2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

National Service in Puerto Rico

AmeriCorps.gov 1

Puerto Rico by the Numbers What is AmeriCorps?

Bringing Out the Best

in America

Segal AmeriCorps

Education Award

agency for national service and

volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides

opportunities for Americans of all

backgrounds to serve their country,

address the nation’s most pressing

challenges, improve lives and

communities, and strengthen civic

engagement.

Meeting Needs in Puerto Rico

Last year more than 1,000 Americans of all ages and

backgrounds united to meet local needs, strengthen

communities, and expand opportunity through national service

in Puerto Rico. AmeriCorps invested more than $10.1 million in

federal funding to support cost-effective community solutions,

working hand in hand with local partners to empower

individuals to help communities tackle their toughest

challenges.

AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers

are preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s jobs, helping

communities and families impacted by COVID-19 pandemic,

connecting veterans to services, fighting the opioid epidemic,

helping seniors live independently, rebuilding communities

after disasters, and leading conservation and climate change

efforts.

More than 200,000 AmeriCorps

members and AmeriCorps Seniors

volunteers serve each year,

empowering millions more to meet

needs in their communities. By

bringing people together to serve

communities, AmeriCorps is making

service to others an indispensable

part of the American experience.

Members & Volunteers Service Locations Total Investment

1,048 97 $12.7m

AmeriCorps is the federal

After successful completion of

service, AmeriCorps members earn a

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

to pay for qualified educational

costs. Since 1994, more than 7,600

Puerto Rico residents have served

approximately 15 million hours and

earned education awards totaling

more than $24.6 million. Higher

education institutions and other

organizations in Puerto Rico have

received more than $6.5 million in

education award payments since

1994.

AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers

served at more than 90 locations across Puerto Rico, including

schools, food banks, homeless shelters, health clinics, youth

centers, veterans' facilities, and other nonprofit and faithbased organizations. Through a unique public-private

partnership, AmeriCorps and its partners generated more

than $2.5 million in outside resources from businesses,

foundations, public agencies, and other sources in Puerto Rico

last year. This local support strengthened community impact

and increased the return on taxpayer dollars.
2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

National Service in Puerto Rico

AmeriCorps.gov | 2

AmeriCorps State and National

Our Programs and Initiatives

 awards grants to organizations to engage individuals in sustained service

to address local, regional, and national challenges. Thousands of opportunities exist in locations across the

country to serve with nonprofits, schools, public agencies, tribes, and community and faith-based groups.

Most AmeriCorps grant funding goes to Comisión de Voluntariado y Servicio Comunitario de Puerto Rico,

the Governor-appointed State Service Commission, which in turn awards grants to organizations to

respond to local needs.

Public Health AmeriCorps supports the recruitment, training, and development of the next generation of

public health leaders who will be ready to respond to the nation’s health needs. In partnership with the

Centers for Disease Control, Public Health AmeriCorps advances more equitable health outcomes, creates

pathways to quality careers, and recruits members who reflect the communities they serve.

AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparents

AmeriCorps NCCC

AmeriCorps VISTA places individuals with nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and tribal

governments to expand reach and deepen impact in making sustainable change that alleviates the impact

of poverty. Through fundraising, volunteer recruitment, program development, and more, AmeriCorps

members gain experience and leadership skills that put them on track for a life of service in the public,

private, or nonprofit sector.

 is a full-time, team-based, residential program for 18–26-year-olds. Whether building

homes for families in need or accelerating our nation’s capacity to respond to a crisis, AmeriCorps NCCC

members engage in a variety of community identified projects during their service term, while developing

leadership, teamwork, and professional skills. AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps serves communities, in

coordination with FEMA, through disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

 provides grants to organizations to engage low-income

Americans aged 55 and older in providing one-on-one mentoring and academic support to children with

special or exceptional needs. In 2022, Foster Grandparents in Puerto Rico served more than 790 young

people with special needs.

AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companions provides grants to organizations to engage low-income

Americans aged 55 and older in providing supportive, individualized services to help homebound seniors

and other adults maintain their dignity and independence. In 2022, Seniors Companions in Puerto Rico

provided independent living support to more than 380 individuals.

AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP provides grants to organizations to engage Americans aged 55 and older in

tutoring and mentoring youth, responding to natural disasters, supporting veterans and their families, and

meeting other critical needs.

To see other reports about national service in Puerto Rico, email PR@cns.gov.

Learn More

Volunteer Generation Fund supports voluntary organizations and state service commissions in boosting

the impact of volunteers in addressing critical community needs.

MLK Day of Service is observed each year on the third Monday in January. It is the only federal holiday

designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to deepen ties to

communities, expand racial equity, and solidify service to others as a national commitment.

9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance calls Americans across the country to volunteer in their

local communities in tribute to the individuals lost and injured in the attacks, first responders, and the many

who have risen in service to defend freedom since Sept. 11, 2001.

To learn more about AmeriCorps, visit: AmeriCorps.gov.