2012-20132012-2013 INDIANA AMERICORPS INDIANA AMERICORPS INFORMATION SESSIONSINFORMATION SESSIONS

INTEREST SESSION SCHEDULEINTEREST SESSION SCHEDULEAugust 17, 2011 Evansville

August 18, 2011 New Albany

August 24, 2011 Merrillville

August 25, 2011 South Bend

August 26, 2011 Ft. Wayne

August 31, 2011 Indianapolis

September 1, 2011 Kokomo

OFBCIOFBCI• CONNECT organizations and communities to grants, services, and each

other

• PROMOTE volunteerism and service to improve the lives of Hoosiers

• ENCOURAGE public and private resources to seed and sustain innovative and high quality community and faith-based initiatives

• HIGHLIGHT the good works of individuals and their communities with best practices and innovative models. 

AgendaAgenda

• Hear from those who are living it!

• Learn about AmeriCorps

• Discuss the Grant

• Explore the Application Process

• Consider the Budget

AmeriCorps at the National LevelAmeriCorps at the National Level

• Administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) – Estab. 1993 www.nationalservice.gov

•Serve America Act – 2009 – Increased funding and programs (SIF, VGF, NCBP)

•Programming includes VISTA, State/National, and NCCC

•85,000 AmeriCorps members serve nationwide each year!

637,000637,000: Number of people who have served as AmeriCorps : Number of people who have served as AmeriCorps members since 1994. members since 1994. 774 Million774 Million: : Total number of hours served by AmeriCorps members. Total number of hours served by AmeriCorps members. $1.77 Billion$1.77 Billion: : Total amount of Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards Total amount of Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards earned by AmeriCorps members since 1994. earned by AmeriCorps members since 1994. 2.4 Million2.4 Million: : Number of community volunteers managed or Number of community volunteers managed or mobilized by AmeriCorps members in 2008. mobilized by AmeriCorps members in 2008. 3,3003,300: : Number of nonprofit, faith-based, and community Number of nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations served by AmeriCorps members last year. organizations served by AmeriCorps members last year. $6.3 Billion$6.3 Billion: : Amount of AmeriCorps funds invested in nonprofit, Amount of AmeriCorps funds invested in nonprofit, community, educational, and faith-based community groupscommunity, educational, and faith-based community groups

The State Level The State Level • Each state has a Governor-appointed state service

commission that administers the “formula” funds.

• Indiana Commission on Community Service and Volunteerism (ICCSV).

• 11,000 AmeriCorps members have served 13,000,000 hours in Indiana

• $29,400,000 awarded in the form of Education Awards

$3.6 million awarded ($2.4 M formula)

18 programs; 3 planning grants.

810 members

332 member service years (MSY)

2011-2012 Indiana2011-2012 IndianaAmeriCorps GranteesAmeriCorps Grantees

PY September 1, 2011-August 31, 2012PY September 1, 2011-August 31, 2012

• American Red Cross-St. Joseph Co.

• Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis

• Boys and Girls Clubs of Wayne County

• Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

• Entrepreneurial Ventures in Education

• Habitat for Humanity of Indiana

• Hannah and Friends

• Indiana Campus Compact• Indiana State University• Indiana University• Notre Dame (RCLC)• Public Allies• Scott County Partnership• United Way of Bartholomew

County• United Way of Jackson County• United Way of Porter County• University of Southern Indiana• YMCA of Greater Indianapolis

What is AmeriCorps?What is AmeriCorps?• National Service Program

– “Domestic Peace Corps”

• Areas of Focus:– Disaster Services

– Education– Environmental Stewardship– Healthy Futures– Opportunity– Veterans and Military Families

What is AmeriCorps? What is AmeriCorps? • Getting Things Done. AmeriCorps helps communities meet

needs in the areas of education, public safety, the environment, and other human needs through direct and demonstrable service.

• Strengthening Communities. AmeriCorps builds the capacity of community organizations and other institutions to more effectively engage community volunteers to improve our communities.

• Encouraging Responsibility. Through service and civic education, AmeriCorps members become agents of community solutions and develop an ethic of lifelong service.

• Expanding Opportunity. AmeriCorps helps those who help America. Members develop professional skills, gain invaluable experience and receive education awards for education or job training.

Strengthening CommunitiesStrengthening Communities

• Programs strengthen communities by:– Mobilizing Community Assets– Generating Volunteers– Involving the Community – Engaging diverse staff and AmeriCorps

members

Participant DevelopmentCitizenship:Develop lifelong ethic of service.

Training:Supervision & Training must be provided.

Required Hours:Members must devote 80% of hours to direct service, 20% to training.

Opportunities:Provide Leadership opportunities for members and encourage personal growth.

AmeriCorps is about:AmeriCorps is about:• Meeting the needs of our communities • Building relationships and partnerships • Strengthening civic engagement • Developing members' skills and experience • Providing carefully planned, well managed

and important projects   • 'Getting Things Done'

AmeriCorps is AmeriCorps is notnot about: about:• 'Busy work' • Temporary solutions • Financing your organization• Employee/volunteer replacement or

displacement…– Programs must provide specific measurable service

outcomes that• Are not already provided with existing funds or

volunteers• Do not duplicate the functions of existing workers, or

displace paid employees

Prohibited Service Activities for AmeriCorps*StateProhibited Service Activities for AmeriCorps*State

• Attempting to influence legislation

• Organizing or engaging in protests, strikes, petitions or boycotts

• Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing

• Any political activities

Prohibited ActivitiesProhibited Activities• Engaging in religious instruction, proselytization,

worship activities

• Administrative duties (i.e. acting as your agency’s receptionist, clerical work, etc.)

• Constructing or maintaining a facility inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship

• Providing a direct benefit to a for-profit organization, labor union, political party, or religious organization

• Providing services and activities that would otherwise be performed by employed workers or volunteers, or that will supplant the hiring of, or result in the displacement of, employed workers in the community

Prohibited ActivitiesProhibited Activities

Examples of Appropriate Service Examples of Appropriate Service Activities for AmeriCorps*StateActivities for AmeriCorps*State

• Tutoring at-risk youth

• Recruiting volunteers

• Teaching conflict resolution skills

• Environmental conservation activities

• Assisting crime victims

• Building homes

• Restoring parks

• Mentoring at-risk youth

• Teaching computer skills

• Running after-school programs

• Other direct service or capacity-building activities…

What about fundraising?What about fundraising?AmeriCorps members can devote 10% of their

service time to fundraising activities.• Members may:

– Raise funds that benefit your organization’s service activities

• Members may not:– Raise funds for living allowances or for your organization’s

general operating expenses– Write a grant application to CNCS or any other Federal agency

AmeriCorps Lingo:AmeriCorps Lingo:It’s not a job, job training, or typical volunteer

position, it’s …Service

We’re not employees, apprentices, or typical

volunteers, we’re… AmeriCorps Members

It’s not a wage, salary, or paycheck, it’s a…Living

Allowance

It’s not a work site or job site, it’s a…Service Site

Programs must have:Programs must have:

• Successful recruitment and placement strategies • A clear structure within which members serve• Integration of service learning principles• Provision of training and learning opportunities for

both staff and members • Ongoing support and supervision of members and

service sites • Leadership, teamwork, and diversity opportunities

Program ExpectationsProgram Expectations

• All AmeriCorps programs:– Measure and account for impact – Are Inclusive– Partner with faith-based and/or community-

based organizations– Generate volunteers

Numbers for 2009-2010 (A Digression)Numbers for 2009-2010 (A Digression)

Volunteers: 14,336

Hours of Service: 108,860

Benefit to Communities: $1,917,024.6

Based on Independent Sector Indiana 2009 rate of $17.61http://www.independentsector.org/volunteer_time

Program ResponsibilitiesProgram Responsibilities

Program Provides:• Member Contract• Grievance Procedure• Evaluation/ Outcome

measurement• Identification (Site and

Member)• Site agreements

Programs also:• Supervise sites• Report programmatically

and financially• Attend director trainings• Participate in statewide

events

Program Responsibilities Continued… Program Responsibilities Continued…

• Programmatic:– Quarterly Progress

Reports– Monitoring

Reviews/Responses– New Program and All

Program conference calls

• Fiscal:– PERs – monthly– FFRs – bi-annual

– Closeout-annually

Member Terms of ServiceMember Terms of Service• Members serve

– Full time (1,700 hours) = $5,550 ed award

– Half Time (900 hours) = $2,775 ed award

– Reduced Half Time (675 hours) = $2,114 ed award

– Quarter Time (450 hours) = $1,468 ed award

– Minimum time (300 hours) = $1,175 ed award

• Members must complete term of service within grant contract timeframe.

• Members can serve up to four terms in AmeriCorps State/National but can only receive the equivalent value of two full time education awards.

Member Eligibility, Recruitment & Selection Member Eligibility, Recruitment & Selection

Members are recruited, selected and trained by each individual program.

Must be at least 17, possess high school diploma / GED (or agree to work towards it) or equivalent, and be a U.S. Citizen or legal resident alien.

Meet any additional qualifications as determined by the program.

Member Benefits

• Living Stipend– Full-Time (min./max.) $12,100-

$24,200 – Part-Time living stipends prorated

• Health Care (FT Only)• Child Care (FT Only) • Training/Development• Loan Forbearance/Forgiveness• Education Award

The Education Award: The Education Award: Things to KnowThings to Know

• Can be used to pay education costs at qualified higher education institutions, to assist with continuing education or to repay qualified student loans.

• The Education Award is taxed.– However, there are strategies to minimize the pain.

• There are more uses for the Education Award than you might realize:

– Many schools will match the Education Award– There are alternative options for the Education Award

• NOLS, Outward Bound, Study Abroad, Scuba Diving

• For more information: http://edaward.org/– Or just google “Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tutorial”

About the Grant About the Grant CNCS and the ICCSV seeks to fund programs that can demonstrate community impact and solve community problems through an evidence-based approach.

Eligible Applicants • Educational institutions• Government/State Entities• Non-profit organizations with a 501(c)3 status

• New Applicant– Those eligible organizations that have:

• Not previously operated an AC*State program

• Not operated a program in more than five years

• OFBCI approval needed to request more than 50 slots.

• Recompete Applicant– Organizations completing their third year of

operating an AC*State program

• Continuing Applicant– Organizations in their first or second year of operating an

AC* State program

Applicant Type:Applicant Type:

• Operating Grants (Active Programs)– Fully developed plans ready for implementation

• Planning Grants (New programs only)– Not to exceed $50,000– Provides time and resources to plan, develop,

and propose a successful program

• 3/9 Planning Grants (Hybrid of the two)– 3 months of preparation 9 months active– New programs only

Funding OpportunitiesFunding Opportunities

Program and Grant SizeProgram and Grant Size

• Programs must request a minimum of 10 Member Service Years (MSY): Recommend 15 MSY

• Target average federal cost per MSY should not exceed $13,300.

• Grant size is determined by size of the program.

• Grant size may be limited based on funding availability.

• 3 year grant cycle; renewable in year 1-2

– Operate on annual program year schedule

CNCS Priorities/ObjectivesCNCS Priorities/Objectives

Disaster Services Prepare for, respond to, and recover from and mitigate disasters

Education Improve school readiness for economically disadvantaged young childrenIncrease student’s educational and behavioral outcomes Assist students to prepare for success in post-secondary education institutions

Healthy Futures Reduce childhood obesity ratesIncrease the ability of seniors to remain in their own homesImprove general access to primary and preventative health care

Opportunity Increase employment for unemployed or underemployed economically vulnerable peopleIncrease financial literacy of economically vulnerable families and individualsIncrease the number of economically vulnerable families and individuals living in safe, affordable housing

Veterans Improve the quality of life of veterans and improve military family strength

Environmental Stewardship

Decrease energy and water consumptionImprove at-risk ecosystemsIncrease green training opportunities/encourage positive behavior changes

Service as a Solution

Expanding Opportunities to Serve

Build Enduring Capacity

Embrace Innovation

State/National Program ModelsState/National Program Models

• Program design is determined by applicant – Single Site Model– Multi-site Model

• Local, Regional, Statewide

– Education Award Only Model – Fixed Award Model

• Programs that enroll Full-Time members only

• Apply for a fixed-amount per MSY; no match requirement

Places AmeriCorps members as teachers, health

care providers, police officers, engineers, or other

professionals in communities where there is

an inadequate number of such professionals

Apply for up to $2,500 per MSY eligible to apply for

funding for a portion of program costs, and use their

own or other resources to pay the members’ living

allowance and additional member costs. 

Professional CorpsProfessional Corps

• Programs that engage a significant number of participants 55 years or older

• 10% of AmeriCorps funding is set aside by Congress to support these programs.

Encore Programs:Encore Programs:

Narrative Item Maximum Number of Characters (including spaces and punctuation)

A. Program Design ( 50%)

26 Double Spaced Pages (Executive Summary, Cover Page,

and Sections A, B, and C)

B. Organizational Capability (25%)

C. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25%)

Elements of the NarrativeElements of the Narrative

Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

– Provides persuasive evidence that the identified need(s) exist in the targeted community(ies). (5 points)

– Describes the ways in which members are a highly effective means to solve the identified need(s). Communicates the unique value added by AmeriCorps (15 points)

– Describes how the interventions the AmeriCorps members and volunteers are engaged in are both evidence-based and will have a measurable community impact. (15 points)

– Describes the program components that enable the AmeriCorps members to have powerful service experiences. (10 points)

– Convincingly links the above elements: (5 points)

Program Design (50%) Program Design (50%)

• Adequate experience, staffing and management structure

• Secured (or ability to secure) financial and/or in-kind resources

• Structure that ensures compliance with rules and regulations

Organizational Capability (25%)Organizational Capability (25%)

• Budget is clear, reasonable and cost effective

• Amount requested does not exceed the maximum cost per Member Service Year (MSY)

Cost Effectiveness/Budget Adequacy (25%)Cost Effectiveness/Budget Adequacy (25%)

When Writing your Narrative…When Writing your Narrative…

• Lead from your program strengths and be explicit– Do not try to relate your program to every strategic priority or

special initiative

• Be clear and succinct– No jargon, boilerplate language, rhetoric, etc.

• Don’t make assumptions– Do not assume the readers know anything about you or your

program

• Use an impartial proofreader

Performance MeasuresPerformance MeasuresRequired as part of your application

• How will you measure your program’s impact?

National Performance Measures• Funding priority given to programs that opt into

these pre-existing measures• If your program fits, it’s required

Self-Nominated Measures• Permitted…if your program does not fit a national

measure

2012-2013 2012-2013 Application ProcessApplication Process

• RFP and NOFA to be posted on OFBCI website– Will include specific deadlines for process

• Submit Notification of Intent to Apply (September 30)

• Indiana AmeriCorps*State Application Instructions

• Attend Technical Training

• Draft and Submit AmeriCorps*State Grant Application – Submit through the eGrants system

Sources of FundsSources of FundsCOMPETITIVE & EAP FUNDS:• Must compete successfully at state level • National competition with other applications• Corporation for National and Community Service

makes final decisions

FORMULA FUNDS:• Must compete successfully at the state level• ICCSV awards funds• Informs the Corporation of its decisions

The Review ProcessThe Review Process

1. Peer Review Panel reviews, scores, and ranks proposals – November, 2011

2. OFBCI Staff Review – November 2011

3. ICCSV decides which applications will enter national competition – December 2011

4. Pre-Award Risk Assessment on NEW applicants – December through March, 2011 - 2012

5. CNCS notification of Competitive Awards – June 2012

– New, Recompete, and EAP

6. ICCSV allocates Formula Funds – June 2012

Is AmeriCorps Right for My Is AmeriCorps Right for My Organization? Organization?

Is my organization an eligible applicant? Would this program support my organization’s mission

and strategic plan? Does my organization address compelling needs in the

priority areas? Does my organization have the organizational,

technological and fiscal capacity to manage a federal grant (take Readiness Assessment)?

Does my organization have the resources to match the federal funds (cash and in-kind)?

Are we seeking funds for a program that would recruit 10, 15, or more full-time members or equivalent?

Do we have the resources to manage a program for 30-60 days before receiving reimbursement?

For More Information For More Information on AmeriCorpson AmeriCorps

Visit: www.americorps.org

www.americorps.gov/fitfinder/

http://www.in.gov/ofbci/2347.htm – Prohibited Activities

– Readiness Assessment

– AmeriCorps Lingo

Questions can be emailed to:

jgaskill@ofbci.in.gov