250 E Street SW

Washington, D.C. 20525 

202-606-5000/ 800-942-2677 

Volunteer Generation Fund New 

Grantee Resource Guide

Volunteer Initiatives 

Version 1

December 2023
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Table of Contents

Summary .................................................................................................................................. 2

Part I: Introduction .................................................................................................................. 2

Overview of Volunteer Generation Fund......................................................................... 2

AmeriCorps Staff Roles ...................................................................................................... 2

Part II: Grant Award Process .................................................................................................. 5

Pre-Grant Award Requirements ........................................................................................ 5

Pre-Award Costs ................................................................................................................. 6

Award Notification .............................................................................................................. 6

Part III: Support ....................................................................................................................... 7

Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) ......................................................................... 7

Part IV: Governing Authorities and Guidance ..................................................................... 7

Volunteer Generation Fund Specific Rules ..................................................................... 7

Other Requirements ........................................................................................................... 8

Part V: Program Start-up Considerations ............................................................................ 9

Financial Management Systems ....................................................................................... 9

Policies and Procedures ................................................................................................... 10

Subgrant Management .................................................................................................... 11

Training and Technical Assistance ................................................................................. 12

Performance Measurement and Data Collection ......................................................... 12

AmeriCorps Electronic Data Management Systems (eGrants) ................................... 13

Part VI: Program Implementation ....................................................................................... 13

Monitoring ......................................................................................................................... 13

Reporting ........................................................................................................................... 14

Performance Measures .................................................................................................... 15

Days of Service and Other Initiatives .............................................................................. 16

Grant Continuation: Application Required ................................................................... 16

Grant Closeout .................................................................................................................. 16

Appendix I: Resources ....................................................................................................... 17
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Summary

This is a training tool designed to help AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) 

grantees manage their programs. The contents of this document do not have the 

force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This 

document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing 

requirements under the law or agency policies.

Part I: Introduction

Congratulations on being awarded a Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) grant from 

AmeriCorps. Starting a new AmeriCorps program requires a significant amount of 

time and effort, as well as a thorough understanding of program requirements and 

regulations that guide AmeriCorps. This document is intended to help you with the 

program start-up and management process by highlighting requirements and where 

to find them and by helping you become familiar with the AmeriCorps Grant Terms 

and Conditions, Regulations, and your Notice of Grant Award. This document is 

intended for informational purposes only.

Overview of Volunteer Generation Fund

The Volunteer Generation Fund focuses on investments in volunteer management 

practices that strengthen nonprofit organizations’ and other entities’ ability to 

increase recruitment and retention of volunteers to meet critical community needs 

through service. AmeriCorps funds effective approaches that expand volunteering, 

strengthen the capacity of volunteer connector organizations to recruit and retain 

skill-based volunteers, and develop strategies to use volunteers effectively to solve 

community problems.

AmeriCorps Staff Roles 

There are various staff you will work with at AmeriCorps as you implement and lead 

your VGF program. AmeriCorps Office of Regional Operations (ORO) staff will serve 

as your primary point of contact. Your assigned Portfolio Manager (PM) will provide 

you with regular program technical assistance and agency communications. Below is 

an overview of all AmeriCorps departments that will support your program 

operations as a grantee. 

While we will do all that we can to maintain staffing continuity with your program, 

assignments may change during your time as a grantee due to changes in 

AmeriCorps staffing or to evenly distribute workload among our staff, etc. Changes in 

AmeriCorps contacts should not cause disruptions to your program, as all staff are 
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committed to providing you with quality and timely assistance. Please do not hesitate 

to contact us with your questions and concerns. 

Office of Regional Operations

• Location: Headquartered in Washington, D.C. and eight regional offices: 

o Mid-Atlantic 

o Midwest 

o Mountain 

o North Central 

o Northeast 

o South Central 

o Southeast 

o West 

• Office Purpose: Responsible for providing support, technical assistance, and 

oversight to AmeriCorps VGF grantees 

• Grantee Interaction: Primary point of contact, frequent direct communications 

with assigned Portfolio Manager 

• Regional Office Key Staff:

o Regional Administrator 

o Deputy Regional Administrator 

o Senior Portfolio Manager 

o Portfolio Manager 

o Associate Portfolio Manager 

• Contact: AmeriCorps Region Offices

AmeriCorps Volunteer Initiatives Program Office

• Location: Washington, D.C. 

• Office Purpose: Leads AmeriCorps VGF and Days of Service grant programs. 

Responsible for assessing, creating, and implementing governance policies 

and procedures, managing grant competitions, and providing VGF training 

and support to Office of Regional Operations staff. 

• Grantee Interaction: Secondary point of contact (receives indirect grantee 

communication from Office of Regional Operations staff), monthly newsletter, 

quarterly community of practice opportunities and regular communications via

VolunteerGeneration@americorps.gov and GovDelivery messages

(CNCS@delivery.nationalservice.gov). 
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• Key Staff:

o Project Manager for Volunteer Initiatives 

o Volunteer Initiatives Grant Specialist

• Contact: VolunteerGeneration@americorps.gov 

Office of Grant Administration

• Location: Washington, D.C. 

• Office Purpose: Responsible for facilitating competitive grant application 

review processes, conducting pre-award due diligence, issuing all awards and 

VGF grants, ensuring AmeriCorps’ compliance with government-wide 

grantmaking requirements, and providing guidance and occasional training 

for grantee financial grants management activities (such as preparing Federal 

Financial Reports and closing out grants). 

• Grantee Interaction: Limited direct interaction beyond sending occasional 

communications via AmeriCorpsOGA@americorps.gov (this mailbox is not 

regularly monitored for incoming messages), and as requested by Portfolio 

Managers. 

• Key Staff: 

o Director 

o Deputy Director 

o Grant Application Review Process Team 

o Award Team 

o Training Team 

o Grant Support Team

• Contact: Portfolio Manager, who will engage the Office of Grant 

Administration if needed. 

Office of Monitoring

• Location: Washington, D.C. 

• Office Purpose: Responsible for identifying and resolving noncompliance 

through the completion of standard monitoring activities of AmeriCorps 

grantees in order to increase their impact, strengthen their capacity to reduce 

risks, and promote a holistic approach to continuous improvement. 
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• Grantee Interaction: Grantees selected for monitoring activities will have direct 

contact with an assigned Monitoring Officer and/or Associate Monitoring 

Officer as well as a Corrective Action Planning Specialist. 

• Key Staff: 

o Director 

o Deputy Director 

o Senior Monitoring Officers 

o Monitoring Officers 

o Corrective Action Planning (CAP) Specialists 

o Associate Monitoring Officers 

o Monitoring Support Assistants 

o Monitoring Analysts

o Criminal History Check Program Manager 

o Office of Audit and Debt Resolution Team

• Contact: Monitoring@americorps.gov

Designating Your Agency Contact

Once you have determined your internal communication structure for managing your 

grant, please ensure that the correct contacts for your program are updated in the 

eGrants system to receive all grantee communications from Volunteer Initiatives 

(VolunteerGeneration@americorps.gov). Please refer to the Populating the Contact 

Information Module in eGrants to update your contacts. (Information related to 

accessing eGrants is covered in the eGrants section of this document.) It is important 

to make these updates so that your program receives pertinent communications from 

AmeriCorps. 

Part II: Grant Award Process

Pre-Grant Award Requirements 

The Office of Grant Administration will send you an email correspondence via 

eGrants regarding the completion and submission of the related forms and any 

eCourses for new grantees. Please be sure to complete these activities as soon as 

possible to avoid delays in accessing grant funds.

One particularly important requirement for new AmeriCorps grantees is establishing 

an account with the Department of Human Services’ Payment Management System 

(PMS). This will enable you to draw down funds on your award, as PMS disburses 

grant funds on behalf of AmeriCorps.
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All programs must complete a semiannual report Federal Financial Report (FFR) on 

the funds that you have received through the Payment Management System. This 

form is submitted via eGrants, AmeriCorps’ online grants management system.

Reports are due semiannually on April 30 and October 30 for the preceding two 

quarters during the time that your grant is active. You must also submit a final 

financial report within 120 days of the end of your period of performance as part of 

completing the financial reconciliation of your grant during the closeout process.

Pre-Award Costs 

The Office of Management and Budget authorizes federal agencies to allow preaward costs under certain circumstances (§ 200.458 Pre-award costs). Of note, only 

costs that would be allowable post-award would be allowable pre-award. All preaward costs are incurred at the organization’s own risk. AmeriCorps is under no 

obligation to reimburse for pre-award costs if the organization does not receive an 

award or if the funding amount is less than anticipated and inadequate to cover such 

costs. 

For AmeriCorps VGF grantees, the agency may approve costs that support program 

start-up by allowing the grantee to establish an infrastructure to complete training 

and National Service Criminal History Checks (NSCHC) before the grant period 

begins. 

Prospective grantees entering the first year of a new grant may request approval for 

pre-award costs by submitting a written request to their Portfolio Manager. The 

Portfolio Manager will review the request and make a recommendation to the Office 

of Grant Administration. If approved, the Office of Grant Administration will issue the 

formal approval to you via correspondence in eGrants. Pre-award costs may not be 

requested during continuation years.

Award Notification 

Soon after you receive notification that your organization has been approved for a 

grant, your Portfolio Manager will contact you to inform you of any steps you must 

take before the grant can be awarded. If your award has any special conditions, make 

note of the special condition(s) and be sure to adhere to the resolution deadline, 

noting any consequences for noncompliance.

The agency recommends you inform your subgrantees and other stakeholders of the 

start-up process timeframe, including the budget period start date. 
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Part III: Support 

AmeriCorps is a large national network and will provide resources to support you in 

the start-up and ongoing implementation of your program. Below is a summary of 

these resources, with particular emphasis on the ones that you will use most in the 

start-up phase of your program.

Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) 

• Portfolio Manager Check-in Calls: Portfolio Managers schedule regular 

check-in calls with grantees. The purpose of these calls is to receive updates on 

the program and provide technical assistance aimed at supporting the 

program’s success. 

• Volunteer Generation Fund Monthly Newsletter: Grantees will receive a 

monthly newsletter from the Volunteer Initiatives program office to provide 

updates from the agency, as well as resources and other important 

information. As a VGF grantee, you will automatically receive this newsletter. 

• Online Resources: The agency website, AmeriCorps.gov, offers a variety of 

resources for grantees, including policy guidance, process guides, and 

templates. To locate these resources, navigate to the website homepage, click 

Grantees & Sponsors, and navigate to Volunteer Generation Fund and Days of 

Service Grantees. From there, scroll down to “Grantee Resources”.

Part IV: Governing Authorities and Guidance 

Please spend a significant amount of time during the start-up phase becoming 

familiar with the rules and regulations of your AmeriCorps grant, as well as applicable 

state and federal requirements. This point cannot be over-emphasized. As a recipient 

of a taxpayer-funded award, you have a responsibility to know the rules and 

regulations that govern the use of these funds, as improper use may result in your 

reimbursement of all or some of the funds and other possible actions. One 

recommendation is to thoroughly review your Notice of Grant Award, the binding 

agreement between the grantee and AmeriCorps, with all staff in your organization 

who will be involved with the grant. The Notice of Grant Award also includes links to 

the applicable Terms and Conditions and other guidance related to your specific VGF 

award.

Volunteer Generation Fund Specific Rules 

In order to run an effective program, grantees must know the rules of the Volunteer 

Generation Fund, which can be difficult to navigate even for organizations that have 

prior federal grant experience. 
8 

VGF requirements are found in our statute, regulations, and Terms and Conditions. 

• The statute that authorizes federal funding for the Volunteer Generation Fund

is the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (NCSA). Congress has 

amended the NCSA several times since its original passage in 1990, including 

through the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, and most 

recently through the Serve America Act of 2009. The provision governing the

Volunteer Generation Fund can be found in Section 198P, 42 U.S.C. 12653s, of 

the NCSA.

• The regulations are AmeriCorps’ interpretations of the statute. They set out 

the agency's purpose and powers and the circumstances of applying the 

statute. Regulations are published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). 

AmeriCorps’ regulations can be found in Title 45 of the CFR. All federal 

grantees must also follow the Uniform Administrative Requirements outlined in 

2 CFR 200. Citations for regulations are written like this: 45 CFR §2522.230 or 

abbreviated as §2522.230.

• AmeriCorps Terms and Conditions are additional grant requirements that 

have two versions: General (all AmeriCorps) and Program-Specific (Volunteer 

Generation Fund). New Terms and Conditions are issued each year, and 

citations are written like this: [AC I. B.2].

• The Notice of Funding Opportunity (Notice) and Application Instructions

for which your grant was awarded contain important information. You will find 

them a helpful reference at many times.

• The Notice of Grant Award (NGA) is the contract between grantees and 

AmeriCorps for the specific grant award. All Terms and Conditions applicable 

to direct grantees must be passed on to subrecipients. 

• AmeriCorps Policies provide supplemental and recent guidance relevant to 

AmeriCorps funded grants. 

Other Requirements 

• State Laws: AmeriCorps grantees must become aware of the laws of all the 

states in which their program is active. For example, you should find out about 

the state laws pertaining to taxes, workers compensation, background checks, 

etc. 

• Office of Management and Budget Uniform Guidance: The Uniform 

Guidance in the Code of Federal Regulations outlines administrative 
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requirements and cost principles for federal grant recipients. It also includes 

requirements for federal agencies related to grants and cooperative 

agreements. 

Part V: Program Start-up Considerations 

As you read the Governing Authorities and Policies, you will see that there are many 

required policies and procedures that you will need to develop and manage. This 

section will highlight some of the systems or aspects of program management you 

will develop during the start-up period. These examples are not the only aspects of 

program management you will need to consider and develop during start-up. Please 

discuss others with your AmeriCorps Portfolio Manager. 

Financial Management Systems

Under AmeriCorps regulations, grantees must maintain financial management 

systems that provide accurate, complete, and current disclosure of AmeriCorps grant 

finances. 

Components of a financial management system include: 

• adequate practices that address regulatory requirements; 

• segregation of duties for key financial functions;

• written policies and procedures, including for: 

o managing federal cash drawdowns;

o procurement; and

o subrecipient monitoring;

• documentation of expenses; 

• cash management systems; 

• an efficient accounting system; 

• budget controls; 

• time and activity documentation; 

• documentation of matching requirements and in-kind contributions; 
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• timely, complete, and accurate reporting; and

• internal controls. 

The following are several important financial management facts for new grantees:

• Each AmeriCorps grant must be tracked separately from other grants and 

programs. 

• Staff identified on the AmeriCorps grant budget — whether paid with 

AmeriCorps funds or match (called “Grantee Share” in the eGrants budget) —

must have a timekeeping system that documents the actual amount of time 

spent on each AmeriCorps grant and on other activities. Staff timesheet 

requirements follow regulations set forth in the OMB Uniform Guidance.

• Grantees are required to complete the Key Concepts of Financial Grants 

Management eCourse each year they are awarded an AmeriCorps grant. The 

course provides a helpful overview of financial grant management 

requirements.

If a subgrantee is found to be out of compliance with grant requirements, 

AmeriCorps will hold the grantee liable. Please note that, in addition to the Key 

Concepts of Financial Grants Management eCourse, there are a number of for-profit 

and nonprofit organizations that offer training on federal grants management. Such 

courses would be especially helpful for grantee organizations that have no or minimal 

experience with federal grants management. While these trainings do not focus on 

the specifics of managing finances for an AmeriCorps program, they provide general 

guidance on federal requirements and setting up sound accounting practices. It is the 

grantee’s responsibility to ensure that adequate financial systems and well-trained 

staff are in place to manage AmeriCorps resources.

Policies and Procedures 

During the start-up period, you should develop and document policies and 

procedures that outline how your program will be managed. A well-written and 

comprehensive set of policies and procedures will help your program run more 

efficiently and effectively, while simultaneously ensuring compliance with regulatory 

requirements. Some policies are required by mandated grant requirements, but you 

will want to create other policies as well that are tailored to your program and your 

organization. 

Required Policies: Before you begin your VGF program, create policies compliant 

with AmeriCorps requirements. Refer to the regulations and grant Terms and 

Conditions for guidance on developing your policies. Your Portfolio Manager can 
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help point you to appropriate resources to guide your policy development. Your 

program policies and program oversight must ensure compliance with grant 

requirements, including, but not limited to: 

• non-discrimination; 

• prohibited activities; 

• reasonable accommodation; 

• drug-free workplace; 

• grievance procedures; and

• National Service Criminal History Checks (NSCHC). 

Subgrant Management

If your VGF program is awarding subgrants, effective subgrant management is a 

critical component of a successful program. During the program start-up period, 

dedicate ample time to putting subgrant management systems in place. Key 

elements include: 

• communicating regularly with subgrantees; 

• communicating expectations; 

• providing training and technical assistance; 

• holding them accountable through monitoring and oversight; and

• ensuring all subgrantees are committed to achieving shared program goals. 

Subgrant Agreements: Subgrant agreements (also called a contract or 

memorandum of understanding) outline the terms of each subgrantee’s participation 

in your AmeriCorps program. Written subgrant agreements are part of your subgrant 

management. Ensuring subgrantees are aware of all applicable grant requirements is 

required, but the agreement content is not written by AmeriCorps. Organizations find 

it useful to: 

• outline expectations; 

• outline responsibilities; 

• outline compliance requirements; 
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• clarify program and fiscal management tasks handled by the subgrantees; 

• specify organizational match requirements; 

• include program-specific policies; 

• include reporting requirements; and

• include the AmeriCorps Regulations and Terms and Conditions. 

Training and Technical Assistance 

Grantees are responsible for providing orientation, training, and technical assistance 

to anyone associated with the program, including parent organization staff and 

subgrantee staff, on the tasks that are required of them. Many programs find it helpful 

to spend part of the start-up period developing a staff training plan that consists of: 

• one-on-one technical assistance; 

• check-in calls; 

• group conference calls; 

• cross-site mentoring; 

• training calls; and

• subgrantee visits. 

Training should include information on the AmeriCorps Regulations and Terms and 

Conditions. Refer to trainings listed on the Manage Your Grant webpage for existing 

trainings made available by AmeriCorps. Your Portfolio Manager and other project

directors are good additional resources for information on the topics that might be 

useful to include in your training plan.

Performance Measurement and Data Collection 

Demonstrating the impact of your program through performance measurement is 

crucial to your success as a grantee. Project Progress Reports (PPRs) are submitted to 

AmeriCorps annually (annual PPR) and at the conclusion of the grant (final PPR). In the 

interim, collecting and aggregating data on an ongoing basis from subgrantees will 

help set you up for success. During the start-up period, spend time developing data 

collection tools that will demonstrate program impact. Contact your Portfolio 

Manager if you have questions about performance measurement and data collection.
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AmeriCorps Electronic Data Management Systems (eGrants) 

As an AmeriCorps grantee, you will use the online grants management system

eGrants for: 

• grant applications; 

• grant amendments; 

• financial reporting; and

• programmatic reporting. 

Grantees and applicants should have a unique login account for each necessary staff 

member. eGrants account information should not be shared among staff. The 

Grantee Administrator user role has the responsibility of determining who at your 

organization has access. Access the eGrants User Guide for guidance on creating 

accounts and designating user roles.

If you need assistance with eGrants, contact the AmeriCorps Hotline. Please notify 

your Portfolio Manager of any outstanding Hotline tickets, as they can escalate tickets 

on your behalf. Be sure to include the Hotline ticket number in your communications.

Part VI: Program Implementation 

Once you have developed the necessary policies and procedures for your program, 

you can enter the program implementation stage. You can begin to use the systems 

and tools you developed during the program start-up period. The following 

subsections provide tips for moving forward. 

Monitoring 

As stewards of public funding, grantees need to ensure that their subgrantees are 

aware of their contractual requirements and are in compliance with all of the rules, 

regulations, and provisions governing VGF funds and programs.

Providing sufficient oversight of subgrantees is also in the best interest of programs, 

because AmeriCorps holds the grantee responsible for infractions at the subgrantee 

level.

To achieve quality oversight, program staff must create adequate systems, tools, and 

protocols for monitoring subgrantees that are fully implemented and available in 

writing. An adequate monitoring strategy features an array of oversight activities with 

subgrantees, including: 
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• document review; 

• compliance reviews; 

• program quality and performance reviews; 

• special audits or surveys; 

• one-on-one technical assistance to resolve any issues; and

• special efforts to ensure that prohibited activities (outlined in 45 CFR 2520.65) 

are not violated. 

Your Portfolio Manager will provide you with a copy of the AmeriCorps monitoring 

tool at the start of your grant year. Many grantees find it helpful to model their own 

monitoring tool on the agency’s tool. Be prepared to review your monitoring strategy 

with your Portfolio Manager. You can also find a copy of the AmeriCorps monitoring 

tool, the Uniform Monitoring Package, on the Monitoring section of the website 

under the “Resources” section.

AmeriCorps staff also monitor your grant performance by reviewing your progress 

and financial reports. In addition, the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (OIG) 

conducts and supervises independent and objective audits, evaluations, and 

investigations of AmeriCorps’ programs and operations. The OIG is available to assist 

AmeriCorps grantees that become aware of suspected criminal activity in connection 

with the AmeriCorps program. Grantees should immediately contact the OIG when 

they first suspect that a criminal violation has occurred. The OIG may be reached by 

email at hotline@americorpsoig.gov or by telephone at (800) 452-8210.

The Office of Audit and Debt Resolution (OADR) is a unit within the Office of 

Monitoring. OADR manages audit resolution of OIG audits and single audits, 

establishes debts in instances of noncompliance which result in disallowed grant

costs, and helps grantees establish indirect cost rates when AmeriCorps is the 

cognizant agency for indirect costs. If your organization is required to have a single 

audit, OADR staff may contact you for audit resolution purposes. You can also contact 

OADR if you would like more information about establishing an indirect cost rate 

(indirectcostrate@americorps.gov). More information on the requirements for having 

a single audit can be found in 2 CFR 200. (See especially 2 CFR 200.501, Audit 

Requirements).

Reporting

Programmatic Reporting: All Volunteer Generation Fund grantees must submit one 

progress report per year and a final progress report at the end of the grant in lieu of 

an annual report for the last grant year. These reports are called Project Progress 
15

Reports (PPRs) and are submitted in eGrants. See the Reporting Requirements section 

of the VGF Terms and Conditions for information on due dates and reporting 

periods. The Volunteer Initiatives program office will provide guidance on how to 

complete the PPR prior to the due date. Your Portfolio Manager will review your 

progress reports and provide feedback. 

Financial Reporting: Volunteer Generation Fund grantees must submit two Federal 

Financial Reports (FFRs) per year and a final financial report at the end of the grant. 

See the Reporting Requirements section of the VGF Terms and Conditions for 

information on FFR due dates and reporting periods.

Grantees must set their own submission deadlines for their subgrantee financial and 

programmatic reports that will enable them to provide timely and accurate 

information on your VGF program to AmeriCorps. The agency suggests including 

reporting deadlines on your organizational calendar.

Performance Measures

In the annual progress reports you submit to AmeriCorps you will be required to 

report on the performance measures included in your application. Performance 

measures are a tool used for program accountability and quality improvement, and 

provide AmeriCorps with valuable information about the outputs and outcomes of 

your program.

All VGF grantees are required to report on the following performance measures in 

the Capacity Building focus area: 

• Output G3-3.4: Number of organizations that received capacity-building 

services; and

• Outcome G3-3.10A: Number of organizations that increased their 

effectiveness, efficiency, and/or program scale/reach. 

If you included additional performance measures in your VGF application, you must 

report on those as well.

Performance measure data you report to AmeriCorps should be valid, accurate, 

complete, and verifiable. It is recommended that you complete the National 

Performance Measurement Core Curriculum to gain a full understanding of 

AmeriCorps performance measures and ensure that your data collection procedures 

yield high-quality reporting data.
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Days of Service and Other Initiatives 

Annually, AmeriCorps encourages programs to participate in AmeriCorps initiatives, 

including Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, 9/11 National Day of Service and 

Remembrance, and AmeriCorps Week. These initiatives give programs the 

opportunity to: 

• address unmet community needs; 

• collaborate with other AmeriCorps programs; 

• promote volunteerism and service in local communities; and

• highlight the difference AmeriCorps makes across the nation. 

Refer to the AmeriCorps website for more Days of Service information and resources.

Grant Continuation: Application Required 

Although VGF is a three-year grant, grantees are required to submit an application

each year to continue receiving funding. Second- and third-year applications are 

referred to as continuation applications. Continuation applications are less involved 

than new applications; however, it is equally important to devote sufficient time to 

complete all the required elements. The agency will post the Notice of Federal 

Funding Opportunity and Application Instructions for future grant competitions on 

the Funding Opportunities page of the AmeriCorps website. 

Grant Closeout

At the conclusion of your three-year VGF grant, you will be required to take steps 

towards grant closeout. Closeout is the process by which the federal awarding 

agency and the grantee complete all necessary financial, program, and administrative 

actions required under the grant. 

Thirty (30) days prior to the end of your grant’s project period, you will receive a 

closeout notification letter outlining the required steps, including submission of a 

final Federal Financial Report (FFR), final Project Progress Report (PPR), and 

equipment and supply inventory forms. Questions about the closeout process should

be directed to your Portfolio Manager.
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Appendix I: Resources

AmeriCorps Resources: 

• AmeriCorps.gov is the AmeriCorps website, where you can find agency 

information, funding opportunities, grant resources, agency news, and more. 

• eGrants is AmeriCorps’ online grants system for submitting grant applications 

and managing awards.

• The AmeriCorps Hotline provides eGrants assistance via live chat, webform, or 

phone (1-800-942-2677). 

• The Manage Your Grant page contains extensive resources for all AmeriCorps 

grantees, including Terms and Conditions, pre-award requirements, postaward requirements, and training and technical assistance resources. 

VGF Resources: 

• The Grantee Resources page of the AmeriCorps website contains resources for 

VGF and Days of Service grantees including general and grant-specific Terms 

and Conditions, instructions for submitting PPRs, and governing authorities for 

VGF. 

• The Fiscal Year 2023 Volunteer Generation Fund funding opportunity 

webpage provides information on the closed 2023 VGF competition, including 

the Notice of Funding Opportunity and Application Instructions. 

• The Fiscal Year 2023 ARP Volunteer Generation Fund funding opportunity 

webpage provides information on the closed 2023 ARP VGF competition, 

including the Notice of Funding Opportunity and Application Instructions. 

• Amending a Volunteer Generation Fund or Days of Service Award, available on 

the Grantee Resources page under “Access program tools”, provides guidance 

for grantees on initiating and submitting award amendments.

Statute and Regulations: 

• The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit 

Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200) are legal guidelines that all 

recipients of federal resources are required to follow.

• Title 45 Chapter XXV of the CFR outlines regulations specific to AmeriCorps, 

with which all AmeriCorps grantees must comply. 
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• The National and Community Service Act of 1990 (NCSA), as amended by the 

Serve America Act of 2009, is the legislation that authorizes and governs the 

VGF grant program. The statute relevant to VGF can be found in Section 198P, 

42 U.S. Code § 12653p, of the NCSA. 

Online Courses and Trainings: 

• Litmos is AmeriCorps’ online learning platform. Access the Litmos Getting 

Started Guide to set up an account and access AmeriCorps eCourses. 

• Key Concepts in Financial Grants Management is a required eCourse on grants 

management and compliance that all grantees must complete annually. 

• The NSCHC eCourse is a required training on criminal history check 

requirements and procedures that all grantees must complete annually. 

• Ensuring Correct and Supported Salary Allocations is a recommended 

eCourse on compliant timekeeping and salary allocation practices for 

AmeriCorps grants. 

• The FFR Training for Grantees is a recommended eCourse on successful and 

compliant completion of semiannual financial reports.

• The National Performance Measurement Core Curriculum is a six-part modular 

course on AmeriCorps’ national performance measures and best practices in 

data collection and performance measurement.

NSCHC Resources: 

• The National Service Criminal History Checks webpage contains 

comprehensive resources, guidance, and recorded trainings on conducting 

compliant criminal history checks, including the following.

o The Getting Started with NSCHC Resources guide is an introduction to 

NSCHC for new grantees and staff. 

o Common Findings of NSCHC Noncompliance outlines common ways 

grantees fall out of compliance with NSCHC requirements and how to 

avoid them.

o The NSCHC Manual is a comprehensive guide to NSCHC requirements, 

components, timing, and monitoring and enforcement.
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Monitoring Resources: 

• The Monitoring webpage contains resources on monitoring activities, 

worksheets and forms, information on corrective action plans, and training on 

the Office of Monitoring’s WebGrants site for grantees who have been 

selected for monitoring activities, including the following.

o The Uniform Monitoring Package (UMP) provides an overview of 

monitoring questions that grantees may be asked if selected for 

monitoring.

o Remote Monitoring At a Glance and On-Site Monitoring At a Glance

provide information on the steps and timeline of the remote and on-site 

monitoring processes, respectively.

o The Office of Monitoring FAQ provide answers to questions commonly 

asked by grantees during the monitoring process.

PMS Resources: 

• The Payment Management System (PMS), not run by AmeriCorps, is where 

AmeriCorps grantees draw down grant funds. Grantees can receive assistance 

with PMS via the PMS Help Desk. 

• Grantees can access the PMS User Guide and PMS Grant Recipient Training for 

additional support using PMS.