- Application Due Date: January 13, 2015 (Notice of Intent to Apply Due Date: December 29, 2014)
- Visit the Operation AmeriCorps Overview and Factsheet
- View the Operation AmeriCorps Notice of Funding Opportunity
- View the Operation AmeriCorps Application Instructions
- View Operation AmeriCorps Frequently Asked Questions
- View Operation AmeriCorps Technical Assistance Information
Operation AmeriCorps Overview
Operation AmeriCorps asks tribal and local leaders to identify a high-priority local challenge that AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps NCCC and/or AmeriCorps VISTA members can holistically address in a relatively short period of time (no more than two years).
The grant competition is open exclusively to tribal and local governments, including counties, cities, towns, and school districts; and State Service Commissions.
Proposals must be place-based, coordinated with existing community organizations, and with transformational outcomes.
The solution may be a new initiative, or it may use national service to scale up an existing successful effort, but in either case AmeriCorps must be the additive ingredient to achieve transformative change at the local level.
Operation AmeriCorps Funding Priorities
The Fiscal Year 2015 Operation AmeriCorps competition has two funding priorities. Applicants may choose to apply to either of the priorities.
The first priority focuses is narrowly tailored and focus on specific post-secondary outcomes for students.
The second priority is more flexible and allows localities to identify their most pressing challenge. For more information please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
How to Apply for Operation AmeriCorps
Applicants must submit their logic model attached to an e-mail addressed to OperationAmeriCorps@cns.gov by the Tuesday, January 13, 2015 5:00 pm deadline.
Include the legal applicant name, point of contact information, and Concept Paper ID in the e-mail and in the logic model document itself.
In addition to the regular hours, the National Service Hotline will be available to assist applicants on the days and times listed below:
- Saturday January 10 (10:00 am to 5:00 pm)
- Sunday January 11 (11:00 am to 5:00 pm)
- Monday January 12 (7:00 pm to 9:00 pm)
Applicants should contact their local State Service Commission for details on how to apply for Operation AmeriCorps in their state. Many states are administering their own selection process for Operation AmeriCorps and will advance to CNCS the applicants it selects to compete for funding.
However, the following State Service Commissions have opted out of the review process for Operation AmeriCorps: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Guam, Idaho, Missouri, North Carolina, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, and Washington. Applicants in those states should submit their applications directly to CNCS before the January 13, 2015 deadline.
Operation AmeriCorps applicants in all other states must contact their State Service Commission to learn about their state’s application process and deadline, which may be significantly before the CNCS deadline of January 13, 2015.
Submission of a Notice of Intent to Apply is highly encouraged and due before Monday, December 29, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Notice of Intent to Apply should be sent via e-mail to OperationAmeriCorps@cns.gov and must include contact information (name of the applicant organization, address, contact person, email address, and phone number), whether you plan to address Priority 1 or Priority 2 (including which Priority 2 focus area). Notices of Intent to Apply will not receive an email acknowledging receipt.
What makes this competition different from other AmeriCorps Competitions?
- Single application for multiple AmeriCorps programs: For the first time, applicants may request AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps NCCC, and/or AmeriCorps VISTA resources in a single application.
- Focuses on transformational impact: Successful applicants will propose how AmeriCorps members will be an essential part of the solution to achieve a dramatic and measurable improvement in the given locality in a two-year period.
- Two-step application process: For the first step, applicants will submit a concept paper (maximum length: 10 pages) that describes their project. Then applicants selected for step two will receive technical assistance and be asked to submit a full application.
We also expect applicants to show how they will coordinate with national service programs in their communities.
This includes coordination with other AmeriCorps programs and grantees from Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund, and the Volunteer Generation Fund.
We also will give preference to applicants that demonstrate strong local support or are part of the Promise Zone or Strong Cities, Strong Communities initiatives.
Operation AmeriCorps Technical Assistance Calls
Operation AmeriCorps Technical Assistance Call #1 – Notice of Funding Overview
Date: Wednesday December 3, 2014
Time: 01:00 PM EASTERN TIME
Dial-In Number: 888-455-7455
Operation AmeriCorps TA Call #2 – Notice of Funding Overview for Indian Tribes
Date: Tuesday December 9, 2014
Time: 01:00 PM EASTERN TIME
Dial-In Number: 888-455-7455
Operation AmeriCorps TA Call #3 – Notice of Funding Overview Plus Information on Integrating AmeriCorps Programs into Operation AmeriCorps Projects
Date: Thursday December 11, 2014
Time: 01:00 PM EASTERN TIME
Dial-In Number: 888-455-7455
Replay: 866-402-3768
Operation AmeriCorps TA Call #4 – Notice of Funding Overview Plus Information on Creating a Logic Model
Date: Monday December 15, 2014
Time: 01:00 PM EASTERN TIME
Dial-In Number: 888-455-7455
Participant Pass code: AmeriCorps
Logic Model Sample
Replay: 866-402-3768
Replay: 866-402-3768
Further information
Status
Open
CFDA number
94.025
Contact Email
OperationAmeriCorps@cns.gov