2015 Martin 

Luther King Jr. 

Day of Service 

Grant 

Competition 

Technical Assistance Call
Agenda

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CNCS overview

Notice of Funding highlights

Notice of Funding website resources: 

www.nationalservice.gov/MLKNOFA

Questions
CNCS Overview

• The mission of the Corporation for National and 

Community Service (CNCS) is to improve lives, 

strengthen communities, and foster civic 

engagement through service and volunteering. 

– AmeriCorps

– Senior Corps

– Social Innovation Fund

– Volunteer Generation Fund

– September 11th National Day of Service and 

Remembrance

– Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service
Notice of Funding Highlights

IMPORTANT: 

PLEASE READ 

THE ENTIRE 

NOTICE OF 

FUNDING!
Pass-through Entities

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This Notice allows applicants to act as 

pass-through entities. 

Pass-through entities must select 

subrecipients on a competitive basis 

through a subgrant. 

Acting as a pass-through entity 

(subawarding) is not required.
Partnership Plans

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Applicants may also apply to this Notice with 

partner organizations and a partnership plan. 

Partners must be named in the application at the 

time the application is submitted to CNCS, and 

the partnership plan should identify how the 

partnership is structured. 

See pages 3-4 of the Notice for additional 

information on both pass-through entities and 

partnership plans.

If an applicant intends to provide funding for 

staffing to partners or as a pass-through entity, 

National Service Criminal History Checks are 

required
Deadline

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Notice of Intent to Apply is not 

required

Applications due: Thursday, June 

25, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern 

Time
Eligible Applicants

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Public or private nonprofit organizations (including faithbased and other community organizations)

Institutions of higher education

Government entities within states or territories (e.g., 

cities, counties)

Local government as defined in 2 C.F.R § 200.64

Government-recognized veteran service organizations 

Labor organizations

Partnerships and consortia

Indian Tribes
Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are capable of carrying out 

multi-state, nationally focused (10 or more states), 

or comprehensive regional initiatives involving at 

least ten (10) projects in a region. Successful 

applicants must have submitted an application that 

meets one of the two criteria set forth in the 

preceding sentence. Regional initiatives are 

multiple states in a region. If necessary, applicants 

may engage with partners to accomplish these 

geographic initiatives. If engaging with other 

partners, applicant organizations must have the 

capability to manage and provide partner 

oversight, report on project accomplishments and 

performance measures, and remain accountable 

to CNCS for the achievement of the intended 

results set forth in their proposals.
All grants awarded will support activities that:

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demonstrate opportunities to engage new and 

diverse groups

identify and invest in community solutions, 

especially solutions that address improving 

economic opportunities

leverage public-private partnerships

increase the impact of national service on 

community needs in communities served by 

CNCS-supported programs
All grants awarded will support activities that 

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ensure that grant-supported activities focus on 

the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and provide 

opportunities to connect to service beyond the 

holiday

reflect the life and teaching of Martin Luther King, 

Jr., and expand the impact of Martin Luther King 

Service Day activities from one year to the next

provide support and/or facilitate access to 

services and resources that contribute to 

improved educational outcomes for economically 

disadvantaged people.
Priority Consideration

• Disability inclusion plans to ensure 

people with disabilities are among 

those serving at their Martin Luther 

King Day of Service event
Priority Consideration

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Disaster Services

Economic Opportunity

Environmental Stewardship

Education

Healthy Futures

Veterans and Military Families
Required Capacity Building 

Performance Measures

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G3-3.1. Number of community 

volunteers recruited by CNCSsupported organizations or National 

Service Participants

G3-3.2: Number of community 

volunteers managed by CNCSsupported National Service 

Participants
Optional Capacity Building Performance 

Measure

•G3-3.3: Number of organizations 

implementing three or more effective 

volunteer management practices as a 

result of capacity building services 

provided by CNCS supported 

organizations or National Service 

Participants. 
Other Performance Measures

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Disaster Services

Economic Opportunity

Environmental Stewardship

Education

Healthy Futures

Veterans and Military Families

www.nationalserviceresources.gov/npm/home
Award Period

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Funding amount is for a one year 

budget period

The project period is for two years

Funding for the second year of the 

project period is dependent upon:

–Satisfactory performance

–Availability of Congressional 

appropriations
Funding Amount

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$750,000 Available

Minimum annual amount 

of $50,000

Maximum annual amount 

of $300,000
Application

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All applications submitted through eGrants

National Service Hotline (800) 942-2677 or via 

https://questions.nationalservice.gov/app/ask_eg for 

technical questions regarding eGrants

Page Limits: 15 pages as they print from eGrants

– Executive Summary

– Project Narratives

– Cover Page

– DOES NOT INCLUDE: Budget or Performance Measures
Application

•Match Requirement

–70% of total program budget

–Can be cash and/or in-kind

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DUNS and SAM

Applications must be submitted 

on time!
Basic Selection Criteria: 

Categories and Respective Weights

Category Percentage Sub-Category Percentage

Program Design 60% Goals and Objectives 35%

National Performance Measure Outputs 15%

Description of Partner Engagement Process 10%

Organizational Capability 25% Ability to Provide Program Oversight 15%

Ability to Provide Fiscal Oversight 10%

Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 15% Budget and Program Design 10%

Proposed Source of Match 5%
Review and Selection Process Stages

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Compliance Review (all applications)

Staff Review

Post Review Quality Control

Risk Assessment Evaluation

Clarification

Selection for Funding

–Applicant Feedback
Technical Assistance

• Frequently Asked Questions

–Questions can be submitted to 

mlkgrants@cns.gov

–Answers posted in the FAQs

–Notice website: 

www.nationalservice.gov/MLKnofa
Application Deadline

Applications due: June 

25, 5:00 p.m. Eastern 

Time