AmeriCorps State and National FY 2015 Partnership Challenge

Through the AmeriCorps Partnership Challenge, nonprofit organizations or public agencies – together with their funding partners – will develop proposals to address community needs by engaging AmeriCorps members. Upon approval, CNCS will provide Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for AmeriCorps members, while the sponsoring organization will cover full cost of operating the programs. AmeriCorps members who successfully complete terms of service will be eligible for Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards, and will gain valuable skills and experiences to advance their career goals while they make a difference in communities.

Eligible ApplicantsThe following entities are eligible to apply: public or private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and other community organizations; institutions of higher education; government entities within states or territories (e.g., cities, counties); labor organizations; partnerships and consortia; and Indian Tribes. Receiving funding previously from CNCS or another Federal agency is not a prerequisite to applying under this Notice. Organizations that have been convicted of a federal crime are disqualified from receiving the assistance described in this Notice. Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, an organization described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. § 501 (c)(4), that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to apply.New Applicants CNCS encourages organizations that have never received funding from CNCS to apply. The general practice is to award no more than 50 member positions to organizations participating in an AmeriCorps program for the first time.Continuation Applicants Organizations that have current AmeriCorps awards that do not end in FY15 must submit an application in order to be eligible to receive funding for the following year. Requests by existing continuation applicants for increases in the level of funding or number of positions will be assessed using the criteria under this Notice.Type of Applicants Single State Applicants Organizations that propose to operate in only one state or territory must apply through the Governor-appointed State or Territory Commissions. Each state and territory administers its own selection process and puts forward to CNCS the applicants it selects to compete for funding. Applicants operating in one state must contact their State Commissions to learn about their state or territory processes and deadlines which may be significantly before the CNCS deadlines and may have additional requirements. The list of State and Territory Commissions can be found here: http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/contact-us/state-service-commissionsDirect Applicants Single State Applicants directed by their State Commission to apply directly to CNCS should do so. Please note that, after reviewing applications, CNCS may discuss with the State Commission awarding the grant to the Commission in order for the Commission to award a sub-grant to the applicant. Alternatively, CNCS may award the grant directly to the successful applicant, but also may work cooperatively with the State Commission to assign to them the responsibility to oversee and monitor performance of the grant. State Commissions interested in being assigned responsibility for oversight of AmeriCorps Partnership Challenge awards operating within their state should contact CNCS. Multi-state: Organizations that propose to operate AmeriCorps programs in more than one state or territory apply directly to CNCS. Federally-recognized Indian Tribes: An Indian Tribe is defined as a federally recognized Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Native village, Regional Corporation, or Village Corporation, as defined under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. § 1602), that the United States Government determines is eligible for special programs and services provided under federal law to Indians because of their status as Indians. Indian Tribes also include tribal organizations controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by one of the entities described above. Territories without Commissions: Applicants in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern

AmeriCorps Grants