250 E Street SW

Washington, D.C. 20525

202-606-5000 / 800-942-2677

202-606-5000 / 800-942-2677

Program Civil Rights and Non-Harassment Policy

AmeriCorps is committed to advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal 

opportunity. AmeriCorps affirms these government-wide principles while committing to 

treating all persons who participate in our programs with dignity and respect. AmeriCorps 

maintains zero tolerance for unlawful harassment or discrimination against any individual or 

groups engaged in national service and maintains diverse, equitable, inclusive, and 

accessible service environments for all participants.

AmeriCorps expects the same commitment from all Recipients of its financial or service 

member/volunteer assistance, including associated individuals, organizations, programs, and 

projects. This policy is incorporated by reference into the terms and conditions for receiving 

AmeriCorps financial and service member/volunteer assistance, inclusive of sub-grantees. 

Recipients are expected to notify service members and volunteers of their rights under this 

policy.

In accordance with applicable laws and regulations, AmeriCorps prohibits all forms of 

discrimination and harassment based on the protected categories of race, color, national 

origin, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability (mental or physical), gender identity or 

expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, pregnancy, genetic information 

(including family medical history), military service, or their submission of a complaint. 

Retaliation is defined as the adverse actions taken against recipients for exercising their rights 

under federal law. Retaliation is prohibited against either an individual or a program. All 

programs administered by, or receiving, federal financial or service member/volunteer 

assistance from AmeriCorps must be free from all forms of discrimination and harassment. 

Harassment is defined as any unwelcome conduct that is based on any of the protected 

categories or done in reprisal for opposing discrimination or participating in the 

discrimination complaint process, when such behavior has the purpose or effect of interfering 

with service performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive service 

environment.

Harassment may include slurs and other verbal or physical conduct relating to an individual’s 

gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected category. 

Examples of harassing conduct include but are not limited to: explicit or implicit demands for 

sexual favors; pressure to engage in a romantic relationship or for dates; deliberate touching 

of another person without consent, leaning over, or cornering a person; repeated offensive 

teasing, jokes, remarks, or questions; unwanted letters, text messages, emails, or phone calls; 

distribution or display of offensive materials, including on social media; offensive looks or 

gestures; gender, racial, ethnic, or religious baiting. Harassment can also include physical 

assault or other threatening behavior; and demeaning, debasing, or abusive comments or 

actions that intimidate.

AmeriCorps does not tolerate discrimination and harassment from anyone, including 

Recipients, AmeriCorps employees or supervisors, project or site employees and supervisors,

project or site non-employees (e.g., contractors or clients of a project or site), or national 

service participants. Harassment is unacceptable in AmeriCorps' offices or campuses, and in 

other service-related settings such as convenings, training sessions, service sites, and at 
 

2

250 E Street SW

Washington, D.C. 20525

202-606-5000 / 800-942-2677

202-606-5000 / 800-942-2677

service-related social events (whether in person or online). Any discrimination or harassment, 

when substantiated, will result in corrective action up to and including removal or termination 

of any individual engaging in such misconduct.

AmeriCorps Recipients permitting discrimination or harassment in violation of this policy will 

be subject to a finding of non-compliance, which may result in termination of federal financial 

assistance.

Recipients are expected to take prompt action to effectively address service member and 

volunteer complaints. Recipients must immediately investigate complaints of discrimination 

or harassment and take appropriate measures to remedy the situation. Supervisors and 

managers of AmeriCorps programs and projects, when made aware of alleged 

discrimination or harassment by employees, service members and volunteers, or any other 

associated individuals, must report the matter to the personnel in the Recipient’s organization 

who are responsible for investigating such claims or to AmeriCorps’ Civil Rights and 

Employment Branch. This branch conducts service member and volunteer discrimination and 

harassment inquiries.

AmeriCorps prohibits any retaliatory action against a person who raises discrimination or 

harassment concerns.

Service members and volunteers who believe they were subjected to treatment in violation of 

any civil rights laws, regulations, or this policy, or have been subject to retaliation for 

opposing discrimination or participating in discrimination complaint proceedings (e.g., filing 

a complainant or acting as a witness) in any AmeriCorps program or project, may contact 

AmeriCorps’ Civil Rights and Employment Branch at (202) 606-3461 or eo@americorps.gov.

Service members and volunteers must contact AmeriCorps’ Civil Rights and Employment 

Branch within 45 calendar days of an occurrence of discrimination or harassing conduct to 

initiate an inquiry.

Service members and volunteers are not required to use a program, project, or sponsor 

dispute resolution process before contacting AmeriCorps’ Civil Rights and Employment 

Branch. While Recipients are expected to take prompt action to effectively address service 

member and volunteer complaints, Recipients cannot institute policies requiring any such 

matters be handled “in house.” If a service member or volunteer chooses to pursue another 

dispute resolution or complaint procedure, it does not suspend the 45 calendar-day time 

limit for contacting AmeriCorps’ Civil Rights and Employment Branch. Discrimination and 

harassment claims must be brought to the attention of CRE within 45 calendar days of the 

occurrence or the knowledge and discovery of the occurrence giving rise to the claim. Claims 

pursued after this timeframe may not be accepted for investigation of a formal complaint of 

discrimination. Service members, volunteers, and Recipients may contact AmeriCorps’ Civil 

Rights and Employment Branch at eo@americorps.gov for information or assistance.

Michael D. Smith

Chief Executive Officer 

AmeriCorps

Date

November 7, 2023