2008 AmeriCorps 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS 

Programs from 

States, Territories, and Commonwealths 

Without Commissions 

v. 9.10.07 

Deadline 

January 8, 2008 

OMB Control #: 3045-0047 

Expiration Date: 4/30/2009
2 

IMPORTANT NOTICE 

These application instructions conform to the Corporation for 

National and Community Service’s (the Corporation) online grant 

application system, eGrants. The eGrants system is designed to 

serve the Corporation’s applicants and grantees. All Corporation 

funding announcements are posted on our web site www.cns.gov

and at www.grants.gov. 

Public Burden Statement: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 

1995 requires the Corporation to inform all potential persons who 

are to respond to this collection of information that such persons 

are not required to respond unless it displays a currently valid 

OMB control number. (See 5 CFR 1320.5(b)(2)(i)). 

Time Burden: The time required to complete this collection of 

information is estimated to average 24 hours per applicant, 

including the time to review instructions; search existing data 

resources; gather the data needed; and complete and review the 

information collection before submitting. 

Use of Information: The information collected constitutes an 

application to the Corporation for grant funding. The Corporation 

evaluates the application and makes funding decisions through the 

Corporation’s grant review and selection process. 

Effects of Non-Disclosure: Providing this information is 

voluntary; however, failure to provide the information would not 

allow the Corporation to assess the applicant’s request for funding. 

Therefore it would not be possible to consider granting funds to 

the applicant. 

Privacy Act: Information provided for this collection may be shared 

with federal, state, and local agencies for law enforcement purposes. 
3 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Important Notice ......................................................................................................................2 

Application Instructions: New and Recompeting Programs ....................................................4 

Application Process........................................................................................................................4 

Selection Process And Criteria .....................................................................................................4 

Submitting Your Application in eGrants ....................................................................................5 

I. Applicant Info ..............................................................................................................5 

II. Application Info...........................................................................................................6 

III. Narratives.....................................................................................................................6 

IV. Evaluation Summary or Plan .....................................................................................16 

V. Amendment Justification (N/A).................................................................................16 

VI. Performance Measures...............................................................................................16 

VII. Documents .................................................................................................................17 

VIII. Budget........................................................................................................................18 

IX. Review, Authorize, and Submit.................................................................................28 

X. Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants (Optional) ...........................28 

Application Instructions: Continuation Requests ...................................................................29 

Tables 

Table 1: Program Requirements in the AmeriCorps Regulations ...................................................4 

Table 2: Basic Selection Criteria: Categories, Sub-Categories, and Respective Weights.............5 

Table 3: Match Requirements in the AmeriCorps Regulations....................................................17 

Table 4: Minimum, Maximum, and Maximum Federal Share of the Living Allowance.............23 
4 

Application Instructions 

NEW AND RECOMPETING PROGRAMS 

Application Process 

Please use the following application instructions if you are a new or recompeting applicant from 

a state, territory or commonwealth without a state commission. You will apply directly to the 

Corporation like a National Direct applicant in the absence of a state commission. You are not 

eligible to apply directly to the Corporation if you are a state agency. 

The deadline for these grant competitions is January 8, 2008. All applications are due at 5:00 

p.m. Eastern Standard/Daylight Saving time. Applications are submitted using eGrants, the 

Corporation’s integrated, secure, web-based system for applications. 

Use these instructions in conjunction with the Notice of Funds Available or Notice of Federal 

Funding Opportunity (Notice) for the year in which you are applying, and the AmeriCorps 

Regulations, 45 CFR §§ 2520–2550. The Notice includes deadlines, eligibility requirements, 

submission requirements, and other information that changes year-to-year, for all 

AmeriCorps grant programs. 

The Notice can be found at http://www.americorps.org/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp. The 

full regulations are available online at www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr; regulations added or revised in 

2005 through rulemaking, including the selection criteria can also be found at 

http://www.americorps.org/about/ac/rulemaking.asp. 

The AmeriCorps regulations include the selection criteria used to select applications for funding 

and other pertinent information (see Table 1, below). 

Table 1: Program Requirements in the AmeriCorps Regulations 

Requirements and Selection Citation in the AmeriCorps Regulations 

Member Service Activities §2520.20 - §2520.55 

Prohibited Activities §2520.65 

Tutoring Programs §2522.900-2522.950 

Matching Funds §2521.35-2521.90 

Member Benefits §2522.240-2522.250 

Calculating Cost Per Member Service Year (MSY) §2522.485 

Performance Measures §2522.500-2522.650 

Evaluation §2522.500-2522.540 and §2522.700-2522.740 

Selection Criteria and Selection Process §2522.400-2522.475 

If there is any inconsistency between the AmeriCorps regulations, the Notice, and the 

Application Instructions, the order of precedence is as follows: 

1. AmeriCorps regulations 45 CFR §§ 2520–2550 take precedence over the 

2. Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity, which takes precedence over the 

 3. Application Instructions. 

Selection Process and Criteria 
5 

In evaluating your application for funding, reviewers will assess your program design, 

organizational capability, cost-effectiveness and budget adequacy. The weights assigned to each 

category and, if applicable, sub-category, are listed in the chart below. Reviewers will measure 

your application narrative against these criteria, and weight them accordingly. 

Table 2: Basic Selection Criteria: Categories, Sub-Categories, and Respective Weights 

Category Percentage Sub-Categories and Weights 

Rationale and Approach – 10% 

Member Outputs and Outcomes – 20% Part A: Program Design 50% 

Community Outputs and Outcomes – 20% 

Part B: Organizational Capability 25% No sub-categories 

Cost-Effectiveness – 15% 

Part B: Cost-Effectiveness and 

Budget Adequacy 

25% 

Budget Adequacy – 10% 

Section 2522.450 of the AmeriCorps regulations addresses types of programs or program models 

that may receive special consideration in the selection process. Section 2522.455 addresses how 

you can find out about additional priorities governing the selection process. Section 2522.470 

addresses other factors or information the Corporation may consider in making final decisions. 

Submitting Your Application in eGrants 

Your application consists of the following components. Please make sure to complete each one. 

I. Applicant Info 

II. Application Info 

III. Narratives 

IV. Evaluation Summary or Plan 

V. Amendment Justification (Enter N/A) 

VI. Documents 

VII. Budget 

VIII. Review and Submit 

IX. Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants (Optional) 

In eGrants, before Starting Section I, you will need to: 

• Start a new Grant Application 

• Select a Program Area (AmeriCorps) 

• Select a NOFA (AmeriCorps States without Commissions FY 2008) 

•

I. Applicant Info 

In eGrants, complete the Applicant Info Section, which can also be found in Additional 

Information, Section B. This section is particularly important for Corporation data collection 

and evaluation. Please take the time to reflect your program activities accurately in this section. 
6 

• In the Program Info Section select existing program or enter new. 

• If you are a new program, enter your contact information into the fields that appear. 

• If you are a currently funded program entering a new program for consideration, 

please contact your Program Officer as you will need to work directly with eGrants 

Help Desk staff. 

• Select a primary Program Model, and a secondary Program Model, if appropriate. 

• Then select characteristics that fit your project under Program Design, Program 

Location, and Program Focus. Enter or select a Program Director and Program 

Website url. 

II. Application Info 

Information entered in the Applicant Info, Application Info, and Budget sections will populate 

the SF 424 Facesheet. If you are submitting your application in hard copy, you will find all 

the forms that you need in the Additional Information. The SF 424 is in Section A of that 

document. 

In the Application Info Section enter: 

• Areas affected by your program. 

• Requested program start and end dates. Please do not request a program start date 

earlier than June 15. 

• If you are delinquent on any federal debt. 

• State Application Identifier: Enter N/A. 

• If you plan to request a waiver of the volunteer leveraging or match requirements. 

III. Narratives 

The narrative section of the application is your opportunity to convince reviewers that your 

project meets the selection criteria. Below are some general guidelines to help you present your 

project in a way the reviewers will find compelling and persuasive. 

• Lead from your program strengths and be explicit. Do not make the mistake of 

trying to stretch your program description to fit each strategic initiative, special 

consideration, and priority articulated in the regulations or the Notice. Focus on the 

special considerations and priorities that apply to your program. 

• Be clear and succinct. Reviewers are not interested in jargon, boilerplate, rhetoric, 

or exaggeration. They are interested in learning precisely what you intend to do, and 

how your project responds to the three selection criteria presented below. 

• Don’t make assumptions. Even if you have received funding from the Corporation 

in the past, do not assume your reviewers know anything about you, your program, 

your partners, or your beneficiaries. 

• Use an impartial proofreader. Before you submit your application, let someone 

who is completely unfamiliar with your project read and critique the project narrative. 

In the narrative, include activities for the entire three-year program period for which you are 

requesting funds. As you complete each section of the narrative, you must stay within the 

character limits specified in the table below. Please note that the Narratives Section includes a 
7 

field for Amendment Justification. This is not a required field; it is used to request 

amendments once a grant is awarded. Please enter N/A in this field. 

Narrative Item Maximum Number of Characters 

(including spaces and punctuation) 

A. Program Design (50%) 

1) Rationale and Approach (10%) 

2) Member Outputs and Outcomes (20%) 

3) Community Outputs and Outcomes (20%) 

In eGrants, enter text for A, B and C into the 

fields for Rationale and Approach, Member 

Outputs and Outcomes, Community Outputs 

and Outcomes, Organizational Capability, and 

Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy. You 

may not exceed 71,000 characters in total for 

Sections A, B and C combined. 

B. Organizational Capability (25%) 

C. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25%) 

1) Cost Effectiveness (15%) 

2) Budget Adequacy (10%) 

Total Maximum Number of Characters per Application 71,000 

Below, in ruled boxes, you will find the selection criteria from the AmeriCorps regulations, 

followed by guidance on how best to respond to the criteria. 

A. Program Design 

1. Rationale and Approach 

§ 2522. 425 What does the Corporation consider in assessing Program Design? (50%) 

In determining the quality of your proposal's program design, the Corporation considers your 

rationale and approach for the proposed program, member outputs and outcomes, and 

community outputs and outcomes. 

(a) Rationale and approach (10%). In evaluating your rationale and approach, the Corporation 

considers the following criteria: 

(1) Whether your proposal describes and adequately documents a compelling need within the 

target community, including a description of how you identified the need; 

(2) Whether your proposal includes well-designed activities that address the compelling need, 

with ambitious performance measures, and a plan or system for continuous program selfassessment and improvement; 

(3) Whether your proposal describes well-defined roles for participants that are aligned with the 

identified needs and that lead to measurable outputs and outcomes; and 

(4) The extent to which your proposed program or project: 

(i) Effectively involves the target community in planning and implementation; 

(ii) Builds on (without duplicating), or reflects collaboration with, other national and community 

service programs supported by the Corporation; and 

(iii) Is designed to be replicated. 

Compelling Community Need: 
8 

• Describe the community need that you will address within the target community. How 

did you identify the need and where is it documented? 

• If your program will operate at multiple sites, demonstrate a need in each community 

you propose to serve. 

Description of Activities and Member Roles: 

• Describe the activities you propose to address the need. 

• What will be the member’s roles in these activities, and how do the member roles relate 

to addressing the need? Discuss your program structure including number of members, 

number of staff, where members will serve (for example, at the applicant organization or 

at local service sites). How do the types of member slots you are requesting (for 

example, full-time, half-time, quarter-time, etc.) align with the program design and 

activities? See Budget Instructions on page 23 for a chart that slot types, minimum hours 

served, and minimum and maximum living allowance. 

• How will your plan for member development, training, and supervision contribute to 

achieving your desired outcomes? 

• How will you ensure that members comply with rules on prohibited service activities? 

See 45 CFR § 2520.65 for a list of prohibited service activities. 

• Tutoring programs only: 

Describe how your program complies with AmeriCorps requirements for a program in 

which AmeriCorps members serve as tutors as articulated in 45 CFR § 2522.940. 

 

Measurable Outputs and Outcomes: 

• Describe the measurable outputs and outcomes you expect to achieve as a result of your 

activities. 

• What systems will you use to track these outputs and outcomes? 

• Note: You will develop your measurable outputs and outcomes in more detail, including 

how they will be measured, your targets for each year, and the data you will gather, if you 

are approved for funding. 

Plan for Self-Assessment and Improvement: 

• How will you track and evaluate your progress toward meeting and achieving your 

outputs and outcomes? 

• What are your plans for continuous program improvement? How will you identify 

strengths and weaknesses, resolve problems, and gather feedback from and provide 

feedback to members, service sites, and partners. 

Community Involvement: 

• Describe how you involved the target community (or target communities) in identifying 

the needs and activities. Which community partners and stakeholders were involved? 

What roles did they play, and what were their responsibilities in the planning process? 

• Explain how you will continue to engage your community partners and stakeholders 

throughout the three year program period. What will be their ongoing roles and 

responsibilities? 

Relationship to other National and Community Service Programs: 
9 

How will your program build on (without duplicating), or reflect collaboration with, other 

national and community service programs supported by the Corporation? You can find a 

listing of Corporation-supported programs by state at 

http://www.americorps.org/about/role_impact/state_profiles.asp. 

Potential for Replication: 

 To what extent is your program designed to be replicated? What are your plans or 

strategies for replication?

2. Member Outputs and Outcomes 

(b) Member outputs and outcomes (20%). In evaluating how your proposal addresses member 

outputs and outcomes, the Corporation considers the extent to which your proposal or program: 

(1) Includes effective and feasible plans for, or evidence of, recruiting, managing, and rewarding 

diverse members, including those from the target community, and demonstrating member 

satisfaction; 

(2) If you are a current grantee, has succeeded in meeting reasonable member enrollment and 

retention targets in prior grant periods, as determined by the Corporation; 

(3) Includes effective and feasible plans for, or evidence of, developing, training, and supervising 

members; 

(4) Demonstrates well-designed training or service activities that promote and sustain postservice, an ethic of service and civic responsibility, including structured opportunities for 

members to reflect on and learn from their service; and 

(5) If you are a current grantee, has met well-defined, performance measures regarding 

AmeriCorps members, including any applicable national performance measures, and including 

outputs and outcomes. 

Member Recruitment and Support: 

• Describe your plans for recruiting members for your program. What criteria will you use 

to select your members, including specific qualifications, characteristics, or backgrounds? 

What are your plans to ensure that your corps is diverse and includes members from the 

communities to be served? 

• How will you assess member satisfaction? Describe your plan for providing incentives to 

members including opportunities for skill-building, professional development, education, 

activities promoting esprit de corps, and member recognition. What are your strategies to 

ensure that members complete their term of service (retention)? 

• Tutoring programs only: 

Describe how your strategy for recruiting and selecting members complies with 

AmeriCorps requirements for member tutoring qualifications. Members who tutor must 

have a high school diploma, or a higher degree, or pass a proficiency test that the 

program has determined is effective in ensuring that members tutoring have the necessary 

skills to achieve program goals. 

 

Member Development, Training and Supervision: 

• Describe in detail your plans for orienting members to AmeriCorps, the community, their 

placement site, and to the service they will perform. 
10 

• How do you plan to train members to perform all the activities they will engage in and, as 

necessary, provide them with ongoing training throughout their terms? What is the 

timeline for this training? Identify the training curricula and materials you will use. 

• Describe your plan for supervising members, and how it ensures that members will 

receive adequate support and guidance throughout their terms. 

• Tutoring programs only: 

Describe how your strategy for training members complies with AmeriCorps 

requirements for member tutor training that is high quality and research based, consistent 

with the instructional program of the local agency or with state academic content 

standards, includes appropriate member supervision by individuals with expertise in 

tutoring, and provides specialized pre-service and in-service training consistent with the 

activities the member will perform. 

Ethic of Service and Civic Responsibility: 

Demonstrate how you will provide structured opportunities for participants to reflect on 

and learn from their service in order to promote a lifelong ethic of service and civic 

responsibility 

Current Grantees Only: Enrollment 

If you enrolled less than 100% of slots received during your last full year of program 

operation, provide an explanation, and describe your plan for improvement. 

 

Current Grantees Only: Retention

We recognize retention rates may vary among equally effective programs depending on 

the program model. We expect grantees to pursue the highest retention rate possible. If 

you were not able to retain all of your members during your last full year of program 

operation, provide an explanation, and describe your plan for improvement. 

3. Community Outputs and Outcomes 

(c) Community outputs and outcomes (20%). In evaluating whether your proposal adequately 

addresses community outputs and outcomes, the Corporation considers the extent to which your 

proposal or program: 

(1) Is successful in meeting targeted, compelling community needs, or if you are a current 

grantee, the extent to which your program has met its well-defined, community-based 

performance measures, including any applicable national performance measures, and including 

outputs and outcomes, in previous grant cycles, and is continually expanding and increasing its 

reach and impact in the community; 

(2) Has an impact in the community that is sustainable beyond the presence of Federal support 

(For example, if one of your projects is to revitalize a local park, you would meet this criterion 

by showing that after you have completed your revitalization project, the community will 

continue its upkeep on its own); 

(3) Generates and supports volunteers to expand the reach of your program in the community; 

and 

(4) Enhances capacity-building of other organizations and institutions important to the 

community, such as schools, homeland security organizations, neighborhood watch 
11 

organizations, civic associations, and community organizations, including faith-based 

organizations. 

Sustainability: 

Outline your plans for ensuring that the impact of your program in the community is sustainable 

beyond the presence of federal support. For example, you might describe how your community 

relationships will lead to community investment in the program’s continued operation; how you 

will diversify your funding sources to include a wide range of stakeholders (such as state, local, 

and private sector funding); how your strategies for recruiting and supporting volunteers will 

sustain member activities after your AmeriCorps grant ends; or how the community will 

maintain your project once it is completed. 

Volunteer Recruitment and Support: 

• Describe how your program will use volunteers to expand the reach of the program in the 

community. How will you recruit, support, and recognize volunteers? Identify how 

many volunteers you expect to recruit and the number of hours of service they will 

provide, in total and on average. Will these volunteers be episodic (committing to onetime or occasional events) or ongoing (committing to a regular, ongoing role in the 

program)? If selected for funding, you will be expected to report on your actual 

volunteer recruitment levels. 

• Describe the role that members will play in your volunteer recruitment and support 

efforts. 

• If you are requesting a waiver of the requirement to recruit or support volunteers

(see 45 C.F.R § 2520.35), explain the basis for your request in the Waiver Request 

Justification field, which is accessed through the Application Information Section in 

eGrants. If you are submitting a hard copy application, explain the basis for your waiver 

request in the program narrative. 

Capacity Building: 

Describe how your program will enhance the capacity of your organization, service sites, 

and, as applicable, other organizations and institutions important to the community, such 

as schools, homeland security organizations, neighborhood watch organizations, civic 

associations, and community organizations, including faith-based organizations. What 

roles will members play in your capacity-building activities? 

B. Organizational Capability 

§ 2522.430 How does the Corporation assess my organizational capability? (25%) 

(a) In evaluating your organizational capability, the Corporation considers the following: 

(1) The extent to which your organization has a sound structure including: 

(i) The ability to provide sound programmatic and fiscal oversight; 

(ii) Well-defined roles for your board of directors, administrators, and staff; 

(iii) A well-designed plan or systems for organizational (as opposed to program) self-assessment 

and continuous improvement; and 

(iv) The ability to provide or secure effective technical assistance. 
12 

(2) Whether your organization has a sound record of accomplishment as an organization, 

including the extent to which you: 

(i) Generate and support diverse volunteers who increase your organization’s capacity; 

(ii) Demonstrate leadership within the organization and the community served; and 

(iii) If you are an existing grantee, you have secured the matching resources as reflected in your 

prior grant awards; 

(3) The extent to which you are securing community support that recurs, expands in scope, or 

increases in amount, and is more diverse, as evidenced by— 

(i) Collaborations that increase the quality and reach of service and include well-defined roles for 

faith-based and other community organizations; 

(ii) Local financial and in-kind contributions; and 

(iii) Supporters who represent a wide range of community stakeholders. 

(b) In applying the criteria in paragraph (a) of this section to each proposal, the Corporation may 

take into account the following circumstances of individual organizations: 

(1) The age of your organization and its rate of growth; and 

(2) Whether your organization serves a resource-poor community, such as a rural or remote 

community, a community with a high poverty rate, or a community with a scarcity of 

philanthropic and corporate resources. 

Sound Organizational Structure

Ability to Provide Sound Programmatic and Fiscal Oversight: 

• Provide a brief history of your organization. What year was your organization 

established? Describe your organization’s experience in the proposed areas of activity 

and your experience operating and overseeing a program comparable to the one 

proposed. Include specific examples of your prior accomplishments and outcomes. 

Describe your capacity to manage a federal grant and to provide on site monitoring of the 

financial and other systems required to administer an AmeriCorps grant. How will 

receiving an AmeriCorps grant add value to your existing service activities? 

• If you are proposing a multi-site program: 

o Explain how you are able to support and oversee service sites. 

o Describe your process for selecting service sites and ensuring they have adequate 

programmatic and financial capabilities. How will your site selection process 

incorporate the criteria required by the AmeriCorps regulations as articulated in 

45 CFR § 2522.475, which comprise quality, innovation, sustainability, quality of 

leadership, past performance, community involvement, and the special 

considerations found in 45 CFR § 450? These include program models, program 

activities, and programs supporting distressed communities. 

o What are your current or previous programmatic and funding relationships with 

the sites? 

o Describe your plans for monitoring site compliance with fiscal and programmatic 

requirements.

o How will you develop connections among the sites through common program 

elements or activities to ensure that your overall mission and vision for the 

AmeriCorps program is maintained at each site?
13 

Board of Directors, Administrators, and Staff:

• Describe your organization’s management and staff structure and how the board of 

directors (if applicable), administrators, and staff members will be used to support your 

program. 

• Identify the key program and fiscal positions responsible for your proposed program. 

Describe the background and experience of key staff members, or your plans to recruit, 

select, train, and support additional staff if necessary. 

 

Plan for Self-Assessment or Improvement: 

 How does your organization conduct ongoing internal assessment and improvement of its 

systems, structure, staffing, and other capacities to ensure that it remains sound and well 

managed?

Plan for Effective Technical Assistance: 

• How do you plan to provide or secure any needed financial and programmatic technical 

assistance for your program, and if applicable, your service sites? What are your plans for 

providing financial and programmatic orientation, and training and technical assistance to 

your program and service sites? 

• Explain how you will identify and respond to your programs’ and, if applicable, your 

service sites’ ongoing training and technical assistance needs. 

Sound Record of Accomplishment as an Organization

Volunteer Generation and Support: 

 Describe how your organization recruits and supports a diverse group of volunteers to 

increase your own organizational capacity. 

Organizational and Community Leadership: 

 Provide examples of how you have demonstrated leadership as an organization and in the 

community you serve. For example, describe awards received by the organization or 

individuals within the organization, public positions of leadership such as staff serving on 

other community boards, or participation in community events, task forces, and other 

community activities. 

Current Grantees Only: Success in Securing Match Resources

Describe your successes and challenges in securing match resources during your current 

three-year grant cycle and, if applicable, during the period of previous awards. 

 

Success in Securing Community Support 

Collaboration: 

Describe any collaborations you have developed that increase the quality and reach of 

services you provide. What roles have community organizations, including faith-based 

organizations, played in these collaborations?

 

 Local Financial and In-kind Contributions: 

 Discuss examples of how local contributions have continued over time, expanded in 

scope, increased in amount, or become more diverse. 

Wide Range of Community Stakeholders: 
14 

 Describe community stakeholders in your organization. How has non-financial support 

from your community stakeholders continued over time, expanded in scope, increased in 

amount, or become more diverse? 

 

Special Circumstances: 

In applying the organizational capability criteria to each proposal, reviewers may also 

take into account the following circumstances of individual organizations: 

• The age of your organization and its rate of growth. 

• Whether your organization serves a resource-poor community, such as a rural or 

remote community, a community with a high poverty rate, or a community with a 

scarcity of philanthropic and corporate resources. 

If you feel that any of the circumstances stated above have an impact on your 

organizational capability that has not already been discussed, please describe.

C. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 

§ 2522.435 How does the Corporation evaluate the cost-effectiveness and budget adequacy 

of my program? (25%) 

(a) In evaluating the cost-effectiveness (15%) and budget adequacy (10%) of your proposed 

program, the Corporation considers the following: 

(1) Whether your program is cost-effective based on: 

(i) Your program’s proposed Corporation cost per MSY, as defined in §2522.485; and 

(ii) Other indicators of cost-effectiveness, such as: 

(A) The extent to which your program demonstrates diverse non-Federal resources for program 

implementation and sustainability; 

(B) If you are a current grantee, the extent to which you are increasing your share of costs to 

meet or exceed program goals; or 

(C) If you are a current grantee, the extent to which you are proposing deeper impact or broader 

reach without a commensurate increase in Federal costs; and 

(2) Whether your budget is adequate to support your program design. 

(b) In applying the cost-effectiveness criteria in paragraph (a) of this section, the Corporation 

will take into account the following circumstances of individual programs: 

(1) Program age, or the extent to which your program brings on new sites; 

(2) Whether your program or project is located in a resource-poor community, such as a rural or 

remote community, a community with a high poverty rate, or a community with a scarcity of 

corporate or philanthropic resources; 

(3) Whether your program or project is located in a high-cost, economically distressed 

community, measured by applying appropriate Federal and State data; and 

(4) Whether the reasonable and necessary costs of your program or project are higher because 

they are associated with engaging or serving difficult-to-reach populations, or achieving greater 

program impact as evidenced through performance measures and program evaluation. 

(c) The indicators in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii)(B) of this section do not apply to 

Education Award Program applicants. 

 

Cost Effectiveness 

Corporation Cost per Member Service Year (MSY): 
15 

• Your Corporation cost per MSY is determined by dividing the Corporation’s share of 

budgeted grant costs by the number of member service years you are requesting in 

your grant. It does not include child care or the cost of the education award a member 

earns serving with your program. 

• One MSY is equivalent to at least 1700 service hours, a full-time AmeriCorps 

position. 

• The Corporation cost per MSY will be automatically calculated once you enter your 

budget in eGrants.

• The maximum cost per MSY allowable is published each year in the Notice.

• Cost effectiveness will be evaluated by analyzing cost per MSY in relation to your 

program design. If you request the maximum, please justify.

 

Diverse Non-Federal Support: 

• Demonstrate how your program has or will obtain diverse non-federal resources for 

program implementation and sustainability. 

• Include a discussion of the non-Corporation resource commitments (in-kind and cash) 

that you have obtained, the additional commitments you plan to secure, and how you 

will secure them. In the budget, you must list the sources of your match funds. 

Current Grantees Only: Decreased Reliance on Federal Support. Describe the extent to 

which you are increasing your share of costs to meet or exceed program goals, or the 

extent to which you are proposing deeper impact or broader reach without a 

commensurate increase in federal costs. 

Budget Adequacy

Discuss the adequacy of your budget to support your program design including how it is 

sufficient to support your program activities and is linked to your desired outputs and 

outcomes. 

For EAPs Only: If you are an EAP applicant, describe the costs you expect to incur for this 

program that will not be covered by Corporation funding. These costs might include staff 

salaries and benefits, travel, evaluation, living allowances or salaries for AmeriCorps members, 

supplies, and equipment. You will not be required to track or report on these expenditures. 

Reviewers will consider this information to assess the adequacy of your budget to support your 

program design. 

The Corporation cost per MSY and the extent to which a current EAP grantee is 

increasing its share of costs to meet or exceed programs goals will not be considered in 

assessing an EAP applicant’s cost effectiveness. However, all the other indicators described 

in this section will apply and the cost effectiveness/budget adequacy section still equals 25% 

of the selection criteria weight. 

IV. Evaluation Summary or Plan 

If you are recompeting for AmeriCorps funds for the first time since the AmeriCorps rule took 

effect (July, 2005), you must submit a summary of your evaluation efforts or plan to date, or a 

copy of any evaluation that has been completed, as part of your application for funding. Submit 

your summary or plan in the Evaluation Summary or Plan Narrative Field in eGrants. If you are 
16 

recompeting for the first time, and have completed an evaluation report, submit your report 

according to the instructions in Section VI., below. If you are competing for the first time, 

please enter N/A in this field since it pertains only to recompeting grantees. 

Your evaluation requirements are different depending on the amount of your grant, as described 

in the AmeriCorps Regulations, Section 2522.710: 

• If you are a direct Corporation AmeriCorps grantee (other than an Education Award Program 

grantee), and your average annual Corporation program grant is $500,000 or more, you must 

arrange for an independent evaluation of your program, and you must submit the evaluation 

with any application to the Corporation for competitive funds as required in §2522.730 of 

this subpart. 

• If you are a direct Corporation AmeriCorps grantee whose average annual Corporation 

program grant is less than $500,000, or an Education Award Program grantee, you must 

conduct an internal evaluation of your program, and you must submit the evaluation with any 

application to the Corporation for competitive funds as required in §2522.730 of this 

subpart.. 

V. Amendment Justification 

Enter N/A. This field will be used if you are awarded a grant and amend it. 

VI. Performance Measures 

The Corporation does not require performance measures unless and until the Corporation notifies 

you that you have been selected for consideration for a grant. You are welcome to begin to enter 

information in these fields, but it will not be required until after the grant review process. If you 

decide to wait until then to enter your performance measures, please enter N/A in each field 

described below.

A. Service Categories 

In eGrants, the service categories are located in the Performance Measures Section. In this 

section you will select issue areas and service categories that describe your program activities. 

First select an issue area, and then choose service categories from the pull down menu. When 

you have selected all applicable service categories, indicate which service category is the 

primary and which is the secondary in importance to your program. Only one service category 

can be indicated as the primary, and one as the secondary. See Additional Information for the 

list of Issue Areas and Service Categories. 

B. Performance Measures 

Before you complete Section your Performance Measures, please review 45 CFR §§ 2522.500– 

2522.650. The Performance Measure worksheet in the Additional Information is provided as a 

tool to help you think through the development of your performance measures and assemble the 

information you will need to input into eGrants. You may find the Performance Measurement 

Toolkit, on the Corporation’s web site useful in developing your performance measures 

(http://nationalserviceresources.org/resources/online_pubs/americorps/pmtoolkit.php. 

 
17 

You are required to align at least one set of performance measures in your primary service 

category. In eGrants, you will align the measures by entering three different Result Types 

and Result Statements for one Performance Measurement Title. The three Result Types are 

Output, Intermediate Outcome, and End Outcome. 

In order to align a set of performance measures in eGrants: 

• First select Add Performance Measure in eGrants. 

• Enter the Title, the Measure Category, and the Service Category from the pull down 

menus. 

• Enter Needs and Activities, and Result Type. 

• For the Output Result Type, enter a Result Statement, Indicators, Targets, Number or 

Percentage, Instruments, and Performance Measure Statement. 

• Then, Add New Result for the Intermediate Outcome, and fill out the pertinent fields. 

• Do not Add New Performance Measure in order to add an Intermediate or End 

Outcome for your aligned measure. 

• Finally, Add New Result for the End Outcome. 

• Once you have aligned one set of measures, i.e., completed three Result Types for one 

Performance Measurement Title, you may continue to Add New Performance Measures 

as appropriate for your program design. 

VII. Documents 

In addition to your application submitted in eGrants, you are required to provide your evaluation, 

and labor union concurrence (if necessary) in hard copy, as part of your application as described 

below. 

A. Evaluation 

Submit as described in C., below. 

B. Labor Union Concurrence 

If a program applicant has employees represented by a local labor organization who are engaged 

in the same or substantially similar work as that which will be carried out by AmeriCorps 

members, the applicant must submit the written concurrence of the local labor organization with 

its application. If this applies to you, please select “Enter New,” name the new document “Labor 

Union Concurrence,” and enter status. 

C. Submission Instructions for Program Evaluations and Labor Union Concurrence 

Send hard copy information to: 

Corporation for National and Community Service 

Box [Name of Grant for Which You Are Competing] 

1201 New York Avenue NW 

Washington, DC 20525 

Please use a courier service to send hard copy as U.S. Postal Service to government agencies 

often are delayed and sometimes damaged due to security measures. Attach a hard copy of the 

program’s SF424 facesheet to each document so that we know which application corresponds to 
18 

each document. If you prefer, you may submit evaluations electronically to 

acapplications@cns.gov. 

This information must be received at the Corporation by 5 p.m. ES/DST on the January 8, 2007. 

After you have submitted the documents, change their status in eGrants from the default “Not 

Sent” to the applicable status (“Sent,” “Not Applicable,” or “Already on File at CNCS”). In the 

event of difficulties submitting an application in eGrants, please see the Notice for instructions. 

VIII. Budget 

1. Overview of Key Statutory and Regulatory Budget Requirements

Before you complete the Budget Section, please review Sections §§ 2521.35–2521.90 of the 

attached Regulations, for match requirements, summarized below: 

Table 3: Match Requirements in the AmeriCorps Regulations 

Competition Match Requirement 

Programs in states, territories, or commonwealths 

without commissions 

Minimum grantee share is 33% of operating costs and 

15% of member costs. Overall grantee share of total 

program costs increases gradually beginning in Year 4 to 

50% by the tenth year of funding and any year 

thereafter.

EAPs in states, territories, or commonwealths without 

commissions 

Grantee pays all program costs over $600 per MSY 

provided by the Corporation. 

Professional Corps in states, territories, or 

commonwealths without commissions 

Minimum grantee share is 33% of operating costs only. 

Grantee pays all member costs. Overall grantee share of 

total program costs increases gradually beginning in 

Year 4 to 50% by the tenth year of funding and any year 

thereafter.

• Grant-supported equipment costs must not exceed 10% of the total Corporation share. 

• Grant-supported administrative costs must not exceed 5% of the total Corporation funds 

requested. 

• Your budget must meet certain minimum match requirements for operating and member 

support costs: 

o Sections I & III: You must match with cash or in-kind contributions at least 33% of 

the project’s total Operating (Section I) plus Administrative (Section III) costs. The 

acceptable sources of matching funds are federal, state, local, private sector, and/or 

other funds in accordance with applicable AmeriCorps requirements. 

o Section II: You must match at least 15% of all member costs (Section II) with nonfederal cash. The matching sources may be state, local, private sector, or other nonfederal funds in accordance with applicable AmeriCorps requirements. Other federal 

funds are not an acceptable source of the required 15% cash match for member costs, 

except for health care. 

• In Sections I, II and III, you should clearly and specifically identify the source and total 

dollar amount of cash match from private, state and local and federal funds, and the source 
19 

and total amounts of in-kind support. All acronyms should be defined the first time they are 

used to reference non-Corporation programs and sources. 

• In addition to the limits on the Corporation and federal shares of funding for each budget 

section, grantees are required to meet an overall matching rate that increases over time, 

starting in the fourth year of funding, and increasing to 50% overall share in Year 10. These 

matching requirements may be waived in limited circumstances. See 45 CFR §§ 2521.35–

2521.90, for the regulatory match and waiver requirements. Additional Information, Section 

H, includes resources to help you apply for these waivers. 

Note: Most federal funds are not authorized to be used as match for another federal grant. While 

the Corporation’s legislation may permit the use of non-Corporation federal funds as match for 

the grantee share of the budget for operating and administrative costs, the determining factor is 

the other federal agency. You must ensure that your use of another federal agency’s funds as 

match for this national service program grant is permitted by the other agency. 

Tribal Entities: In compliance with Executive Order 13175 (November 6, 2000), Consultation 

and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, the Corporation will handle requests for 

waiver of the match requirement or the volunteer leveraging requirement from Indian Tribes in 

an expedited manner. 

U.S. Territories: The Corporation complies with P.L. 96-205, as amended (48 U.S.C. 1469a 

(d)), which states that the Corporation shall waive any requirement for local matching funds 

under $200,000 (including in-kind contributions) to American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, 

and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This exception is limited to applicants 

that are U.S. Territory government entities. Non-profits and other organizations located in a 

territory that apply directly to the Corporation are not eligible for this Title 48 waiver, and will 

be required to meet the match requirements applicable to all regular AmeriCorps programs, 

absent some other Corporation waiver. 

For EAPs Only: Budget and Match Requirements 

Applicants to the Education Award Program may only request a fixed amount of funding per 

MSY. Therefore, you are not required to complete a detailed budget. Follow the instructions for 

EAPs in the Budget Section to complete your budget. Your budget worksheet can also be found 

there. Consult the most current Notice to determine the maximum amount of funding per MSY 

you may request. The matching requirements in 45 CFR §§ 2521.40– 2521.95, do not apply to 

EAP applicants. 

2. Preparing Your Budget 

Your proposed budget should be sufficient to allow you to perform the tasks described in your 

proposal narrative. Reviewers will consider the information you provide in this section as part of 

the Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy component of the selection criteria. 

Follow the detailed budget instructions, below, to prepare your detailed budget. We recommend 

that you prepare your budget in the same order as indicated in the Budget Worksheets, which can 

be found in Additional Information, Sections D and E. eGrants will create the budget and the 

budget narrative automatically from the detailed budget information you enter. Once you have 

entered your budget information in eGrants you will be asked to validate your budget, and 

eGrants will check your submission for errors. As you prepare your budget: 
20 

• All the amounts you request must be defined for a particular purpose. Do not include 

miscellaneous, contingency, or other undefined budget amounts. 

• Your detailed budget narrative must provide a full explanation of the proposed costs 

including their purpose and the basis of your calculation. 

• For the Staffing, Travel, and Evaluation line items, and wherever else it may increase 

clarity, present your calculations in the form of an equation, e.g., Two (2) staff traveling 

@ $350/trip for 2 trips = $1400; or, Salary $60,000 @ 20% devoted to program = 

$12,000. 

• Do not include unallowable expenses, e.g., entertainment costs (which include food and 

beverage costs) unless they are justified as an essential component of an activity. 

• Do not include fractional amounts (cents). 

Please refer to the relevant OMB Circulars on allowable costs for further guidance. The OMB 

circulars are online at www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/circulars.

• A-21 - Cost Principles for Educational Institutions 

• A-87 - Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments 

• A-122 - Cost Principles for Non Profit Organizations 

Programs must comply with all applicable federal laws, regulations, and OMB circulars for grant 

management, allowable costs, and audits, including providing audits to the A-133 clearinghouse 

if they expend over $500,000 in federal funds, as required in OMB Circular A-133. 

3. Applying for Alternative Match or Match Waiver 

Please see 45 CFR §§ 2521.35–2521.90, for match and waiver requirements. You must apply 

for the alternative match the year before it will go into effect, so you can enter your budget 

correctly if it is approved. 

If you are requesting the alternative match as described in § 2521.60(b), the Corporation will 

determine your eligibility by considering the following: 

a) Program Location: Except when approved otherwise, the Corporation will determine the 

location of your program based on the legal applicant’s address. If you believe that the legal 

applicant’s address is not the appropriate way to consider the location of your program, you 

must provide relevant facts about your program location in your waiver request. The 

Corporation will, in its sole discretion, determine whether some other address is more 

appropriate for determining a program’s location. 

b) Rural County: In determining whether a program is rural, the Corporation will consider the 

most recent Beale code rating published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the 

county in which the program is located. Any program located in a county with a Beale code 

of 6, 7, 8 or 9 is eligible to apply for the alternative match requirement. See Additional 

Information, Section H for the Table of Beale codes. 

c) Severely Economically Distressed County: In determining whether a program is located in 

a severely economically distressed county, the Corporation will consider the following list of 
21 

county-level characteristics. See Additional Information, Section H for a list of website 

addresses where this publicly available information can be found. 

• The county-level per capita income is less than or equal to 75 percent of the national 

average for all counties using the most recent census data or Bureau of Economic 

Analysis data; 

• The county-level poverty rate is equal to or greater than 125 percent of the national 

average for all counties using the most recent census data; and 

• The county-level unemployment is above the national average for all counties for the 

previous 12 months using the most recently available Bureau of Labor Statistics data. 

To Apply for a Match Waiver: 

• You must submit your request in writing in the designated section of eGrants. 

• If you are requesting the alternative match as specified in § 2521.60(b), then you must 

demonstrate that your program is either located in a rural county or in a severely 

economically distressed community as defined above. Also describe the efforts you have 

taken to raise the resources needed to meet the matching requirements. 

• If you are requesting a waiver based on the lack of available financial resources at the 

local level, you must provide the information described in § 2521.70. 

4. Detailed Budget Instructions 

These instructions do not apply to applicants for EAP grants. 

Please see page 26 for detailed budget instructions for EAPs. 

Source of Match 

In the “Source of Match” fields that appear at the beginning of Sections I, II, and III, enter a brief 

description of the Source of Match, the amount, the match classification (Cash, In-kind, or Not 

Available) and Match Source (State/Local, Federal, Private, Other or Not Available). Be sure to 

define any non-Corporation acronyms the first time they are used. 

Section I. Program Operating Costs 

Complete Section I, Program Operating Costs, of the Budget Worksheet by entering the “Total 

Amount,” “CNCS Share,” and “Grantee Share” for Parts A-J, as follows: 

A. Personnel Expenses 

Under “Position/Title Description,” list each staff position title and provide a brief 5 or 6 word 

position description, salary, and percentage of effort devoted to this award. Because the purpose 

of this grant is to enable and stimulate volunteer community service, the grantee may not include 

the value of direct community service performed by volunteers. However, the grantee may 

include the value of volunteer services contributed to the organization for organizational 

functions such as accounting, audit work, training of staff and AmeriCorps Programs. 

B. Personnel Fringe Benefits 

Under “Purpose/Description,” identify the types of fringe benefits to be covered and the costs of 

benefit(s) for each staff position. Allowable fringe benefits typically include FICA, Worker’s 

Compensation, Retirement, SUTA, Health and Life Insurance, IRA, and 401K. You may 
22 

provide a calculation or rate for total benefits as a percentage of the salaries to which they apply 

or list each benefit as a separate item. Typically, holidays, leave, and other similar vacation 

benefits are not included in the fringe benefit rates but rather are absorbed into the personnel 

expenses (salary) budget line item. Uncommon or exceptionally high-cost benefits should be 

itemized.

C. 1. Staff Travel 

Describe the purpose for which program operating staff will travel. Provide a calculation to 

include costs for airfare, transportation, lodging, per diem, and other travel related expenses 

multiplied by the number of trips/staff. Where applicable, identify the current standard 

reimbursement rate(s) of the organization for mileage, daily per diem, and similar supporting 

information. Only domestic travel is allowable; other travel is allowable only if specifically 

identified and approved as a condition of a grant award. 

We suggest that you include funds in this line item for travel for your staff and staff at your 

sites to attend Corporation-sponsored technical assistance meetings. There are 2-3 such 

opportunities per year, including opportunities for new grantee orientation, financial 

training, and the National Conference on Service and Volunteering. 

C. 2. Member Travel 

Describe the purpose for which members will travel. Provide a calculation to include costs for 

airfare, transportation, lodging, per diem, and other related expenses for members to travel 

outside their service location or between sites. Costs associated with local travel, such as bus 

passes to local sites, mileage reimbursement for use of car, etc., should be included in this budget 

category. Where applicable, identify the current standard reimbursement rate(s) of the 

organization for mileage, daily per diem, and similar supporting information. 

D. Equipment 

Equipment is defined as tangible, non-expendable personal property having a useful life of more 

than one year AND an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit (including accessories, 

attachments, and modifications). Items that do not meet this definition belong in Section E. 

Supplies below. Purchases of equipment are limited to 10% of the total Corporation funds 

requested. If applicable, show the unit cost and number of units you are requesting. Provide a 

brief justification for the purchase of the equipment under Item/Purpose. 

E. Supplies 

Include the amount of funds to purchase consumable supplies and materials, including member 

service gear and equipment that does not fit the definition above. You must individually list any 

single item costing $1,000 or more. Grantees may only charge the cost of member service gear, 

except for safety equipment, to the federal share if it includes the AmeriCorps logo. Grantees 

may also add the AmeriCorps logo to their own local program uniform items using federal funds. 

All safety gear may be charged to the federal share, regardless of whether it includes the 

AmeriCorps logo. All other service gear must be purchased with non-federal funds. 

F. Contractual and Consultant Services 
23 

Include costs for consultants related to the project’s operations, except evaluation consultants, 

who will be listed in Section H., below. Payments to individuals for consultant services under 

this grant may not exceed $540 per day (excluding costs for indirect expenses, travel, supplies, 

etc.). The $540 daily rate is a ceiling, and we anticipate budgeted daily rates at considerably 

lower levels. Indicate the daily rate for consultants you are proposing to use, their contractual 

services, and provide the names of the organizations when available. Indicate the daily rate, 

number of days, and total cost. For any pro bono work by a contractor in combination with feebased work, affirm that the vendor’s normal fee schedule and market-based work warrant the inkind value placed on the donated portion. 

G. 1. Staff Training 

Include the costs associated with training staff on project requirements and training to enhance 

the skills staff need for effective project implementation, i.e., project or financial management, 

team building, etc. If using a consultant(s) for training, indicate the estimated daily rate, not to 

exceed the daily rate limit. 

G. 2. Member Training 

Include the costs associated with member training to support them in carrying out their service 

activities, for example, orientation, project-specific skills such as age-appropriate tutoring, CPR, 

or ecosystems and the environment. You may also use this section to request funds to support 

training in Life After AmeriCorps. If using a consultant(s) for training, indicate the estimated 

daily rate, not to exceed the daily rate limit. 

H. Evaluation 

Include costs for project evaluation activities, including additional staff time or subcontracts you 

did not budget under Section I A. Personnel Expenses, use of evaluation consultants, purchase of 

instrumentation and other costs specifically for this activity. This cost does not include the 

daily/weekly gathering of data to assess progress toward meeting performance measures, but is a 

larger assessment of the impact your project is having on the community, as well as an 

assessment of the overall systems and project design. Indicate daily rates of consultants, where 

applicable. 

I. Other Operating Costs 

Allowable costs in this budget category should include when applicable: 

• Background checks of members and grant-funded staff who have recurring access to 

vulnerable populations, i.e., children, the elderly, disabled, etc. 

• Office space rental for projects operating without an approved indirect cost rate 

agreement that covers office space. For national office space, rental may be 

unallowable; check relevant OMB Circulars. If space is budgeted and it is shared with 

other projects or activities, the costs must be equitably pro-rated and allocated between 

the activities or projects. 

• Utilities, telephone, Internet and similar expenses that are specifically used for 

AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps project staff, and are not part of the organizations 

indirect cost/admin cost allocation pool. 

• Recognition costs for members. List each item and provide a justification in the budget 

narrative. Gifts and/or food in an entertainment/event setting are not allowable costs. 
24 

Subtotal Section I. The grantee share of Sections I plus III must be at least 33% of these 

operational costs. 

Section II. Member Costs

Member Costs are identified as “Living Allowance” and “Member Support Costs.” You must 

match at least 15% of this category, and this match must be cash. If you match over 15%, 

you may use in-kind contributions. Your 15% minimum required match can be state, local, or 

private sector funds, except for health care, which may be covered 100% by non-Corporation 

federal funds. In addition, any match above the 15% minimum may be non-Corporation federal 

funds, subject to the other federal agency’s approval. 

 

Within each category of member costs, identify the total amount(s) of cash and in-kind match 

that are from private sector, state, local, and federal funds (when allowable). Enter this 

information in the ‘Source of Match’ field. Include the source of each type of funds. 

A. Living Allowance

The narrative should clearly identify the number of members you are supporting by category 

(i.e., full-time, half-time, reduced-half-time, quarter-time, minimum-time, 1st and 2nd Years of 2-

year half time) and the amount of living allowance they will receive, allocating appropriate 

portions between the Corporation’s share (CNCS Share) and grantee match (Grantee Share). 

 

Members – Enter the total number of members you are requesting in each category. Enter the 

amount of the living allowance for each type of member. Enter the number of members for 

which you are not requesting funds for a living allowance, but for which you request education 

awards. 

Table 4: Minimum, Maximum and Maximum Federal Share of Living Allowance 

Term of Service 

Minimum 

Number of 

Hours 

Minimum 

Living 

Allowance 

Maximum 

Living 

Allowance 

MSY 

Maximum CNCS/Federal 

Share of Living 

Allowance 

Full-time 1700 $11,400 $22,800 1.000 $9,690 

One Year Half-Time 900 N/A $12,070 0.500 $5,130 

Two Year Half-Time 900 N/A $12,070 

*0.250

$5,130 

Reduced Half-Time 675 N/A $9,050 0.375 $3,848 

Quarter-Time 450 N/A $6,035 0.250 $2,565 

Minimum-Time 300 N/A $4,025 0.200 $1,710 

Notes: 

1. There is no requirement to pay a living allowance to less than full-time members. 

2. The amount of the maximum for less than full-time living allowance is rounded to the nearest dollar. 

3. The calculation for the maximum federal share for less than full-time members who do receive a living allowance 

is pro-rated based on 85% of the proportion of the minimum full-time required hours, e.g. One-year Halftime=900/1700 X $11,400, or $6,035. Maximum federal share is $6,035 X .85 = $5,130. 

* For a two year half-time position, the living allowance can be split between two years, e.g. 0.250 in Year 1 and 

 0.250 in Year 2. 

B. Member Support Costs 
25 

Consistent with the laws of your state, you must provide members with the benefits described 

below. 

• FICA. Unless exempted by the IRS with accompanying documentation (note in the narrative 

and provide documentation with application), all projects must pay FICA for any member 

receiving a living allowance, even when the Corporation does not supply the living 

allowance. In the first column next to FICA, indicate the number of members who will 

receive FICA. Calculate the FICA at 7.65% of the total amount of the living allowance. 

• Worker’s Compensation. Some states require worker’s compensation for AmeriCorps 

members. You must check with your State Department of Labor or state commission to 

determine if you are required to pay worker’s compensation and at what level. If you are not 

required to pay worker’s compensation, you must obtain Occupational, Accidental, Death 

and Dismemberment coverage for members to cover in-service injury or incidents. 

• Health Care. You must offer health care benefits to full-time members in accordance with 

AmeriCorps requirements. Except as stated below, you may not pay health care benefits to 

half-time members with Corporation funds. You may choose to provide health care benefits 

to half-time members from other sources (i.e., non-federal). Half-time members who are 

serving in a full-time capacity for a sustained period of time (such as a full-time summer 

project) are eligible for health care benefits. In your budget narrative, indicate the number of 

members who will receive health care benefits. The Corporation will not pay for dependent 

coverage. 

• Unemployment Insurance and Other Member Support Costs. Include any other required 

member support costs here. Some states require unemployment coverage for their 

AmeriCorps members. You may not charge the cost of unemployment insurance taxes to the 

Grant unless mandated by state law. Programs are responsible for determining the 

requirements of state law by consulting their state commission, legal counsel, or the 

applicable state agency. 

 

Subtotal Section II. The grantee share of Section II must be at least 15%. 

Section III. Administrative/Indirect Costs 

A. Definitions 

Administrative costs are general or centralized expenses of the overall administration of an 

organization that receives Corporation funds and do not include particular project costs. For 

organizations that have an established indirect cost rate for federal awards, administrative costs 

mean those costs that are included in the organization’s indirect cost rate agreement. Such costs 

are generally identified with the organization’s overall operation and are further described in 

Office of Management and Budget Circulars A-21, A-87, and A-122. 

B. Options for Calculating Administrative/Indirect Costs (choose either 1 OR 2) 

Applicants can choose to use one of two methods to calculate allowable administrative costs – a 

Corporation fixed percentage method or a federally approved indirect cost rate method. 

Regardless of the option chosen, the Corporation’s share of administrative costs is limited by 

statute to 5% of the total Corporation funds actually expended under this grant. 
26 

1. Corporation Fixed Percentage Method 

The Corporation fixed rate allows you to charge administrative costs up to a cap without 

a federally approved indirect cost rate and without documentation supporting the 

allocation. If you choose the Corporation Fixed Percentage Method (Section IIIA in 

eGrants), you may charge, for administrative costs, a fixed 5% of the total of the 

Corporation funds expended. In order to charge this fixed 5%, the grantee match for 

administrative costs may not exceed 10% of all direct cost expenditures. 

a. Multiply the sum of the Corporation funding shares of Sections I and II by 0.0526. 

This is the maximum amount you can request as Corporation share. Enter this amount 

as the Corporation share for Section III A. 

b. Then multiply the total (both Corporation and grantee share) for of Sections I and II 

by 10% (0.10) and enter this amount as the grantee share for Section III A. 

c. Enter the sum of the Corporation and grantee shares under Total Amount. 

2. Federally Approved Indirect Cost Rate Method 

If you have a Federally Approved Indirect Cost (IDC) rate and choose to use it, the IDC 

rate will constitute documentation of your administrative costs including the 5% 

maximum payable by the Corporation. Specify the Cost Type for which your 

organization has current documentation on file, i.e., Provisional, Predetermined, Fixed, or 

Final indirect cost rate. Supply your approved IDC rate (percentage) and the base upon 

which this rate is calculated (direct salaries, salaries and fringe benefits, etc.). It is at 

your discretion whether or not to claim your entire IDC rate to calculate administrative 

costs. If you choose to claim a lower rate, please include this rate under the Rate Claimed 

field. 

a. Determine the base amount of direct costs to which you will apply the IDC rate, 

including both the Corporation and Grantee’s shares, as prescribed by your established 

rate agreement (i.e., based on salaries and benefits, total direct costs, or other). Then 

multiply the appropriate direct costs by the rate being claimed. This will determine the 

total amount of indirect costs allowable under the grant. 

b. Multiply the sum of the Corporation funding share in Sections I and II by 0.0526. 

This is the maximum amount you can claim as the Corporation share of indirect costs. 

c. Subtract the amount calculated in step b (the Corporation administrative share) from 

the amount calculated in step a (the Indirect Cost total). This is the amount the applicant 

can claim as grantee share for administrative costs. 

Subtotal Section III. 

The grantee share of Sections I plus III must be at least 33%. 
27 

Increasing Grantee Overall Share of Total Budgeted Costs 

In addition to the limits on the Corporation and federal shares of funding for each budget section, 

grantees are required to meet an overall matching rate that increases over time. You have the 

flexibility to meet the overall match requirements in any of the three budget areas, as long as the 

minimum matches—15% (for Section II) and 33% (for Sections I and III)—are maintained. 

These matching requirements may be waived in limited circumstances. See 45 CFR §§ 2521.35–

2521.95, for the specific regulatory match and waiver requirements. 

4. Detailed Budget Instructions for Education Award Programs 

These instructions apply only to applicants for Education Award Program funding. 

 

Budget Section II. AmeriCorps Member Positions 

Member Positions 

Identify the number of Education Award members you are requesting by category (i.e. full-time, 

half-time, reduced half-time, quarter-time, minimum-time) and list under the column labeled 

#w/o Allow (without CNCS funded living allowance.) Leave all other columns blank. 

The total number of member service years (MSY) will automatically calculate at the bottom of 

the Member Positions chart. 

Amounts of fixed awards are based on the member service years which are calculated as follows: 

Member Positions

_____Full-time (1700 hours) (______ members x 1.000) = 

_____1-Year Half-time (900 hours) (______ members x 0.500) = 

_____ 2-Year Half-time (1st Year) 

(generally 450 hours) (______ members x 0.500) = 

_____ 2-Year Half-time (2nd Year) 

(generally 450 hours) (______ members x 0.000)* = 

_____Reduced half-time (675 hours) (______ members x 0.375) = 

_____Quarter-time (450 hours) (______ members x 0.250) = 

_____Minimum-time (300 hours) (______ members x 0.200) = 

Total MSY 

* Grantees receive the total amount for 2-Year Half-time members in the first year. Therefore, 2-Year Half-time 

members serving in their second year are not included in the calculation for funds. 

Fixed Award

Under “Calculation,” you will enter the calculation for your grant request. Applicants may 

request up to $600 per member service year (MSY). 

Display your calculation in the following format: 

Total # of MSYs ________ x MSY amount (up to $600)_______ = Total Grant Request $____
28 

Type the total amount requested in the “Total Amount” & “CNCS Share” columns. Leave the 

“Grantee Share” blank. See example below: 

Purpose Calculation Total 

Amount 

CNCS 

Share 

Grantee 

Share 

edit del 

Program Grant 

Request

47.5 MSY 

X $600/MSY 

$19,000 $19,000 $0 

view 

Subtotal $19,000 $19,000 $0 

IX. Review, Authorize, and Submit 

eGrants requires that you review and verify your entire application before submitting, by 

completing the following sections in eGrants: 

• Review 

• Authorize 

• Assurances 

• Certifications 

• Verify 

• Submit 

 Read the Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications carefully. Complete each section of the 

Assurances and Certifications. If you are submitting a hard copy application, the Assurances and 

Certifications can be found in the Additional Information, Section C.

The person who authorizes the application must be the applicant’s authorized representative. A 

copy of the governing body’s authorization for this official representative to sign must be on file 

in the applicant’s office. Be sure to check your entire application to make sure that there are no 

errors before submitting it. eGrants will also generate a list of errors if there are sections that 

need to be corrected prior to submission when you verify. 

X. Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants (Optional) 

The Corporation and other federal agencies are collaborating with the White House Office of 

Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to conduct a survey of organizations that apply for 

federal funding. The purpose of this voluntary information collection is to compile statistics on 

the types of organizations that apply to the Corporation for funds, such as number of employees, 

budget size, and self-identification as a faith-based/religious organization or a non-religious 

community-based organization. 

This form is for applicants that are nonprofit private organizations, not including private 

universities. All information from the attached survey will be confidential and the responses 

will be aggregated in-house for a summary report. Information provided on your form will not 

be released and will not be considered in any way in making funding decisions. If you are 

submitting a hard copy application, the form can be found in the Additional Information, Section 

G. 
29 

There are two ways to complete the survey: (1) while preparing your application; and (2) after 

submitting your application. 

1) To complete the survey while preparing your application, go to the Main Menu, select Enter 

Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity, provide requested information and submit. 

2) If you submit your grant application without completing the survey, a pop-up box will appear 

and ask you if you would like to complete the survey. You may select Yes, No, or Remind 

Me Later. If you select Remind Me Later, you will be asked to fill in the survey next time 

you attempt to submit an application to the Corporation for National and Community 

Service. 

Application Instructions: 

CONTINUATION REQUESTS 

The following instructions for submitting a continuation request apply only to programs that are 

currently in their first or second year of operation within a three-year grant cycle. If your 

program is currently in the final year of its grant cycle, you must apply using the application 

instructions for new and recompeting programs. 

Continuation Expansions

Based on our anticipated appropriation, and the expected volume of new and recompeting 

applications in 2008, the Corporation expects to approve very few requests for expansion 

within continuation requests in fiscal year 2008. Preference will be given to expansions that 

include low cost MSYs and expansions of programs demonstrating outcomes that have 

exceeded their goals. 

 

For State grantees, the Corporation will consider cost per MSY for continuation expansions at 

the program level, rather than aggregated by state. Each state must still adhere to its maximum 

average cost per MSY of $12,600. 

 

For National Direct grantees the cost per MSY must remain at or below $12,600. For 

Professional Corps grantees, the cost per MSY must remain at or below $2,500 for 

continuations. The cost per MSY for EAP grantees must remain at or below $600. 

In addition, based on the number of new applications, we may support expansion requests that 

address the Corporation’s strategic initiatives: 

· Mobilizing more volunteers. 

· Ensuring a brighter future for all of America’s youth. 

· Engaging students in communities. 

· Harnessing baby boomers’ experience. 

 

Continuation Budget Increase: In 2008, your continuation request may not include an increase 

for cost of living as it has in the past. 

When to Submit Your Continuation Request; 

The date for the submission of continuation requests is the same as the deadline for new and 

recompete applications. Submit your continuation request directly to the Corporation. 
30 

How to Submit Your Continuation Request: 

• Submit your continuation request in eGrants. 

• To create your continuation request in eGrants, click Continuation on your eGrants 

home page. You will be shown a list of grants that are eligible to be continued. Select 

the grant you wish to continue. Make sure you select the correct one. The system will 

copy your most recently awarded application as a base to create your continuation 

application. 

• Edit your continuation application as directed in the continuation request instructions 

below. When you have completed your edits, click the SUBMIT button. 

Be sure you also review the Notice when preparing your request. If you have questions about the 

content of your continuation request, please contact your program officer. If you experience 

problems using eGrants, contact the eGrants Help Desk at (888) 677-7849 or (202) 606-

7506, or email at egrantshelp@cns.gov. 

What to Include in Your Continuation Request: 

I. Applicant Info and Application Info 

Update the Applicant Information and Application Information Sections in eGrants if necessary. 

II. Narratives 

Describe any changes you are proposing to your program in the Rationale and Approach, 

Community Outputs and Outcomes, Organizational Capability, and Cost-Effectiveness and 

Budget Adequacy, as appropriate. 

Enrollment 

If you enrolled less than 100% of slots received during your last full year of program operation, 

provide an explanation, and describe your plan for improvement in the Member Outputs and 

Outcomes field. 

 

Retention

We recognize retention rates may vary among equally effective programs depending on the 

program model. We expect grantees to pursue the highest retention rate possible. If you were 

not able to retain all of your members during your last full year of program operation, provide an 

explanation, and describe your plan for improvement in the Member Outputs and Outcomes 

field. 

 If you are not proposing changes to your program, enter N/A in each appropriate field. The 

maximum length of your narrative is 8,000 characters. 

III. Performance Measures (Performance Measures Section) 

Your performance measures are copied from the information you entered after you received your 

grant into your continuation request. If you need to revise your performance measures, 

View/Edit the performance measures that copy over from your original application, or add new 

performance measures. 
31 

IV. Budget (Budget Section) 

Provide a detailed budget for the upcoming year. Incorporate any required Corporation 

increases, such as an increase to the member living allowance into your budget. Your budget 

from the previous year’s application is copied into your continuation request so you can make 

the necessary adjustments. Consult the Notice, or other documentation provided by the 

Corporation for any limitations on budget increases and for specific guidance on whether you 

may request additional funding for expansion.