AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation Evidence and Impact Webinar Series 

AmeriCorps ROI Studies – Proof that the Cost of ‘Doing Good’ 

Benefits the Personal, Community and Federal Bottomline 

December 14, 2023 
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AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation Evidence and Impact Webinar Series 

AmeriCorps ROI Studies – Proof that the Cost of ‘Doing Good’ 

Benefits the Personal, Community and Federal Bottomline 

December 14, 2023 
Today’s Presenters

• Mary Hyde, PhD, Director, AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation 

• Emily Pindilli, PhD, Assistant Director Ecosystem Services & Natural Capital, Office 

of Science & Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President 

• Emily McDonald, PhD, Research Analyst, AmeriCorps Office of Research and 

Evaluation 

• Benjamin Miller, Senior Director, Community Development, ICF 

• Dominic Modicamore, Lead Labor Economics Consultant, Economic and 

Workforce Development, ICF 

• Tess Mason-Elder, Director, AmeriCorps Office of Government Relations 
Webinar Learning Objectives 

• Define ROI and how it helps AmeriCorps and grantees quantify the value 

of program activities 

• Describe how various agencies are exploring frontiers of benefit-cost 

analysis 

• Consider how four FY 2023 AmeriCorps ROI studies add to the growing 

body of evidence on AmeriCorps-supported programs 

• Reflect on how the ROI approach may be applied to programs you help to 

implement or may choose to study 
Setting the Stage 

The importance of return-on-investment analysis for AmeriCorps 

and the larger field 

Mary Hyde, PhD 

Director, Office of Research and Evaluation, 

AmeriCorps 
The AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation 

AmeriCorps Impact Framework 

ORE Vision: 

AmeriCorps strives to make a lasting and sustainable impact across 

the FOUR domains of our Impact Framework and foster the powerful 

synergies between these interconnected domains. 

ORE Mission 

• Identify national service and volunteering trends 

• Conduct research and build scholarship on civic engagement 

• Measure national service impact 

• Promote evidence-based models and program expansion 

Culture of Learning: 

Knowledge and evidence built across the FOUR domains of impact 

can be used to improve the participant service experience, 

strengthen organizations, support communities and inform the civic 

health of society. 
Federal Benefit/Cost Analysis 

Emily Pindilli, PhD 

Assistant Director Ecosystem Services & Natural 

Capital, Office of Science & Technology Policy, 

Executive Office of the President 
AmeriCorps ROI Studies 

Strategy & Vision 

Emily McDonald, PhD 

Research Analyst 

AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation 
About Return on Investment 

Total Benefits 

= ROI 

Total Costs 
About the ROI Studies Project 

ICF supporting a multi-year effort to: 

• Review AmeriCorps’s national

service portfolio for ROI-ready 

programs 

• Select programs for a deeper look 

at ROI feasibility 

• Develop four ROI studies per year 

Key Distinction: 

Composite studies (prior to this project) 

vs. 

Program-specific studies (under this project) 
Published Program-Specific Studies 
Programs Studied in FY 2023 
National Coverage 
 

With an ROI study, programs can...

• Articulate their value in a more measurable way 

• Example: “For each dollar of funding invested, this program produces $X of benefits over Y years.”

• Strengthen their recruitment messages 

• Broaden support by demonstrating benefits that matter to different audiences 

• Example: Summer youth program that has both workforce / education benefits and 

crime reduction benefits 

• Allocate resources based on the return on different activities 

• Example: Wildfire mitigation activities vs. noxious weed abatement 

15 
 

 

Questions to reflect on...

• Do you have benefit and cost data that would make an ROI study possible? 

• What’s the “counterfactual” for your program that would help you estimate 

your program’s impacts?

• What are gaps in the data you could use for an ROI analysis of your program? 
Questions? Discussion? 

For more information, please contact: 

Emily McDonald 

AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation 

EMcDonald@americorps.gov 
FY 2023 AmeriCorps ROI Studies 

Benjamin Miller 

Senior Director, Community 

Development, ICF 

Dominic Modicamore, 

Lead Labor Economics, ICF 
Green City Force 
About Green City Force 

• Uses workforce training to enhance the economic mobility of AmeriCorps 

members, all of whom reside in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) housing 

in Brooklyn, New York. 

• Exposes members to various facets of the green economy, equipping them with 

the necessary skills and preparation to pursue related careers. 

• Engages members in green service projects including: 

• Building and maintaining urban farms that distribute free organic produce to 

residents 

• Educating other NYCHA residents on environmental sustainability 
GCF Program Benefits 

•Additional earnings from reduced unemployment 

•Additional lifetime earnings from increased educational attainment as a result of education awards 

•Post-tax living allowances and education awards 

AmeriCorps 

Members 

•Tax revenue from increased earnings by GCF members post-program and sales tax revenue from increased economic activity 

•Tax revenue from living allowances and education awards 

•Reduced lifetime spending on corrections, public assistance, and social insurance from increased educational attainment by GCF 

AmeriCorps members as a result of education awards 

•Lifetime tax revenue from increased educational attainment by GCF AmeriCorps members as a result of education awards 

•Lifetime tax revenue from increased educational attainment by GCF AmeriCorps members as a result of education awards 

•Reduced spending on processing of waste resulting from composting of organic waste 

Government 

•Reduced carbon emissions resulting from composting of organic waste decreases monetized value of damages to society caused by Society carbon emissions 

NYCHA Residents •Savings from access to free organic produce 
GCF Program ROI Results 

ROI calculation Short-term ROI 

scenario 

Medium-term 

ROI scenario 

Long-term ROI 

scenario 

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 

ROI analysis estimated a $4.09 return on each dollar invested in Green City Force over a 

medium-term scenario. 
Colorado Home Instruction for 

Parents of Preschool Youngsters 

(HIPPY) 
About Colorado Home Instruction for Parent of Preschool 

Youngsters (HIPPY) 

• Parent Possible is a Colorado-based organization that equips parents with the 

tools they need for success in their children’s education and lives.

• Since 1991, Parent Possible has administered HIPPY, a home visitation program 

model with a curriculum designed to enhance children’s development before 

kindergarten. 

• The HIPPY model is used throughout the United States and internationally. 
AmeriCorps’ Role in HIPPY

AmeriCorps members: 

• Conduct one-on-one weekly visits with parents, engaging them in role-playing 

activities from the curriculum to promote the development of early literacy, 

social/emotional skills, and cognitive and physical abilities in their children 

• Collaborate with professionally trained program coordinators to ensure effective 

supervision and support in executing home visits 

• Foster a nurturing and supportive environment for parents to maximize their child's 

learning potential 

25 
HIPPY Program Benefits 

•Additional earnings from reduced unemployment 

•Additional lifetime earnings from increased educational attainment as a result of education awards 

•Post-tax living allowances and education awards 

AmeriCorps 

Members 

•Tax revenue from increased earnings by AmeriCorps members post-program and sales tax revenue from increased economic activity 

•Reduced educational spending due to reduced grade repetition of HIPPY preschooler participants 

•Tax revenue from living allowances and education awards 

•Reduced lifetime spending on corrections, public assistance, and social insurance from increased educational attainment by 

AmeriCorps members and HIPPY participants 

•Lifetime tax revenue from increased educational attainment by AmeriCorps members and HIPPY participants 

Government 

•Additional lifetime earnings from increased educational attainment as a result of educational support services 

HIPPY 

Participants 
- - -

HIPPY Program ROI Results 

ROI Calculation Short term 

ROI scenario 

Medium term 

ROI scenario 

Long term 

ROI scenario 

Total benefits per federal dollar $0.21 $7.13 $12.32 

Total benefits per funder dollar $0.12 $3.92 $6.77 

Federal government benefits per federal dollar $0.04 $1.92 $4.01 

ROI analysis estimated a $3.92 return on each dollar invested in HIPPY over a medium-term 

scenario. 
Montana Conservation Corps 
About Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) 

• Founded in 1991, MCC is an environmental service program dedicated to 

promoting field research and direct conservation service. 

• MCC has operated as an AmeriCorps program since 1993, with teams of 

AmeriCorps members implementing conservation interventions. 

• MCC supports communities and public lands in the Northern Rockies, including 

Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota. 
AmeriCorps’ Role in MCC

AmeriCorps members: 

• Develop beaver dam analogs (BDAs) that improve drought and flood resilience 

and increase ecosystem services of adjacent habitats 

• Reduce wildfires through fuel reduction and habitat restoration 

• Treat and abate noxious weeds 

• Conduct post-fire re-seeding and reintroduce native plants 

• Implement trail management measures 

30 
MCC Program Benefits 

•Increased earnings of national service members due to increased employment and education of AmeriCorps members 

•AmeriCorps member living allowances and education awards 

AmeriCorps 

Members 

•Avoided costs to government from wildfires 

•Increased federal and state income tax revenue due to increased earnings of AmeriCorps members 

•Increased Social Security and Medicare tax revenue due to increased earning of AmeriCorps members 

•Increased sales tax revenue due to increased earnings of AmeriCorps members 

•Reduced spending on public assistance, corrections, and social insurance due to educational attainment of AmeriCorps members 

Government 

•Improved ecosystem services, carbon sequesteration, extreme event moderation, and water quality benefits from BDA installation 

•Avoided costs to society from wildfires 

•Increased ecosystem services 

•Health and recreational benefits of trails 

Society 
MCC Program ROI Results 

ROI analysis estimated a $23.83 return on each dollar invested in Montana Conservation 

Corps over a medium-term scenario and with average estimates of ecosystem benefits. 
AmeriCorps Urban Safety 

Program Detroit (AMUS) 
 

About AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program Detroit (AMUS) 

• AMUS works to improve public health and safety in the City of Detroit and 

Wayne County, Michigan. 

• Participating AmeriCorps members with service terms up to one year: 

• Create partnerships with community stakeholders to identify crime “hot spots”

• Organize neighborhood block clubs and community patrols 

• Provide outreach and support to survivors of intimate partner violence 

• Implement safe routes for youth walking or biking to neighborhood schools 

• Secure vacant and open structures 

• Provide resources to residents to help reduce property crime, such as home safety 

assessments and anti-theft auto devices 

• Install water filters to reduce blood lead levels 

• Distribute air purifiers and HEPA filters to improve home indoor air quality 
About AMUS Summer Youth Program 

In addition, AMUS operates a summer youth employment program: 

• Participants are engaged as AmeriCorps members with shorter service terms. 

• Participants contribute to public service. 

• Weekly seminars for participants build college and career readiness. 
AMUS Program Benefits 

•Additional earnings from reduced unemployment 

•Additional lifetime earnings from increased educational attainment as a result of education awards 

•Additional lifetime earnings from increased educational attainment as a result of the summer youth program 

•Post-tax living allowances and education awards 

AmeriCorps 

Members 

•Tax revenue from increased earnings by AmeriCorps members and sales tax revenue from increased economic activity 

•Tax revenue from living allowances and education awards 

•Tax revenue from increased earnings from increased educational attainment by AmeriCorps members due to education awards 

•Reduced lifetime spending on corrections, public assistance, and social insurance from increased educational attainment 

•Reduced costs of police protection, legal and adjudication services, and corrections programs due to reduced criminal activity 

•Lifetime tax revenue from increased earnings by beneficiaries as a result of avoided lead exposure due to water filters 

Government 

•Reduced economic losses suffered by crime victims, including medical care costs, lost earnings, and property loss/damage as a 

result of youth summer program participation 

•Reduced costs of crime displacing productive employment Society 

AMUS •Additional lifetime earnings from increased IQ as a result of avoided lead exposure 

Beneficiaries 
- - -

AMUS Program ROI Results 

ROI calculation Short term 

ROI scenario 

Medium term 

ROI scenario 

Long term 

ROI scenario 

Total benefits per federal dollar $3.86 $6.00 $7.28 

Total benefits per funder dollar $1.63 $2.53 $3.07 

Federal government benefits per federal dollar $0.41 $0.89 $1.16 

ROI analysis estimated a $2.53 return on each dollar invested in AMUS over a medium-term 

scenario. 
Reflections 

Tess Mason-Elder 

Director, AmeriCorps Office of Government 

Relations 
Q&A Panel Facilitator 

Emily McDonald, PhD 

Research Analyst 

AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation 
 

 

Questions to reflect on...

• Do you have benefit and cost data that would make an ROI study possible? 

• What’s the “counterfactual” for your program that would help you estimate 

your program’s impacts?

• What are gaps in the data you could use for an ROI analysis of your program? 
Q & A Panel Discussion: 

• Mary Hyde, PhD, Director, AmeriCorps Office of Research and 

Evaluation 

• Emily Pindilli, PhD, Assistant Director Ecosystem Services & Natural 

Capital, Office of Science & Technology Policy, Executive Office of 

the President 

• Benjamin Miller, Senior Director, Community Development, ICF 

• Dominic Modicamore, Lead Labor Economics Consultant, Economic and 

Workforce Development, ICF 

• Tess Mason-Elder, Director, AmeriCorps Office of Government 

Relations 
Thank you for attending today’s webinar 

Join us in our year long Celebration of Service and 

Its Evidence Story. 

Our next Webinar: AmeriCorps – Building a Healthy 

Future in February 2024 

The recording and support materials for this webinar 

will be provided in the next two weeks on the 

AmeriCorps Our Impact Webinar page and 

AmeriCorps R&E YouTube Playlist 

To inquire about the work presented in this webinar, 

please reach out to Evaluation@cns.gov