250 E Street SW

Washington, D.C. 20525

202-606-5000/ 800-942-2677

Applicant-Determined Performance 

Measure Supplement

and

Suggested Applicant Determined 

Performance Measures for

Native Nations and Bridge Building

AmeriCorps State and National

2024
1

Contents

What is an Applicant-Determined Performance Measure?..................................... 2

Applicant-Determined Performance Measure Rules................................................ 2

Entering Information into eGrants............................................................................... 3

Suggested Applicant Determined Performance Measures for Native Nations ... 14

Suggested Applicant Determined Performance Measures for Bridge Building... 24
2

Purpose

As stated in the Performance Measure Instructions, applicants are required to create 

at least one aligned performance measure (an output paired with an outcome) 

connected to their primary intervention. Applicants are required to use National 

Performance Measures if they fit their program’s Theory of Change. Programs that do 

not fit within the National Performance Measures may create an applicant-determined 

measure. This supplement provides more information on when and how to create 

applicant-determined performance measures in AmeriCorps’ web-based grants 

management system, eGrants.

Applicants should only create applicant-determined measures after reviewing the 

Application Instructions and the Performance Measure Instructions to ensure 

understanding of the performance measure requirements and selection rules. 

What is an Applicant-Determined Performance Measure?

An applicant-determined performance measure is one in which the applicant creates 

the language for the outputs and/or outcomes that will be measured. This is different 

from the National Performance Measures, where AmeriCorps pre-determines 

common outputs and outcomes that are available for applicants to use.

Applicant-Determined Performance Measure Rules

Applicant-determined performance measures must follow all of the requirements 

listed in the Performance Measure Instructions. The following elements also apply 

specifically to applicant-determined performance measures.

Applicant-determined performance measures can be:

• An output and outcome pairing

• An outcome paired with a National Performance Measure output

Applicant-determined performance measures cannot:

• Be an output paired with a National Performance Measure outcome

• Duplicate already established National Performance Measures

There are some objectives for which the creation of applicant-determined outputs is 

not allowed:

• Capacity Building and Leverage (in the Capacity Building focus area) 

• Find Opportunity (in the Economic Opportunity focus area) 

• Teacher Corps (in the Education focus area)

• Green Jobs (in the Environmental Stewardship focus area)

• Access & Attract (in the Veterans and Military Families focus area) 
3

Entering Information into eGrants

Click on Performance Measure on the left hand navigation to take you to the home 

screen of the Performance Measures Module. Click on the link to enter Performance 

Measures.

Figure 1: The link to begin the Performance Measures Module in eGrants.

Click Begin.

Figure 2: The Home Page tab of the Performance Measures Module featuring the Begin button.

On the Objective tab, find the focus area(s) that applies to the program. If none apply, 

then select Other Community Priorities. Under the focus area, select the objective(s)
4

of the program activity. If none of the objectives in the focus area apply, select “Other 

[Focus Area]” if available. 

Figure 3: The Objective tab of the Performance Measures Module with the Economic Opportunity focus area and 

Housing objective field expanded.

Check the box of the intervention(s) that are part of the program design. If none of 

the interventions apply, check the box next to “Other.” 

Figure 4: The Objective tab with the Housing Placement/Assistance intervention checked.

Select the Primary Focus Area and Primary Intervention. Options in the dropdown 

populate based on the selections made on this tab. If applicable, select the 

Secondary Focus Area and Secondary intervention. Applicants are not required to 

select a Secondary Focus Area or Secondary Intervention. Click Next.
5

Figure 5: The Objective tab with the primary focus area and primary intervention selected.

On the MSY/Members tab, enter the number of total MSY for the project, as well as 

the number of MSY and members for each objective. Click Next.

Figure 6: The MSY/Member tab of the Performance Measures Module showing the total MSY for the project, MSY 

allocated to the objective, and Members allocated to the objective.

On the Performance Measure tab, select the objective for the performance measure. 

Options in the dropdown populate based on information entered on the Objective 

tab. Enter the title of the performance measure and the problem statement. Check 

the box of the intervention for this performance measure. The options are based on 
6

information entered on the Objective tab. If you selected “Other” on the Objective 

tab, check the box next to the empty field and enter the name of your intervention.

Please note: do not add an applicant-determined intervention that duplicates an 

intervention already available in the system.

Figure 7: The Performance Measures tab of the Performance Measures Module with objective, title, problem 

statement, and intervention entered.

In the Outputs section, select which output to measure. Options in the Outputs 

section are based on the selected Objective. Only pick one output per performance 

measure. 
7

Figure 8: The Performance Measures tab showing the available Outputs associated with the selected objective.

If you select a National Performance Measure output, the Outcomes section will 

populate with either the options for a National Performance Measure outcome that 

aligns with the selected National Performance Measure output or a space for an 

applicant-determined outcome. It is allowable to have a National Performance 

Measure output paired with an applicant-determined outcome.
8

Figure 9: The Performance Measures tab showing the available Outcomes associated with the selected National 

Performance Measure output.

To create the applicant-determined outcome, check the box next to the empty field, 

then enter the name of the outcome.

Figure 10: The Performance Measures tab showing an example of a National Performance Measure output paired 

with an applicant-determined outcome.

If you create an applicant-determined output, only an applicant-determined outcome 

will be available. It is allowable to have an applicant-determined output paired with 

an applicant-determined outcome. It is not allowable to have an applicantdetermined output paired with a National Performance Measure outcome.

Figure 11: The Performance Measures tab showing that only applicant-determined outcomes are available if 

creating an applicant-determined output.
9

To create an applicant-determined output, click the radial next to the empty field, 

then enter the name of the output. To create an applicant-determined outcome, 

check the box next to the empty field, then enter the name of the outcome.

Remember: do not duplicate any National Performance Measures in the applicantdetermined measure fields.

Figure 12: The Performance Measures tab showing an example of an applicant-determined output paired with an 

applicant-determined outcome.

Enter the number of MSY and Members associated with this Performance Measure. 

Click Next.
10

Figure 13: The Performance Measures tab showing the MSY and Members associated with the performance 

measure.

On the Data Collection tab, enter the description of the intervention. Click on the 

arrow to expand the data collection section. For applicant-determined measures, the 

only method available is “Other.” Enter the instrument description and target number

of outputs and the unit of the outputs. 

Applicant-determined measures do not have system-set units of measure so the 

applicant will need to enter the appropriate unit. The unit of measure should describe 

the beneficiary population you intend to count.

Figure 14: The Data Collection tab of the Performance Measures Module with the method selected and the unit of 

measure entered for an applicant-determined output.

For National Performance Measures, there are options for methods to measure the 

output based on the definitions in the Performance Measure Instructions. The unit of 

measure is also system-set so that it aligns with the National Performance Measure 

selected; it cannot be edited.
11

Figure 15: The Data Collection tab containing other options for the method and the system-set unit of measure for 

a National Performance Measure.

Enter the data collection method for the applicant-made outcome as well. Similar to 

the applicant-made output, the only method is “Other,” and the applicant must state 

the unit of measure. In most cases, the unit of measure should be the same for the 

output and outcome(s) in an aligned performance measure. Once the measure is 

finished, click Mark Complete.

Figure 16: The Data Collection tab with the method selected and the unit of measure entered for an applicantdetermined outcome.
12

The system will return the applicant to the Performance Measure tab. All created 

performance measures are noted at the top of the Performance Measure tab. All 

applicant-determined outputs begin with OUTPT and all applicant-determined 

outcomes begin with OUTCM.

If you would like to create another performance measure, repeat the process.

Applicants are required to create at least one aligned performance measure (an 

output paired with an outcome) connected to their primary intervention. Applicants 

are not expected to have performance measures for every program activity.

When the applicant has finished designing the performance measures, click Next at 

the bottom of the page.

Figure 17: The Performance Measure tab lists the completed applicant-determined performance measure.

The Summary tab provides a summary of the data entered in the Performance 

Measure Module. When ready, click Validate Performance Measures.

Figure 18: The Summary tab of the Performance Measure Module showing the summary of the applicantdetermined performance measure and the Validate Performance Measures button.
13

If there are no errors with the Performance Measure Module, a notification will appear 

stating “Success: All Performance Measures are valid.” 

Figure 19: The Summary tab stating the performance measure is valid.
14

Suggested Applicant Determined Performance Measures 

for Native Nations

Disaster Services

Strategic Plan 

Objective

Selection Rules Interventions

Outputs Outcomes (if applicable)*

Assistance 

Provided

D1A: Number of 

individuals served

D5: Number of individuals 

reporting increased disaster 

readiness

Traditional Ecological 

Knowledge (TEK) .

Disaster Preparation

Disaster Response

Disaster Recovery

Disaster Mitigation

Disaster Adaptation

Climate Change 

Intervention

D6: Number of 

structures protected 

or restored

D7: Number of structures 

returned to regular use after a 

disaster

Traditional Ecological 

Knowledge (TEK) 

Disaster Preparation

Disaster Response

Disaster Recovery

Disaster Mitigation

Disaster Adaptation

Climate Change 

Intervention

Acres of Tribal land or 

protected land 

treated

Acres of Tribal land or protected 

land improved 

Traditional Ecological 

Knowledge (TEK)

Disaster Preparation

Disaster Response

Disaster Recovery

Disaster Mitigation

Disaster Adaptation

Climate Change 

Intervention

Miles of Tribal land or 

protected land 

treated.

Miles of Tribal land or protected 

land improved

Traditional Ecological 

Knowledge (TEK) 

Disaster Preparation

Disaster Response

Disaster Recovery

Disaster Mitigation

Disaster Adaptation

Climate Change 

Intervention

G3-3.4**: Number of 

organizations that 

received capacity 

building services

G3-3.10A**: Number of 

organizations that increase their 

efficiency, effectiveness, and/or 

program reach

Traditional Ecological 

Knowledge (TEK) Disaster 

Preparation

Disaster Response

Disaster Recovery

Disaster Mitigation

Disaster Adaptation
15

Climate Change 

Intervention

*All National Performance Measure outputs may also be paired with an applicant-determined outcome 

instead or may be used without an associated outcome. 

**In the eGrants Performance Measure Module, these measures may appear with the letter “D” at the 

end when used in the Disaster Services focus area. However, the instructions for these measures are 

the same regardless of the focus area in which they are used. 
16

Education

Strategic 

Plan 

Objective

Selection Rules Interventions

Outputs Outcomes (if applicable)*

School 

Readiness

ED1A: Number of 

individuals served

Number of individuals with 

increased knowledge of Native 

American/Indigenous language 

and culture

Tutoring

Mentoring

Other Classroom Support

Out-of-School Time

Family Involvement

Service Learning

Summer Learning

Classroom Teaching

K-12 Success ED1A: Number of 

individuals served

Number of individuals with 

increased knowledge of Native 

American/Indigenous language 

and culture

ED5A: Number of students with 

improved academic performance 

ED9: Number of students 

graduating from high school on 

time

ED10: Number of students 

enrolling in post-secondary 

education/training

ED27C: Number of students 

with improved academic 

engagement or social-emotional 

skills

ED6: Number of students with 

increased attendance

ED7A: Number of students with 

decreased disciplinary incidents 

(referrals, 

suspensions/expulsions, criminal 

or gang involvement)

Tutoring

Mentoring

Coaching

Other Classroom Support

Out-of-School Time

Family Involvement

Service Learning

Summer Learning

Classroom Teaching

Opioid/Drug Intervention

Post-HS 

Education 

Support

ED1A: Number of 

individuals served

Number of individuals with 

increased knowledge of Native 

American/Indigenous language 

and culture

ED11: Number of individuals 

earning a post-secondary degree 

or technical certification

Tutoring

Mentoring

Family Involvement

Service Learning

Summer Learning
17

Teacher 

Corps

N/A (outputs may be 

reported as 

Performance Data 

Elements on annual 

Progress Reports) 

N/A (outcomes may be reported 

as Performance Data Elements 

on annual Progress Reports)

N/A

Other 

Education

ED1A: Number of 

individuals served

Applicant-determined Applicant-determined

*All National Performance Measure outputs may also be paired with an applicant-determined outcome 

instead or may be used without an associated outcome.

Focus Area Notes 

• Programs should only opt into the Education performance measures if the measures reflect 

significant program activities aligned with the applicant’s core theory of change. 

• All individuals counted under these measures must be program beneficiaries, not National 

Service Participants. National Service Participant outputs and outcomes should be reported in 

the Performance Data Elements in annual Progress Reports.

Activities associated with these measures must be carried out by National Service Participants or by 

volunteers directly recruited and/or supported by National Service Participants.

ED27C 

(outcome)

Number of students with improved academic engagement or social and 

emotional skills

Definition of 

Key Terms

Students: those reported in ED1A

Improved academic engagement or social and emotional skills: A positive 

change in student skills, attitude, and/or mindset that is likely to contribute to 

increased educational success. May include increased interest in school, 

improved perspective on school climate, increased attachment to school and/or 

increased educational aspirations. 

Social-emotional skills developed through more specific routes of Native Culture 

and Language include but are not limited to healing; improved emotional/mental 

health; resilience; improved self/communal-identity; increased 

connection/relationship to community, land, and culture.

How to 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

Survey, observation, or other instrument capable of measuring changes in 

academic engagement or social and emotional skills at the individual beneficiary 

level. When possible, pre-post assessments should be utilized.

Notes Academic or behavioral improvements counted under ED5A, ED6, or ED7A 

cannot be counted under this measure
18

Environmental Stewardship

Strategic 

Plan 

Objective

Selection Rules Interventions

Outputs Outcomes (if applicable)*

At-Risk 

Ecosystems

Acres of Tribal or 

protected lands 

treated

Acres of Tribal or protected 

lands improved

Fire Mitigation

Flood Mitigation

Invasive Species Removal

Debris Removal

Plant Establishment

Climate Change 

Intervention

Traditional Ecological 

Knowledge (TEK)

Miles of Tribal or 

protected lands 

treated.

Miles of Tribal or protected lands 

improved

Trail Creation

Trail Remediation

Stream Remediation

Fire Mitigation

Flood Mitigation

Invasive Species Removal

Debris Removal

Plant Establishment

Climate Change 

Intervention

Traditional Ecological 

Knowledge (TEK)

Energy 

Efficiency

EN1: Number of 

housing units or 

public structures 

weatherized or 

retrofitted to improve 

energy efficiency

EN1.1: Number of housing units 

or public structures with reduced 

energy consumption or reduced 

energy costs

Weatherization

Retrofitting

Climate Change 

Intervention

Traditional Ecological 

Knowledge (TEK)

Awareness & 

Stewardship

EN3: Number of 

individuals receiving 

education or training 

in environmental 

stewardship and/or 

environmentallyconscious practices

EN3.1: Number of individuals 

with increased knowledge of 

environmental stewardship 

and/or environmentallyconscious practices

EN3.2: Number of individuals 

reporting a change in behavior 

or intention to change behavior 

to better protect the 

environment

Education/Training

Service Learning

Climate Change 

Intervention

Traditional Ecological 

Knowledge (TEK)

Green Jobs N/A (outputs may be 

reported as 

Performance Data 

Elements on annual 

Progress Reports) 

N/A (outcomes may be reported 

as Performance Data Elements 

on annual Progress Reports)

N/A

*All National Performance Measure outputs may also be paired with an applicant-determined outcome 

instead or may be used without an associated outcome.
19
20

Healthy Futures

Strategic 

Plan 

Objective

Selection Rules Interventions

Outputs Outcomes (if applicable)*

Aging in 

Place

H4A: Number of 

individuals served

Number of Individuals who 

report increased access to 

healthy foods (tribal or rural 

communities) 

H9A: Number of individuals 

who report improved capacity 

for independent living

H19: Number of individuals 

with improved health

Food Sovereignty

Companionship

Nutrition/Food Support

Legal Services

Transportation

Medical Services

Opioid/Drug Intervention 

Obesity & 

Food

H4A: Number of 

individuals served 

Number of Individuals who 

report increased access to 

healthy foods (tribal or rural 

communities) 

H12: Number of individuals 

who report increased food 

security

H17: Number of individuals 

with increased health 

knowledge

H18: Number of individuals 

reporting a change in behavior 

or intent to change behavior to 

improve their health

H19: Number of individuals 

with improved health

Food Sovereignty

Outreach

Education/Training

Referrals

Medical Services

Nutrition/Food Support

Physical Activities

Counseling/Coaching

Opioid/Drug Intervention

H10A: Number of 

pounds of food 

provided

Applicant-determined Food Sovereignty

Nutrition/Food Support

Access to 

Care

H4A: Number of 

individuals served

H17: Number of individuals 

with increased health 

knowledge

H18: Number of individuals 

reporting a change in behavior 

or intent to change behavior to 

improve their health

H19: Number of individuals 

with improved health

Outreach

Education/Training

Referrals

Medical Services

Counseling/Coaching

Opioid/Drug Intervention
21

H20: Number of individuals 

with improved access to 

medical care

Other Healthy 

Futures

H4A: Number of 

individuals served

Applicant-determined Applicant-determined

*All National Performance Measure outputs may also be paired with an applicant-determined outcome 

instead or may be used without an associated outcome.
22

Veterans and Military Families

Strategic 

Plan 

Objective

Selection Rules Interventions

Outputs Outcomes (if applicable)*

Veterans & 

Families 

Served

V1: Number of 

veterans served 

V7A: Number of 

active military 

members and/or 

military family 

members served

V8: Number of 

veteran family 

members served

Number of individuals with 

increased knowledge of cultural 

well-being and/or addressing 

stigma of mental health services

O9**: Number of individuals 

with improved financial 

knowledge

O11**: Number of individuals 

transitioned into safe/affordable 

housing

O10**: Number of individuals 

who secure employment 

O21**: Number of individuals 

with improved job readiness

ED11**: Number of individuals 

earning a post-secondary degree 

or technical certification

H9A**: Number of individuals 

who report improved capacity for 

independent living

H12**: Number of individuals 

who report increased food 

security

H17**: Number of individuals 

with increased health knowledge

H18**: Number of individuals 

reporting a change in behavior 

or intent to change behavior to 

improve their health

H19**: Number of individuals 

with improved health

H20**: Number of individuals 

with improved access to medical 

care

Native Culture and 

Language Support

Financial Literacy 

Education

Housing Unit Development

Housing Unit Repair

Housing 

Placement/Assistance

Job Training

Job Placement

GED Education

Other Adult Education

Tutoring

Mentoring

Family Involvement

Service Learning

Summer Learning

Companionship

Nutrition/Food Support

Legal Services

Transportation 

Outreach

Referrals

Medical Services

Physical Activities

Counseling/Coaching

Opioid/Drug Intervention

Access & 

Attract

N/A (outputs may be 

reported as 

Performance Data 

N/A (outcomes may be reported 

as Performance Data Elements on 

annual Progress Reports)

N/A
23

Elements on annual 

Progress Reports) 

*All National Performance Measure outputs may also be paired with an applicant-determined outcome 

instead or may be used without an associated outcome.

**In the eGrants Performance Measure Module, these measures may appear with the letter “V” at the 

end when used in the Veterans and Military Families focus area. However, the instructions for these 

measures are the same regardless of the focus area in which they are used. 
24

Suggested Applicant Determined Performance Measures 

for Bridge Building

As AmeriCorps acknowledges the important role its programs play in bridging divides – in both 

preparing members to lead with compassion, empathy, and humility as well as in the ways we see 

communities flourish when engaging with diverse audiences and service members – the agency and 

applicants have an opportunity to reimagine the ways in which they measure the impact of 

bridgebuilding efforts. 

Strategic Plan 

/ Objective

Outputs Outcomes Interventions

Bridgebuilding 

reduces 

polarization & 

community* 

division

*Community 

defined as: 

respondents 

where an 

AmeriCorps 

member is 

serving; also 

referenced as 

the 

”beneficiaries”

Number of 

Individuals served

Number of individuals with 

increased knowledge of 

bridgebuilding

Number of individuals 

reporting a change in 

behavior or intention to 

change behavior to better 

resolve conflict, lead with 

humility, courage and 

recognize other’s humanity

Number of individuals 

receiving an accredited 

certificate in bridgebuilding 

skills

Number of individuals who 

report improved confidence 

in their ability to shift social 

norms on how people 

engage with others who are 

different or disagree 

Number of individuals who 

have the ability to contribute 

to a community that promotes 

collaboration between 

people who disagree

Number of individuals with 

increased connection to 

others outside of their familial 

relationships

Based on the reported 

experience of community 

beneficiaries, bridging 

Education / Training

Bridgebuilding Activities 

that could include:

- Mindfulness

- Listening to Understand

- Empathy

- Constructive Dialogue

- Leading with Curiosity

Conflict Reduction / 

Mediation Spaces

Small Group Reflection

Service Learning
25

intervention "X," showed a 

"__% change" in (desire to 

collaborate, capacity to 

resolve conflict, willingness to 

discuss differences, comfort 

in establishing a new nonfamilial relationship)
26

Performance measure relevant to member outcomes: the bridging sector recognizes that the best 

measurement outcomes for bridgebuilding is to measure the “provider,” also known as the member’s 

learning and their perceived confidence / efficacy in practicing bridging in community). 

Strategic Plan 

/ Objective

Outputs Outcomes Interventions

Bridgebuilding 

skills with 

Members

Number of members 

receiving education 

or training in 

bridgebuilding skills 

such as productive 

dialogue, conflict 

resolution, curiosity 

mindset, empathy / 

compassion, 

convening & 

facilitation

Number of members with 

increased knowledge of 

bridgebuilding

Number of members 

reporting a change in 

behavior or intention to 

change behavior to better 

resolve conflict, lead with 

humility, courage and 

recognize other’s humanity

Number of members 

receiving an accredited 

certificate in bridgebuilding 

skills

Number of members who 

report improved capacity for 

facilitating productive 

conversations 

Number of members who 

report improved capacity to 

collaborate well with people 

they disagree with

Based on the reported 

experience of members, 

bridging intervention "X," 

showed a "__% change" in 

(empathy, curiosity, openmindedness)

Education / Training

Bridgebuilding Activities 

that could include:

- Mindfulness

- Listening to Understand

- Empathy

- Constructive Dialogue

- Leading with Curiosity 

- Hosting / CoFacilitation

Self-Reflection

Small Group Reflection

Service Learning

Focus Area Notes:

*All individuals counted under these measures can be either program beneficiaries or National Service 

Participants. The data measurements should be reported separately so there’s a clear delineation 

between skill building for National Service Participants (members) and the skills developed or benefits 

demonstrated by the Community (beneficiaries). This is a new opportunity for us to measure memberbased outcomes beyond what is captured in the Performance Data Elements in the Annual Progress 

Report. 

**Activities associated with community / beneficiary measures must be carried out by National Service 

Participants or by volunteers directly recruited and/or supported by National Service Participants.
27

BB (outcome) Number of beneficiaries or National Service Participants with improved bridge 

building skills and/or awareness

Definition of 

Key Terms

There are a myriad of definitions and qualities that frame bridge building; 

broadly speaking bridging means working together to understand others across 

lines of difference. For this purpose, the working definition that frames bridge 

building activities is drawn from the Greater Good Science Center, housed at UC 

Berkeley. The Bridging Differences Playbook refers to bridge building as 

“...understanding the social and psychological roots of polarization, we can 

promote solutions that help bring people together by what they share in 

common, not what sets them apart.”

How to 

Measure/ 

Collect Data

When possible, pre-post assessments should be utilized. The Bridging 

Movement Alignment Council Goals & Measures Work Group has created a 

wealth of resources, including a free Social Cohesion Impact Measurement tool

designed to scientifically measure the impact of bridging interventions on 

participants via rigorous pre and post experience surveys.