following questions

in this section, even if these questions were answered in the previous narrative 

sections.

NEW or UPDATE DEIA and Recruitment Question: Provide or update responses to the 

following questions on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) and Recruitment 

in the Other Narrative section of eGrants. Do not revise previous DEIA and recruitment 

responses in previous sections of the application.

• Describe your organization’s DEIA goals and demonstrate what progress has been 

made toward achieving them?
• In what ways could your organization utilize training, technical assistance, and other 

resources related to DEIA?

• Describe any challenges your organization is experiencing with recruitment and/or 

retention of volunteers. Include any relevant information with regard to influencing 

factors (e.g., Covid-19, inflation, school protocols), and how AmeriCorps can assist 

your project in meeting those challenges.

NEW Fraud, Waste and Abuse Plan: Provide responses to the following questions on fraud, 

waste, and abuse in the Other Narrative section of eGrants. Do not revise previous fraud, 

waste, and abuse responses in the previous sections of the application. 

• Describe the extent to which the organization has an effective mechanism in place to 

report, without delay, any suspected criminal activity, waste, fraud, and/or abuse to 

both the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General and AmeriCorps and a plan for 

training staff and participants on these reporting protocols.

• Describe the extent to which the organization has sufficient policies, procedures, and 

controls in place to prevent, detect, and mitigate the risk of fraud, waste, abuse, and 

mismanagement, this can include an assessment of appropriate segregation of duties, 

internal oversight activities, measures to prevent timekeeping fraud, etc.

• Finally, describe or update us on the extent to which the organization has a 

monitoring and oversight plan to prevent and detect non-compliance and enforce 

compliance with AmeriCorps rules and regulations, including those related to 

prohibited activities and criminal history checks at the grantee, subgrantee (if 

applicable), and service site locations.

E.1.e. Work Plans/Performance Measures: 

Information will automatically copy from your previously awarded application into your 

continuation application. Grantees should take this opportunity to revise work plans to 

accurately reflect the number of active volunteers in your program. You should also align the 

work plans to current community needs. 

Ensure the minimum cost per volunteer service year is met. For every $9,000 of federal 

funding, one volunteer service year must be placed in a work plan in the Healthy Future focus 

area. For example, if requesting $90,000 in federal funding, at least 10 volunteer service 

years need to be included in work plans in the Healthy Future focus area. Volunteer service 

years are entered into the “anticipated unduplicated volunteer” field in the Performance 

Measure Module in eGrants. Please see the Grant Application Instructions and Appendix B: 

Performance Measure Instructions for more information. 

E.1.f. Budget:

NEW: All AmeriCorps Seniors grantees must budget for one staff person, primarily the 

Project Director, to attend the AmeriCorps Seniors annual convening or, in the event an in-
person convening does not occur, funds to attend another training event. This year, 

AmeriCorps Seniors will add $2,500 in a one-time augmentation to every grant to cover 

expenses for program staff to attend the national convening. These funds should be 

budgeted in the long-distance travel section. If the organization does not spend the whole 

amount to attend the convening, the grantee may rebudget unspent funds at a later date for 

training that complements the convening or an additional training opportunity for any staff 

listed in the budget. The $2,500 one-time augmentation is subject to match, but programs do 

not have to add Volunteer Service Years (VSYs) because of the $2,500 one-time 

augmentation. 

Update the budget if necessary. Budgets must include: 

• Expenses for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. 

• Travel costs for at least one staff person to attend the AmeriCorps Seniors annual 

convening in FY 2024. If accepting the one-time augmentation, all $2,500 needs to be 

included in the long-distance travel section of the budget.

o If you are not accepting the $2,500 one-time augmentation, please include the 

following statement in the Other Narrative: “[Applicant name] declines the 

one-time $2,500 in augmentation funding for travel to the Convening. We are 

able to attend the Convening and other training without the additional funds.”

• At least 10% match unless the grantee has an approved match waiver. Please see 

section C.2 for information on the match.

• Stipended line item meet the cost per Volunteer Service Year (VSY) of $9000 per 

Federal Budget amount.

E.2. RENEWAL APPLICATIONS 

Organizations that have current program awards and are eligible for renewal funding must 

submit an application in order to be eligible to receive funding for the following year. If a 

renewal application is not submitted by the due date, or if the late application process 

outlined in D.4.c is not followed, this will be an indication that the organization is no longer 

interested in receiving funding. 

NEW: In FY 2024, all organizations who submit a renewal application are required to review 

and update the executive summary, narratives and work plan for the entire three years of the 

grant cycle. 

NEW: Define Geographical Service Area: 

Ensure your service area as identified on the SF-424 Face Sheet of the application accurately 

reflects the community or communities currently served. This information is entered into the 

“Areas affected by the project” box in the Application Info tab in eGrants.
You should list county(ies) only and list the city(ies), town(s), parish(es), or other jurisdictions 

being served in parentheses. Please note if you will serve a portion of a jurisdiction.

• If you serve the whole county, you may list just the county name. For example, Mason 

County, Lewis County, and Fleming County. 

• If your project is serving 5 or fewer cities, towns, etc. in one county, you should list the 

county name with the cities, towns, etc. in parentheses. For example, Mason County 

(Maysville, Somo, Orangeburg, Rectorville), Lewis County (Tollesboro, Epworth, 

Ribolt), and Fleming County (Flemingsburg, Mt. Carmel). 

• If your project is serving a large metropolitan area or 6 or more cities, towns, etc. in 

one county, you can list the county and the metro area or the general region of the 

county you are serving. For example, Cuyahoga County (Cleveland Metro area) or 

Lincoln County (western side of the county).

E.2.a. Executive Summary 

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

deviate from the template below. If applicant does not follow the template below, the 

application will be returned for correction before an award can be made.

“The [Name of the organization] proposes to have [Number of unduplicated] 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who will [specific service activities] in [the locations the 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will serve]. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will serve 

[XX number] volunteer service years (VSYs) each year. The primary focus area of this 

project is Healthy Futures. [(If applicable)] Other priorities include [List priority areas to 

be addressed.] AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will be responsible for [fill in the 

anticipated outcome (s)]. The AmeriCorps investment of $ [fill in the annual 

AmeriCorps grant amount, also known as the baseline funding] will be supplemented 

by $ [fill in the anticipated level of non-AmeriCorps resources/match].”

An example of a compliant executive summary is: 

The ABC School proposes to have 25 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers tutor and 

mentor preschool children at Head Start Academy in Crystal County, VA. AmeriCorps

Seniors volunteers will be trained to use phonics and writing to develop reading 

growth of five-year-olds. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will serve 28 volunteer 

service years each year. The primary focus area of this project is Healthy Futures. 

Other priorities include programming that focuses on early learning and preparing 

AmeriCorps Senior volunteers to enter early learning careers. AmeriCorps Seniors 

volunteers will be responsible for 75 preschool students reading at first-grade level. 

The AmeriCorps investment of $250,000 will be supplemented by $50,000 in privatesector funds. 

Note: Baseline Funding does not include the one-time $2,500 for travel to the AmeriCorps 

Seniors convening.
E.2.b. Program Design 

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

assume all sub-criteria are of equal value.

E.2.b.i Strengthening Communities: 

Make sure your application:

• Explains how the proposed interventions respond to the identified community 

problem(s). 

• Articulates the proposed interventions , including the design, dosage, target 

population, and roles of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. How are these intervention

likely to lead to the outcomes identified in the applicant’s work plan? 

• Explains how the expected outcomes conveyed in the Strengthening Communities 

narrative and Performance Measures represent meaningful progress in addressing the 

community problems identified by the applicant. 

• Demonstrates the rationale for utilizing AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to deliver the 

intervention(s), addressing the community need is reasonable. 

• Describes how the service of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will produce significant 

contributions to existing efforts to address the stated problem? 

• For incumbent organizations, if the anticipated outcomes (Performance Measures) 

were not met in the previous three-year grant cycle and those same outcomes are 

included in this application, explain what actions will be taken to meet those 

outcomes under this new award. 

• Includes the applicant’s definitions of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility

AND clearly identify activities the organization is engaged in related to 

diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. 

• Illustrate how the proposed plan ensures the project engages a diverse and inclusive 

group of volunteers. 

• Clearly describes how the project will serve members of the community through an 

equity lens. 

• Details characteristics of the community to be served including demographics, 

income, and additional relevant information. 

E.2.b.ii Recruitment and Development 

Ensure your proposed project: 
• Demonstrates a plan and the organization’s infrastructure provides for effective 

volunteer recruitment and management.

• Describes how the proposed recruitment strategy is a strategic response to the 

demographics in the community served. 

• Demonstrates a plan and infrastructure to ensure volunteers receive training needed 

to succeed in the service activities described in the Performance Measures. 

• Describes the demographics of the community served and plans to recruit 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers that appropriately reflect the geographic or 

demographic communities in which the program operates. This could include but not 

limited to the following: 

o Volunteers from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color) 

communities 

o Volunteers from LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and 

Questioning) communities 

o Individuals with varying degrees of English language proficiency 

o Individuals with disabilities 

o Veterans and military family members as volunteers 

• Demonstrates a plan and adequate infrastructure to retain and recognize volunteers. 

This includes: 

o An explanation of how the applicant will foster an inclusive service culture 

where different backgrounds, talents, and capabilities are welcome. 

o A description of how engaged volunteers will remain active over the course of 

grant funding. 

• Demonstrates a plan for developing and growing a culture of inclusion at volunteer 

stations to ensure volunteer station supervisors who are involved in the recruitment of 

volunteers are invested in addressing community disparities and the root causes of 

biases in recruitment efforts.

E.2.c. Organizational Capability 

E.2.c.i Program Management 

Make sure your application:

• Describes the plans and infrastructure to ensure management of volunteer stations 

are in compliance with the program regulations. 
• Demonstrates plans to address culture of volunteer stations to be safe inclusive 

spaces for diverse volunteers. 

• Demonstrates plans and infrastructure to develop and/or oversee volunteer stations 

to ensure that volunteers are performing their assigned service activities, including: 

o Sufficient guidance and support of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to provide 

effective service. 

o Adequate training and preparation of station supervisors to follow AmeriCorps 

Seniors program regulations, priorities, and expectations.

E.2.c.ii Organizational Capability 

Your application must:

• Describe the organization’s commitment to equity when addressing critical 

community needs reflected in the organization’s mission and vision, as well as the 

application’s Performance Measures. 

• Describe the plans and infrastructure to provide sound programmatic and fiscal 

oversight (both financial and in-kind) and day-to-day operational support to ensure 

the following:

o Compliance with program requirements (statutes, regulations, and the Uniform 

Guidance/2 CFR 200 and related appendices); 

o Accountability; 

o Efficient and effective use of available resources; and 

o Plans to engage non-federal funding sources for sustainability of 

programming. 

• Clearly define paid staff positions, including identification of current staff assigned to 

the project (name, title, and brief position description), and how these positions will 

ensure the accomplishment of program objectives. 

• Describe your organization’s experience with, and/or plans for diversity, equity, and 

inclusion within your organization. This can include the inclusion of diversity on the 

Board of Directors, agency staff and leadership, and/or volunteers. 

• Demonstrate organizational capacity to develop and implement internal policies and 

operating procedures to provide governance and manage risk, such as accounting, 

personnel management, and purchasing. 
• Describe the extent to which the organization has an effective mechanism in place to 

report, without delay, any suspected criminal activity, waste, fraud, and/or abuse to 

both the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General and AmeriCorps and a plan for 

training staff and participants on these reporting protocols. 

• Describe the extent to which the organization has sufficient policies, procedures, and 

controls in place to prevent, detect, and mitigate the risk of fraud, waste, abuse, and 

mismanagement (this can include an assessment of appropriate segregation of duties, 

internal oversight activities, measures to prevent timekeeping fraud, etc.) 

• Describe the extent to which the organization has a monitoring and oversight plan to 

prevent and detect non-compliance and enforce compliance with AmeriCorps rules 

and regulations including those related to prohibited activities and criminal history 

checks at the grantee and service site locations.

E.2.d. Other 

You may use headings in this section to help organize information.

E.2.d.i. Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy

Please describe the extent to which the proposal:

• Has a reasonable cost per volunteer in proposed work plan that will lead to National 

Performance Measure requirements (See Appendix B and section A.3 of the Notice). 

• Has plans and infrastructure to secure the non-federal support for program 

sustainability-including dedicated staff, grant proposal processes and other plans. 

E.2.d. ii. Evaluation

Evaluation is a tool for improvement and increases your program’s ability to serve people 

more efficiently and effectively. To ensure there is a quality evaluation plan, describe the 

following:

• The applicant’s data collection system and how it is sufficient to collect high quality 

performance measurement data. If the applicant does not yet have a data collection 

system, describe the plan and timeline for developing a high-quality system during 

the proposed planning period. 

• How the applicant will use performance data. 

For more information about evaluation plans and data collection methods, please visit the 

AmeriCorps Evaluation Resources website. 
E.2.e. Work Plans/Performance Measures

Information will automatically copy from your previously awarded application into your 

renewal application. Please revise work plans to align with the upcoming three-year 

performance period, including adding or removing work plans as necessary. Grantees must 

ensure their work plans accurately reflect the number of volunteer service years and the 

number of active volunteers enrolled in their Foster Grandparent Program. Work plans are 

entered into the Performance Measure Module in eGrants. Please see the Grant Application 

Instructions and Appendix B: Performance Measure Instructions for more information.

NEW: In FY 2024, all organizations who submit a renewal application are required to review 

and update the executive summary, narratives, and work plans for the entire three years of 

the grant cycle. 

Each work plan should include:

• Description of the community need being addressed by the individual work plan. 

• Description of the service activities that address the community need. 

• Description of the intended outcome of the service activity. 

Each work plan must logically connect the following four major elements to each other and 

be aligned with National Performance Measures: 

• The community need(s) identified 

• The service activities that will be carried out by AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers,

including: 

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

months of the intervention) 

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

sessions per week) 

o The target population for the intervention (e.g., high school students at risk of 

dropping out, third graders at a certain reading proficiency level)

• The instrument description and data collection plans 

• The selected output and outcome, including targets that are appropriate for the total 

number of volunteers assigned to the work plan. 

Work plans may include some combination of National Performance Measures and other 

community priorities. For every $9,000 in annual base federal funding, at least one volunteer 
service year must be placed in a work plan that results in a National Performance Measure 

outcome in the Healthy Futures focus area. 

E.2.f. Budget 

NEW: All AmeriCorps Seniors grantees must budget for one staff person, primarily the 

Project Director, to attend the AmeriCorps Seniors annual convening or, in the event an inperson convening does not occur, funds to attend another training event. This year,

AmeriCorps Seniors will add $2,500 in a one-time augmentation to every grant to cover 

expenses for program staff to attend the national convening. These funds should be 

budgeted in the long-distance travel section. If the organization does not spend the whole 

amount to attend the convening, the grantee may rebudget unspent funds at a later date for 

training that complements the convening or an additional training opportunity for any staff 

listed in the budget. The $2,500 one-time augmentation is subject to match, but programs do 

not have to add Volunteer Service Years (VSYs) because of the $2,500 one-time 

augmentation. 

Budgets must include: 

• Expenses for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. 

• Travel costs for at least one staff person to attend the AmeriCorps Seniors annual 

convening in FY 2024. 

o If accepting, all $2,500 needs to be included in the long-distance travel 

section of the budget.

o If you are not accepting the $2,500 one-time augmentation, please include the 

following statement in the Other Narrative: “[Applicant name] declines the 

one-time $2,500 in augmentation funding for travel to the Convening. We are 

able to attend the Convening and other training without the additional funds.” 

• At least 10% match unless the grantee has an approved match waiver. Please see 

section C.2 for information on the match.

E.3. Review and Selection Process

AmeriCorps will engage staff reviewers with relevant knowledge and expertise to assess and 

provide input on the eligible applications. The review and selection process is intended to 

produce a diversified set of high-quality programs that represent the priorities and strategic 

considerations described in this Notice. The determinations made by AmeriCorps reviewers 

may be different from what the applicant self-determined upon submission of its application. 

The stages of the review and selection process follow:
E.3.a. Initial Application Compliance and Eligibility Review

AmeriCorps will conduct an initial Compliance and Eligibility Review to determine if an 

application meets the eligibility requirements published in this Notice and advances to the 

next stage of the review process. 

An application is compliant if the applicant: 

• is an eligible organization

• submitted an application by the submission deadline

Reviewing for eligibility is intended to ensure that only those applications that are eligible for 

award are further reviewed. However, determinations of eligibility can take place at any point 

during the application review and selection process. Applicants that are determined to be 

ineligible will not receive an award.

E.3.b. Application Review 

Internal Review

AmeriCorps Staff Reviewers will assess the applications based on the Program Design, 

Organizational Capability, and Cost-Effectiveness, and Budget Adequacy Selection Criteria 

(E.1and E.2). Staff Reviewers will also consider the priorities and strategic considerations 

detailed in this Notice. AmeriCorps will recruit and select Staff Reviewers on the basis of 

demonstrated expertise in AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion programming and/or the 

Focus Areas, as well as experience assessing applications. All Staff Reviewers will be 

screened for conflicts of interest. 

E.3.c. Applicant Clarification

AmeriCorps may ask an applicant for clarifying information. AmeriCorps staff will use this 

information to make funding recommendations. A request for clarification does not guarantee 

an award. Applicants may be recommended for funding even if they are not asked for 

clarifying information. An applicant’s failure to respond to a request for clarification adequately 

and in a timely manner may result in the removal of its application from consideration. 

E.3.d. Pre-Award Risk Assessment

AmeriCorps staff will assess the risks to the program posed by each applicant to determine 

an applicant’s ability to manage Federal funds. This evaluation is in addition to those about

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

(E.1 and E.2). Results from this assessment will inform funding decisions. If AmeriCorps

determines that an award will be made to an applicant with assessed risks, special conditions 

that correspond to the degree of assessed risk may be applied to the award. Applicants may 
not be selected for funding if AmeriCorps determines that the applicant’s risks cannot be 

mitigated. 

In assessing risks, AmeriCorps may consider the following criteria: 

1. Due Diligence, including: 

• Federal debt delinquency

• suspension and debarment

• information available through Office of Management and Budget (OMB)- designated 

repositories of government-wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity 

information, such as:

o U.S. Treasury Bureau of Fiscal Services

o System for Award Management (SAM)

o “Do Not Pay” 

• reports and findings from single audits performed under Uniform Administrative 

Guidance and findings of any other available audits or investigations

• IRS Tax Form 990

• Oversight.gov

• Public Litigation Records

2. Operational and Financial Management, including: 

• financial stability

• Operational and Financial Management Survey (OFMS)

3. Past Performance, including: 

• an applicant’s record in managing previous AmeriCorps awards, cooperative 

agreements, or procurement awards, including: 

o timeliness of compliance with applicable reporting requirements

o accuracy of data reported

o validity of performance measure data reported

o conformance to the terms and conditions of previous Federal awards
o applicant’s ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other 

requirements imposed on award recipients

o timely closeout of other awards

o meeting matching requirements

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

future awards

o National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC) compliance. See section 

F.2.d. National Criminal History Check Requirements and the NSCHC webpage

for more information

4. Other Programmatic Risks, including: 

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

• amount of funding requested by the organization 

• if the proposed program will engage in prohibited activities

Applicants will find information to help them understand pre-award due diligence checks in 

the AmeriCorps Due Diligence Review Process and Compliance training available on the 

Manage Your Grant website, This content will help applicants obtain due diligence 

compliance and remain compliant throughout the grant life.

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

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

consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and 

performance system accessible through SAM.gov (See 41 U.S.C. §2313). Additionally, 

AmeriCorps may expand upon these requirements and use its discretion to review and 

consider information about any applicant receiving an award, including those under

$250,000. 

Any applicant, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems 

accessible through SAM.gov and comment on any information about itself that a Federal 

awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and 

performance system accessible through SAM.gov. 

AmeriCorps may consider comments by any applicant, in addition to the other information in 

the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the 

applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards when 

completing its review of risk posed by the applicant under the Risk Assessment Evaluation 

section of this Notice. 
E.3.f. Selection for Funding

The review and selection process are designed to: 

• identify how well eligible applications are aligned with the application selection 

criteria (E.1)

• build a diversified portfolio based on the following strategic considerations:

o AmeriCorps Funding Priorities (See Section A.2. Funding Priorities) 

o meaningful representation of 

 geographic diversity 

 rural communities

 small and medium programs 

 single and multi-state programs

 faith-based organizations

 focus areas

 evidence levels

 innovative community strategies for identified funding priorities

o AmeriCorps Seniors Director’s discretion to advance strategic goals

In selecting applicants to receive awards under this Notice, the AmeriCorps Seniors Director

will endeavor to include a diverse portfolio of applications based on staff recommendations, 

alignment with selection criteria, and strategic considerations.

AmeriCorps reserves the right to award applications in an amount other than at the 

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

AmeriCorps reserves the right to adjust or make changes to the review process, if 

unforeseen challenges or urgent circumstances make it impossible, impracticable, or 

inefficient to conduct the review process as planned. Any such adjustments or changes 

will not affect the selection criteria (E.1 and E.2) that will be used to assess applications. 
F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

F.1. Federal Award Notices

AmeriCorps will make awards following the selection announcement. AmeriCorps anticipates 

announcing the results of this funding opportunity by mid-May 2024 contingent on the 

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

of funding decisions via email.

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

signed by the Office of Grant Administration Grant Award Specialist is the authorizing 

document. An awardee may not expend Federal funds until the start of the Period of

Performance identified on the Notice of Grant Award.

F.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 

F.2.a. Uniform Guidance

All awards made under this Notice will be subject to the Uniform Administrative 

Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform 

Guidance), in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 2205. 

F.2.b. Requests for Monitoring or Payment Integrity Information

AmeriCorps will request documentation from award recipients in order to monitor the 

grantee and award to ensure compliance with legal requirements, including the Payment 

Integrity Information Act of 2019. Failure to make timely responses to these requests may 

result in award funds being placed on manual hold, reimbursement only status, or other 

remedies may be applied as appropriate. 

F.2.c. AmeriCorps Terms and Conditions 

All awards made under this Notice will be subject to the FY24 AmeriCorps General Terms 

and Conditions, and the FY24 Program-Specific Terms and Conditions for the particular 

program (when applicable). These Terms and Conditions contain detailed, mandatory 

compliance and reporting requirements. Current versions of the AmeriCorps General and 

Program-Specific Terms and Conditions for each of its programs are available at the 

AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program Grantee page. 

F.2.d. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements

The National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC) is a specific screening procedure 

established by law to protect the beneficiaries of national service. We encourage grantees to 

minimize barriers to service without putting their program beneficiaries at genuine risk. The 
law requires grantees to conduct and document NSCHCs on persons (including awardfunded staff, national service participant, or volunteer) receiving a salary, living allowance, 

stipend, or education award through a program receiving AmeriCorps funds. This includes 

staff that receive part of their salary through a subgrant.

• Award recipients and subrecipients must conduct an NSCHC for AmeriCorps 

members, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, and all staff funded under, or whose salary 

is reflected as match on, the award. Limited exceptions are described in 45 CFR § 

2540.201.

• AmeriCorps strongly encourages applicants to review the regulations and additional 

guidance to fully understand how to comply with the requirements. See NSCHC 

regulations and guidance. 

• AmeriCorps also strongly encourages award recipients to utilize the two AmeriCorpsapproved vendors to conduct the required NSCHCs. 

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

individuals subject to the NSCHC must not be required to cover the cost. 

• Failure to fully comply with all NSCHC requirements will result in significant disallowed 

costs.

Recipients must complete the following criminal history checks: 

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

2. State criminal history record repository or agency-designated alternative for the 

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

3. Fingerprint-based check of the FBI criminal history record database through the State 

criminal history record repository or agency-approved vendor. 

All checks must be conducted, reviewed, and an eligibility determination made before the 

individual begins work or service.

An individual is not eligible to serve or work in a position subject to the NSCHC requirements 

if: 

• the individual refuses to consent to a criminal history check;

• makes a false statement in connection with a criminal history check; 

• is registered, or is required to be registered, on a state sex offender registry or the 

National Sex Offender Registry; or

• has been convicted of murder, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 1111. 
See 45 CFR 2540.200– 2540.207 and National Service Criminal History Check Resources for 

complete information and FAQs.

F.2.e. Official Guidance

AmeriCorps’ active guidance is available on the agency’s guidance webpage. The contents of 

these documents do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the 

public in any way unless incorporated into a contract or grant agreement. These documents 

are intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the 

law or agency policies.

F.3. Use of Material

To ensure that materials generated with AmeriCorps funding are available to the public and 

readily accessible to recipients and non-recipients, AmeriCorps reserves a royalty-free, 

nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to obtain, use, modify, reproduce, publish, or disseminate 

publications and materials produced under the award, including data, and to authorize 

others to do so (2 CFR §200.315).

F.4. Reporting 

Recipients are required to submit a variety of reports that are due at specific times during the 

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

Recipients are required to provide annual progress reports and semi-annual financial reports 

through eGrants, AmeriCorps’ web-based grants management system.

In addition, at the end of the award period, a grantee must submit a final financial report that 

is cumulative over the entire award period and consistent with the close-out requirements. 

The final financial report is due 120 days after the end of the period of performance. 

Award recipients will be required to report at Federal Funding Accountability and 

Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) on all subawards over $30,000, and 

may be required to report on executive compensation for the recipient organization and its 

subrecipients. Recipients must have the necessary systems in place to collect and report this 

information. See 2 CFR Part 170 for more information and to determine how these 

requirements apply. 

Once the grant is awarded, recipients will be expected to have in place data collection and 

data management policies, processes, and practices that provide assurance that they are 

reporting high quality performance measure data. At a minimum, recipients should have 

policies, processes, and practices that address the following five aspects of data quality for 

themselves and for subrecipients (if applicable):

• data measures what it intends to measure
• data reported is complete

• grantee collects data in a consistent manner

• grantee takes steps to correct data errors

• grantee actively reviews data for accuracy prior to submission. 

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

ability to secure future AmeriCorps funding.

F.5. Continuation Funding Information and Requirements 

Organizations that have current AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion program awards that 

continue beyond FY 2024 must submit an application in order to be eligible to receive 

funding for the following year. Please see the Instructions. Requests by existing continuation 

applicants for increases in the level of funding will be assessed using the selection criteria 

(E.1 and E.2.) published in this Notice.

The review will also be based on progress reports, the federal financial report, evaluation 

plans, [additional requirements,] and AmeriCorps staff’s knowledge of the grant program. To 

be approved for continuation funding, recipients must demonstrate satisfactory performance 

with respect to key program goals and requirements, as well as compliance with the terms 

and conditions of the grant. 

AmeriCorps reserves the right to award applications in an amount less than the requested 

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

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

For more information, email AmericorpsSeniors@americorps.gov

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

(800) 942-2677 Option 3. AmeriCorps Hotline hours are also posted. Be prepared to provide 

the application ID, organization’s name, and the name of the Notice to which the organization 

is applying.

H. OTHER INFORMATION 

H.1. Technical Assistance

AmeriCorps will host technical assistance calls to answer questions about the funding 

opportunity and eGrants. AmeriCorps strongly encourages all applicants to participate in 

these sessions. Information for these technical assistance calls is available on the Senior 

Companion Program Grantees web page. 
Resources you need to effectively manage your award, including eGrants instructions, terms 

and conditions, individual match waiver, pre-award requirements, financial reporting 

requirements, and training and technical assistance materials are found on the Manage Your

Grant website. 

H.2. Re-Focusing of Funding

AmeriCorps reserves the right to re-focus program dollars under this Notice in the event of 

disaster or other compelling needs. 

I. IMPORTANT NOTICES

Public Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for collection of information under this 

Notice of Funding is estimated to average six hours per submission, including reviewing 

instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing the application and 

reporting forms. AmeriCorps informs people who may respond to this Notice of Funding that 

they are not required to respond unless the OMB control number and expiration date are 

current valid. (See 5 C.F.R. 1320.5(b)(2)(i).) This collection is approved under OMB Control #: 

3045-0035, Senior Corps Grant Application, Expiration Date: November 30, 2024. 

Privacy Act Statement: The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C §552a) requires that AmeriCorps

notify applicants that the information requested under this Notice of Funding is collected 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§12592 and 12615 of the National and Community Service Act of 

1990 as amended, and 42 U.S.C. §4953 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 as 

amended. 

• Purposes and Uses - The information requested is collected for the purposes of 

reviewing grant applications and granting funding requests. Routine uses may include 

disclosure of the information to Federal, state, or local agencies pursuant to lawfully 

authorized requests. In some programs, the information may also be provided to 

Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to determine the existence of any 

prior criminal convictions. The information may also be provided to appropriate 

Federal agencies and contractors that have a need to know the information for the 

purpose of assisting the government to respond to a suspected or confirmed breach 

of the security or confidentiality or information maintained in this system of records, 

and the information disclosed is relevant and unnecessary for the assistance. 

• Effects of Nondisclosure - The information requested is voluntary; however, to be a 

recipient of this award program, disclosure of personal or sensitive information is 

required to receive federal benefits. 
APPENDIX A – LIST OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 

APPENDIX A – List of Funding Opportunities 

APPENDIX B – PERFORMANCE MEASURES

APPENDIX B – Performance Measures

APPENDIX C – TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

APPENDIX C – Terms and Definitions 

APPENDIX D – LITMOS RESOURCES

APPENDIX D – Litmos Resources 

APPENDIX E – APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

APPENDIX E – Application Instructions

APPENDIX F: FOCUS AREAS

AmeriCorps Focus Areas

The National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended by the Serve America Act,

emphasizes measuring the impact of service and focusing on a core set of issue areas. In

order to carry out Congress’s intent and to maximize the impact of investment in national 

service, and to achieve the goals laid out in the Strategic Plan (2022-2026), AmeriCorps has

the following Focus Areas:

Disaster Services

Helping individuals and communities prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the

effects of disasters and increase community resiliency.

Economic Opportunity

Improving the economic well-being and security of underserved individuals.
Education 

Improving educational outcomes for underserved people, especially children. AmeriCorps is 

particularly interested in program designs that support youth engagement and service 

learning as strategies to achieve high educational outcomes. 

Environmental Stewardship 

Supporting communities to become more resilient through measures that reduce 

greenhouse gas emissions, conserve land and water, increase renewable energy use and 

improve at-risk ecosystems, especially in underserved households and communities.

Healthy Futures

Supporting for health needs within communities, including mitigating the impacts of public 

health crises, access to care, aging in place, and addressing childhood obesity, especially in 

underserved communities. 

Veterans and Military Families 

Improving the quality of life of veterans and improve military family strength. 

Capacity Building

Support indirect services that enable AmeriCorps-supported organizations to provide more, 

better, and sustained direct services. Capacity building activities cannot be solely intended to 

support the administration or operations of the organization.

APPENDIX G: CALCULATOR WORKSHEET

APPENDIX G – Calculator Worksheet