FISCAL YEAR 2019
1 

Agency

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

and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. Its mission is to engage Americans of all ages and 

backgrounds in community based service that improves lives, strengthens communities, and 

fosters civic engagement by providing grants to organizations that host members for specific 

service projects. CNCS executes this mission primarily through its AmeriCorps and Senior Corps 

programs. 

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 2019 Agency Budget Request 

The 2019 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 2019 Budget request of $122.6 million will support the orderly shutdown of CNCS 

operations. The request includes $87.4 million for salaries and expenses. The salaries and 

expenses funding will provide $56.8 million for staff salaries during the year and the costs 

associated with staff buyouts, early retirements, and reductions in force; $17.1 million for 

agency operations; and $13.5 million for facility operations until the agency closure is complete 

at the end of FY 2019. 

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 $3.6 million for the orderly shutdown of the Office of Inspector 

General, as part of the proposal to eliminate CNCS. 

While awaiting congressional action on this Budget request, CNCS will continue its reform 

planning and related activities as required by the Administration under Executive Order 13781: 

Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the Executive Branch. CNCS will reach out to stakeholders 

to solicit input to inform the development of its reform plan, which will be focused on 

administrative changes the agency can make to improve its efficiency, effectiveness, and 

accountability. 

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. 
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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 

responding to natural disasters, building homes for low-income families, and helping to keep at 

risk 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.1 

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. 

 

 

1

 The budget proposes a rescission of $150 million in excess reserve Trust balances not required for Education Awards. 
3 

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 

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. 

 
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Table 1. FY 2019 CNCS Budget Summary (dollars in thousands) 

Budget Item

FY 2017 

Enacted

FY 2018 CR 

Annualized

FY 2019

President's 

Budget

$ Difference 

(FY18-FY19)

% Difference 

(FY18-FY19)

Operating Expenses $736,029 $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 $16,538 $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%)

Volunteer Generation Fund $3,800 $3,800 $0 ($3,800) (100.0%)

Innovation, Demonstration, & Other $1,200 $1,200 $0 ($1,200) (100.0%)

Evaluation $4,000 $4,000 $0 ($4,000) (100.0%)

National Service Trust2

$206,842 $206,842 $0 ($206,842) (100.0%)

Salaries and Expenses $81,737 $81,737 $87,389 $5,652 6.9%

Office of Inspector General $5,750 $5,750 $3,568 ($2,182) (37.9%)

CNCS Total3 $1,030,358 $1,030,358 $122,646 ($907,712) (88.1%)

 

2

 The FY 2019 budget proposes a rescission of $150 million in excess reserve Trust balances not required for Education 

 Awards. 

3

 Totals may not add due to rounding. 
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FY 2019 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 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget 

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

Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115–56, as amended). The amounts included for 

2018 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, $87,389,000. 

 

Note.—A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget 

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

Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115–56, as amended). The amounts included for 

2018 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 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget 

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

Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115–56, as amended). The amounts included for 

2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution. 

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 
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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, $150,000,000 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 2019. 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 2019, 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 2019. Funding is 

provided for the orderly shutdown of agency operations in FY 2019. 

Office Of Inspector General The agency is proposed for elimination in FY 2019. Funding is 

provided for the orderly shutdown of OIG operations in FY 2019. 

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 2019. This language 

facilitates the orderly winding down of CNCS operations in FY 2019 

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, $150,000,000 

are hereby permanently cancelled. 

The agency is proposed for elimination in FY 2019. 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 $150 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 2017 

Enacted

FY 2018 CR 

Annualized

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget

$ Difference 

(FY18-FY19)

% Difference 

(FY18-FY19)

Salaries $42,471 $42,471 $43,000 $529 1%

Other personnel compensation $755 $755 $0 ($755) (100%)

Civilian personnel benefits $11,979 $11,979 $13,812 $1,833 15%

Total personnel compensation $55,205 $55,205 $56,812 $1,607 3%

Travel and transportation of 

persons 

$1,650 $1,650 $1,650 $0 0%

Rental payments to GSA $5,900 $5,900 $12,000 $6,100 103%

Communication, utilities, 

and miscellaneous services $856 $856 $856 $0 0%

Other services $17,930 $17,930 $15,875 ($2,055) (11%)

Supplies and materials $196 $196 $196 $0 0%

Total, Salaries and Expenses4 $81,737 $81,737 $87,389 $5,652 6.9%

Full Time Equivalents 451 451 291 (160) (35%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 Totals may not add due to rounding.