2019 Day of Service Grant Competition 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and 

September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance

May 29, 2019
Agenda

• CNCS overview

• Purpose of funding

• Priority consideration

• Notice of Funding highlights

• Deadlines

• National Service Criminal History Checks requirements and resources

• Budget 

• Additional items

• eGrants

• Questions and answers
CNCS overview

CNCS’s mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, 

and foster civic engagement through service and 

volunteering

Major programs and initiatives:

– AmeriCorps

– Senior Corps

– Volunteer Generation Fund

– Research and Evaluation

– Employers of National Service

– Days of Service

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

• September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance
Purpose of funding

• MLK: 

- mobilize more Americans to observe the Martin Luther King Jr. federal 

holiday as a day of community service that honors his life and 

teachings

- provide those who serve opportunities to make long-term service 

commitments 

• September 11:

- mobilize more Americans to engage in activities that meet community 

needs and honor the sacrifice of those who lost their lives on 

September 11, 2001 or rose in service as a result
September 11 priority consideration

• engaging and supporting Veterans and Military Families in 

September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance activities

• developing educational materials or curriculum for youth and 

engaging youth in service to honor September 11th National Day of 

Service and Remembrance

• preparing communities for disasters

• training volunteers who make a commitment for future service

Note: Priority consideration does not guarantee funding. 
MLK priority consideration 

• training volunteers who make a commitment for future service

• providing support and/or facilitating access to services and 

resources for economically disadvantaged people

Note: Priority consideration does not guarantee funding.
Notice of Funding highlights*

• Purpose: Support community-based volunteer activities 

commemorating two important national events

• Timing: Day of Service activities in calendar year 2020

– January 2020: MLK Day of Service

– September 2020: September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance

• Eligible entities:

- Indian tribes

- institutions of higher education 

– local governments 

– nonprofit organizations 

– State governments

• May apply for one or both; if applying for both, submit two 

separate applications 

* Please read the entire NOFO and Application Instructions prior to submitting your application 

in eGrants.
Notice of Funding highlights*

• CNCS funding: $2.2 million for Day of Service 

• Grant request amounts: no minimum or maximum this year

• Project Period: three years

• Budget Period: one year with funding for years two and three 

dependent on:

– Availability of Congressional appropriations

– Satisfactory performance 

• Match: 

– 70% non-federal funds required for MLK grants; may be cash and/or 

in-kind

– No match required for 9/11 grants in this competition

• Application deadline: June 19, 2019 by 5 pm Eastern

* Please read the entire NOFO and Application Instructions prior to submitting your application 

in eGrants.
Deadlines

– June 5, 2019: Intent to applies due - optional but recommended to 

ensure you receive any updates related to this competition

– June 19, 2019: Applications due by 5:00 pm Eastern

– August 2019: Funding announcements expected

Note: CNCS may request additional information on your application as part of its review 

process.
National Service Criminal History 

Checks (NSCHC)

• Intent is to protect vulnerable populations 

• All individuals working in covered positions must have NSCHCs

– A covered position is a position in which a person receives a living 

allowance, stipend, education award, salary, through a national service 

program

– This includes employees funded by the grantee share/match when 

applicable

– This also includes employees of subgrantees 

• The requirements vary for employees with recurring and episodic access 

to vulnerable populations 

– Two-part check or three-part check, depending on level of access

• CNCS has approved a contract with two vendors to provide these 

checks and encourages grantees to use them
NSCHC Key Terms

• Covered Positions: individuals who are serving through or employed by a 

national service program who receive a living allowance, stipend, national service 

education award, or salary are in a covered position, regardless of the type of 

service, their access to vulnerable populations, or whether they are paid with 

federal or matching funds

• Vulnerable Populations: vulnerable populations include children age 17 or 

younger, persons age 60 and older, and/or people with disabilities. People with 

disabilities are defined as having a physical or mental impairment which 

substantially limits one or more major life activities, having a record of such 

impairment, or regarded as having such impairment

• Recurring Access: ‘the ability on more than one occasion to approach, observe, 

or communicate with a person, through physical proximity or other means, 

including but not limited to, electronic or telephonic communication.’’ It is typically 

a regular, scheduled, and anticipated component of a person’s service activities

• Episodic Access: is typically NOT a regular, scheduled, and anticipated 

component of a person’s service activities. A recipient does not need CNCS 

approval to use the “episodic access” exception to the NSCHC requirements. It is 

not defined by a specific number of contacts
Budget Development and Management 

2. State goals 

and objectives

4. Translate 

strategy to dollars 

6. Set budget

control process

7. Compare budget 

to actual expenses

3. Decide a 

strategy

5. Prepare budget

8. Modify budget

1. Determine

needs
Budget Narrative

• Follow instructions in NOFO

• Includes allowable, reasonable, necessary, and allocable 

costs, as defined by 2 CFR 200

• Estimate resources needed to achieve program goals

• Organize narrative to fit budget categories

• Provide adequate descriptions

• Check your math
Examples of Unallowable Costs

• Lobbying

• Entertainment and alcohol 

• Expenses not tied to program objectives

• Costs that constitute waste, fraud, and abuse

• Unreasonable from “prudent person” perspective

• Costs with no logical basis 
Budget Structure

Separated by major categories and

divided into CNCS and Grantee shares

Direct or Support Expenses

Attributable to Program Goals

Examples: 

⧫ Program staff salaries and fringe

⧫ Staff travel

⧫ Program supplies

⧫ NSCHCs

Indirect Costs

For Common Organizational 

Goals

Examples:

⧫ Management staff salaries and 

fringe

⧫ Accounting and legal services

⧫ Office equipment

⧫ Rent and leases

⧫ General liability insurance
Section I. Support Expenses

A. Project Personnel Expenses

B. Personnel Fringe Benefits

C. Travel

D. Equipment

E. Supplies

F. Contractual and 

Consultant Services

I. Other Support Costs

J. Indirect Costs 

September 11 Budget Categories
Section I. Support Expenses

A. Project Personnel Expenses

B. Personnel Fringe Benefits

C. Travel

D. Equipment

E. Supplies

F. Contractual and Other Consultant Services

I. Support Costs

Section II. Indirect Costs: leave blank

Section III. Volunteer Expenses

J. Indirect Costs 

A. Volunteer Costs: leave blank

Source of Funds (i.e. match)

MLK Budget Categories
Budget Narrative Section I - Samples

A. Project Personnel Expenses

Position/Title

Calculation CNCS Share Grantee 

Share* Total

Program Manager (oversees all project 

activities) 1 FTE at 80,000 x 70% usage 45,000 11,000 56,000

Administrative Assistant (supports 

project activities) 1 FTE at 30,000 x 5% usage 1,500 0 1,500

CATEGORY Totals 46,500 11,000 57.500

E. Supplies

Item Calculation CNCS Share Grantee 

Share * Total

Event supplies such as pens, paper, 

buttons, clipboards, name tags, etc. $2 per person x 300 people 600 0 600

Laptop and hard drive for recruitment, 

registration, follow up, and retention 1 laptop x $500 500 0 500

CATEGORY Totals 1,100 0 1,100

* Note: September 11 budgets have no match requirement. 
Administrative and Indirect Costs

Two methods to recover administrative costs:

1. Federally Approved Indirect Cost Rate Method

– Requires approved rate from Federal government

– Approved rate constitutes documentation

2. 10% De Minimis Rate

- Organizations that have never held a federally negotiated 

rate

- Organizations that receive less than $35 million in direct 

federal funding

- If selected, must use consistently across all federal awards
Source of Funds (i.e. Match)

MLK Day applications only
Source of Funds – Sample Entries 

MLK Day applications only
Additional items

• Establish or renew your CCR at www.sam.gov

• Single audit and 990

• Include Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement 

information in eGrants

• Submit your Financial Management Survey to CNCS
eGrants

eGrants Log in/Create account: 

https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp

eGrants technical assistance:

National Service Hotline -- 800-942-2677
Questions and Answers

• FY 2019 DAY OF SERVICE GRANTS Webpage:

- Notice of Funding Opportunity

- Application Instructions

- Webinar Recording (coming soon)

- Frequently Asked Questions (coming soon and will be updated 

periodically)

• Email: DayofService@cns.gov