AmeriCorps State and National FY 2020 Competition Overview
FY 2020 Notice of Funding Opportunity 

Documents

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Application Instructions

Mandatory Supplemental Guidance

Performance Measure Instructions
Additional Technical Assistance Calls

Best Practices in Budget Development

October 30th 1:30 – 2:30 PM EST

Best Practices in Developing Performance Measures

November 6th 1:30 – 2:30 PM EST

Best Practices in Demonstrating Evidence

November 13th 1:30 – 2:30 PM EST
AmeriCorps State and National

 Awards grants to non-profits, faith & community-based organizations, public 

agencies, Indian tribes, and institutions of higher education.

 Provides opportunities for individuals – AmeriCorps members – to serve 

communities across the country.

 Since 1994, more than 900,000 men and women have provided service as 

AmeriCorps members.
How does an organization become an 

AmeriCorps State and National Program?

There are 2 ways an organization can become an AmeriCorps grantee

Apply directly to the Corporation for National 

and Community Service

OR

Submit an application to a State Service Commission 
Application Deadline

Wednesday, January 8th, 2020

5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
Priority Areas

 Economic Opportunity

 Education

Healthy Futures

 Veterans and Military Families

Rural Intermediaries

 Faith-based organizations

*For full descriptions of the above priority areas, please see the NOFO, page 1. To receive priority consideration, applicants 

must show that the priority area is a significant part of the program focus and intended outcomes, and must include a highquality program design. Proposing programs that receive priority consideration does not guarantee funding.
AmeriCorps Grant Applications

 NOFO and application instructions are provided by CNCS.

 Organizations submit grant applications to CNCS via online eGrants system or 

to their State Service Commission’s competition.

 http://www.nationalservice.gov/egrants/

 Applications consist of a narrative, budget, and performance measures, plus a 

few supplementary items.

 May not exceed 10 pages for the narratives or 12 pages for Rural Intermediaries 

and Multi-State applicants with more than 5 operating sites
New for FY 2020

Required Changes:

• Increased the minimum living allowance by $287 from $13,992 to $14,279 to be 

consistent with VISTA average annual subsistence allowance per our statue.

CNCS Policy Changes:

• Eliminated the email of intent.

• Removed medium and strong evidence tiers as strategic considerations and 

increased the point value of evidence tier and decreased the point value of theory 

of change and logic model.

• Changes made to CNCS Transparency Policy.

• Strongly recommend use of the two NSCHC vendors.

• Moving forward there will be no Alternative Search Protocols (ASPs).
New for FY 2020 Continued... 

ASN Policy Changes:

• Expand the Economic Opportunity Priority to be broader than just Opportunity Youth.

• Focused the Education, Healthy Futures, and Economic Opportunity NOFO Priorities on evidence-based interventions.

• Eliminate the Safer Communities Priority due to lack of applications over multiple years.

• Full-Cost Fixed Awards for all slot configurations.

• Increase the maximum cost per MSY from $15,192 to $15,479 to incorporate the $287 increase to the minimum living 

allowance. 

• Increase the maximum cost per MSY for rural and/or opportunity youth from $15,360 to $15,647 to incorporate the $287 

increase to the minimum living allowance. 

• Add insufficient evidence as a threshold issue for funding consideration.

• Decrease the page limit from 13 to 12 for national directs with more than five operating sites and rural intermediaries.

• Eliminated re-review of Commission ranked #1 as part of the Post Review Quality Control. 

• Redistributed points between two subcategories – Culture that Values Learning was 6 points and now is 4 points and 

Member Supervision was 2 points and now is 4 points.
Questions?

Please Email: 

AmeriCorpsGrants@cns.gov

Getting Things Done for America