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2021 Volunteer Generation Fund Continuation Guidance

Application Deadline: Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Important Notices

This application guidance conforms to AmeriCorps’ online grant application system, eGrants. 

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act

Grant recipients will be required to report at www.FSRS.gov on all subawards over $25,000 and may be 

required to report on executive compensation for recipients and 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.

Universal Identifier

Applications must include a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and 

register with the System for Award Management (SAM). All grant recipients are required to maintain an 

active registration. 

APPLICATION GUIDANCE

Commissions with VGF grants in continuation will use the eGrants instructions below to create and 

submit an application. 

Expansions

Continuation VGF applicants may request additional funding. AmeriCorps reserves the right to award 

applications in an amount other than at the requested level of funding. 

Continuation Application Review Process 

AmeriCorps staff will review all applications for Volunteer Generation Fund continuation applications 

according to the following criteria: 

1) Timely submission of a complete Continuation application; 

2) Compliance with grant requirements during current VGF grant; 

3) Satisfactory performance and progress to date; 

4) Continuation Changes – Identify proposed changes to the program structure/design and 

describe challenges from previous years and the plan to address these challenges. Note any 

other relevant changes;

5) Budget – The previous year’s budget will automatically populate into the Continuation 

application; please edit as needed. 

The deadline for continuation applications is Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 

Applicants will be notified of funding no later than late July 2021. 

How to Submit the Continuation Application 

To create the continuation application in eGrants, click Continuation/Renewal on the eGrants home 

page. A list of continuable grants will appear. Select the VGF grant to be continued. Do not start a new 

application. Edit the continuation application as directed in the continuation request instructions below. 

When complete, click the SUBMIT button. 
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The submission of a continuation application does not obligate AmeriCorps to provide continuation 

funding. Continuation funding is contingent upon the selection criteria listed above. AmeriCorps

reserves the right to adjust the amount of an additional grant award in subsequent years, or elect not to 

continue funding, based on these criteria. 

If you experience problems using eGrants, contact the eGrants Help Desk at (800) 942-2677 or online at 

https://questions.nationalservice.gov/app/ask_eg. 

REMINDER: The Authorized Representative must ‘sign’ the Certifications and Assurances prior to 

submission. The Authorized Representative is the official within an applicant organization with the legal 

authority to give assurances, make commitments, enter into contracts, and execute such documents on 

behalf of the applicant as may be required by a grantmaker. The signature of the Authorized 

Representative certifies that commitments made on grant proposals will be honored and ensures that 

the applicant agrees to conform to the grantmaker's regulations, guidelines, and policies. 

What to Include in the Continuation Application 

I. Applicant Info and Application Info 

Update the Applicant Info and Application Info Sections in eGrants, if necessary. If applicable, note these 

changes in the Continuation Changes field. 

II. Narrative (Narratives Section) 

Executive Summary: Please update the one-paragraph summary of the proposed program as needed

(500 character limit). 

Continuation Narrative Updates: The previous year’s application will appear in the narrative sections. 

Do not enter continuation changes in the original narrative fields. Please document this year’s

Continuation Changes in the Continuation Narrative field in eGrants. Do not delete previous years’

content from this field. Create a heading called Year [Year your grant is in] Continuation Changes” and 

follow the instructions below: 

a. Please describe any proposed changes to the scope or design of the previously approved 

program. Continuation changes may include but are not limited to: any planned changes 

to the structure/design of the program; a revised schedule/timeline for the program; 

changes in partner sites; explanation of any changes in the budget; adjustments to the 

evaluation; and staffing or approved activities. As applicable, these changes may also 

need to be reflected in the budget and the performance measures. 

b. If no changes are being proposed, enter “No Changes” in the Continuation Narrative 

field. 

c. Please describe any challenges from previous years and how these challenges are being 

addressed. 

d. Describe any major accomplishments from the most recent year of operation. 

Accomplishments might include details about progress toward intended impact and 

outcomes, significant partnerships, etc. 

e. If you are carrying over funds, please note the dollar amount of carry over you are 

including in the budget.

f. If you are requesting an expansion, please note the dollar amount of expansion you are 

including in the budget. 
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III. Performance Measures (Performance Measures Section) 

Performance measures are populated from the previous year’s application. All continuation applicants 

must revise their performance measures if needed to align with the current year VGF Performance 

Measure Instructions. VGF continuation applicants are required to use the National Performance 

Measures identified below:

• G3-3.4 (output): Number of organizations that received capacity building services

AND

• G3-3.10A (outcome): Number of organizations that increased their effectiveness, efficiency, 

and/or program scale/reach*

*In the Described Instrument section of measure G3-3.10A, applicants must specifically describe how 

they will measure organizational effectiveness, efficiency, or program scale/reach with respect to 

volunteer recruitment or management.

Applicants may optionally continue to use additional performance measure(s), either AmeriCorps

performance measures or applicant determined performance measures, to describe the type and 

amount of activities carried out by volunteers managed and/or generated through VGF. All performance 

measures must align with the 2021 VGF Performance Measure Instructions posted on the AmeriCorps

website. Note: the number of volunteers recruited/coordinated/supported by your grant, and the 

number of hours served by these volunteers, will be reported via standard Performance Data Elements 

and should not be included as performance measures.

IV. Budget (Budget Section) 

Provide a detailed budget for the upcoming year. The budget from the previous year’s application is 

copied into the continuation request. Please make necessary changes in accordance with the Budget 

Instructions. 

Unexpended Funds 

To maximize funds available, we will allow grantees to carry over the amount of unexpended funds from 

the previous year’s grant. Grantees need to include allowable carryover funds in the budgets submitted 

to be able to expend those funds.

Match Requirements 

Grantees are required to meet an overall matching rate that increases over time. The federal share of 

the allowable costs of carrying out a Volunteer Generation Fund program (whether the program is 

carried out directly or through sub-grants) may not exceed: 80 percent for the first year; 70 percent for 

the second year; 60 percent for the third year; and 50 percent for the fourth and any later year in which 

a recipient receives assistance from the VGF. The match can be cash or in-kind sources. Grant applicants 

must describe the expected source of their cash or in-kind share in their application.

Match Rates

Year 1 20%

Year 2 30%
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Year 3 40%

Year 4 and beyond 50%

However, in December 2020, AmeriCorps issued a match waiver on FY 2021 Volunteer Generation Fund 

awards. Grantees who wish to take advantage of this waiver do not need to submit additional requests 

to have the match waived. While match does not have to be included in the proposed budgets, it is 

encouraged, when applicable, to represent full support of the program.