1 

Frequently Asked Questions 

FY 2017 AmeriCorps Affiliate Selection 

Updated January 6, 2017 

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) provides a Notice of National Service 

Positions (Notice) and the AmeriCorps Affiliate Application Instructions as the primary sources of 

information about the requirements of this selection. The FAQ resource is intended to provide further 

clarification, where necessary, and should be read together with the Application Instructions and Notice. 

1. General Application Submission and Notice 

1. 1 What is the role of state service commissions during the application submission process? 

AmeriCorps Affiliate applicants are asked to contact their state service commission during the 

application process to let them know that they are applying and to share information about 

their project. If the program will operate in more than one state, all appropriate state service 

commissions should be contacted. 

After applications are received, CNCS will contact the appropriate state service commission(s) 

via email to receive their input on the applicant. 

1.2 Can I receive one-on-one technical assistance to answer my questions about AmeriCorps 

Affiliate? 

Yes, to an extent. AmeriCorps Affiliate is a non-competitive application process, however 

depending on CNCS capacity and application deadlines, CNCS may not be able to hold multiple 

one-on-one conversations with your organization. Any questions should be submitted to 

affiliate@cns.gov. Answers will be received via email and CNCS will update this document 

regularly with answers to frequently asked questions. During the clarification process, multiple 

one-on-one conversations may be held between CNCS and an applicant to assist CNCS in 

determining whether or not to designate national service positions. 

1.3 If Affiliates are designated on a non-competitive basis, will my application definitely be 

selected? 

No, applying for AmeriCorps Affiliate does not guarantee that you will be approved as an 

AmeriCorps Affiliate sponsor. Selection as a sponsor depends on several factors, including but 

not limited to, the availability of CNCS Education Awards, the sufficiency of the application 

content, and CNCS’s portfolio considerations. 

Added 1.06.2017 

1.4 We run a program that begins several months prior to the announcement dates for the 

results of this selection. If my organization is selected for AmeriCorps Affiliate, can we enroll 
2

our current program participants into Affiliate if they have already been serving in our program 

for several months?

No. Members cannot be retroactively enrolled after they have already begun serving in your 

program. If your program has already started, apply by a deadline for which selection to be an

Affiliate Sponsor is prior to enrolling members as Affiliate members at the beginning of your 

next program cycle.

1.5 Applications are reviewed three times this calendar year. How do I know which application 

cycle I should apply to?

The application cycle should be selected generally depending on when you would like 

AmeriCorps members to begin serving. The member start dates are listed in the last column of 

the Application Cycle Calendar. These dates should be used as a general guide indicating how 

long CNCS anticipates it would take a project to reasonably recruit and place members after 

applicant notifications are made. If you think that more time would be needed for your 

program to recruit and place members, you may want to consider applying to an earlier 

application cycle deadline.

1.6 Are certain performance measures better to use than others?

No. As stated on page 4 of the performance measures instructions, “CNCS values the quality of 

performance measures over the quantity of performance measures.” You should select the 

measures that are a best fit for your proposed program activity. 

1.7 May we apply for AmeriCorps Affiliate while also applying for other AmeriCorps programs? 

Would having two pending applications with CNCS undermine a successful grant application 

and/or AmeriCorps Affiliate application?

Yes, you may apply for more than one CNCS program at a time. The application should include 

reference to other applications submitted to CNCS and the differences between your proposed 

programs. Funding received from other CNCS programs cannot be used to pay for staff that run 

AmeriCorps Affiliate. Additionally, you would need to keep in mind that reporting for each 

program must be tracked separately. As stated on page 1 of the Notice, “Affiliate designations 

are intended to use national service as a means to incubate and expand service opportunities 

to create self-sustaining service models that complement existing AmeriCorps programs,” 

meaning that there should be some distinction between programs and they should not be 

identical.

2. AmeriCorps Affiliate Program Implementation

2.1 Do AmeriCorps Affiliate members get paid while doing this service?
3

Members could be paid while participating in this program. CNCS does not provide funding to 

pay participants nor is it required. CNCS only provides the Education Awards.

Approved service activities must adhere to CNCS requirements regarding nondisplacement of 

employees and prohibited activities.

2.2 What is the role of state service commissions after selection?

CNCS will inform the appropriate state service commission(s) about Affiliate sponsors selected 

in their state. Selected Affiliate sponsors are asked to reach out to their state service 

commission(s) to collaborate when possible on training events, Days of Service, and other 

national service activities in the state.

3. Education Awards 

3.1 For members serving in 100 hour positions, how long does an Affiliate member have to 

complete the service term?

Members serving in 100 hour positions must complete their term in the time specified in the 

application (which is incorporated by reference) into the memorandum of agreement between 

CNCS and the sponsor. This is clearly articulated in this Program Design selection Criteria: 

Describe and justify your program timeline to include the timeframe for completion of each 

type of national service term requested. For example, if 100 hour positions are requested, 

clearly state the number of weeks in which members would be required to complete their 

100 hour service term and why.

3.2 Can an individual enroll as an Affiliate member if they have already earned two full time 

Education Awards?

Possibly. An individual may not earn more than the equivalent total of two Education Awards in 

a lifetime. If a member has already earned two full time Education Awards, they may only enroll 

in a full-time Affiliate position. Individuals who have earned the value of two full-time 

Education Awards would not receive an Education Award after completing their term of service

as an Affiliate.