CNCS FY 2017 Congressional Budget Justification 1

Congressional 

Budget Justification

FISCAL YEAR 2018
1 

Agency

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) was established by the National 

and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, which combined two existing agencies. The primary 

mission of the Corporation is to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in communitybased service by providing grants to organizations that host members for specific service 

projects. CNCS oversees three primary programs: AmeriCorps, the Senior Corps, and the Social 

Innovation Fund. 

These programs are run through a combination of efforts by the National Office (Headquarters), 

State Offices, and State Service Commissions. The State Service Commissions administer CNCS’s 

AmeriCorps State and National formula grant funds. There are State Commissions in 49 states, 

the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. 

FY 2018 Agency Budget Request 

The 2018 Budget delivers on the President’s promise to advance the safety and security of the 

American people without adding to the deficit, and does so by setting priorities and redefining 

the role of the Federal Government. As part of this framework, the Budget proposes to 

eliminate CNCS, returning responsibility to fund national service and volunteerism to the private 

and nonprofit sectors. 

The FY 2018 Budget request of $135 million will support the orderly shutdown of CNCS 

operations. The request includes $99.7 million for salaries and expenses. The salaries and 

expenses funding will provide $69.9 million for staff salaries during the year and the costs 

associated with staff buyouts, early retirements, and reductions in force, $16.2 million for 

agency operations, and $13.6 million for facility operations until the agency closure is complete 

at the end of FY 2018. 

The Budget request includes $24.1 million for the final year of AmeriCorps NCCC operations and 

$7.6 million for managing existing programs during their final year. 

The Budget request provides $3,568,383 for the orderly shutdown of the Office of Inspector 

General, as part of the proposal to eliminate CNCS. 

AmeriCorps State and National 

With funds distributed by States, Territories, Tribes, and community-based organizations, 

members serve full or part-time on projects that align with certain priority areas including 

disaster services, economic opportunity, and education. 

AmeriCorps VISTA 

AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) was created to support efforts to reduce 

poverty and build economic opportunity throughout the country. It accomplishes this goal 

primarily by providing full-time members to community organizations and public agencies 

working to solve local challenges. 

AmeriCorps NCCC 

AmeriCorps NCCC is a 10-month residential national service program for people ages 18–24. 

AmeriCorps NCCC members are deployed to address community needs, which include 
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responding to natural disasters, building homes for low-income families, and helping to keep atrisk youth engaged in school. 

State Service Commission Support Grants

Congress created CNCS in 1993 as a shared federal-state partnership with a central role for 

governors in designing and implementing national service through governor-supported State 

Service Commissions. More than 1,000 private citizens serve as governor-appointed 

commissioners, leading and guiding national service efforts in their states by identifying local 

needs, directing federal and state resources, ensuring oversight and accountability, tracking 

performance and community impact, and leading citizen service efforts in their states and 

territories.

National Service Trust

The National Service Trust provides Education Awards for eligible AmeriCorps members who 

successfully complete their terms of service in an AmeriCorps program. The budget proposes a 

rescission of $139 million in excess reserve balances not required for Education Awards.

Senior Corps RSVP

RSVP engages the skills, talents, and experience of volunteers age 55 and older to meet a wide

range of community needs. RSVP volunteers help seniors live independently in their homes,

tutor and mentor at-risk youth, help communities recover from disasters, and expand economic

opportunities for veterans and their families.

Senior Corps Foster Grandparent Program

The Foster Grandparent Program is an intergenerational program first established in 1965 that 

connects volunteers age 55 and over with opportunities to provide one-on-one mentoring, 

nurturing, and support to children with special or exceptional needs, or who are at an academic, 

social, or financial disadvantage.

Senior Corps Senior Companion Program

The Senior Companion Program engages volunteers, age 55 and over, in providing in-home

support and friendship to adults who have difficulty with daily living tasks such as shopping or 

paying bills.

Volunteer Generation Fund

The Volunteer Generation Fund supports CNCS’s mission to improve lives and strengthen

communities by strengthening volunteer management practices across the country. This 

includes helping nonprofit and voluntary organizations broaden their volunteer base, more 

effectively recruit and retain volunteers, expand opportunity for those who serve, and increase 

their impact on community challenges.

Innovation, Demonstration, and Other Activities

Social Innovation Fund

SIF grants are awarded to intermediaries to help mobilize public and private resources to grow 

innovative, community-driven solutions that have evidence of impacts.
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Call to Service initiatives

CNCS aims to engage more Americans in service to meet pressing community needs including 

the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service and the September 11th National Day of

Service and Remembrance.

Evaluation

CNCS’s Office of Research and Evaluation coordinates the agency’s learning agenda, which 

includes building its evidence base, and facilitating the use of evaluation to inform important 

decisions. To this end, the office conducts research and evaluation on CNCS service programs; 

helps build the capacity of agency-funded partners to conduct and understand evaluations; and 

facilitates evidence-based and evidence-informed grantmaking.

Office of Inspector General

The Office of Inspector General provides an independent assessment of Corporation operations, 

primarily through audits, inspections and investigations, with a goal of detecting and preventing 

fraud, waste, and abuse. 

Table 1. FY 2018 CNCS Budget Summary (dollars in thousands)

Budget Item

FY 2016 

Enacted

FY 2017 

Enacted

FY 2018 

President's 

Budget

$ Difference 

(FY17-FY18)

% Difference 

(FY17-FY18)

Operating Expenses $787,929 $736,029 $31,689 -$704,340 -95.7%

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps State and National $386,010 $386,010 $2,341 -$383,669 -99.4%

AmeriCorps VISTA $92,364 $92,364 $4,910 -$87,454 -94.7%

AmeriCorps NCCC $30,000 $30,000 $24,087 -$5,913 -19.7%

State Service Commission Support Grants $16,038 $16,538 $0 -$16,538 -100.0%

Senior Corps $202,117 $202,117 $351 -$201,766 -99.8%

Foster Grandparents Program $107,702 $107,702 $117 -$107,585 -99.9%

Senior Companion Program $45,512 $45,512 $117 -$45,395 -99.7%

Retired Senior Volunteer Program $48,903 $48,903 $117 -$48,786 -99.8%

Social Innovation Fund $50,000 $0 $0 $0 0.0%

Volunteer Generation Fund $3,800 $3,800 $0 -$3,800 -100.0%

Innovation, Demonstration, & Other $3,600 $1,200 $0 -$1,200 -100.0%

Evaluation $4,000 $4,000 $0 -$4,000 -100.0%

National Service Trust1 $220,000 $206,842 $0 -$206,842 -100.0%

Salaries and Expenses $81,737 $81,737 $99,735 $17,998 22.0%

Office of Inspector General $5,250 $5,750 $3,568 -$2,182 -37.9%

CNCS Total2 $1,094,916 $1,030,358 $134,992 -$895,366 -86.9%

1 This account for FY 2018 includes an unobligated balance rescission in the amount of $139 million.

2 Totals may not add due to rounding.
4

FY 2017 Budget Bill Language and Analysis

OPERATING EXPENSES

For necessary expenses for the Corporation for National and Community Service (referred to in 

this title as "CNCS") to carry out the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (referred to in this 

title as "1973 Act") and the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (referred to in this title 

as "1990 Act"), $31,689,000: Provided, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law—(1) 

CNCS may not incur obligations under subtitle B, subtitle C (except as needed to fulfill the 

requirements of sections 141(d) and (e)), subtitle F, section 193A(g)(3) of subtitle G, or subtitles H 

and J of the 1990 Act; (2) CNCS may not approve any national service positions under section 123 

of the 1990 Act; (3) $24,087,000 shall be available to carry out subtitle E of the 1990 Act; (4) 

CNCS may not assign volunteers under Title I of the 1973 Act; and (5) CNCS may not incur 

obligations under Title II of the 1973 Act.

Note.—A full-year 2017 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget 

was prepared; therefore, the budget assumes this account is operating under the Further 

Continuing Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 114–254). The amounts included for 2017 reflect the 

annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PAYMENT TO THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRUST

Note.—A full-year 2017 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget 

was prepared; therefore, the budget assumes this account is operating under the Further 

Continuing Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 114–254). The amounts included for 2017 reflect the 

annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

For necessary expenses of administration as provided under section 501(a)(5) of the 1990 Act 

and under section 504(a) of the 1973 Act, including payment of salaries, authorized travel, hire 

of passenger motor vehicles, the rental of conference rooms in the District of Columbia, the 

employment of experts and consultants authorized under 5 U.S.C. 3109, and not to exceed 

$2,500 for official reception and representation expenses, $99,735,000.

Note.—A full-year 2017 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget 

was prepared; therefore, the budget assumes this account is operating under the Further 

Continuing Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 114–254). The amounts included for 2017 reflect the 

annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General in carrying out the Inspector General 

Act of 1978, $3,568,000. 

Note.—A full-year 2017 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget 

was prepared; therefore, the budget assumes this account is operating under the Further 

Continuing Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 114–254). The amounts included for 2017 reflect the 

annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.
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ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

(including transfer authority and cancellation)

SEC. 401. AmeriCorps programs receiving grants under the National Service Trust program shall 

meet an overall minimum share requirement of 24 percent for the first 3 years that they receive 

AmeriCorps funding, and thereafter shall meet the overall minimum share requirement as 

provided in section 2521.60 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, without regard to the 

operating costs match requirement in section 121(e) or the member support Federal share 

limitations in section 140 of the 1990 Act, and subject to partial waiver consistent with section 

2521.70 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations. 

SEC. 402. In addition to the requirements in section 146(a) of the 1990 Act, use of an educational 

award for the purpose described in section 148(a)(4) shall be limited to individuals who are 

veterans as defined under section 101 of the Act.

SEC. 403. For the purpose of carrying out section 189D of the 1990 Act—

(a) entities described in paragraph (a) of such section shall be considered "qualified entities" 

under section 3 of the National Child Protection Act of 1993 ("NCPA"); 

(b) individuals described in such section shall be considered "volunteers" under section 3 of 

NCPA; and 

(c) consistent with Public Law 92-544, State Commissions on National and Community Service 

established pursuant to section 178 of the 1990 Act are authorized to receive criminal history 

record information. 

(TRANSFER AUTHORITY)

SEC. 404. Only for purposes of effectuating a transfer of appropriated funds from any account 

under the heading "Corporation for National and Community Service" to any executive agency 

under 31 U.S.C. 1531, the term "executive agency" as used in section 1531 shall apply to the 

Corporation for National and Community Service. 

(CANCELLATION)

SEC. 405. Of the unobligated balances available in the National Service Trust Fund, identified by 

the Treasury Appropriation Fund Symbol 95X8267, $139,000,000 are hereby permanently 

cancelled.
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Table 2. Bill Language Analysis

Language Provision/Change Explanation

Operating Expenses The agency is proposed for elimination in FY 2018. Funding is 

included only for the purposes of orderly winding down

AmeriCorps State and National, NCCC, and VISTA terms of service.

National Service Trust The agency is proposed for elimination in FY 2018, National Service 

Trust balances remain available for future payment of outstanding 

obligations. Therefore no new funding is needed for the National 

Service Trust.

Salaries And Expenses The agency is proposed for elimination in FY 2018. Funding is 

provided for the orderly shutdown of agency operations in FY 2018. 

Office Of Inspector General The agency is proposed for elimination in FY 2018. Funding is 

provided for the orderly shutdown of OIG operations in FY 2018. 

Administrative Provisions

New Sec. 404 added:

Only for purposes of effectuating a transfer of 

appropriated funds from any account under the 

heading "Corporation for Community Service" to any 

executive agency under 31 U.S.C. 1531, the term 

"executive agency" as used in section 1531 shall 

apply to the Corporation for National and 

Community Service.

The agency is proposed for elimination in FY 2018. This language 

facilitates the orderly winding down of CNCS operations in FY 2018 

by making the funding transfer authorities under 31 U.S.C. 1531 

applicable to CNCS appropriations. 

New Sec. 405 added:

Of the unobligated balances available in the National 

Service Trust Fund, identified by the Treasury 

Appropriation Fund Symbol 95X8267, $139,000,000 

are hereby permanently cancelled.

The agency is proposed for elimination in FY 2018. The National 

Service Trust provides Education Awards for eligible AmeriCorps 

members who successfully complete their terms of service in an 

AmeriCorps program. This language rescinds $139 million in excess 

reserve balances not required for liquidating Trust obligations. 
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Table 3. CNCS Salaries and Expenses (dollars in thousands)

Budget Item

FY 2016 

Enacted

FY 2017 

Enacted

FY 2018 

President's 

Budget

$ Difference 

(FY17-FY18)

% Difference 

(FY17-FY18)

Salaries $41,971 $42,471 $48,000 $5,529 13.0%

Other Personnel compensation $610 $755 $900 $145 19.2%

Civilian personnel benefits $11,711 $11,979 $21,000 $9,021 75.3%

Total personnel compensation $54,292 $55,205 $69,900 $14,695 27%

Travel and transportation of persons $1,530 $1,650 $89 -$1,561 -94.6%

Rental payments to GSA $5,615 $5,900 $5,250 -$650 -11.0%

Communication, utilities, and 

miscellaneous charges $1,907 $856 1,750 $894 104.4%

Other services $17,943 $17,930 $22,643 $4,713 26.3%

Supplies and materials $450 $196 $103 -$93 -47.4%

Total, Salaries and Expenses $81,737 $81,737 $99,735 $17,998 22%

Full Time Equivalents 451 451 400 -51 -11%