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Program Description

Green City Force (GCF), operating in Brooklyn, New York, uses workforce

training to improve the economic mobility of AmeriCorps members, all of 

whom reside in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) housing. During 

the six-month program, members gain hands on experience with building 

sustainable infrastructure, engaging in urban agriculture, and distributing 

fresh produce. That experience can lead to green career pathways such as 

energy conservation assistants, compost coordinators, solar energy installers, 

energy auditors, and other positions and apprenticeships. AmeriCorps 

members also prepare for and take the Green Professional Training (GPRO) 

certification and the OSHA 30-hour Construction and Safety training and 10-

hour Site Safety Training, improving their understanding of green building 

practices and workplace health and safety. That can enable members to 

attain occupations such as HVAC technicians, plumbers, and electricians. 

Return on Investment Analysis

To better understand the impact of the program in relation to costs, 

AmeriCorps commissioned a return on investment (ROI) analysis by ICF, an 

independent research firm. 

AmeriCorps, the federal agency 

for national service and 

volunteerism, provides 

opportunities for Americans to 

serve their country domestically, 

address the nation's most pressing 

challenges, improve lives and 

communities, and strengthen civic 

engagement. Each year, the 

agency places more than 200,000 

AmeriCorps members and 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in 

intensive service roles; and 

empowers millions more to serve 

as long-term, short-term, or onetime volunteers. Learn more at 

AmeriCorps.govv. 

RESEARCH BRIEF − ROI PROJECT

Green City Force 

AmeriCorps.gov 
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ROI analyses of national service programs estimate the monetary value of benefits that a program generates 

per dollar invested. The ROI analysis of total benefits per funder dollar estimated the Green City Force 

program’s ROI to be between $0.69 and $7.60, depending on how long AmeriCorps members experience 

increased earnings as a result of the program. Total benefits per federal dollar are higher, between $1.39 and 

$17.93. 

Overview of Benefits and Costs

To calculate the ROI, the program benefits were identified, quantified, and compared to the program’s costs. 

Benefits of GCF include: 

• Additional earnings by AmeriCorps members. Serving in AmeriCorps leads to increased wages 

and reduced unemployment post-national service through skill acquisition, as well as increased 

educational attainment post-service. Workforce training is a primary focus of GCF, leading to 

improved employment outcomes for Service Corps members.

• Living allowances, stipends, and education awards. AmeriCorps members receive living 

allowances and stipends during their national service and receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education 

Award after successful completion. Due to the high pre-service unemployment rate of this group, the 

opportunity cost to GCF AmeriCorps members presented in this analysis is negative, meaning the 

opportunity to participate in the program and earn a stipend outweighs potential forgone earnings 

for AmeriCorps members.

• Increased tax revenue for government. Federal, state, and local governments receive more income 

tax revenue from increased AmeriCorps member earnings post-service, as well as additional sales tax 

revenue related to those earnings. Federal, state, and local governments also realize tax revenue from 

the taxable living allowances, stipends, and education awards provided to AmeriCorps members. 

Further, federal and state governments realize tax revenue from increased earnings by AmeriCorps 

members as a result of increased educational attainment.

• Reduced lifetime spending on corrections, public assistance, and social insurance. Because of 

the increase in postsecondary educational attainment for AmeriCorps members and program 

participants, federal and state governments spend less on these items. 

• Benefits to various stakeholders from GCF program activities. GCF AmeriCorps members 

participate in activities such as the Farms at NYCHA program, which distributes fresh produce to 

NYCHA residents for free through the efforts of GCF AmeriCorps members. Benefits of this program 

include cost savings to NYCHA residents from the distribution of free produce. In addition, 

composting organic waste at the farms reduces municipal government spending on processing of 

waste and benefits society by reducing carbon emissions. 

Program costs for GCF program totaled $1,444,961 and were funded by AmeriCorps (federal government), 

state and local government, program service fees, and foundations.

ROI Results

The table below shows the ROI results. Each row represents a different ROI calculation depending on which 

benefits are considered (all benefits or only benefits to the federal government) and which funding is 

considered (federal funding only or all funding). The ROI estimates are presented as dollars returned for 

every $1.00 of investment. The analysis used three different scenarios to estimate benefits under different 

assumptions. Specifically, the study assumed that increased earnings attributable to the programs last for 

one year (short-term scenario), 15 years (medium-term), or 30 years (long-term). 
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ROI Calculation

ROI Scenario

Short-Term Medium-Term Long-Term

Total benefits per federal dollar $1.39 $9.45 $17.93 

Total benefits per funder dollar $0.69 $4.09 $7.60 

Federal government benefits per federal dollar $0.21 $1.67 $3.10 

The program produces strong returns for the medium- and long-term scenarios for all ROI calculations. The 

most significant factors driving the positive ROI estimates in the medium- and long-term scenarios are:

• Educational attainment outcomes of AmeriCorps members. After serving in the AmeriCorps 

program, AmeriCorps members receive an education award, which is used by a portion of members 

to help pay for postsecondary degrees post-service. The additional educational attainment resulting 

from the use of the education award generates additional earnings for AmeriCorps members. 

• Employment outcomes of AmeriCorps members. GCF AmeriCorps members experience increased 

employment and increased earnings post-service as a result of the workforce training and career 

development elements of the GCF program.

About the Office of Research and Evaluation 

The AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation assists AmeriCorps and its partners in collecting, 

analyzing, and disseminating data and insights about AmeriCorps programs and civic life in America. 

For more information, please contact evaluation@cns.gov. 

Produced and published at US taxpayer expense.

About this Brief

The report summarized in this research brief was commissioned by AmeriCorps’ Office of Research and Evaluation under Contract # 

GS00Q14OADU209 and Order # 95332A20F0068. Information in this report is in the public domain. Please, direct communications 

related to this report to Lily Zandniapour at lzandniapour@cns.gov and Emily McDonald at emcdonald@cns.gov. Cite the report as 

follows: Borgida, J., Clark, D., Miller, B., Modicamore, D., Pershing, J., Thompson, P., & Voigt, G. (2023). Return on Investment Study: 

Green City Force. ICF.