2020 Day of Service Grant Competition 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and 

September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance

March 3, 2020
Stream audio through the 

computer (Audio Settings)

General Tips for Audio
1. Click View Options; and

2. Select Exit Full Screen to display the 

Chat on the right side of the screen.

Use the Raise Hand feature if 

you have a technical issue. Our 

support team from LSI will 

contact you individually via 

Chat.

Use the Chat to:

• Participate in activities, and

• Share ideas with participants.

Tips for Participating
2020 Day of Service Grant Competition 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and 

September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance

March 3, 2020
Agenda

• CNCS overview

• Purpose of funding

• Priority consideration

• Notice of Funding highlights

• Deadlines

• National Service Criminal History Checks requirements and resources

• Budget 

• Additional items

• eGrants

• Questions and answers
CNCS overview

CNCS’s mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, 

and foster civic engagement through service and 

volunteering

Major programs and initiatives:

• AmeriCorps

• Senior Corps

• Volunteer Generation Fund

• Days of Service

 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

 September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance
Purpose of funding

• MLK: 

- mobilize more Americans to observe the Martin Luther King Jr. federal 

holiday as a day of service in communities, to encourage those who serve 

on this holiday to make a long-term commitment to community service, and 

to bring people together to focus on service to others.

• September 11:

- mobilize more Americans to engage in service and remembrance 

activities that meet community needs and honor the sacrifice of those 

who lost their lives or family members on September 11, 2001, or who 

rose in service because of that tragedy. 
September 11 priority consideration

• engaging and supporting Veterans and Military Families in 

September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance activities

• developing educational materials, educating and engaging youth in 

service to honor September 11th National Day of Service and 

Remembrance

• preparing communities for disasters

• training volunteers who make a commitment for future service

Note: Priority consideration does not guarantee funding. 
MLK priority consideration 

• providing support and/or facilitating access to services and resources 

for economically disadvantaged people

• training volunteers who make a commitment for future service

Note: Priority consideration does not guarantee funding.
Notice of Funding highlights*

• Purpose: Support community-based volunteer activities 

commemorating two important national events

• Timing: Day of Service activities in calendar year 2021

 January 2021: MLK Day of Service

 September 2021: September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance

• Eligible entities:

 Indian tribes

 institutions of higher education 

 local and state governments 

 nonprofit organizations 

• May apply for one or both; if applying for both, submit two 

separate applications 

* Please read the entire NOFO and Application Instructions prior to submitting your application 

in eGrants.
Notice of Funding highlights*

• CNCS funding: $3.2 million for Day of Service 

• Grant request amounts: no set minimum or maximum this year, 

but encourage requests between $20,000 and $200,000

• Project Period: three years

• Budget Period: one year with funding for years two and three 

dependent on:

 Availability of Congressional appropriations

 Satisfactory performance 

• Match: 

 70% non-federal funds required for MLK grants; may be cash and/or 

in-kind

 No match required for 9/11 grants in this competition.

* Please read the entire NOFO and Application Instructions prior to submitting your application 

in eGrants.
Deadlines

• Applications are due by Wed, March 25, 2020 5:00pm Eastern 

Standard Time. 

• June 2020: Funding announcements expected

Note: CNCS may request additional information on your application as part of its review 

process.
National Service Criminal History 

Checks (NSCHC)

• Intent is to protect vulnerable populations 

• All individuals working in covered positions must have NSCHCs

– A covered position is a position in which a person receives a living 

allowance, stipend, education award, salary, through a national service 

program

– This includes employees funded by the grantee share/match when 

applicable

– This also includes employees of subgrantees 

• The requirements vary depending on recurring and episodic access to 

vulnerable populations 

– Two-part check or three-part check, depending on level of access

• CNCS has approved a contract with two vendors to provide these checks and encourages grantees to use them
NSCHC Key Terms

• Covered Positions: individuals who are serving through or employed by a national service program who receive a living allowance, stipend, national service education award, or salary 

are in a covered position, regardless of the type of service, their access to vulnerable 

populations, or whether they are paid with federal or matching funds

• Vulnerable Populations: vulnerable populations include children age 17 or younger, persons age 60 and older, and/or people with disabilities. People with disabilities are 

defined as having a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more 

major life activities, having a record of such impairment, or regarded as having such 

impairment

• Recurring Access: ‘the ability on more than one occasion to approach, observe, or 

communicate with a person, through physical proximity or other means, including but not limited to, electronic or telephonic communication.’’ It is typically a regular, scheduled, and 

anticipated component of a person’s service activities

• Episodic Access: is typically NOT a regular, scheduled, and anticipated component of a 

person’s service activities. A recipient does not need CNCS approval to use the “episodic access” exception to the NSCHC requirements. It is not defined by a specific number of 

contacts

• For more information on NSCHC requirements and policies, please go to

https://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/criminal-history-check
Budget Development and Management 

1. Determine

needs

2. State goals 

and objectives

3. Decide a 

strategy

4. Translate 

strategy to dollars 

5. Prepare budget 6. Set budget

control process

7. Compare budget 

to actual expenses

8. Modify budget
Budget Narrative

• Follow instructions in NOFO

• Includes allowable, reasonable, necessary, and allocable 

costs, as defined by 2 CFR 200

• Estimate resources needed to achieve program goals

• Organize narrative to fit budget categories

• Provide adequate descriptions

• Check your math
Examples of Unallowable Costs

• Lobbying

• Entertainment and alcohol 

• Expenses not tied to program objectives

• Costs that constitute waste, fraud, and abuse

• Unreasonable from “prudent person” perspective

• Costs with no logical basis 
Budget Structure

Separated by major categories and

divided into CNCS and Grantee shares

Direct Costs Indirect Costs

(Section I. Support Expenses) (Section III. Volunteer Expenses)

Attributable to Program Goals For Common Organizational Goals

Examples: 

 Program staff salaries and fringe

 Staff travel

 Program supplies

 NSCHCs

Examples:

 Management staff salaries and fringe

 Accounting and legal services

 Office equipment

 Rent and leases

 General liability insurance
September 11 Budget Categories

Section I. Support Expenses

A. Project Personnel Expenses

B. Personnel Fringe Benefits

C. Travel

D. Equipment

E. Supplies

F. Contractual and 

Consultant Services

I. Other Support Costs

J. Indirect Costs 
Section I. Support Expenses

A. Project Personnel Expenses

B. Personnel Fringe Benefits

C. Travel

D. Equipment

E. Supplies

F. Contractual and Other Consultant 

Services

I. Other Support Costs

Section II. Indirect Costs: leave blank

Section III. Volunteer Expenses

J. Indirect Costs 

A. Volunteer Costs: leave blank

Source of Funds (i.e. match)

MLK Budget Categories
Budget Narrative Section I - Samples

Position/Title

Calculation CNCS Share Grantee 

Share* Total

Program Manager (oversees all project 

activities) 1 FTE at 80,000 x 70% usage 45,000 11,000 56,000

Administrative Assistant (supports 

project activities) 1 FTE at 30,000 x 5% usage 1,500 0 1,500

CATEGORY Totals 46,500 11,000 57.500

A. Project Personnel Expenses

Item Calculation CNCS Share Grantee 

Share * Total

Event supplies such as pens, paper, 

buttons, clipboards, name tags, etc. $2 per person x 300 people 600 0 600

Laptop and hard drive for recruitment, 

registration, follow up, and retention 1 laptop x $500 500 0 500

CATEGORY Totals 1,100 0 1,100

E. Supplies

* Note: September 11 budgets have no match requirement. 
Administrative and Indirect Costs

Two methods to recover administrative costs:

1. Federally Approved Indirect Cost Rate Method

– Requires approved rate from Federal government

– Approved rate constitutes documentation

2. 10% De Minimis Rate

- Organizations that have never held a federally negotiated 

rate

- Organizations that receive less than $35 million in direct 

federal funding

- If selected, must use consistently across all federal awards
Source of Funds (i.e. Match)

MLK Day applications only
Source of Funds – Sample Entries 

MLK Day applications only
Additional Reminders

• System for Award Management registration or renewal at 

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/

• Operational and Financial Management Survey (OFMS), if 

required

• Single Audit and 990, as appropriate

• Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement details in eGrants, 

when applicable
Don’t Forget: Quality Assurance Check

• Follow instructions in NOFO

• Includes allowable, reasonable, necessary, and allocable 

costs, as defined by 2 CFR 200

• Estimate resources needed to achieve program goals

• Organize narrative to fit budget categories

• Provide adequate descriptions

• Check your math
eGrants

eGrants Log in/Create account: 

https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp

eGrants technical assistance:

National Service Hotline -- 800-942-2677
Any Questions?

Use the Raise Hand feature if 

you would like to ask an verbal 

question. Our support team 

from LSI will unmute you so that 

you can ask your question. You 

will see a popup for you to 

accept being unmuted.
Questions and Answers

• FY 2019 DAY OF SERVICE GRANTS Webpage:

- Notice of Funding Opportunity

- Application Instructions

- Webinar Recording (coming soon)

- Frequently Asked Questions (coming soon and will be updated 

periodically)

• Email: DayofService@cns.gov