1

Table of Contents

IMPORTANT DATES ................................................................................................................. 3

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION.................................................................................................. 3

A.1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Funding ............................................................................................ 3

A.2. Funding Priorities.................................................................................................................... 5

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

A.4. Program Authority .................................................................................................................. 5

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION ................................................................................. 6

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

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

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

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

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION ........................................................................................... 8

C.1. Eligible Applicants.................................................................................................................. 8

Threshold Issues...................................................................................................................................................8

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching ....................................................................................................... 9

Fixed Amount Grants...........................................................................................................................................9

Cost Reimbursement Grants ................................................................................................................................9

Match Waiver.......................................................................................................................................................9

Alternative Match.................................................................................................................................................9

C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements............................................................................................. 10

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)................................. 12

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............................................................................................................. 13

D.6.a. Award Funding Requirements.................................................................................................................13

D.6.b. Indirect Costs..........................................................................................................................................15

D.6.c. Pre-Award Costs .....................................................................................................................................16

D.7. Other Submission Requirements........................................................................................... 16

D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants........................................................................................16

D.7.b. Submission of Additional Documents......................................................................................................16

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION ..................................................................... 18

E.1. Review Criteria...................................................................................................................... 18
2

E.1.a. Executive Summary (Required - 0 percent) .............................................................................................18

E.1.b. Program Design (50 percent)..................................................................................................................19

E.1.c. Organizational Capability (25 percent)...................................................................................................23

E.1.d. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25 percent)............................................................................24

E.1.e. Evaluation Plan (Required for recompeting grantees - 0 percent)..........................................................24

E.1.f. Amendment Justification (0 percent)........................................................................................................25

E.1.g. Clarification Information (0 percent)......................................................................................................25

E.1h. Continuation Changes (0 percent)............................................................................................................25

E.2. Criteria for Planning Grants ................................................................................................. 25

E.2.a. Executive Summary (Required - 0 percent) .............................................................................................25

E.2.b. Program Design (50 percent)..................................................................................................................26

E. 2.c. Organizational Capability (25 percent)..................................................................................................26

E.2.d. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25 percent)............................................................................27

E.2.e. Evaluation Plan (0 percent).....................................................................................................................27

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 ...........................................................29

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

E.4. Feedback to Applicants......................................................................................................... 30

E.5. Transparency in Grant-making.............................................................................................. 30

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION .......................................... 31

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

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

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

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

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

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

F.2.e. Official Guidance....................................................................................................................................32

F.3. Use of Material ...................................................................................................................... 33

F.4. Reporting ............................................................................................................................... 33

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

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS............................................................. 34

H. OTHER INFORMATION .................................................................................................... 34

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

H.2. Re-Focusing of Funding........................................................................................................ 34

I. IMPORTANT NOTICES ....................................................................................................... 34
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NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Federal Agency Name: AmeriCorps

Funding Opportunity Title: Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 AmeriCorps State and National 

Tribal Grants

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement 

Assistance Listing Number: 94.006

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

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

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

of annual appropriations.

Important Dates

• Applications are due Wednesday, May 4, 2022 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 

• Successful applicants will be notified by early July 2022.

FULL TEXT OF THE NOTICE

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1. Purpose of AmeriCorps Funding

AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country’s most pressing challenges 

through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors 

volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps 

helps make service a cornerstone of our national culture. AmeriCorps grants are awarded to 

eligible organizations (See Section C.1 Eligible Applicants) proposing to engage AmeriCorps 

members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions/practices to strengthen 

communities. An AmeriCorps member is an individual who engages in community service 

through an approved national service position. Members may receive a living allowance and 

other benefits while serving. Upon successful completion of their service, members earn a Segal 

AmeriCorps Education Award that they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to 

qualified student loans1

.

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 

maximize the impact of investment in national service, AmeriCorps has the following focus 

areas:

1 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/segalamericorps-education-award
4

Disaster Services

Grants will support increased and improved disaster services for individuals and communities to 

prepare and adapt to disasters, including but not limited to climate change events. Activities 

will provide support to increase preparedness for disasters, improve readiness to respond to 

disasters, support recovery efforts from disasters, and/or assist in the implementation of predisaster mitigation and adaptation measures. Grants will support communities and individuals in 

planning for disasters, in particular engaging disadvantaged communities in the planning 

process.

Economic Opportunity

Grants will provide support and/or facilitate access to services and resources that contribute to 

the improved economic well-being and security of economically disadvantaged people; help 

economically disadvantaged people, to have improved access to services that enhance financial 

literacy; transition into or remain in safe, healthy, affordable housing; and/or have improved 

employability leading to increased success in becoming employed. 

Education   

Grants will provide support and/or facilitate access to services and resources that contribute to 

improved educational outcomes for economically disadvantaged children; improved school 

readiness for economically disadvantaged young children; improved educational and behavioral 

outcomes of students in low-achieving elementary, middle, and high schools; and/or support 

economically disadvantaged students’ preparation for success in post-secondary educational 

institutions. 

Environmental Stewardship

Grants will support responsible stewardship of the environment, while preparing communities 

for challenging climate and environmental circumstances and helping Americans respond to and 

recover from disruptive events: programs that conserve natural habitats; protect clean air and 

water; maintain public lands; support wildland fire mitigation and sustainable forest 

management; cultivate individual and community resilience; and provide reforestation services 

after floods or fires, such as nature based solutions. 

Healthy Futures

Grants will provide support for activities that will address the opioid crisis; increase seniors’ 

ability to remain in their own homes with the same or improved quality of life for as long as 

possible; and/or increase physical activity and improve nutrition with the purpose of reducing 

obesity.

Veterans and Military Families

Grants will improve the quality of life of veterans and improve military family well-being; 

increase the number of veterans, wounded warriors, military service members, and their 

caregivers, families, and survivors served by AmeriCorps programs; and/or increase the number 

of veterans and military family members engaged in service through AmeriCorps programs.
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A.2. Funding Priorities 

AmeriCorps’ priorities for this grant competition are:

• Efforts to help local communities respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Applicants may propose programming to aid communities in their efforts to recover from 

the COVID-19 pandemic, including outcomes of COVID-19 on student subgroups 

described in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

• Educational opportunity and economic mobility for communities experiencing persistent 

unemployment or underemployment, and students experiencing homelessness or those in 

foster care.

• Programs that prioritize civic engagement/social cohesion.

• AmeriCorps is committed to working on a Nation-to-Nation basis with Tribal Nations 

and upholding the federal government’s Tribal trust responsibility. 

• Economic Opportunity - including digital skills and increased access to broadband.

• Education – improving student academic performance in Science, Technology, 

Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), traditional knowledge and indigenous language, 

and/or serving students who attend Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools.

• Veterans and Military Families, Caregivers, and Survivors – a program model that 

improves the well-being of military families, caregivers, and survivors.

• Environmental stewardship and climate change including renewable energy and energy 

efficiency, building community resilience, sustainable food systems and agriculture, 

water/wastewater, and conservation and habitat preservation.

To receive priority consideration, applicants must show that the priority area is a significant part 

of the program focus and intended outcomes. Proposing programs that receive priority 

consideration does not guarantee funding. 

A.3. Performance Goals or Expected Outcomes

Performance Measures 

All applications must include at least one aligned performance measure (output and outcome) 

that corresponds to the proposed primary intervention. This may be a National Performance 

Measure or an applicant-determined measure. See the Performance Measure Instructions2 for 

details about performance measure requirements and selection rules.

A.4. Program Authority

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

amended, (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.)

2 Performance Measure Instructions: 

https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/2018_01_01_Performance_Measure_Instructi

ons_ASN_Program_Grants_ASN.pdf
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B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B.1. Estimated Available Funds

AmeriCorps expects a highly competitive AmeriCorps grant competition. AmeriCorps reserves 

the right to prioritize providing funding to existing awards over making new awards. The actual 

level of funding is subject to the availability of annual appropriations.

B.2. Estimated Award Amount

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

B.3. Period of Performance

AmeriCorps anticipates making three-year grants. The agency 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. 

Planning grants are limited to a year by regulation. 

The project start date may not occur prior to the date AmeriCorps awards the grant. AmeriCorps 

applicants may not enroll prior to the start date of the award. AmeriCorps applicants may not

begin service prior to the beginning of the member enrollment period as designated in the grant 

award. A program may not certify any hours an applicant performs prior to the applicant 

becoming a member in the system of record and the beginning of the member enrollment period.

B.4. Type of Award 

AmeriCorps Operating Grants: AmeriCorps may award a Cost Reimbursement or a Fixed 

Amount grant to any successful applicant, but the availability of a Full-Cost Fixed-Amount grant 

is limited to certain applicants. Professional Corps are not eligible to apply for Cost 

Reimbursement grants. See the C.1.Eligible Applicants section and the Mandatory Supplemental 

Information for more information. AmeriCorps will not provide both types of grants for the same 

project in one fiscal year.
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Grant Types Cost Reimbursement Fixed Amount

Available 

Subtypes Traditional Planning 

Grants Full-Cost

Education 

Award 

Program 

(EAP)

Professional Corps 

See Sec. D.6.a.2 for 

further requirements 

No Cost 

Slots

Maximum Cost 

per MSY $21,600 N/A $21,600 $800 or 

$1,000* $1,000 $0

Type of Slots in 

the National 

Service Trust

FT, TQT, HT, 

RHT, QT, 

MT, AT

N/A

FT, TQT, 

HT, RHT, 

QT, MT, 

AT

FT, TQT, 

HT, RHT, 

QT, MT, AT

FT Only

FT, TQT, 

HT, RHT, 

QT, MT, AT

Budget 

Submission 

Required

Yes Yes No Yes, if requesting 

operating funds No

Availability of 

Funds linked to 

enrollment and 

retention of 

awarded MSYs

No N/A Yes No

Grant Types Cost Reimbursement Fixed Amount

Special 

Requirements N/A N/A N/A

Must place qualified 

professionals in 

communities with an 

inadequate number of 

such professionals. 

Member salaries and 

benefits must be paid 

entirely by 

organization where 

member serves and not 

included in budget.

N/A

Financial 

Reporting 

Requirements

Yes Yes No

Available to new 

Applicants Yes Yes No Yes

*$18,000 adjusted for inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for all Urban 

Consumers.
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**Per 42 U.S.C. § 12581a, the Corporation may provide the operational support under this 

section for a program in an amount that is not more than $800 per individual enrolled in an 

approved national service position, or not more than $1,000 per such individual if at least 50 

percent of the persons enrolled in the program are disadvantaged youth.

FT = Full time, TQT = Three Quarter Time, HT= Half Time, RHT = Reduced Half Time, QT = 

Quarter Time, MT = Minimum Time, AT = Abbreviated Time

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1. Eligible Applicants

The following non-Federal entities (all of which are defined in 2 CFR 200.1) are eligible to 

apply: 

• Indian Tribes 

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

sanctioned, 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, the organization must provide copies of, or links to, documentation which 

demonstrates that the organization is controlled or chartered by a Federally recognized Indian 

Tribe. If an entity applies as an organization sanctioned by a Federally recognized tribe, or 

multiple specific Federally recognized tribes, it must submit a sanctioning resolution, adopted by 

the Tribal Council (or comparable tribal governing body) of each Indian Tribe. The resolution(s) 

must identify the entity applying for an AmeriCorps award by name as a tribal organization that 

is sanctioned 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 DUNS and/or Unique Entity Identifier to 

receive an award. See Section D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management 

(SAM) for more information.

New Applicants

AmeriCorps encourages organizations that have not received prior funding from AmeriCorps to 

apply.

New applicants are eligible to apply for Cost Reimbursement and Education Award Program 

(EAP) grant but are not eligible to apply for Full Cost Fixed Amount grants.

Threshold Issues

Applications should reflect that they meet the following threshold requirements for the grant type 

for which they are applying. 

• Professional Corps applicants and/or applicants determined to be a Professional Corps by 

the agency, AmeriCorps, must demonstrate that the community in which it will place 

AmeriCorps members serving as professionals has an inadequate number of said 

professionals. 
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• If the proposed service activities require specialized member qualifications and/or 

training (for example, tutoring programs: 45 CFR 2522.910-.940), the applicant must 

describe how the program will meet these requirements. 

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Fixed Amount Grants 

There is no match requirement for Fixed Amount grants. AmeriCorps does not provide all the 

funds necessary to operate the program, therefore organizations should raise the additional 

revenue required to operate the program. 

New applicants are eligible to apply for Cost Reimbursement and Education Award Program 

(EAP) grant but are not eligible to apply for Full Cost Fixed Amount grants.

Cost Reimbursement Grants

Applicants are required to match funds based on the chart below. 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 match requirement at 

the time of application submission. See Section D.6. Funding Restrictions for more information.

A first-time successful applicant is required to match at 24 percent for the first three-year 

funding period. Starting with year four, the match requirement gradually increases every year to 

50 percent by year ten, according to the minimum overall share chart found in 45 CFR 2521.60 

and below.

AmeriCorps 

Funding Year

1, 2, 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+

Grantee Share 

Requirements

24% 26% 30% 34% 38% 42% 46% 50%

Law requires that grantees that use other Federal funds as matching funds for an AmeriCorps 

grant to report those amounts and sources to AmeriCorps on a Federal Financial Report3. 

Grantees must track and be prepared to report on that match separately each year and at closeout. 

Match Waiver

Please see the Match Waiver information. 

Alternative Match

Under certain circumstances, applicants may qualify to meet alternative matching requirements 

that increase over the years to 35 percent instead of 50 percent as specified in the regulations4. 

To qualify, applicants must demonstrate that the proposed program is either located in a rural 

county or in a severely economically distressed community as defined in the Application 

Instructions. Applicants who plan to request an alternative match schedule must submit a request 

at the time the application is submitted. Tribes will submit requests to directly to 

ACAlternateMatchRequests@cns.gov.

3 Section 121(e)(5) of NCSA (42 U.S.C. §12571(e)). 4 45 Code of Federal Regulations CFR 2521.60(b)
10

C.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

Under Section 132A(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended, 

organizations that have been convicted of a Federal crime may not receive assistance described 

in this Notice. 

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 

• 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 which a Federal agency has considered for suspension or debarment and 

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

Federal government.

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

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

apply for AmeriCorps funding.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

This Notice should be read together with the AmeriCorps Regulations, 45 CFR 2520–2550, the 

Mandatory Supplemental Information, Application Instructions, and Performance Measure 

Instructions which are incorporated by reference. These documents can be found on 

https://www.americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities. The full Regulations are available 

online at www.ecfr.gov. 

D.1. Address to Request an Application Package

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

Funding Opportunities webpages. Applicants should refer to AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities

for more information and instructions on how to fully respond to this Notice. Applicants can also 

send an email to americorpsgrants@cns.gov or call (202) 606-7508 for a printed copy of the 

Notice and Application Instructions. AmeriCorps also offers live text chat at 

https://www.americorps.gov/contact. 

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 
11

complete the data elements in the eGrants system. 

• Narrative Sections: 

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

o Program Design

o Organizational Capability

o Cost-Effectiveness & Budget Adequacy

o Evaluation Summary/Plan

• Logic Model

• Performance Measures

• Standard Form 424A Budget

• Continuation Changes

• Clarification

• Authorization, Assurances, and Certifications5

D.2.b. Page Limits

There are page limits for the Narratives and Logic Model.

• Narratives

o Applications must not exceed 10 double-spaced pages for the Narratives. 

Planning grants may not exceed seven pages.

o The application sections that count towards the page limit are the:

 SF-424 Face Sheet 

 Executive Summary 

 Program Design, Organizational Capability, and Cost-Effectiveness & 

Budget Adequacy narratives.

o The application page limit does not include the Budget, Performance Measures, 

or any required additional documents.

• Logic Model

o The Logic Model may not exceed three pages when printed with the application 

from the “Review” tab in AmeriCorps’ web-based management system. 

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

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

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

the application from the “Review and Submit” tab in eGrants prior to submission in order 

to confirm that the application does not exceed the page limit.

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

an application complies with the page limit. Reviewers will also not consider material that is 

over the page limit, even if eGrants allows applicants to enter and submit additional text.

5 (https://egrants.cns.gov/cnsmisc/ECERTS.HTM, and 

https://egrants.cns.gov/cnsmisc/EASSUR.HTM)
12

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

All applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) at

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ and maintain an active SAM registration until the application 

process is complete. If an applicant is awarded a grant, it must maintain an active SAM 

registration throughout the life of the award. See the SAM Quick Guide for Grantees at:

https://sam.gov/SAM/transcript/Quick_Guide_for_Grants_Registrations.pdf.

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 SAM-registered 

legal name and address on all grant applications to AmeriCorps.

AmeriCorps will not make awards to entities that do not have a valid SAM registration and 

DUNS or Unique Entity Identifier. 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.

Applications must include an Employer Identification Number.

Applications must include a DUNS number. Applicants can obtain a DUNS number at no cost by 

calling the DUNS number request line at (866) 705-5711 or by applying online at the DUNS 

Request Service. AmeriCorps recommends registering at least 30 days before the application due 

date. 

The Federal government is implementing Unique Entity Identifiers (UEI) as part of the SAM 

registration process to eventually replace DUNS numbers. AmeriCorps may ask applicants to 

add the UEI to their application as part of the clarification or pre-award process. AmeriCorps is 

adding a field to capture the UEI in eGrants. If you already have a UEI and the UEI field is 

available in eGrants, you can enter it at the time you submit your application. 

D.4. Submission Dates and Times

D.4.a. Application Submission Deadline

Applications are due Wednesday, May 4, 2022 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.
13

D.4.c. Late Applications

All applications received after the submission deadline published in this Notice 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, if available

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 

LateApplications@cns.gov no later than 24 hours after the application deadline stated in 

the Notice.

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 case-bycase 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.

Please note: 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.

D.5. Intergovernmental Review

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

Programs.” 

D.6. Funding Restrictions 

D.6.a. Award Funding Requirements

1. Member Living Allowance

A living allowance is not considered a salary or a wage. Programs are not required to provide a 

living allowance for members serving in less than full-time terms of service. If a program 

chooses to provide a living allowance to a less than full-time member, it must comply with the 

maximum limits in the table below. For Cost Reimbursement grants, the amount must be 
14

included in the proposed budget as either AmeriCorps or grantee share. Exceptions are noted 

below. 

While Fixed Amount grant applicants are not required to submit detailed budgets, they are still 

required to provide a living allowance to members that complies with the minimum and 

maximum requirements. Exceptions are noted below. Fixed Amount grant applicants should

indicate that amount in the application. 

Table: Minimum and Maximum Living Allowance

Service Term Minimum 

# of 

Hours

Minimum 

Living 

Allowance

Maximum Total 

Living Allowance 

Full-time 1,700 $16,502 $33,004

Three Quarter-time 1,200 n/a $23,103

Half-time 900 n/a $16,502

Reduced Half-time 675 n/a $12,542

Quarter-time 450 n/a $8,581

Minimum-time 300 n/a $6,931

Abbreviated-time 100 n/a $1,980

Exceptions to the Living Allowance Requirements 

a. Programs existing prior to September 21, 1993 are not required to offer a living allowance. If 

an applicant chooses to offer a living allowance, it is exempt from the minimum requirement, but 

not the maximum requirement.

b. EAP Grantees are not required to provide a living allowance, but if a living allowance is 

provided, it must comply with the maximum requirements set forth in the Living Allowance 

Table above.

c. Professional Corps Grantees must provide members a living allowance or salary, which must

meet the minimum, but may exceed the maximum living allowance set in the Living Allowance 

Table above. Professional Corps member salaries and benefits including childcare are paid 

entirely by the organizations with which the members serve; and are not included in the budget 

request to AmeriCorps (Federal share).

2. Maximum Cost per Member Service Year (MSY) 

The AmeriCorps cost per MSY is determined by dividing the AmeriCorps share of budgeted 

grant costs by the number of MSYs requested. It does not include childcare or the value of the 

education award a member may earn. The maximum amount an applicant may request from 

AmeriCorps per MSY is determined on an annual basis. 

Table: Maximum Cost per MSY

Grant Program Maximum

Indian Tribes (cost reimbursement) $21,600

Professional Corps Fixed Amount Applicants/Grantees $1,000*
15

Full-cost Fixed Amount Grant $21,600

Education Award Program (EAP) Fixed Amount Grant $800 or $1,000**

*AmeriCorps requires Professional Corps programs to cover the operating expenses associated 

with the AmeriCorps program through non-AmeriCorps resources. AmeriCorps will only 

consider operating funds of up to $1,000 per MSY if an applicant is able to demonstrate 

significant organizational financial need.

** Per 42 U.S.C. 12581a, the Corporation may provide the operational support under this section 

for a program in an amount that is not more than $800 per individual enrolled in an approved 

national service position, or not more than $1,000 per such individual if at least 50 percent of the 

persons enrolled in the program are disadvantaged youth.

AmeriCorps reserves the right to 1) treat an applicant that meets the statutory requirements of a 

Professional Corps as such, whether or not they submitted their application as a professional 

corps program; and 2) determine whether an applicant has demonstrated inability to effectively 

operate in the absence of AmeriCorps operating funds.

3. Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

AmeriCorps members who successfully complete a term of service will be eligible for an 

Education Award from the National Service Trust. The amount of the Education Award is linked 

to the value of the Pell Grant. A member has up to seven years after their term of service to use 

the Education Award. AmeriCorps will provide the updated Education Award amounts at the 

time of grant award. 

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, a 10 percent de minimis rate of modified total 

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

governments, and Indian Tribes may use previously-approved indirect cost allocation plans. All 

methods must be applied consistently across all Federal awards. Applicants that have a Federal 

negotiated indirect cost rate or that will be using the 10 percent de minimis rate must enter that 

information in the Organization section in eGrants. However, under section 121(d) of the NCSA 

and AmeriCorps’ regulations at 45 CFR 2521.95 and 2540.110, no more than five percent of 

award funds may be used to recover indirect costs on AmeriCorps State and National grants. 

The instructions for how to enter the organization’s indirect cost rate6. 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 

6

https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/eGrants%20Indirect%20Cost%20Rate%20In

structions%20FINAL_20210519%20Update.pdf
16

request to IndirectCostRate@cns.gov. The applicant may also obtain instructions and additional 

information by contacting the email address above.

D.6.c. Pre-Award Costs

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

AmeriCorps.

D.7. Other Submission Requirements

D.7.a. Electronic Application Submission in eGrants

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

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

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

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

no later than 10 days before the deadline.

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.

Applicants should contact the AmeriCorps Hotline at (800) 942-2677 or via eGrants Questions if 

they have a problem when they create an account, prepare, or submit the application. 

AmeriCorps Hotline hours are posted at https://questions.americorps.gov/app/ask.

Be prepared to provide the application ID, organization’s name, and the competition 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 support their inability to submit their 

application electronically. 

AmeriCorps

ATTN: Office of Grant Administration (OGA)/FY 2022 ASN 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 additional documents below by the application submission 

deadline.
17

All applicants

1. Evaluation briefs, reports, studies. Please refer to the Evidence Base section and 

Mandatory Supplemental Information for detailed instructions by evidence tier. If 

multiple evaluation briefs/reports/studies are submitted by the applicant, the most recent 

(as measured by the date of completion or publication) will be reviewed first, and any 

documents submitted beyond the allowable number will not be reviewed. 

2. Diversity Questionnaire

3. Labor union concurrence (if applicable)

Recompete applicants who have previously received three or more years of competitive funding 

for the same project being proposed:

4. Evaluation plan. Please use the evaluation plan template available on the Notice 

webpage. Evaluation plans are not scored and will not be reviewed until after funding 

decisions are made.

Recompete applicants who have previously received six or more years of competitive funding 

for the same project being proposed:

5. Evaluation report. Please submit in Word. The evaluation report should include a title 

page with the AmeriCorps grant ID for the project that was evaluated, the name of the 

project, and the date of completion of the report. If any of this required information is 

missing, the applicant may not receive credit for meeting their evaluation requirements. 

Entities applying on behalf of a Federally Recognized Tribe (New and recompeting)

6. Tribal organization eligibility documentation. (See Section C.1. Eligible Applicants 

section.)

New and Recompeting applications

7. All new and recompeting applicants regardless of funding level are required to submit an 

Operational and Financial Management Survey (OFMS)7

. Please submit the OFMS as a 

Word document. Forms submitted as a PDF or any other document format may not be 

accepted.

Additional documents must be emailed to AdditionalDocuments@cns.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 file name, 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.

7 https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/OFMS-Control-Number3045_0102_FY20%20%282%29.docx
18

• 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).”

Failure to submit the required additional documents, following the email instructions in this 

section, by the deadline and in the format requested above may have a negative effect on the 

assessment of your application and/or on the determination of the application’s eligibility to 

advance for review.

Please do not submit any items that are not requested in this Notice and Guidance. AmeriCorps

will not review or return them.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E.1. Review Criteria

Each applicant must describe a project that will deploy AmeriCorps members effectively to solve 

a significant community problem. AmeriCorps urges applicants to submit high quality 

applications that carefully follow the guidance in this Notice and in the Application Instructions. 

The quality of an application will be an important factor in determining whether an organization 

will receive funding. 

Categories/Subcategories Percentage

Executive Summary 0

Program Design 50

Theory of Change and Logic Model 24

Evidence Tier 12

Evidence Quality 8

Notice Priority 0

Member Experience 6

Organizational Capability 25

Organizational Background and Staffing 9

Compliance and Accountability 8

Culture That Values Learning 4

Member Supervision 4

Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 25

E.1.a. Executive Summary (Required - 0 percent)

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

from the template below.

The [Name of the organization] proposes to have [Number of] AmeriCorps members who will 

[service activities the members will be doing] in [the locations the AmeriCorps members will 

serve]. At the end of the first program year, the AmeriCorps members will be responsible for 

[anticipated outcome of project]. In addition, the AmeriCorps members will leverage [number of 

leveraged volunteers, if applicable] who will be engaged in [what the leveraged volunteers will 

be doing.] 
19

This program will focus on the AmeriCorps focus area(s) of [Focus Area(s)].* The AmeriCorps

investment of $[amount of request] will be matched with $[amount of projected match], 

$[amount of local, state, and Federal funds] in public funding and $[amount of nongovernmental funds] in private funding. 

*If the program is not operating in an AmeriCorps focus area, omit this sentence. 

Fixed-Amount grant applicants (EAP, Full-Cost Fixed, No Cost Slots) should list their Other 

Revenue (see Mandatory Supplemental Information) because they are not required to provide a 

specific amount of match, but still raise significant additional resources to operate the program. 

E.1.b. Program Design (50 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. Please ensure the Theory of Change and Logic Model 

incorporates the funding priorities listed above, for example supporting communities historically 

excluded and/or underserved from government services, addressing structural and institutional 

inequities, or increasing opportunity in order to achieve sustainable change in communities.

1. Theory of Change and Logic Model (24 points)

The Theory of Change shall address: 

• The problem is prevalent and severe in communities where the program plans to serve 

and has been documented with relevant data.

• The proposed intervention is responsive to the identified community problem. 

• The applicant’s proposed intervention is clearly articulated including the design, dosage, 

target population, and roles of AmeriCorps members and (if applicable) leveraged 

volunteers.

• The applicant’s intervention is likely to lead to the outcomes identified in the applicant’s 

Theory of Change. 

• The expected outcomes articulated in the application narrative and logic model represent 

meaningful progress in addressing the community problem identified by the applicant. 

• The rationale for utilizing AmeriCorps members to deliver the intervention(s) is 

reasonable.

• The service role of AmeriCorps members will produce significant contributions to 

existing efforts to address the stated problem. 

The Logic Model shall depict:

• A summary of the community problem, including the role current or historical inequities 

faced by underserved communities may play in contributing to the problem.

• The inputs or resources that are necessary to deliver the intervention, including but not 

limited to:

o Locations or sites in which members will provide services

o Number of AmeriCorps members who will deliver the intervention

• The core activities that define the intervention or program model that members will 

implement or deliver, including:

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

of the intervention)
20

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., disconnected youth, third graders at a 

certain reading proficiency level)

• The measurable outputs that result from delivering the intervention (i.e. number of 

beneficiaries served, types and number of activities conducted, equity gaps closed). If 

applicable, identify which National Performance Measures will be used as output 

indicators

• Outcomes that demonstrate changes in knowledge/skill, attitude, behavior, or condition 

that occur as a result of the intervention. If applicable, identify which National 

Performance Measures will be used as outcome indicators.

Note: The logic model is a visual representation of the applicant’s Theory of Change. Programs 

should include short, medium or long-term outcomes in the logic model. Applicants are not 

required to measure all components of their Theory of Change. The applicant’s performance 

measures should be consistent with the program’s Theory of Change and should represent 

significant program activities. 

In the application narrative, applicants should discuss the community need as it relates to the 

CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/svi/index.html. For 

example: For example: communities historically excluded and/or underserved from government 

services, addressing structural and institutional inequities, and increasing opportunity in order to 

achieve sustainable change in communities.

Also in the application narrative, applicants should discuss their rationale for setting output and 

outcome targets for their performance measures. 

Rationales and justifications should be informed by the organization’s performance data (e.g., 

program data observed over time that suggests targets are reasonable), relevant research (e.g. 

targets documented by organizations running similar programs with similar populations), or prior 

program evaluation findings.

Applicants with multiple interventions should complete one Logic Model chart which 

incorporates each intervention. Logic model content that exceeds three pages will not be 

reviewed.

2. Evidence Base (20 points)

The assessment of an applicant’s evidence base has two parts. First, the applicant will be 

assigned to an evidence tier (see the Mandatory Supplemental Information.) Second, the quality 

of the applicant’s evidence and the degree to which it supports the proposed program design, 

including program aligned with the priority areas identified above, will be assessed and scored.
21

Evidence Tier (12 points):

An evidence tier will be assessed for each applicant for the purpose of understanding the relative 

strength of each applicant’s evidence base and the likelihood that the proposed intervention will 

lead to outcomes identified in the logic model8. 

Applicants who have outcome or impact evaluation reports of the same intervention described in 

the application (see Mandatory Supplemental Intervention for a definition of “same 

intervention”) may submit up to 2 of those reports, plus (if applicable) the evaluation report from 

their last three-year grant cycle, to qualify for the Preliminary, Moderate, or Strong evidence tier. 

In order to qualify for consideration, the intervention evaluated in the submitted report(s) must 

match the intervention proposed by the applicant in the following areas, all of which must be 

clearly described in the Program Design and Logic Model sections of the application:

• Characteristics of the beneficiary population, including evidence of current or historic 

inequities facing the population;

• Characteristics of the population delivering the intervention;

• Dosage (frequency, duration) and design of the intervention, including all key 

components and activities;

• The context in which the intervention is delivered; and

• Outcomes of the intervention.

Submitted reports that do not sufficiently match the intervention proposed by the applicant in all 

of these areas will not be considered applicable and will not be reviewed or receive any points. 

Submission of additional documents that are not consistent with the guidance and requirements 

described in the Notice (e.g., advocacy pieces, policy briefs, other narratives that are not research 

studies or program evaluations) will not be reviewed.

In the Evidence Tier section of the application narrative, applicants must (1) summarize the 

study design and key findings of any outcome or impact evaluation report(s) submitted and (2) 

describe any other evidence that supports their program, including past performance measure 

data and/or other research studies that inform their program design. Applicants who submit 

evaluation reports for consideration must also describe in the Evidence Base section of the 

application narrative how the intervention described in the submitted reports is the same as the 

intervention described in the application (see Mandatory Supplemental Information). 

8 In 2021, the evidence tiers of successful AmeriCorps State and National applicants that were 

competing were as follows: Strong 43%, Moderate 20%, Preliminary 17%, and Pre-Preliminary 

19%. As these figures indicate, AmeriCorps values and funds programs at all points along the 

evidence continuum and expects programs to progress along the evidence continuum over time. 

Thus, do not be deterred from applying for funding due to your current evidence level. 
22

Applicants should provide citations for the studies they describe, if applicable; however, 

reviewers will not review any documents external to the application other than evaluation 

report(s) submitted in accordance with the Notice instructions.

Applicants must meet all requirements of an evidence tier in order to be considered for that tier. 

If the evaluation reports submitted by the applicant do not meet the definitions in the Mandatory 

Supplemental Information, the applicant may be considered for a lower evidence tier. 

Evidence Quality (8 points)

After the applicant’s evidence tier has been assessed, the quality of the applicant’s evidence and 

the extent to which it supports the proposed program design will be assessed and scored. 

Applicants who are assessed as being in the Preliminary, Moderate, or Strong evidence tiers, 

reviewers will score the submitted evaluation reports using the following standards:

• The submitted reports are of satisfactory methodological quality and rigor for the type of 

evaluation conducted (e.g., adequate sample size and statistical power, internal and/or 

external validity, appropriate use of control or comparison groups, etc.); 

• The submitted reports describe evaluations that were conducted relatively recently, 

preferably within the last six years;

• The submitted reports show a meaningful and significant positive effect on program 

beneficiaries in at least one key outcome of interest.

Applicants that are assessed as being in the Pre-Preliminary evidence tier, reviewers will score 

the narrative provided in the Evidence Base section of the application using the following 

standards:

• The applicant uses relevant evidence, including past performance measure data and/or 

cited research studies, to inform their proposed program design;

• The described evidence is relatively recent, preferably from the last six years;

• The evidence described by the applicant indicates a meaningful positive effect on 

program beneficiaries in at least one key outcome of interest.

3. Notice Priority (0 points)

• The applicant proposed program fits within one or more of the AmeriCorps funding 

priorities as outlined in the Funding Priorities section and more fully described in the 

Mandatory Supplemental Information and the proposed program meets all of the 

requirements detailed in the Funding Priorities section and in the Mandatory 

Supplemental Information.

4. Member Experience (6 points)

• AmeriCorps members as a result of their service will have opportunities to develop as 

leaders.

• AmeriCorps members will gain skills as a result of their training and service that can be 

utilized and will be valued by future employers after their service term is completed.

• The program has a well-defined plan to recruit AmeriCorps members from the 

geographic or demographic communities in which the programs operate. 
23

• The applicant will foster an inclusive service culture where different backgrounds, 

talents, and capabilities are welcomed and leveraged for learning and effective service 

delivery.

• The applicant’s organization and/or program has a diversity, equity, and inclusion council 

that seeks to diversity its staff and board and create a supportive and safe environment as 

well ensure that its programming is culturally and community appropriate.

E.1.c. Organizational Capability (25 percent)

Reviewers will consider the quality of the application’s response to the following criteria below. 

Do not assume all sub-criteria are of equal value.

1. Organizational Background and Staffing (9 points)

• The organization details the roles, responsibilities, and structure of the staff that will be 

implementing the AmeriCorps program as well as providing oversight and monitoring for 

the program. 

• The organization has facilitated, partnered, or participated in educational or workforce 

development programs (i.e., pre-apprenticeship/registered apprenticeship, work 

experience and job training programs, etc.). 

• The organization has a stated commitment and plan to advance diversity, equality, and 

inclusion (DEI) throughout its mission, for example by using a DEI council or strategic 

plan. 

2. Compliance and Accountability (8 points)

• The organization has a monitoring and oversight plan to prevent and detect noncompliance and enforce compliance with AmeriCorps rules and regulations including 

those related to prohibited and unallowable activities and criminal history checks at the 

grantee, subgrantee (if applicable), and service site locations.

• The organization has sufficient policies, procedures, and controls in place to prevent, 

detect, and mitigate the risk of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, such as 

appropriate segregation of duties, internal oversight activities, measures to prevent 

timekeeping fraud, etc. 

• The organization has an effective mechanism in place to report, without delay, any 

suspected criminal activity, waste, fraud, and/or abuse to both the AmeriCorps Office of 

Inspector General and AmeriCorps and a plan for training staff and participants on 

these reporting protocols.

• The AmeriCorps-required evaluation report meets AmeriCorps requirements (if 

applicable).

• The AmeriCorps-required evaluation report is of satisfactory quality (if applicable).

3. Culture that Values Learning (4 points)

• The applicant's board, management, and staff collect and use information, including 

performance data, for learning and decision making.

• The applicant’s board, management, and staff collect and use information to determine its 

programmatic effectiveness in serving in a community with members that are diverse.
24

4. Member Supervision (4 points)

• AmeriCorps members will receive sufficient guidance and support from their supervisor 

to provide effective service.

• AmeriCorps supervisors will be adequately trained/prepared to follow AmeriCorps and 

program regulations, priorities, and expectations.

E.1.d. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25 percent)

Reviewers will assess the quality of the application’s budget to the following criteria below. Do 

not assume all sub-criteria are of equal value.

These criteria will be assessed based on the budget submitted. Do not include narrative in 

the narrative box except for “See budget”.

1. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25 points)

• Budget is submitted without mathematical errors.

• Proposed costs are allowable, reasonable, and allocable to the award.

• Budget is submitted with adequate information to assess how each line item is calculated.

• Budget complies with the budget instructions.

• Match is submitted with adequate information to support the amount written in the 

budget.

• The budgeted match is equal to or more than the required match for the given program 

year.

• The cost per MSY is equal to or less than the maximum cost per MSY. 

Proposed budgets that contain MSY costs that exceed the maximum cost per MSY and/or less 

than required match will be considered unresponsive to the application criteria.

Applicants must complete the budget and ensure the following information is in the budget 

screens:

• Current indirect rate cost rate information if used to claim indirect/administrative costs.

• Identify the non-AmeriCorps funding and resources necessary to support the project, 

including Fixed Amount applicants.

• Indicate the amount of non-AmeriCorps resource commitments, type of commitments 

(in-kind and/or cash), the sources of these commitments, and if the commitments are 

proposed or secured.

E.1.e. Evaluation Plan (Required for recompeting grantees - 0 percent)

If the applicant has previously received three or more years of competitive funding for the same 

project being proposed (see the Mandatory Supplemental Information for the AmeriCorps

definition of “same project”), the applicant must submit an evaluation plan as an attachment (see 

the Submission of Additional Documents section for more information). If the applicant has 

previously received six or more years of competitive funding for the same project being 

proposed, the applicant must submit both an evaluation plan and an evaluation report as 

attachments.
25

Applicants should use the evaluation plan template available on the Notice webpage to craft their 

evaluation plans. The template document provides detailed information about the AmeriCorps 

evaluation requirements (45 CFR 2522.700-710) and specifies the information that must be 

provided for the evaluation plan to be approved by AmeriCorps. The evaluation plan will not be 

scored and will not be reviewed until after funding decisions have been made.

All applicants should enter “N/A” in the “Evaluation Summary or Plan” field of the Narrative. 

Any other text entered in this field will not be reviewed. 

E.1.f. Amendment Justification (0 percent)

Enter N/A. This field will be used if the applicant is awarded a grant and needs to amend it. 

E.1.g. Clarification Information (0 percent)

Please make a heading entitled “FY 2022 Match replacement” and enter the dollar amount of 

match replacement your program would like to request. The amount cannot result in your 

program being above the maximum cost per MSY. Should your application go to clarification, 

this field will also be used to enter information that requires clarification in the post-review 

period. 

E.1h. Continuation Changes (0 percent)

Enter N/A. This field will be used to enter changes in the application narratives in continuation 

requests. 

E.2. Criteria for Planning Grants

Categories/Subcategories Percentage

Executive Summary 0

Program Design 50

Problem/Need 20

Planning Process/Timeline 30

Organizational Capability 25

Organizational Background and Staffing 25

Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 25

E.2.a. Executive Summary (Required - 0 percent)

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

from the template below.

The [Name of the organization] proposes a planning grant to ultimately have [Number of] 

AmeriCorps members who will [service activities the members will be doing] in [the locations 

the AmeriCorps members will serve]. At the end of the first program year, the AmeriCorps 

members will be responsible for [anticipated outcome of project]. In addition, the AmeriCorps 

members will leverage [number of leveraged volunteers, if applicable] who will be engaged in 

[what the leveraged volunteers will be doing.] 

This program will focus on the AmeriCorps focus area(s) of [Focus Area(s)].* The AmeriCorps

investment of $[amount of request] will be matched with $[amount of projected match], 
26

$[amount of local, state, and Federal funds] in public funding and $[amount of nongovernmental funds] in private funding. 

*If the program is not planning to operate in an AmeriCorps focus area, omit this sentence. 

E.2.b. Program Design (50 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. 

1. Problem/Need (20 points):

• The problem is prevalent and severe in communities where the program plans to serve 

and has been documented with relevant data. 

• Applicant discusses the community need as it relates to the CDC’s Social Vulnerability 

Index: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/svi/index.html

• The applicant provides a clear explanation for why a planning grant is needed. 

2. Planning Process/Timeline (30 points):

• The applicant describes a clear and logical planning process, including: 

o A detailed description of who is leading the planning process. 

o A clear description of how the planning period will be used to develop the necessary 

components to effectively manage an AmeriCorps program in the future. 

o A detailed plan for program sustainability. 

• The planning timeline includes development of the following program elements:

o Theory of Change/Logic Model

o Intervention and evidence base

o Member training and supervision plans

o Commitment to AmeriCorps Identity

o Program Compliance and Accountability

o Securing Match Support for the Program

E.2.c. Organizational Capability (25 percent)

Reviewers will consider the quality of the application’s response to the following criteria below. 

Do not assume all sub-criteria are of equal value.

1. Organizational Background and Staffing (25 points)

• The applicant describes how it has the experience, staffing, and management structure to 

plan the proposed program.

• The applicant describes its prior experience in the proposed area of programming (if any). 

• The applicant describes its plans to engage community members and partner 

organizations in the planning process.

• The applicant has sufficient policies, procedures, and controls in place to prevent, detect, 

and mitigate the risk of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, such as appropriate 

segregation of duties, internal oversight activities, measures to prevent timekeeping 

fraud, etc. 

• The applicant has an effective mechanism in place to report, without delay, any suspected 

criminal activity, waste, fraud, and/or abuse to both the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector 
27

General and AmeriCorps and a plan for training staff and participants on these reporting 

protocols.

E.2.d. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25 percent)

Reviewers will assess the quality of the application’s budget to the following criteria below. Do 

not assume all sub-criteria are of equal value.

These criteria will be assessed based on the budget submitted. Do not include narrative in 

the narrative box except for “See budget”.

1. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25 points)

• Budget is submitted without mathematical errors.

• Proposed costs are allowable, reasonable, and allocable to the award.

• Budget is submitted with adequate information to assess how each line item is calculated.

• Budget is in compliance with the budget instructions.

• Match is submitted with adequate information to support the amount written in the 

budget.

• The budgeted match is equal to or more than the required match for the given program 

year.

Applicants must complete the budget and ensure the following information is in the budget 

screens:

• Current indirect rate cost rate information if used to claim indirect/administrative costs.

• Identify the non-AmeriCorps funding and resources necessary to support the project, 

including for Fixed Amount applicants.

• Indicate the amount of non-AmeriCorps resource commitments, type of commitments 

(in-kind and/or cash), the sources of these commitments, and if the commitments are 

proposed or secured.

E.2.e. Evaluation Plan (0 percent)

Planning applicants should enter “N/A” in this section. Any other text entered in this field will 

not be reviewed.

E.3. Review and Selection Process

AmeriCorps will engage External and 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 than 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. 
28

An application is compliant if the applicant: 

• is an eligible organization

• submitted an application by the submission deadline

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

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

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

ineligible will not receive an award.

E.3.b. Application Review 

External Review 

External Reviewers will review and assess the evidence criteria in the Notice. AmeriCorps will 

recruit and select reviewers on the basis of demonstrated expertise. All External Reviewers will 

be screened for conflicts of interest.

Internal Review

AmeriCorps staff will evaluate the applications using the application review criteria and assess 

the priorities and strategic considerations detailed in the Notice. 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. Not all applications are clarified. 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 evaluate the risks to the program posed by each applicant to assess an 

applicant’s ability to manage Federal funds. This evaluation is in addition to assessments of the 

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

Results from this evaluation 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. Additionally, if AmeriCorps concludes that 

the reasons for applicants having poor risk assessment are not likely to be mitigated, those 

applications may not be selected for funding. 

In evaluating risks, AmeriCorps may consider the following criteria: 

Due Diligence:

• Federal debt delinquency

• suspension and debarment

• information available through OMB-designated repositories of government-wide 

eligibility qualification or financial integrity information, such as:

o Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)

o U.S. Treasury Bureau of Fiscal Services

o System for Award Management (SAM)
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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

Operational and Financial Management:

• financial stability

• Operational and Financial Management Survey9

Past Performance: 

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

procurement awards, including: 

o timeliness of compliance with applicable reporting requirements

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 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 compliance.

Other Programmatic Risks:

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

website

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 

9 https://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/financial-management/financial-and-grantsmanagement
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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 is designed to identify how well eligible applications are 

aligned with the application review criteria.

Based on the evaluation of these strategic considerations, applications may be selected for 

funding over applications with a greater degree of alignment with the review criteria. In selecting 

applicants to receive awards under this Notice, the Chief Executive Officer will endeavor to 

include a diverse portfolio of applications based on staff recommendations and strategic 

considerations.

AmeriCorps will assess an applicant’s strategic considerations. Applicants must check the 

relevant boxes in the Program Information tab in AmeriCorps’ web-based management system in 

order to be considered for AmeriCorps’ assessment of the strategic considerations (see Selection 

for Funding section.) Applicants should only check the boxes if the strategic consideration is a 

significant and intentional part of their program design and if implementation strategies are 

described in the application.

AmeriCorps reserves the right to prioritize funding existing awards over making new awards. 

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 that will be used to assess applications.

E.4. Feedback to Applicants

Following awards, applicants will receive feedback from the External Review and Staff Review 

of their compliant applications. This feedback will be based on the review of the original 

application and will not reflect information provided during clarification.

E.5. Transparency in Grant-making

AmeriCorps is committed to transparency in grant-making. The following information for new 

and re-competing applications will be published on AmeriCorps Results of Grant Competitions

government within 90 business days after all grants are awarded:

• a list of all approved applications

• executive summaries of all approved applications

• data extracted from the SF-424 Face Sheet 

• a blank template of the external review worksheet

• a list of all external reviewers who completed the review process

Information about funded grants and subgrants is also available in USASpending.gov.
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Submitted program narratives for successful applications and a summary of external reviewer 

comments will be available upon request via email to OGAGarp@cns.gov.

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 early July 2022, 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 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 unless it has received a written preaward cost approval from AmeriCorps.

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 may request documentation from recipients in order to monitor the award or to 

comply with other legal requirements, such as 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 FY 2022 AmeriCorps General Terms 

and Conditions, and the FY 2022 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 is available at

https://americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/directs-territories-tribes. 

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.

• In general, award recipients and subrecipients must conduct an NSCHC for AmeriCorps 

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

reflected as match on, the award. 
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• AmeriCorps strongly encourages applicants to review the regulations and additional 

guidance to fully understand how to comply with the requirements. 10

• AmeriCorps also strongly encourages funded applicants to utilize the two AmeriCorpsapproved vendors to conduct the required NSCHCs.11

• Failure to conduct a compliant NSCHC may result in significant disallowed costs.

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

individual subject to the NSCHC may not be required to cover the cost without being 

reimbursed.

A NSCHC consists of a check of the:

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.

In general, award recipients and subrecipients must conduct an NSCHC for AmeriCorps 

members, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, and staff funded under, or whose salary is reflected as 

match on, the award. 

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. 

See 45 CFR 2540.200– 2540.207 and National Service Criminal History Check Resources for 

complete information and FAQs.

F.2.e. Official Guidance

All AmeriCorps 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.

10 NSCHC regulations and guidance: https://americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/history-check

11 Two pre-approved NSCHC vendors: https://americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/history-check.
33

F.3. Use of Material

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

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

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

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

do so (2 CFR §200.315).

F.4. Reporting 

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

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

Cost reimbursement grantees are required to provide annual progress reports, semi-annual 

financial reports, and an internal or external evaluation report as required by the AmeriCorps 

regulations 45 CFR 2522.500-2522.540 and 2522.700-2522.740. Final financial and progress

reports are due 120 days after the end of the agreement. 

Fixed Amount grantees are required to provide annual and final progress reports and an internal 

or external evaluation report. 

All grantees, including Fixed Amount grantees, 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, recipients must submit final financial (cost 

reimbursement grantees only) 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 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):

• the data measures what it intends to measure

• the data reported is complete

• the recipient collects data in a consistent manner

• the recipient takes steps to correct data errors

• the recipient actively reviews data for accuracy prior to submission. 
34

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

ability to secure future AmeriCorps funding.

F.5. Continuation Funding Information and Requirements

Organizations that have current awards that continue beyond FY 2021 must submit an 

application in order to be eligible to receive funding for the following year. Please see the 

Application Instructions, if applicable. Requests by existing continuation applicants for increases 

in the level of funding or number of positions will be assessed using the review criteria published 

in this Notice. The review will also be based on progress reports, the federal financial report, 

evaluation plans, and CNCS staff’s knowledge of the grant program. To be approved for 

continuation funding, recipients must demonstrate satisfactory performance with respect to key 

program goals and requirements, as well as compliance with the terms and conditions of the 

grant. 

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

funding and will document the rationale for doing so. 

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

For more information, call (202) 606-7508 or email americorpsgrants@cns.gov. AmeriCorps

also offers live text chat at www.americorps.gov/contact.

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. Potential applicants can also use this link: eGrants 

Questions. Be prepared to provide the application ID, organization’s name, and the name of the 

Notice to which the organization is applying.

H. OTHER INFORMATION

H.1. Technical Assistance

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

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

sessions. Call-in information for the technical assistance calls is on AmeriCorps’ website: 

http://www.americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities

H.2. Re-Focusing of Funding

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

disaster or other compelling needs. 

I. IMPORTANT NOTICES

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

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

instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing the application and 
35

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

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

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

3045-0047, Application Instructions, State and National Competitive, New and Continuation, 

Expiration Date: September 30, 2023. 

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.