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NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Federal Agency Name: AmeriCorps 

Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2024 AmeriCorps Seniors Q4 Senior Demonstration 

Program Continuations or Invited New Grants

Announcement Type: Final Announcement 

Assistance Listing Number: 94.017

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.

Summary Statement: This funding opportunity is for current zero-dollar AmeriCorps Seniors 

Senior Demonstration Program grantees, and for select new applicants invited by 

AmeriCorps Seniors to apply. AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Demonstration Programs are 

distinct from Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and RSVP programs because they are 

comprised of a distinct programmatic difference that allows AmeriCorps Seniors to learn 

innovative programming that involves older adults.

Important Dates: Applications are due Monday, March 11, 2024, for continuation programs. 

New projects invited to apply must meet the deadline communicated at the time of invitation 

by AmeriCorps Seniors.

Contents

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

A.1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Seniors’ Senior Demonstration Program Funding ......................... 4

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

A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes ............................................................................. 6

A.4. Program Authority........................................................................................................................ 7

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION............................................................................... 7

B.1. Estimated Available Funds.......................................................................................................... 7

B.2. Estimated Award Amount ........................................................................................................... 7
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Award amounts will vary as determined by the scope of the projects. AmeriCorps expects to 

make awards in the range of $0 to a set amount based appropriation levels and available 

funds...................................................................................................................................................... 7

B.3. Period of Performance................................................................................................................. 7

B.4. Type of Award............................................................................................................................... 7

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

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

C.2. Cost Sharing or Match................................................................................................................. 8

C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements ................................................................................................... 9

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION ....................................................10

D.1. Address to Request an Application Package ........................................................................ 10

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission...................................................................... 10

D.2.a. Application Content........................................................................................................ 10

D.2.b. Page Limits....................................................................................................................... 11

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM).................................. 11

D.4. Submission Dates and Times .................................................................................................. 12

D.4.a. Application Submission Deadline ................................................................................. 12

D.4.b. Additional Documents Deadline................................................................................... 12

D.4.c. Late Applications ............................................................................................................. 13

D.5. Intergovernmental Review....................................................................................................... 13

D.6. Funding Restrictions................................................................................................................. 14

D.6.a. Award Funding Requirements ....................................................................................... 14

D.6.b. Indirect Costs................................................................................................................... 14

D.6.c. Pre-Award Costs .............................................................................................................. 14

D.7. Other Submission Requirements............................................................................................ 14

D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants ............................................................. 14

D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents .......................................................................... 15

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION .....................................................................16

E.1. CONTINUATION APPLICATIONS ........................................................................................... 16

E.1.a. Executive Summary.......................................................................................................... 17

E.1.b. Program Design and E.1.c. Organization Capability................................................... 18

E.1.d. Other................................................................................................................................. 18

E.1.e. Work Plan/Performance Measures ................................................................................ 20

E.1.f. Budget Section 1 and 2.................................................................................................... 20

E.2. NEW APPLICATIONS ................................................................................................................ 20

E.2.a. Executive Summary (0 percent, but evaluated on meeting instructions).................. 21

E.2.b. Program Design (30 percent)......................................................................................... 21

E.2.c. Organizational Capability (30 percent).......................................................................... 23

E.2.d. Other (11 percent)........................................................................................................... 24

E.2.e. Work Plan/Performance Measures (18 percent) .......................................................... 25
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E.2.f. Budget Section 1 and Section 2 (11 percent)................................................................ 26

E. 3. Review and Selection Process................................................................................................. 27

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

E.3.b. Application Review.......................................................................................................... 28

E.3.c. Applicant Clarification ..................................................................................................... 28

E.3.d. Pre-Award Risk Assessment............................................................................................ 28

E.3.e. Consideration of Integrity and Performance System Information.............................. 30

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 ................................................................ 32

F.2.a. Uniform Guidance............................................................................................................ 32

F.2.b. Requests for Monitoring or Payment Integrity Information ........................................ 32

F.2.c. AmeriCorps Terms and Conditions ............................................................................... 32

F.2.d. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements ............................................. 32

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

F.3. Use of Material ........................................................................................................................... 34

F.4. Reporting.................................................................................................................................... 34

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS..............................................................35

H. OTHER INFORMATION .............................................................................................35

H.1. Technical Assistance........................................................................................................... 35

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

APPENDIX I ...................................................................................................................37

APPENDIX 2 ..................................................................................................................38
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A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 

A.1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Seniors’ Senior Demonstration Program Funding

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. 

The Senior Demonstration Authority, as written in the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 

under Part E—Demonstration Programs, Section 231 Authority of the Director, authorizes the 

Director of AmeriCorps Seniors to make grants to or enter into contracts with public or 

nonprofit organizations for the purposes of demonstrating innovative activities involving 

older Americans as volunteers. The Director may support under this authority both volunteers 

receiving stipends and volunteers not receiving stipends. 

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 1) 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.
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AmeriCorps Seniors is committed in this grant cycle to serving more communities that have 

faced historical inequities and the organizations that have supported those communities, 

such as programs and organizations that serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color 

(BIPOC), and that actively address the impacts of structural and institutional inequities, 

advance racial equity, and increase opportunities in order to achieve sustainable change in 

communities. 

To the extent possible, consider if the following priority areas will fit with your application: 

• Programs focused on early learning and those that prepare AmeriCorps Seniors 

volunteers to enter early learning careers.

• Organizations that serve people with arrest and conviction records and provide 

meaningful reentry opportunities.

• Programs that support civic bridgebuilding projects (meaning projects that foster 

respect among diverse communities, strengthen relationships across lines of 

difference, forge a sense of common civic purpose, and seek to solve a community 

problem and diminish polarization) and provide training in civic bridgebuilding skills 

and techniques to AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers.

• Projects that propose to raise public awareness about the challenges and needs of 

family caregivers and the role that older adult volunteers can play in helping to 

overcome some of those challenges. Innovative service projects that can be executed 

by older adults will be given priority consideration. These projects can include those 

that:

o Advance partnerships that promote greater engagement for older adult 

support for family caregivers.

o Optimize well-being of family caregivers by strengthening services and 

supports, i.e., services to help caregivers manage their own 

health/emotions/physical stress, helping to find and secure other 

trustworthy/affordable services or supports, and those that prevent caregiver 

isolation.

o Develop volunteer roles that integrate older adults as volunteers who serve as 

part of a care coordination for clients and ongoing support for family and other 

caregivers. 

o Develop interventions where elders can support caregivers in tribal 

communities.
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o Spur innovations that engage older adults in intergenerational activities that 

help increase access to information and services for caregivers.

Senior Demonstration Program applicants should present a plan to recruit and support 

volunteers aged 55 and over to engage in community-driven interventions to address unmet 

community needs. Programs may use other AmeriCorps Seniors programming as the basis of 

program development but must offer something different from these programs as a way 

for AmeriCorps Seniors to gather new program ideas. This can include, but is not limited 

to, recruiting stipended volunteers with incomes between 200 and 400 percent of the federal 

poverty level, paying a higher hourly stipend or providing additional incentives to older adult 

volunteers, or recruiting volunteers aged 50 and over. 

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 high-quality program 

design. Proposing programs that receive priority consideration does not guarantee funding.

A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes 

AmeriCorps 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 select specific performance measures from AmeriCorps Seniors 

RSVP Appendix B- National Performance Measures. Applicants must identify a Primary Focus 

Area. Work plans must include at least one service activity in the selected Primary Focus Area. 

The Primary Focus Area should represent the area in which the project 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 who are submitting an application to 

demonstrate cost-effective practices in achieving performance goals through the services 

described in the proposed work plans within the requirements outlined below. 

New applications may propose a cost per volunteer that supports the recruitment, training, 

service, and retention of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. This may include a standard hourly 

stipend, but innovative approaches such as incentives or allowances may also be used. 

Applicants must provide justification for their cost per volunteer and explain the stipend, 

allowance, or other incentive structure, if applicable, in the application narratives. 
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A.4. Program Authority 

Awards under this Notice are authorized by 199N of the National and Community Service Act 

of 1990, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.) and section 231 of the Domestic Volunteer 

Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.). 

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION 

B.1. Estimated Available Funds

Continuation grants are $0 federal share. Funding to support these programs are nonAmeriCorps federal funds. 

Available funds for new AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Demonstration Program grants are

subject to 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 $0 to a set amount based appropriation levels and available 

funds. 

B.3. Period of Performance

Continuation’s program and budget periods should be July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

AmeriCorps anticipates making three-year grant awards. AmeriCorps generally makes an 

initial award for the first year of the period of performance, based on a one-year budget. 

Continuation awards for subsequent years are not guaranteed; they depend upon availability 

of appropriations and satisfactory performance. 

AmeriCorps Seniors reserves the right to adjust the amount of an award or elect not to 

continue funding.

B.4. Type of Award 

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

recipient performance, provide training and technical assistance, and serve as the primary 

point of contact for the AmeriCorps Seniors grant. 

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1. Eligible Applicants 

Through this Notice, only AmeriCorps Seniors grantees who have an active zero-dollar 

AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Demonstration Program grant, including a no-cost grant ($0), 
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may apply for continuation funding. Organizations invited by the AmeriCorps Seniors 

Director to submit a new application are also eligible for this Notice.

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

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 

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 Match

Existing grantees who receive $0 from AmeriCorps will not have a match requirement.

For new AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Demonstration Program applications, 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.
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To calculate the minimum grantee share, multiply the total proposed budget by 0.10. This 

will give the minimum amount of grantee share. For example, if the total proposed budget is 

$325,000: 

$325,000 * 0.10 = $32,500

The grantee share is $32,500, the federal share is $292,500, and the total project 

budget is $325,000. 

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.
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D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

All AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Demonstration Program applications must provide requested 

information as outlined in this Notice. 

For all applicants, this Notice should be read together with the AmeriCorps Seniors 

regulations, AmeriCorps Seniors Grant Application Instructions, and the AmeriCorps Seniors 

RSVP National Performance Measure Instructions. 

While there are no regulations specific to the AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Demonstration 

Program, applicants may refer to: 

• the Foster Grandparent Program regulations for programs with stipended volunteers 

working with children and youth on Education outcomes;

• the Senior Companion Program regulations for programs with stipended volunteers 

working with older adults and their caregivers on Healthy Futures outcomes;

• The RSVP regulations for programs with unstipended volunteers.

D.1. Address to Request an Application Package

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

Seniors Senior Demonstration Program grantee 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 for a printed copy of the Notice and 

Guidance.

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
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o Other 

• Work Plans/Performance Measures

• Standard Form 424A Budget

• Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications

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

narratives. Because eGrants is our system of record, it is critical that previous information 

stays and that you update only where specific items are identified in Section E.1.

D.2.b. Page Limits

Continuation applications may not exceed 20 double-spaced pages as according to the 

pages printed out from eGrants. New 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 

• 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. 

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 Seniors 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 Seniors 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 
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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 the applicant’s 

SAM-registered information exactly.

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.
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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 as outlined above. Applicants 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 caseby-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.” 
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D.6. Funding Restrictions 

D.6.a. Award Funding Requirements

Continuation awards under this Notice are not subject to cost share or matching 

requirements as these are zero-dollar grants. 

The amount of funding AmeriCorps provides to new awards 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 federally 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 
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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 website. 

Be prepared to provide 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.

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 supports their inability to 

submit their application electronically. 

AmeriCorps

ATTN: Office of AmeriCorps Seniors, SDP 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 new 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. 
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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, following the email 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

Please note below applicable sections for Continuation applicants. Organizations that 

currently receive an AmeriCorps Seniors’ zero-dollar Senior Demonstration Program grant 

must submit a continuation application if the proposed project is continuing to meet the 

eligibility criteria as detailed in this document. 

E.1. CONTINUATION APPLICATIONS 

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 

review and update the executive summary. Be sure to enter proposed changes or edits in the 

Other Narrative section (do not make any changes to the rest of the narratives or delete 
17

previously entered information) and work plans for the remainder of the grant’s three-year 

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 with 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]. The primary focus area of this project is [fill 

in primary focus area]. [(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] will be supplemented by $ [fill in the anticipated level of 

non-AmeriCorps resources].” 

An example of a compliant Executive Summary for a zero-dollar continuation is:

XYZ Organization proposes to have 30 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who will 

provide companionship, support, and resources to older adults and their caregivers in 

the Cleveland metropolitan area. The primary focus area of this project is Healthy 

Futures. Other priorities include creating intergenerational programming to support 

family caregivers and providing meaningful reentry opportunities for people with 
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arrest and conviction records. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will be responsible for 

increasing social support and improving capacity for independent living among older 

adults and increasing social support for caregivers. The AmeriCorps investment of $0 

will be supplemented by $250,000 in non-AmeriCorps resources. 

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 for FY 2024 – Programmatic Updates: If making adjustments to your application that 

would normally impact other narratives, including, but not limited to, number of volunteers, 

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 delete 

existing information in the Other Narrative section. 

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

even if these questions were answered in the previous narrative sections.

NEW for FY 2024 – 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 for FY 2024 – 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 
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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.

NEW for FY 2024 – Demonstration Elements: Provide responses to the following questions 

on elements in your demonstration program that are different from other AmeriCorps 

Seniors programs (Foster Grandparent, RSVP, and Senior Companion Programs) in the Other 

Narrative section of eGrants. Do not revise previous responses to these questions in other 

sections of the application. 

• Describe the elements of your demonstration program that are different from other 

AmeriCorps Seniors programs, including but not limited to: 

o If you provide an hourly stipend of greater than $4, or have an alternative 

incentive structure, please describe the amount of stipend or incentive, 

how/when the incentives are earned and paid, and other information related to 

the stipend or alternative incentives. How did you establish the stipend amount

and what impact has it had on the program’s recruitment and retention of 

volunteers?

 If you pay an hourly stipend, include the number of Volunteer Service 

Years (VSYs) your volunteers will achieve. One VSY is equal to 1,044 

hours of service per year.

o If you pay a stipend or provide alternative incentives to volunteers who are 

between 200 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level, please include the 

number of volunteers you have below 200 percent and the number between 

200 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. What did the program 

consider as it established the percentage of federal poverty rate? 

o If you recruit volunteers ages 50 and older, please include the number of 

volunteers you have ages 50 to 54 and the number ages 55 and older. 
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• How have these demonstration elements affected your ability to recruit and retain 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers and to better meet your community needs?

• Please share anything else regarding your program design (such as successes, 

challenges, information about the community you have learned, etc.). 

E.1.e. Work Plan/Performance Measures 

Information will automatically populate 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 who are working toward a 

National Performance Measure. They should also align the work plans to current community

needs.

E.1.f. Budget Section 1 and 2

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 zero-dollar AmeriCorps 

Seniors Senior Demonstration Program grants to cover expenses for program staff to attend 

the national convening. The $2,500 can be included as federal share in the budget. This 

amount should not be included in the amount of AmeriCorps funds in the Executive 

Summary. 

All applicants must include a line item in the long-distance travel section of the budget for 

training of the Project Director, which may include any training events approved by 

AmeriCorps Seniors. Applicants may budget for an additional staff member to attend the 

training events if funds permit. Long-distance travel funds may be re-budgeted later if not 

fully spent, depending on actual training activities. 

E.2. NEW APPLICATIONS

New applications will be accepted only from organizations invited by AmeriCorps Seniors. 

Applicants should not begin a new application under this Notice without being directly 

instructed to do so by AmeriCorps Seniors.

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

receiving the requested funds. Reviewers will assess the quality of applications by using the 

selection criteria described below and will rate them accordingly. 

See Section D.2.a Application Content.
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E.2.a. Executive Summary (0 percent, but evaluated on meeting instructions)

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]. The primary focus area of this project is [list 

primary focus area]. [(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 or the requested amount] will be supplemented by $ [fill in 

the anticipated level of non-AmeriCorps resources].” 

An example of a compliant executive summary is: 

Lincoln County Department of Juvenile Justice proposes to have 18 AmeriCorps 

Seniors volunteers tutor and mentor youth in the Lincoln County Juvenile Correction 

Facility. The primary focus area of this project is Education. Other priorities include 

helping youth with job readiness and connect to and navigate community resources 

after reentry. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will be responsible for 36 youth 

improving social and emotional skills, earning a high school diploma on-time, and 

improving job readiness. The AmeriCorps investment of $162,000 will be 

supplemented by $18,000 private-sector funds. 

E.2.b. Program Design (30 percent)

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 - narrative section of eGrants (19 percent)

Make sure your application:

• Explains how the proposed interventions respond to the identified community 

need(s). 

• Describes the community need; includes data on the community need, and any 

relevant details and sources.

• Provides details on the proposed communities to be served by the project, including 

race, gender, income, and other demographics relevant to the community to be 

served. 
22

• Outlines the project and interventions that address the stated community need. 

Include information about the target population and the roles of the volunteers. 

o Demonstrates how the project activities and goals align with one or more of 

the priority areas listed in section A.2. 

• Provides rationale for engaging AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to deliver the 

intervention(s) and how they will make a significant contribution to address the stated 

need(s). 

• Describes how the proposed intervention differs from AmeriCorps Seniors 

programming in the Foster Grandparent, RSVP, and Senior Companion programs. 

• Lists your organization’s definitions of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and 

clearly describe how these values will be embedded in program implementation.

E.2.b.ii. Recruitment and Development - narrative section of eGrants (11 percent)

Ensure your proposed project demonstrates the organization’s ability to effectively recruit 

and manage volunteers by responding to the following: 

• Describe the plan to recruit AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. Highlight strategies to 

recruit diverse volunteers from the communities the program will serve. Including but 

not limited to: 

o 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

• Describe how the demonstration elements being proposed related to recruitment 

and retention of volunteers, including, but not limited to, age or income of volunteers 

and stipends or incentives, and how these differ from other AmeriCorps Seniors 

programs. 

• Detail plans to ensure volunteers receive training needed to comply with regulations 

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

o Include trainings related to selected priority areas.
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• Describe a plan to retain and recognize volunteers. Include: 

o strategies to foster an inclusive service culture where all identities, 

backgrounds, talents, and capabilities are welcome. 

o plans to keep volunteers engaged in their service activity over the course of 

grant funding.

E.2.c. Organizational Capability (30 percent)

E.2.c.i Program Management - narrative section of eGrants (8 percent)

Reviewers will consider the extent to which applications: 

• Describe plans to develop volunteer stations to provide meaningful service 

opportunities that address stated community needs. Include strategies to recruit 

external partners if applicable.

• Describe your volunteer station management plan, including how you will ensure 

volunteer stations are:

o providing guidance and training to volunteer station supervisors and 

volunteers.

o meeting program regulations, priorities, and expectations.

o providing training and assistance to volunteer station staff that fosters the 

creation of safe, inclusive spaces for volunteers of all identities, backgrounds, 

talents, and capabilities.

• Describe the stipend, allowance, or other incentive structure that the program will use 

for volunteers. Include the amount, frequency, and other details to explain how much 

volunteers will earn and when. 

o If you will pay an hourly stipend, include the number of Volunteer Service Years 

(VSYs) your volunteers will achieve. One VSY is equal to 1,044 hours of service 

per year.

E.2.c.ii Organizational Capability - narrative section of eGrants (22 percent)

Reviewers will consider the extent to which applications: 

• Provide applicant’s experience developing and implementing internal policies and 

operating procedures; include governance and risk management, such as accounting, 

personnel management, and purchasing. Prioritize any history with managing federal 

grants in your response.
24

• Describe the organizational infrastructure to ensure sound programmatic and fiscal 

oversight including:

o Staffing, training, and data and financial management software.

o Compliance with internal organizational policies as well as program 

regulations, priorities, and expectations (statutes, the Code of Federal 

Regulations, and related policies.)

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

controls, and staff training in place to:

o 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.

o report, without delay, any suspected criminal activity, waste, fraud, and abuse 

to both the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General and AmeriCorps.

o 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.

• Outline a plan to develop and implement a policy to comply with National Service 

Criminal History Check regulations.

• List titles and position descriptions for all staff assigned to this project and explain how 

these positions will ensure the accomplishment of program objectives. Include names 

of any staff who may already be employed by your organization and plans to recruit 

staff for any open positions. 

• Describe the applicant’s experience with and plans to support diversity, equity, 

inclusion, and accessibility within their organization.

o Include DEIA efforts and policies related to project staff, the board of directors, 

and addressing community needs.

E.2.d. Other (11 percent)

Please use headings or titles to help organize the information. 
25

E.2.d.i. Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy -enter your response in Other section 

of eGrants (4 percent)

• Provide a justification for your cost per volunteer. Include the number of volunteers, 

amount of federal funding requested, and why this cost per volunteer is necessary to 

support the volunteers and achieve program goals. 

• Detail plans to secure non-federal support to ensure program sustainability. Include 

dedicated staff, grant proposal processes, development of in-kind support, 

fundraising efforts, and other relevant plans.

E.2.d.ii. Evaluation - enter your response in Other section of eGrants (7 percent)

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 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.

• Explain how the applicant will use data to track and measure the outputs and 

outcomes and to make data-informed decisions about the project.

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

AmeriCorps Evaluation Resources website. 

E.2.e. Work Plan/Performance Measures (18 percent)

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.

• Number of unduplicated volunteers assigned to the work plan. 

Note: Unduplicated Volunteers in the AmeriCorps Seniors programs: Each 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer can only be counted once when assigned to a service 

activity. The volunteer should be counted in the area where he/she will make the most 

impact – in terms of the goals, the type of service, or the scope of service (such as the 

greatest number of hours served).

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

be aligned with National Performance Measures: 
26

• 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. See Section A.3 for information about volunteer requirements for work 

plans. See Appendix B: RSVP National Performance Measure Instructions and the Grant 

Application Instructions for assistance in completing the Work Plan section of eGrants. For 

more information about AmeriCorps’ National Performance Measures, please review 

AmeriCorps National Performance Measurement Core Curriculum. 

E.2.f. Budget Section 1 and Section 2 (11 percent)

Budgets will be evaluated based on the following items: 

• The budget demonstrates that costs are reasonable, allocable, allowable, and necessary 

and conform to the Uniform Guidance.

o the budget is complete with all costs itemized.

o the extent to which match has been secured or the quality of the plan to raise 

match.

o the extent to which match will deepen the impact of the proposed project.

o the quality of the financial management system.

o budget includes costs associated with National Service Criminal History Checks, 

volunteer insurance, and volunteer recognition.
27

• The non-AmeriCorps share must be a minimum of 10% of total project costs. If needed, 

you may request a match waiver.

• All AmeriCorps Seniors grantees must budget for one staff person, primarily the Project 

Director, to attend the AmeriCorps Seniors annual convening.

o Grantees may budget for an additional staff member to attend the event if funds 

permit. 

o The recommended amount for budgeting purposes is $2,000. Long distance 

travel funds may be re-budgeted later in the year depending on actual training 

activities. 

See Grant Application Instructions for guidance on completing the Budget Section 1 and 

Section 2 of eGrants. See Fiscal Year 2024 AmeriCorps Seniors FGP/SCP sample budget 

narrative.

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.
28

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.1). 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 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). 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)
29

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: 
30

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

• amount of funding requested by the organization 

• Other elements considered relevant per Program Office, such as 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 (currently FAPIIS) (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, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and 

performance systems accessible through FAPIIS 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 FAPIIS.

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 
31

 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 or 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.
32

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 on the Senior 

Demonstration Program Grantees web 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 who receive a stipend or alternative 

incentive, 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. 
33

• 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 Seniors’ active guidance is available on the agency’s Guidance webpage: 

https://www.americorps.gov/about/agency-overview/official-guidance. 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.
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F.3. Use of Material

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

public and readily accessible to recipients and non-recipients, AmeriCorps Seniors 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 PPR annual and semi-annual financial and narrative 

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

recipients must submit quarterly financial reports to the U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services Payment Management System.

In addition, at the end of the award period, a grantee must submit final financial and progress 

reports that are cumulative over the entire award period and consistent with the close-out 

requirements. The final reports are due 120 days after the end of the period of performance. 

Award recipients will be required to report at https://www.FSRS.gov 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 data collection and data 

management policies, processes, and practices in place 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. 
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Failure to submit accurate, complete, and timely required reports may affect the recipient’s 

ability to secure future AmeriCorps Seniors funding.

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

This information pertains to all AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Demonstration Program new, 

renewal, and continuation applications.

For more information, call or email the assigned Regional Office. New applicants email 

AmeriCorpsSeniors@AmeriCorps.gov

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

(800) 942-2677. AmeriCorps Hotline hours are posted at 

https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask. 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

This information pertains to all AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Demonstration Program

continuation applications.

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

opportunity and eGrants. AmeriCorps Seniors strongly encourages all applicants to 

participate in these sessions. 

I. IMPORTANT NOTICES 

This information pertains to all AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Demonstration Program new, 

renewal, and continuation applications.

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 Seniors 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 currently valid. (See 5 C.F.R. 1320.5(b)(2)(i).) The collection is approved 

under OMB Control Number 3045-0035, Senior Corps Grant Application, expiration date:

11/30/2024. 
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Privacy Act Statement: The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C 552a) requires that we notify you 

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 grant program, disclosure of personal or sensitive information is 

required to receive federal benefits. 
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APPENDIX I

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 COVID19 and other 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.
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Appendix 2 

Appendix 2- List of continuations to apply.