Americorps Grant 9 2 08THE CITY OF DUBUQUE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
All-American City
2007
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: AmeriCorps Grant
DATE: August 28, 2008
Housing and Community Development Department Director David Harris is
recommending approval of the three-year AmeriCorps Grant agreement with the
Corporation for National and Community Service.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department Director
THE CITY OF DUBUQUE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
All-American City
2007
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manger
FROM: David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department
SUBJECT: AmeriCorps grant award
DATE: 28 August 08
Introduction
The purpose of this memorandum is to request the City Council to authorize the City
Manager's execution of the attached grant agreement with the Iowa Commission on
Volunteer Service for the AmeriCorps Program.
Discussion
The City of Dubuque's Partners in Learning AmeriCorps Program has been awarded a
grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service in a national
competition for funding. Dubuque's award is one of only six local projects funded in the
country. It will provide for an annually renewable grant of $205 378 for athree-year
term. This will allow our AmeriCorps Program to continue placing more than 50
volunteers in area schools, working with at-risk and disadvantaged children in
educational enrichment support activities. This program is directed by Penny Ehlinger,
with assistance from Beverly Berna, Family Specialist with the ISU-County Extension
Office.
Action Step
The action requested of the City Council is to authorize the City Manager's signature of
the attached grant agreement with the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service.
From: Office of Public Affairs
Sent: Friday, August 08, 2008 4:28 PM
To: _Corporation All Staff
Subject: AmeriCorps Awards $2.2 Million to Eight Organizations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
AmeriCorps Awards $2.2 Million to Eight Organizations
Washington, D.C. -The Corporation for National and Community Service today
announced results of its fina12008 grants competition, with more than $2.2 million being
awarded to eight organizations funding 230 new AmeriCorps members to help
communities provide healthy and educational environments for children, as well as
support Midwest disaster response and recovery.
The grants are the last to be announced this fiscal year, with previous competitive awards
totaling $47 million announced during AmeriCorps Week in May, and more than $151
million in continuation grants announced in March. Together these new awards and
those previously announced represent $275 million in total funding, adding more than
53,000 AmeriCorps members and more than $154.5 million in AmeriCorps Education
Awards to help pay for college or to pay back student loans.
"AmeriCorps members are a powerful catalyst for community volunteering and
strengthening the organizations where they serve," said David Eisner, Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation, which administers the AmeriCorps program. "We're
multiplying the impact that these organizations have in preventing child abuse and
domestic violence,mentoring youth, teaching reading, providing safe and healthy homes
and reclaiming areas devastated by floods.
"Completing this competition moves us one step closer to meeting our target of 75,000
and maximizing our total budget of $275 million this year," he added.
Two multi-state programs were awarded funding -CLEAR Corps/USA, which promotes
healthy lead-free environments for children through mobile lead testing vans, advocacy
and educational programs, received $443,340, and the Minnesota Conservation Corps,
which works on natural resource protection and disaster response in Minnesota and Iowa,
received $365,400. The Minnesota Conservation Corps will send its members to Cedar
Rapids and other flooded Iowa communities to assist in clean up and rebuilding.
Six local projects also received funding: Birmingham (Ala.) READS AmeriCorps
($251,879); Project Laulima of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii ($321,300); Partners in
Learning AmeriCorps Program through the City of Dubuque, Iowa ($205,378); Habitat
for Humanity AmeriCorps Maryland ($275,569); Project TLC (To Love a Child) in
Memphis, Tenn., sponsored by the Exchange Club Family Center of the Mid-
South($223,650); and Building a Community of Champions sponsored by the Monroe
County, W.Va., Schools ($137,651).
These awards keep AmeriCorps on track to support 74,087 members in 2008 through
AmeriCorps grant programs, AmeriCorps VISTA and AmeriCorps National Civilian
Community Corps and reach the target set by President Bush in his 2002 State of the
Union message. Since its inception in 1993, more than 540,000 men and women have
served in AmeriCorps, providing 705 million hours of service.
AmeriCorps members serve with more than 4,100 groups each year, helping
organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Clubs, the American Red Cross,
and numerous other nonprofit and faith-based groups expand their reach and better fulfill
their mission. AmeriCorps members recruit volunteers, expand services, build capacity,
develop new partnerships, and create innovative and sustainable programs. Last year
AmeriCorps members mobilized or managed 1.7 million volunteers for the
organizations they serve.
To Whom It May Concern:
We are pleased to inform you that the commission has approved City of Dubuque AmeriCorps funding in the amount
of $205,378 and 15.6 MSY for the 2008-2009 grant year. These funds are provided through the Iowa Commission
on Volunteer Service ("ICVS"), with the federal source being the Corporation for National and Community Service
("corporation").
It is a testament to the quality of your grant application and program accomplishments, that the program was selected
for competitive funding from the corporation. The result is a more stable, three-year project funding period, but also
increased scrutiny at the state and national level. Your program has exemplified quality member, program and
financial management, so we do not anticipate any challenges from this status. However, your program should strive
for continuous improvement through ongoing measurement, assessment and evaluation.
There are a few important dates that should be added to the calendar for your AmeriCorps program staff:
• Immediately: although you cannot charge expenses for this until your grant is awarded, we encourage you to
begin spreading the word and accepting applications for AmeriCorps members.
• September 1: AmeriCorps Program Grant Begins -First date members can enroll and begin to serve
• October 28-29: Iowa Conference on Volunteer Service (Ames, IA)
Each program will be assigned an AmeriCorps program officer that will serve as their primary contact during the
program year. Until such time as you are assigned a program officer, please contact any member of the AmeriCorps
staff for assistance. Our contact information is included on this message.
Again, congratulations -we're looking forward to another successful AmeriCorps year. Please let us know if we can
be of any assistance as you develop and plan for 2008-2009.
Sincerely,
Karen Crosby, 515-242-4798, Karen.crosby a(~.iowalifechanging.com
Kristin Honz, 515-242-5467, kristin.honz(a.iowalifechanging.com
Julie Struck, 515-242-4866, Julie.struck a(~.iowalifechanging.com
AmeriCorps Program Officers
Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service
VOLUNTEER IOWA
IOWA'S PROMLSE
Date: August 15, 2008
Re: 2008-2009 AmeriCorps Grant Agreements
From: Kristin Honz, 515-242-5467
Enclosed please find the 2008-2009 grant agreements for operation of your
organization's AmeriCorps program. Please review the materials and return both signed
copies of page 11 of the agreement to our office for execution as soon as possible. We
will return a signed copy to you for your files, as well as the financial reports for this
year.
As you know, the agreements begin on September 1, 2008. Therefore, we need to
receive the signed agreements in our office no later than August 29~' for signature. If you
will not be able to meet this deadline, please contact me. Under no circumstances should
a member serve or expenses be incurred for an AmeriCorps program without a fully
executed grant agreement in effect. As you know, changes to budget, scope of work,
member slots or other factors must be approved by our office, and, in some cases, by the
Corporation for National and Community Service, so please provide as much advance
notice as possible for these changes.
Please mark your calendars for a financial conference call on Tuesday, September 2 from
1 - 2 p.m. Program directors and relevant financial personnel should plan to participate
in the call. Supporting materials will be sent in the next week.
If you have questions or concerns regarding the grant agreement language, please contact
our office for clarification and discussion. We look forward to working with programs
and members for another successful AmeriCorps year!
200 East Grand Avenue ~ Des Moines, IA 50309 ~ Tel: 515.242.4945 $ 800.308.5987 + Fax: 515.242.4809 * www.volunteeriowa.org
IOWA COMMISSION ON VOLUNTEER SERVICE
AmeriCorps GRANT AGREEMENT
GRANT NUMBER: 08-AC-13
AWARD DATE: September 1, 2008
AWARD AMOUNT: $205,378
GRANTEE FED. ID. #: 42-6004596
THIS AmeriCorps AGREEMENT is made by and between the IOWA COMMISSION ON
VOLUNTEER SERVICE, 200 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 ("Commission" or
"ICVS"), an agency of the State of Iowa, and City of Dubuque ("Grantee"), a city government.
The Commission desires to make a grant to the Grantee and the Grantee desires to accept this grant,
all upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Agreement and other good
and valuable consideration, it is agreed as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall apply:
1.1 ACT. "Act" means the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended (42 U.S.C.
S.12591 ET seq.).
1.2 AWARD DATE. "Award Date" means the date on which the Commission approved the
grant award.
1.3 GRANT AGREEMENT or AGREEMENT. "Grant Agreement" or "Agreement" means this
Agreement and all of the exhibits, attachments and documents referred to in the Agreement and all
other instruments or documents executed by the parties or otherwise required in connection with the
Agreement.
1.4 PROJECT. "Project" means the detailed description of the work, services, and other obligations
to be performed or accomplished by the Grantee as described in this Agreement and the AmeriCorps
application approved by the Commission.
1.5 PROJECT COMPLETION DATE. "Project Completion Date" means August 31, 2009 and is
the date by which the Project tasks shall have been fully accomplished including fulfillment of the
obligations identified in Article VI.
AmeriCorps Grant Agreement
Format Approved 10/94
Revised 8/04
08-AC-13
Page 2 of 11
ARTICLE II
FUNDING
2.1 FUNDING SOURCE. The source of funding for the Grant is a grant from the Corporation for
National Service for the AmeriCorps Program. The Grantee shall comply with the requirements,
conditions and rules of the Commission and any other public or private entity having authority over
the funds or the Grant.
2.2 RECEIPT OF FUNDS. All payments under this Agreement are subject to receipt by the
Commission of sufficient funds for the AmeriCorps Program. Any termination, reduction or delay of
funds to the Commission shall, at the option of the Commission, result in the termination, reduction
or delay of funds to the Grantee.
ARTICLE III
GRANT; TIME OF PERFORMANCE; WORK TO BE PERFORMED
3.1 GRANT. The Commission grants $205,378 for the time period of September 1, 2008, to August
31, 2009, to the Grantee for AmeriCorps activities.
3.2 WORK TO BE PERFORMED. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, ICVS grants funds to the Grantee to perform activities and services as specifically
outlined in Exhibit C entitled "Grant Application" dated December 18, 2007, attached hereto, and
incorporated by this reference, and for such other tasks as ICVS and Grantee may agree to in writing.
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS TO DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS
Unless and until the following conditions have been satisfied, the Commission shall be under no
obligation to disburse to the Grantee any amounts under the Grant Agreement:
4.1 GRANT AGREEMENT EXECUTED. The Grant Agreement shall have been properly
executed and, where required, acknowledged.
4.2 AUTHORITY Resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution and delivery of
this Grant Agreement and such other papers as the Commission may reasonably request, and
specifying the officer(s) authorized to execute the Grant Agreement and bind the Grantee.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF GRANTEE
To induce the Commission to make the Grant referred to in this Agreement, the Grantee represents,
covenants and warrants that:
5.1 AUTHORITY. The Grantee is duly authorized and empowered to execute and deliver the
Grant Agreement. All action on the Grantee's part, such as appropriate resolution of its Board of
08-AC-13
Page 3 of 11
Directors for the execution and delivery of the Grant Agreement, has been effectively taken.
5.2 FINANCL~I, INFORMATION. All financial statements and related materials concerning the
Grantee and the Proj ect provided to the Commission are true and correct in all material respects and
completely and accurately represent the subject matter thereof as of the effective date of the
statements and related materials, and no material adverse change has occurred since that date.
5.3 APPLICATION. The contents of the application the Grantee submitted to the Commission for
funding is a complete and accurate representation of the Grantee and the Project as of the date of
submission and there has been no material adverse change in the organization, operation, or key
personnel of the Grantee since the date the application was submitted to the Commission.
5.4 PRIOR AGREEMENTS. The Grantee has not entered into any verbal or written contracts,
agreements or arrangements of any kind, which are inconsistent with the Grant Agreement.
5.5 EFFECTIVE DATE. The covenants, warranties and representations ofthis Article are made as
of the date of this Agreement and shall be deemed to be renewed and restated by the Grantee at the
time of each request for disbursement of funds.
ARTICLE VI
GRANTEE OBLIGATIONS
6.1 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. The Grantee covenants with ICVS that:
(a) PROJECT WORK AND SERVICES. The Grantee shall complete the work and
services detailed in its application.
(b) COMPLIANCE WITH LAW AND REGULATIONS. The Grantee shall comply with
the provisions of the Act, the Corporation's regulations (45 CFR 2510 et al) (Exhibit D),
AmeriCorps -Provisions (Exhibit E) and all other applicable laws and regulations.
(c) ACCESS TO RECORDS. The Grantee shall permit the Commission, Auditor of the
State of Iowa or any authorized representative of the State, and where federal funds are
involved, the Comptroller General of the United States or any other representative of the
United States Government, to access and examine, audit, excerpt and transcribe any directly
pertinent books, documents, papers and records of Grantee relating to orders, invoices, or
payments or any other documentation or materials pertaining to this contract.
(d) RECORDS RETENTION. All records of the Grantee relating to this contract shall
be retained for a period of five (5) years following the date of final payment or
completion of any required audit and resolution of any audit findings, whichever is
earlier.
(e) USE OF GRANT FUNDS. The Grantee shall expend funds received under the Grant
only for the purposes and activities described in its application and approved by the
08-AC-13
Page 4 of 11
Commission and in compliance with applicable federal and state law and regulations.
(f) DOCUMENTATION. The Grantee shall deliver to ICVS upon request, (i) copies of all
contracts or agreements relating to the Project, (ii) invoices, receipts, statements or vouchers
relating to the Project, (iii) a list of all unpaid bills for labor and materials in connection with
the Project, (iv) budgets and revisions showing estimated Project costs and funds required at
any given time to complete and pay for the Project, and (v) current and year-to-date operating
statements not older than sixty (60) days from the date of request.
(g) NOTICE OF PROCEEDINGS. The Grantee shall promptly notify ICVS of the
initiation of any claims, lawsuits or proceedings brought against the Grantee.
(h) REPORTS. The Grantee shall submit the following reports to ICVS:
ITEM NO. OF COPIES DATE DUE
Payment Request one signed original 20~' of each month
Periodic Expense Report in WBRS or alternate system 20~' of each month
Financial Status Report (FSR)
Final Financial Status Report
Performance Measures Reporting
Performance Measures
negotiated with ICVS staff
in WBRS or alternate system
in WBRS or alternate system
Performance Measures Reporting
Final Performance Measures Report
Audit Report
in Survey Monkey
in Survey Monkey
(or other reporting system)
one copy
April 15, 2009 and
October 15, 2009
Within 60 days of
termination of grant
agreement
within 30 days of
grant agreement start
date
April 15, 2009
October 15, 2009
Within 60 days of
expiration or
termination of grant
agreement
See exhibit "A"
(i) MAINTENANCE OF PROJECT PROPERTY AND INSURANCE. Grantee shall
maintain with fmancially sound and reputable insurers, insurance to protect its properties
against losses or damages of the kind customarily insured against by corporations of
established favorable reputation engaged in the same or similarly situated. Grantee shall, on
request of ICVS, furnish a schedule of all insurance carried by it, setting forth in detail the
amount and type of such insurance.
08-AC-13
Page 5 of 11
(j) INDEMNIFICATION. Grantee shall jointly and severally defend, indemnify and hold
ICVS and any federal funding source, its successors and assigns, harmless from and against
any liability, loss, damage or expense, including reasonable counsel fees, which ICVS may
incur or sustain by reason of (a) the failure of Grantee to fully perform and comply with the
terms and obligations of this loan; (b} Grantee's performance or attempted performance of the
Project; (c) Grantee's activities with subcontractors and third parties.
(k) INTEREST AND UNEXPENDED PROCEEDS. The Grantee shall return all
unexpended Grant proceeds and interest accrued on Grant proceeds to the Commission
within thirty (30) days after the agreement expiration date.
ARTICLE VII
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE PRIORITY
7.1 DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE. The following documents are hereby
incorporated by reference: -
1. Exhibit A, "AUDIT REQUIREMENTS".
2. Exhibit B, "APPROVED BUDGET", dated December 18, 2007.
3. Exhibit C, "GRANT APPLICATION", dated December 18, 2007 on the SF424 form.
4. Exhibit D, "FEDERAL REGULATIONS"
5. Exhibit E, "AmeriCorps -PROVISIONS".
7.2 ORDER OF PRIORITY. In the event of a conflict between documents of this agreement,
the following order of priority shall govern:
1. Articles I through X herein.
2. Exhibit A, "AUDIT REQUIREMENTS".
3. Exhibit B, "APPROVED BUDGET", dated December 18, 2007.
4. Exhibit C, "GRANT APPLICATION", dated December 18, 2007 on the SF424 form.
S. Exhibit D, "FEDERAL REGULATIONS"
6. Exhibit E, "AmeriCorps -PROVISIONS".
ARTICLE VIII
DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT. The following shall constitute Events of Default under this Grant
08-AC-13
Page 6 of 11
Agreement:
(a) MATERIAL MISREPRESENTATION. If at any time any representation, warranty or
statement made or furnished to the Commission by, or on behalf of, the Grantee in
connection with this Grant Agreement or to induce the Commission to make a grant to the
Grantee shall be determined by the Commission to be incorrect, false, misleading or
erroneous in any material respect when made or furnished and shall not have been remedied
to the Commission's satisfaction within thirty (30) days after written notice by the
Commission is given to the Grantee.
(b) LACK OF PROGRESS. If there is a failure of the Grantee to make substantial and
timely progress toward performance of the Project;
(c) NONCOMPLIANCE. If there is a failure by the Grantee to comply with any of the
covenants, terms or conditions contained in this Agreement.
(d) PROJECT COMPLETION DATE. If the Project, in the sole judgment of the
Commission, is not completed on or before the Project Completion Date.
(e) MISSPENDING. If the Grantee expends Grant proceeds for purposes not described in
the application or authorized by the Commission.
(f) INSOLVENCY OR BANKRUPTCY If the Grantee becomes insolvent o'r bankrupt, or
admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they mature, or makes an assignment for the
benefit of creditors, or the Grantee applies for or consents to the appointment of a trustee or
receiver for the Grantee or for the major part of its property; or if a trustee or receiver is
appointed for the Grantee or for all or a substantial part of the assets of the Grantee and the
order of such appointment is not discharged, vacated or stayed within sixty (60) days after
such appointment; or if bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation
proceedings or other proceedings for relief under any bankruptcy or similar law or laws for
the relief of debtors, are instituted by or against the Grantee and, if instituted against the
Grantee is consented to, or, if contested by the Grantee is not dismissed by the adverse
parties or by an order, decree or judgment within sixty (60) days after such institution.
(g) INSURANCE. If loss, theft, damage or destruction of any substantial portion of the
property of the Grantee occurs for which there is either no insurance coverage or for which,
in the opinion of the Commission, there is insufficient insurance coverage.
8.2 NOTICE OF DEFAULT. ICVS shall issue a written notice of default providing therein a
fifteen (15) day period in which the Grantee shall have an opportunity to cure, provided that cure is
possible and feasible.
8.3 REMEDIES UPON DEFAULT. If, after opportunity to cure, the default remains, ICVS may
do one or more of the following:
(a) exercise any remedy provided by law,
08-AC-13
Page 7 of 11
(b) require immediate repayment of the full amount of funds disbursed to the Grantee
under the Grant Agreement plus interest.
ARTICLE IX
DISBURSEMENT PROCEDURES
9.1 REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT. All disbursements of proceeds shall be subject to
receipt by the Commission of requests for disbursement submitted by the Grantee. Requests for
disbursement shall be in form and content acceptable to the Commission. Each requisition shall be
submitted to the Commission according to the schedule shown in Article 6.1(h).
9.2 REQUEST FOR ADVANCE PAYMENT.
(a) Advance Payments. The Grantee may receive advance payments of grant funds,
provided the Grantee meets the financial management standards specified in OMB Circulars
A-102 or A-110, as applicable.
(b) Immediate cash flow needs. The amount of advance payments requested by the
Grantee must be based on actual and immediate cash needs in order to minimize federal
cash on hand in accordance with policies established by the U.S. Commission of the
Treasury in 31 CFR Part 205.
(c) Discontinuing advance payments. The ICVS may, after providing due notice to the
Grantee, discontinue the advance payment method and allow payments in advance only by
individual request and approval or by reimbursement when a grantee receiving payments
demonstrates unwillingness or inability to establish procedures to minimize the time
elapsing between the receipt of the cash advance and its disbursement.
(d) Interest bearing accounts. Inmost circumstances, the Grantee must deposit advance
funds received from the ICVS in a federally insured, interest-bearing account. For
exceptions to this requirement, refer to OMB Circular A-102 or A-110, as appropriate.
ARTICLE X
GENERAL TERMS AND PROVISIONS
10.1 BINDING EFFECT. This Grant Agreement shall be binding upon the Grantee and the
Commission, and their respective successors, legal representatives and assigns. The obligations,
covenants, warranties, acknowledgments, waivers, agreements, terms, provisions and conditions of
this Grant Agreement shall be jointly and severally enforceable against the parties to this Grant
Agreement.
08-AC-13
Page 8 of 11
10.2 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS. Grantee shall comply with all
applicable State and federal laws, rules, ordinances, regulations and orders.
10.3 TERMINATION DUE TO NONAPPROPRIATION OR REDUCTION. If funds
anticipated for the. continuing fulfillment of this Agreement are at any time not forthcoming or
insufficient due to non-appropriation, termination of the program, or reduction in funding level, then
ICV S shall have the right to terminate this contract without penalty by giving the Contractor not less
than thirty (30) days written notice. In the event of termination of this agreement under this Article,
the exclusive, sole and complete remedy of the Contractor shall be payment of services rendered
prior to termination.
10.4 TERMINATION. This agreement may be terminated in the following circumstances:
(a) At ICVS' discretion, without cause, after thirty (30) days written notice to Contractor.
(b) As a result of Contractor's default under this Agreement.
(c) As a result of the termination or reduction of funding to ICVS.
The Administrative Rules of ICVS in regards to the appeals process apply in all situations.
10.5 TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE. In addition to termination due to an event of
default ornon-appropriation of funds, this Grant Agreement may be terminated in whole, or in part,
when the Commission and the Grantee agree that the continuation of the Project would not produce
beneficial results commensurate with the future disbursement of Grant funds. The Grantee shall not
incur any obligations after the effective date of the termination and shall cancel as many outstanding
obligations as is reasonably possible. The Commission will allow full credit to the Grantee for the
Commission share of the non-cancelable obligations allowable under the Grant Agreement and
properly incurred by the Grantee prior to termination.
10.6 PROCEDURE UPON TERMINATION. If the Grant Agreement is terminated for
convenience, an event of default ornon-appropriation of funds, disbursements shall be allowed for
costs up to the date of termination determined by the Commission to be in compliance with this
Grant Agreement. The Grantee shall return to the Commission all unencumbered Grant proceeds
within one (1) week of receipt of Notice of Termination.
10.7 UNALLOWABLE COSTS. If ICVS determines at any time, whether through monitoring,
audit, closeout procedures or by other means, that the Grantee has expended funds which are
unallowable, the Grantee will be notified of the questioned costs and given an opportunity to justify
questioned costs prior to ICVS' fmal determination of the disallowance of costs. If it is ICVS' final
determination that costs previously paid by the Commission are unallowable under the terms of the
Agreement, the expenditures will be disallowed and the Grantee shall repay to ICVS any and all
disallowed costs.
10.8 SURVIVAL OF AGREEMENT. If any portion of this Grant Agreement is held to be invalid
or unenforceable, the remainder shall be valid and enforceable. The provisions of this Grant
Agreement shall survive the execution of all instruments herein mentioned and shall continue in full
force until the Grant is paid in full.
08-AC-13
Page 9 of 11
10.9 GOVERNING LAW. This Grant Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the law
of the State of Iowa, and any action relating to the Grant Agreement shall only be commenced in the
Iowa District Court for Polk County or the United States District Court for the Southern District of
Iowa.
10.10 MODIFICATION.
(a) JOINT MODIFICATION. The Commission or the Grantee may, during the duration of
this Agreement, deem it necessary to modify provisions of this Agreement, which increase or
decrease the total amount of the Agreement, make a substantial change in the scope of
services, add additional budget line items or transfer funds between line items within a
budget category. All changes shall be incorporated into this Agreement through written
amendment signed by both the Commission and the Grantee. The provisions of the
amendment shall be in effect as of the date of modification is signed by both the Commission
and the Grantee, unless otherwise specified within the amendment.
(b) MODIFICATION NOT REQUIRED. Budget modifications that do not require a
written amendment are those in which any or all of the administrative budget category is
transferred to the AmeriCorps member wages and fringe benefit category or those in which
one or more administrative budget line items changed but the total expenditures for
administrative budget categories do not exceed the approved budget for administrative
budget categories.
(c) UNILATERAL MODIFICATION. Notwithstanding paragraph "a" above, ICVS may
unilaterally modify this Agreement at will in order to accommodate any change in the Actor
any change in the interpretation of the Act or any applicable federal, state or local laws,
regulations, rules or policies. A copy of such unilateral modification will be given to the
Grantee as an amendment to this Agreement.
10.11 NOTICES. Whenever this Grant Agreement requires or permits any notice or written request
by one party to another, it shall. be in writing, enclosed in an envelope, addressed to the party to be
notified at the address heretofore stated (or at such other address as may have been designated by
written notice), properly stamped, sealed and deposited in the United States Mail, as Certified Mail,
Return Receipt Requested. Any such notice given hereunder shall be deemed delivered upon the
earlier of actual receipt or two (2) business days after posting. The Commission may rely on the
address of the Grantee set forth heretofore, as modified from time to time, as being the address of the
Grantee.
10.12 WAIVERS. No waiver by the Commission of any default hereunder shall operate as a waiver
of any other default or of the same default on any future occasion. No delay on the part of the
Commission in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single
or partial exercise of any right or remedy by the Commission shall preclude future exercise thereof or
the exercise of any other right or remedy.
08-AC-13
Page 10 of 11
10.13 LIMITATION. The Commission shall not, under any circumstances, be obligated financially
under this Grant Agreement except to disburse funds according to the terms of the Agreement.
10.14 ENFORCEMENT EXPENSES. The Grantee shall pay upon demand any and all reasonable
fees and expenses of the Commission, including the fees and expenses of their attorneys, experts and
agents, in connection with the exercise or enforcement of any of the rights of the Commission under
this Grant Agreement.
10.15 HEADINGS. The headings in this Grant Agreement are intended solely for convenience of
reference and shall be given no effect in the construction and interpretation of this Grant Agreement.
10.16 COST VARIATION. In the event that the total Project cost is less than the amount specified
in this Agreement, ICVS' participation shall be reduced at the same ratio as ICV S funds are to the
total Project cost, and any disbursed excess above the reduced ICVS participation amount shall be
returned immediately to ICVS.
10.17 COMPLIANCE WITH EEO/AA PROVISIONS. Grantee shall comply with the provisions
of federal, state and local laws and regulations to ensure that no employee or applicant for
employment is discriminated against because of race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, or
disability. Grantee shall provide state or federal agencies with appropriate reports as required to
ensure compliance with equal employment laws and regulations. Grantee shall ensure that all
authorized subcontractors comply with provisions of this clause. A breach of this Article shall be
considered a material breach of this contract.
10.18 NON-ASSIGNMENT. This contract may not be assigned without prior ICVS written
consent.
10.19 JOINT LIABILITY. If Grantee is a joint entity, consisting of more than one individual,
partnership, corporation or other business organization, all such entities shall be jointly and severally
liable for carrying out the activities and obligations of this contract, and for any default of such
activities and obligations.
10.20 INTEGRATION. This Grant Agreement contains the entire understanding between the
Grantee and the Commission and any representations that may have been made before or after the
signing of this Grant Agreement, which are not contained herein, are nonbinding, void and of no
effect. Neither of the parties has relied on any such prior representation in entering into this Grant
Agreement.
08-AC-13
Page 11 of 11
10.21 CONTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of conterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constiture but one and the
same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Grant Agreement
IOWA COMMISSION ON
VOLUNTEER SERVICE
BY:
Adam Lounsbury
Executive Director
DATE:
City of Dubuque
BY:
Michael VanMilligen
City Manager
DATE: 08/28/08
AUDIT REQUIREMENTS
1. Agreements must be audited by a Certified Public Accountant or a Public
Accountant as defined by Chapter 16 of the Code of Iowa or by the State Auditor.
2. Audit Report Format. The report must include at a minimum:
a. short form auditor's opinion on the financial statements;
b. Auditor's comments on: compliance of the Grantee with the terms and
conditions of the Agreement (including Statement of Work) and policies
and procedures prescribed by the Grantee's governing board regarding
financial operations; internal accounting controls; reasonableness of cost
allocation methods if personnel and overhead costs are allocated to more
than one project;
c. cumulative statement of resources and expenses by the individual project
Agreement for the full Agreement period; balance sheet if there are
receivables and payables at the end of the project period; and
d. notes to the financial statements; comments on questioned costs and
accounting system weaknesses.
3. The Agreement shall be audited within ninety (90) days after the termination date
of the Agreement, unless the Commission approves a time extension. One (1)
copy of the audit report is to be submitted to the Commission for consideration.
4. If the audit for this Agreement is included as part of an annual agency-wide audit,
the provisions included in OMB Circular A-133 (Revised) will meet the minimum
audit requirements of the Commission. Grantees expending $500,000 or more in
federal awards in their fiscal year must have these funds audited in accordance
with OMB Circular A-133 (Revised) (Either organization-wide or program
specific). If $500,000 or more in federal funds were expended from more than
one federal source, anorganization-wide audit under OMB Circular A-133
(Revised) will be required. Grantees expending less than $500,000 in federal
awards in a year are exempt from any federal audit requirements for that year, but
shall comply with audit requirements prescribed by state or local law. In an
annual agency-wide audit, the audit report shall be due within 30 days after the
completion of the audit period, unless a longer period is agreed to by both parties.
At a minimum, the report must show revenues by source: state and local; and
expenses by category; administrative costs and enrollee costs.
RPT BGT 424
August 15, 2008 8:44 AM
Application ID: 08AC082511
Section I. Program Operating Costs
A. Personnel Expenses
B. Personnel Fringe Benefits
C. Travel
Staff Travel
Member Travel
D. Equipment
E Supplies
F. Contractual and Consultant Services
G. Training
Staff Training
Member Training
H. Evaluation
I. Other Program Operating Costs
Travel to CNCS-Sponsored Meetings
Section 1. Subtotal
4,500 1,204 3,296
Total $4,500 $1,204 $3,296
1,000 0 1,000
9,242 370 8,872
0 0 0
Total $9,242 $370 $8,872
$88,163 $46,294 $41,869
Section I Percentage 53% 47%
Section 11. Member Costs
A. Living Allowance
Full Time (1700 hrs) 34,200 29,070 5,130
1-Year Half Time (900 hours) 48,280 41,038 7,242
Reduced Half Time (675 hrs) 0 0 0
Quarter Time (450 hrs) 54,324 46,175 8,149
Minimum Time (300 hrs) 20,120 17,102 3,018
2-Year Half Time (2nd Year) 0 0 0
2-Year Haff Time (1st Year) 0 0 0
Total $156,924 $133,385 $23,539
B. Member Support Costs 28,168 0 28,168
FICA for Members 12,005 10,205 1,800
Worker's Compensation 1,514 1,287 227
Health Care 4,680 3,978 702
Total $46,367 $15,470 $30,897
Section II. Subtotal $203,291 $148,855 $54,436
Section II. Percentages 73% 27%
Section 111. Administrative/Indirect Costs
A. Corporation Foced Percentage
Corporation Fixed Amount 16,360 8,180 8,180
Commission Fixed Amount 2,049 2,049 0
Total $18,409 $10,229 $8,180
B. Federally Approved Indirect Cost Rate
Section III. Subtotal $18,409 $10,229 $8,180
Section III Percentage 56% 44%
Section I+III. Funding Percentages 53% 47%
Budget Totals $309,863 $205,378 $104,485
Budget Total Percentage 66% 34%
Required Match 24%
# of years Receiving CNCS Funds 2
Partners in Learning AmeriCorps Program
City of Dubuque
Budg et Dates: 09/01/2008 - 08/31/2009
Total Amt CNCS Share Grantee Share
55,500 41,250 14,250
6,166 0 6,166
890 690 200
1,835 0 1,835
Total $2,725 $690 $2,035
9,030 2,780 6,250
Form 424A Mod'rfied SF-424A (4/88 and 12/97)
Page 1
Budget Narrative for 08AC082511
Page 1 of 5
Budget Narrative: Partners in Learning AmeriCorps Program for City of Dubuque
Section I. Program Operating Costs
A. Personnel Expenses
PositionlTitle -Qty -Annual Salary % Time CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount
AmeriCorps Director: - 1 person(s) at 45000 each x 75 % usage 31,250 2,500 33,750
Intermediary Partnerships: - 1 person(s) at 45000 each x 25 % usage 10,000 1,250 11,250
Program Administration - 2 & Finance Director: - 3 person(s) at 90000 each x 0 8,100 8,100
3 % usage
Community Foundation Executive Director: - 1 person(s) at 80000 each x 3 % 0 2,400 2,400
usage
CATEGORY Totals 41,250 14,250 55,500
B. Personnel Fringe Benefits
Purpose -Calculation -Total Amount CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount
FICA; IPERS: FICA @ 0765 PERS @. 0605 0 6,166 6,166
CATEGORY Totals 0 6,166 6,166
C. Travel
Staff Travel
Purpose -Calculation CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount
Program Travel, mileage and registrations: 2000 miles x .445 rate 690 200 890
CATEGORY Totals 690 200 890
Member Travel
Purpose -Calculation CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount
Summer and county travel: 3000 x .445 + ICVS travel to training and events 0 1,835 1,835
CATEGORY Totals 0 1,835 1,835
D. Equipment
Item/Purpose -Qty -Unit Cost CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount
CATEGORY Totals 0 0 0
i,++..~.ii,,,.,.,,~~~ ,.~., ,.,,.,io~„~.,iri,.,;,,i,.o,,,,,-~ ;~„~~:a-,.n~Qn~no~nac> > ~~~nnn~~~nn~co>..~,.oo Qii ci~nn4
Budget Narrative for 08AC082511
E. Supplies
Page 2 of 5
Item -Calculation CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount
Uniforms: 53 x $35 1,855 0 1,855
Office Equpiment Maintance & Office Supplies: Copy Machine Maintance 925 500 1
425
$325 Postage $250 + Cell Phone $350 + Office Supplies $500 ,
Curricula, Field Trips & Educational Resources: Trolley, bus, van (estimated 0 750
5 750
5
costs for service projects) + educational resources for projects , ,
CATEGORY Totals ~ 2,780 6,250 9,030
F. Contractual and Consultant Services
Purpose -Calculation -Daily Rate CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount
CATEGORY Totals 0 0 0
G. Training
Staff Training
Purpose -Calculation -Daily Rate CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount
CATEGORY Totals 0 0 0
Member Training
Purpose -Calculation -Daily Rate ,CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount
Initial & Ongoing Training: CPR/First Aid 53 x $18 Name tags 50 x $5
Portfolios, Member Handbooks and Other Training Supplies -Daily Rate of 1,204 1,796 3,000
50- Daily Rate of 50
Member Development Training: Educators hourly calculation based on salary 0 1
500 1
500
and benefits Daily Rate 50- Daily Rate of 50 , ,
CATEGORY Totals 1,204 3,296 4,500
H. Evaluation
Purpose -Calculation -Daily Rate CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount
Logic Model Planning: CYFAR Evaluator Daily Rate 65- Daily Rate of 65 0 1,000 1,000
CATEGORY Totals 0 1,000 1,000
I. Other Program Operating Costs
httns://es?rants.cns. Gov/espan/main/report.i sp?sid=c0a8020e30d51137a00427604759b2ce9... 8/15/2008
Budget Narrative for O8ACO82511
Page 3 of 5
Purpose -Calculation I CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount
Travel to CNCS-Sponsored Meetings: 0 0 0
Meeting Rooms, Office Space & Utilities -not part of approved cost allocation 0 1,000 1,000
plan: Office, Computer Internet, Electricity, Phone & Meeting Facilities $50
Fiscal Management, Bookkeeping & Office Support: Budget Officer @ $30 for
96 hours; Account Clerk @ $16 for 208 hours; Secretarial @ $16 for 104 0 7,872 7,872
hours
Criminal Background Checks: Instate $250; 8 out of state $15 370 0 370
CATEGORY Totals 370 8,872 9,242
SECTION Totals 46,294 41,869 88,163
PERCENTAGE 53% 47%
Section II. Member Costs
A. Living Allowance
Item - #Mbrs w/Allow -Allowance Rate - #Mbrs w/o Allow CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount
Full Time (1700 hrs): 3 Member(s) at a rate of 11400 each 29,070 5,130 34,200
Members W/O allowance 0
1-Year Half Time (900 hours): 8 Member(s) at a rate of 6035 each 41,038 7,242 48,280
Members W/O allowance 0
2-Year Half Time (1st Year): Members} at a rate of each 0 p 0
Members W/O allowance
2-Year Half Time (2nd Year): Member(s) at a rate of each 0 0 0
Members W/O allowance
Reduced Half Time (675 hrs): Member(s) at a rate of each 0 0 0
Members W/O allowance
Quarter Time (450 hrs): 18 Member(s) at a rate of 3018 each 46,175 8,149 54,324
Members W/O allowance 0
Minimum Time (300 hrs): 10 Member(s) at a rate of 2012 each 17,102 3,018 20,120
Members W/O allowance 14
CATEGORY Totals 133,385 23,539 156,924
B. Member Support Costs
Purpose -Calculation CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount
FICA for Members:.0765 10,205 1,800 12,005
Worker's Compensation: 28.57 x 53 1,287 227 1,514
Health Care: 130 x 3 x 12 3,978 702 4,680
~~
,,.~.,~.//o,~,..,„+~ ,.„~ ,,„~,/A~„,r/,,,a;,,/,-P.,,,,-t ;c.,7e;ri-~flaRll7(lP'2(1r151 1 Z7a(1f1d77Ff1d759h7rPq R/15/7(1f1R
Budget Narrative for 08AC082511
Page 4 of 5
Program Sustainability: 14 Members Living Allowance at $2012 per member I 0 28,168 28,168
CATEGORY Totals 15,470 30,897 46,367
SECTION Totals 148,855 54,436 203,291
PERCENTAGE 73% 27%
Section III. Administrative/Indirect Costs
A. Corporation Fixed Percentage
Item -Calculation CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount
Corporation Fixed Amount:.0421 8,180 8,180 16,360
Commission Fixed Amount: 0.0105 2,049 0 2,049
CATEGORY Totals 10,229 8,180 18,409
B. Federally Approved Indirect Cost Rate
Calculation -Cost Basis -Cost Type -Rate Claimed -Rate CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount
CATEGORY Totals 0 0 0
SECTION Totals 10,229 8,180 18,409
PERCENTAGE 56% 44%
BUDGET Totals 205,378 104,485 309,863
PERCENTAGE 66% 34%
Total MSYs 16.30
Cost/MSY 12,600
Source of Funds
Section Description
The AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Program utilizes teachers and
other professionals who share their expertise through in-kind training for
Section I. Program Operating Costs Member development. In addition, the Program has been successful in
receiving local grant funds from Dubuque Racing Association, Prudential
Financial, Sam's Club to purchase program suppies and equipment.
Matching funds for the Partners in Learning AmeriCorps Program come
Section II
Member Costs from cash match from partners who pay $2 per Member hour for
. placement hours. These sources include City of Dubuque, State of Iowa
Allowable Growth Funds, Dubuque Community School District,
Presentation of Blessed Virgin Mary Sisters, Dubuque Community Y
https://e~rants.cns.~ov/espan/main/report.] sp?sid=c0a8020e30d51137a00427604759b2ce9... 8/15/2008
Budget Narrative for 08AC082511
Page 5 of 5
membership and National Mississippi River Museum admissions. The
AmeriCorps sustainability is being increased yearly by the adding
Education Award only Member positions. In this grant year that is 14
positions or the equivalent of $28,168 of living allowance benefits from
our partners.
In kind contributions from imtermediary partners, City of Dubuque,
Section III. Administrative/Indirect Costs Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, and Dubuque County
Extension provide administration, resources and overall program
support.
hitnc•//Parantc me unv/PCnan/main/rPnnrt icn~cir~=rnaRll~.(1P~~r1511 ~7an(14~.7Fi(14759h2ce9 R/15/~.(1(1R
Exhibit C
Grant Application
PART I -FACE SHEET
APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE 1. TYPE OF SUBMISSION:
Modified Standard Form 424 (Rev.02/07 to confirm to the Corporation's eGrants System) Appl'~cation X^ Non-Construction
2a. DATE SUBMffT®TO CORPORATION 3. DATE RECEN® BY STATE STATE APPLICATION ®B~TIFIER
FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNffY
SB2V ICE (CNCS): 18-DEG07
2b. APPLICATION ID: 4. DATE RECENED BY FEDERAL AGENCY: FED02AL IDBJTIF~R:
OSAC082511 O6ACHIA0010007
5. APPLICATION NFORMATION
NAMEAND CONTACT NFORMATION FOR PROJECT DIRECTOR OR OTHfft
LEGAL NAME City of Dubuque PERSON TO BE CONTACTED ON MATTERS NVOLV NG THIS APPLICATION (give
DUNS NUMBER 093105302 area codes):
NAME Penny Ehlinger
ADDRESS (give street address, city, state, zip code and county):
City of Dubuque TEL~HONE NUMBER: (563) 584-8644
1805 Central FAX NUMBER (563) 584-8643
Dubuque lA 52001 INTFl2NET EMAIL ADDRESS: Penny.Bilinger@clarke.edu
County: Dubuque
EMPLOYER IDENTIFIG4TION NUMBER (ElN):
6 7. TYPE OF APPLICANT:
. 7a. Local Government -Municipal
426004596
7b. Local Government, Municipal
8. TYPE OFAPPLICATION (Check appropriate box).
NEW ^ NEW/PREVIOUS GRANTEE
^ CONTNUATION ^ AMENDMENT
ff Amendment, enter appropriate letter(s) in box(es): ^ ^
A. AUGMENTATION B. BUDGET REVISION
C. NO COST EXTENSION D. OTHER (specify below):
9. NAME OF FEDERAL AGBVCY:
Corporation for National and Community Service
10a. CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE NUMBER: 94.006 11.a. DESCR~TNETTTLE OF APPLICANTS PROJECT:
10b. TITLE AmeriCorps'State Partners in Learning AmeriCorps Program
'
12. AREAS AFFECTED BY PROJECT (List Cities, Counties, States, etc): fIATNE (IF ANY):
11.b. CNCS PROGRAM INI
City of Dubuque, Dubuque County, State of bw a
13. PROPOSED PROJECT: START DATE 09/01/08 END DATE 08/31/09 14. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF: a.Applicant ^ b.Program ^
15. ESTIMATED FUNDING: Year #: ^1 16. IS APPLICATION SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY STATE IXECUTNE
ORDER 12372 PROCESS?
a. FEDERAL $ 205,378.00
^ YES. THIS pREAPPLICATIOWAPPLICATION WAS MADE AVAILABLE
$ 104,485.00 TO THE STATE EXECLITNE ORDER 12372 PROCESS FOR
b. APPLICANT REVIEW ON:
c. STATE $ 0.00 DATE
~ NO. PROGRAM IS NOT COVERED BY EO. 12372
d. LOCAL $ 0.00
e. OTHER $ 0.00
17. IS THEAPPLICANT DELNOUENT ON ANY FEDERAL DEBT?
f. PROGRAM INCOME $ 0.00 ® NO
lanation
x
tt
h
YES 'rf "Y
"
.
an e
p
a
ac
es,
^
g. TOTAL $ 309,863.00
18. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND BEL~F, ALL DATA N THIS APPLICATIOWPREAPPLICATION ARE TRUE AND CORRECT, THE DOCUMENT HAS B~JV
DULY AUTHORQED BY THE GOV ERNNG BODY OF THE A PPLICANT A ND THE A PPLICANT W ILL COMPLY WITH THE ATTACHED ASSURANCES IF THE ASSISTANCE
IS AWARDED.
a. TYPED NAME OF AUTHORQEO REPRESENTATNE b. TffLE c. TELEPHONE NUMBER
Penny Ehlinger Program Director (563) 584-8644
d. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORQED REPRESENTATNE e. DATE SIGNED:
12/18/07
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Rationale and Approach
Compelling Community Need:
Dubuque school officials are encouraged by results on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and Iowa Tests of
Educational Development showing improved achievement in mathematics, and strong performance
in science and social studies. However, the Dubuque district continues to face challenges in improving
reading performances. Across the district, teachers, principals, and curriculum staff are examining
results on astudent-by-student basis to determine exactly how best to address reading deficiencies or
lack of reading strategies and to determine appropriate teaching interventions for each student.
Many of these deficiencies have been identified as directly related to the influx of minorities
immigrating into the community. Dubuque Community School district received i88 new elementary,
12g new junior high, and ~~ new senior high school students during the 200-2008 school year.
According to school administration, many of these students come from housing projects that have
closed in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison. To address this need, the Partners in Learning
AmeriCorps Program will act as an intermediary agency to remove barriers to learning that will lead
to the development of linkages with many other community partners. It is our intent to significantly
increase our partnerships with those who are serving this disadvantaged or underserved population.
These would include the Presentation Lantern Center, Downtown schools, Multicultural Family
Center, Leisure Services, St. Mark Community Center, and Four Mounds.
In July 2006, a Youth Survey was conducted by Vernon Research Group which revealed the
following statistics: 8% of local 6th graders do not believe that adults in the community care about
people their age. 21% of 8th graders and 36% of filth graders feel the same way; 16% of 6th graders,
32% of 8th graders and 42% of iith graders do not believe that adults in their neighborhood or
community would help them when they needed it; i~% of iith graders reported having made plans to
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kill themselves compared to the state average of i4%; and youth are spending 6 or more hours a day
without adult supervision. Juvenile violent crime and juvenile arrests in Dubuque are i5% higher
than the state average. The graduation rate of students in the Dubuque Community School district is
85.2% compared to a state average of 9i%. By increasing partnerships and collaborating, these needs
can be addressed by the Program.
Dubuque is a community whose inhabitants are overwhelmingly of Irish and German ancestry.
Many of our residents have been in the community for generations and have had limited contact with
people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. It is only a few short years ago when Dubuque
County's ethnic population was 2%. In recent years, we have seen an increasing population of color in
our city, such that today one of every nine children in our public school system is a child of color. Two
initiatives that this grant program will increase their efforts towards are the Presentation Lantern
Center and the Multicultural Family Center. As of September 200, the Presentation Lantern Center
has welcomed visitors who represent 28 countries, five continents, and 18 languages. Newcomers
come for to the Center seeking tutoring in English, for survival skills in a new country, and/or help
with the citizenship test. The AmeriCorps Members who volunteer at the Presentation Lantern Center
are "cultural brokers" who help visitors understand American culture. In addition to tutoring,
volunteers at the center assist with some healthcare issues and a variety of literacy skills including
counting U.S. money, reading local maps and the bus schedules, ordering food from an American
menu, and cooking with anon-metric oven. They also address such things as wind chill factor,
wearing seat belts, using sunscreen, and appropriate times to call 9ii. The Presentation Lantern
Center works specifically with women and mothers with small children as a neighborhood resource
center.
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The Multicultural Family Center (MFC) was established to provide a space for low resource families to
congregate and socialize without a fmancial cost and to provide outreach services to minority families.
The center. is one of the few public facilities for families in the Washington area low income
neighborhood. More specifically, the MFC provides assistance, opportunities, and resources for
immigrant and diverse populations to facilitate full community participation in this neighborhood. In
July 2005, the Multicultural Family Center opened its doors to the public. Since that time, the
Multicultural Family Center has developed a two pronged approach in providing service to the
community. The first avenue of current regular services include: English as Second Language (ESL)
tutoring, family events, movie nights (every Friday), free Internet access (i4 computers available),
employment counseling, homework help for local students, student and family mentoring, a
comprehensive community informational center, and a meeting place for other groups who do not
have their own permanent space. The NAACP is using the MFC as their meeting place, Northeast
Iowa Community College is teaching ESL as well as parenting and nutrition classes during the
mornings three days per week. The second avenue of service provided by the Multicultural Family
Center is community education on diversity and multicultural issues, as well as concerns of low
income families. The community has grown in their knowledge and concepts of the Multicultural
Family Center's mission and goals, including the needs of the overall low income community. During
the two years of operation, 1,257 different individuals have entered the doors of the Multicultural
Family Center on i34o White Street in downtown Dubuque. In 200, the total contacts at the MFC
were ~, 884 visits and included 6, 544 Youth and 1, 34o adults. Contacts continue to be approximately
1/3 African American, i/3 Hispanic and 1/3 Caucasian with a few Pacific Island of Marshallese
individuals coming into the Center.
Members continue to provide community service as part of Make a Difference Day, and Martin
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Luther King Day as well as during special community service projects. As needed, Members respond to
immediate community needs such as sandbagging for the flood of 2ooi. Members chaperone youth
dances, mentor at Girl Scout day camp, provide children games at the Chili Cook-off, and work
Special Olympics events. Members have also provided service by picking up trash in downtown at
neighborhood clean-ups and assisted with a used book drive. The Partners in Learning AmeriCorps
Program continues to do these community service events to provide more "Corps" opportunities to
Members.
Description of Activities and Member Roles:
The Partners in Learning Program continues to be multi-faceted to address an at-risk, diverse
population and build upon the strengths of youth, families and the community by bringing together
resources from across the community as an intermediary agency. Program staff includes two grant
funded positions of Director and Intermediary Partnership staff with Personnel, Fiscal and Program
Administration by City of Dubuque. To address the grant goal to increase academic performance, 53
AmeriCorps Members will provide in-school, before school and after-school academic tutoring and
summer learning opportunities (Caring Adults). The majority of Members are part time, quarter time
and minimum time because Dubuque is a City of five colleges and one community college. The
positions lend themselves well to the busy schedules of college students who still want to perform a
valuable, worthwhile service. Member services will be conducted at i9 sites under the overall direction
of the Program Director. On school playgrounds and neighborhoods where youth have few supervised
options when not in school, AmeriCorps Members will provide after-school summer cultural and
recreational activities. The full-time, part-time and quarter time Member positions are designed to
develop social and behavioral skills as well as provide academic enrichment (Safe Places).
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To increase the impact of the program and fulfill the Five Promises to Youth, AmeriCorps Members
will have an increased presence at the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque (Marketable Skills
and A Healthy Start), the Presentation Lantern Center, St. Mark Community Center, Four Mounds,
and the Multicultural Family Center (Opportunities to Serve). Members can provide ESL classes,
tutoring, homework help, family programming and activities as well as volunteer opportunities and
volunteer management for community service activities. In-school and after school tutoring provided
by Members may be one-on-one or small group for all grade levels and may happen within the
classroom or in a separate quiet space. Students will be assigned to a Member by their teacher who
has determined the student is in need of additional support. Academic assistance ranges from
study/homework help with math facts and spelling words to specialized one-on-one support to make
a concept clearer or correct past errors. On average, sessions are 45 minutes, 3 times a week. The
actual length of the session varies by school, setting, and student needs/abilities/age. Members
reinforce and practice what the teacher has taught using the same type of activities with students.
Academic tutor activities are conducted as part of the school district's implementation of No Child Left
Behind.
Training is provided by the school district and Members, who tutor must demonstrate adequate
reading and math skills. Members complete 45 hours of training during the year. The training focuses
on the five areas the National Reading Panel has identified as necessary for reading success. Teachers
who receive assistance from Members receive training that parallels the five components during
district staff development time. Planning at the school level occurs weekly with the Members to
identify which students need help in which specific area of reading. Specific strategies to assist the
student are outlined by the teacher for the Member. All Members in the Program have a high school
diploma with the majority being college or graduate students. Members receive math, reading and
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behavioral training by qualified, professional educators during initial mandatory training and ongoing
training at the site is provided by site supervisors who are education administrators and/or classroom
teachers. Members document all tutoring activities, including the process and progress of each session.
The outcomes of tutoring are tracked via a survey of Teachers and Members regarding reading and
math academic skills, as well as behavioral skill changes. In determining needs, aggregated standard
tests scores were reviewed. Using multiple assessments the school district has established the goal for
each student to read at grade level by the end of the school year. The assessments used include
standardized test scores, diagnostic assessments, and curriculum based assessment to measure student
performance in phonemic awareness, phonics, text comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency. As the
schools solidify these methods, AmeriCorps may have new sources of outcome data and evaluation
tools. Students will be grouped by age and developmental level so activities can be appropriately
targeted. Activities will be developed using community agencies and school expertise and curricula,
which incorporate social and behavioral skill building. Members are paired with service providers and
will be planning and providing activities in conjunction with the site supervisor.
Members focusing on cultural enrichment activities will coordinate music, dance, drama, and art
opportunities. The majority of these Members are summer 30o hour positions. Recreational activities
are structured to develop social skills and may have an educational component (i.e. science projects).
Members will document attendance at cultural/recreational activities with outcomes assessed through
teacher and Member reports of changes in social and behavioral skills. AmeriCorps Members at the
Multicultural Family Center will assist with education and language skills. A computer lab is available
with computers donated by City of Dubuque, Workforce Development, and the Dubuque School
District. This lab has Internet access, a web cam for communicating with other countries, and Rosetta
Stone computer programs for learning both English and Spanish. In addition, an education classroom
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is provided through a partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC). Two times a
week staff from NICC provides English as Second Language and Adult Basic Education classes to
adults. Local college students and AmeriCorps Members will be utilized as language instructors and
continue these efforts. The Multicultural Family Center (MFC) mission statement is to empower
diverse individuals and families by promoting personal growth and community engagement. All of the
services at the MFC are free to its users and provided by the grant staff, volunteers, and AmeriCorps
Members. Low and moderate income youth and families are benefiting from the free computer
Internet opportunities, the educational resources, and English as Second Language programs. They
are also benefiting from being empowered to become involved in their community through the
organizations located at and through the connections to outreach and resources at the MFC. The
cornerstone of the Multicultural Family Center is breaking new ground within the community in
promoting understanding among the diverse population of Dubuque. On a typical day you can see
adults and children from different cultures seated at a computer side-by-side. The Multicultural
Family Center is seeking innovative ways to build cross-cultural collaboration and civic engagement
around issues of diversity. The Center has been an avenue to explore the needs of families of all
backgrounds in our community, drawing people together and into active civic life.
Building bridges of understanding and education about cultures are necessary steps in order to create
a truly inclusive community. Dubuque School District reported in October 200, that the number of
students requiring help learning basic English has climbed more than 5o percent. About 45 percent of
the students in the ELL program are immigrants from Pacific Islands and speak Marshallese.
Spanish-speaking students make up 42 percent and students who speak Chinese, Bosnian, French and
other native tongues also are represented in Dubuque's classrooms. This is an exciting thing as it
shows an increase in diversity but it is also a struggle. AmeriCorps Members are helping these
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students adapt to life in an English-speaking classroom as well as offering social and academic
programming at the Multicultural Family Center. The Center is truly on the cutting edge of this
movement and desperately needs to continue if long-lasting impact is to be made. We are convinced
that this new stage in Dubuque's life will truly enrich the community if approached correctly and as
soon as possible. AmeriCorps Members are needed to work vigorously involving all facets of the
community in these efforts, from local businesses to the university/college systems to the city
government to the neighborhoods. It is a reality that Dubuque is diversifying. This is a reality no one
can deny, and our goal is to help make it a positive experience and help with the process of change in
whatever way possible. The Multicultural Family Center will be a referral location for the Immigrants
Rights Network, The Presentation Lantern Center, and a permanent location for the local branch of
the NAACP. In addition, families and youth programming includes cultural education, game and
movie nights, field trips, community service projects, concert in park. The Multicultural Family Center
hosts ethnic and cultural celebrations such as Kwanzaa, Juneteenth, and Lunar New Year. All of
these initiatives utilize community volunteers and AmeriCorps Members will assist as we develop a
core of volunteers for these services.
Measurable Outputs and Outcomes:
For grades K-i2th Members will provide academic tutoring during school and after school. There will
be in-school academic tutor/mentoring for 4,00o students at 9 public elementary schools, 3 Middle
Schools, and 3 High Schools. There will be after-school academic tutoring which includes homework
help with 30o students at six elementary schools, and three middle schools. There will be academic
tutoring for ioo students during summer Jumpstart to enable students to receive advance knowledge
before beginning the fall semester of Kindergarten. Summer activities will be provided to 50o K-6th
grade students. Activities will be designed to develop social and behavioral skills and academic
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development during the school year and the summer enrichment programs. Seventy percent of
children who participate and receive services, and for whom we have data from comparative progress
reports will demonstrate positive changes in their social skills, and demonstrate a decrease in the
number of disciplinary interventions. Seventy percent of students, for whom data is collected, will
improve or maintain in their performance of reading and math based on the criteria of "improved
slightly or significant improvement." Fifteen education award only positions will increase
sustainability as partners will be paying for living allowance stipends. In addition next year, Members
will recruit and support 24o community volunteers with a goal of 3,00o hours of service.
Plan for Self-Assessment and Improvement:
Attendance Logs are documented and submitted biweekly by Members and at Academic Year End.
Outcome Evaluation Logs by Members and Teachers will track tutoring achievements and results.
The Program Director makes site visits at mid term for Member evaluations and requires an end of
placement evaluation to determine progress towards goals and completion of program requirements.
During the mid-term interview with the Member and site supervisor, the Director conducts an
evaluation and opens the discussion to address any other issues or concerns. Members are also asked
to complete a confidential evaluation of their site supervisor. Beyond these formal contacts there is
ongoing support available to site supervisors and Members through the AmeriCorps Director and
Intermediary Partnership Coordinator. In addition continued consultation with the Extension
Children, Youth & Families at Risk (CYFAR) National Evaluator will review outcome tools to
determine logic model planning evaluation changes.
The AmeriCorps Director has regular contact with site supervisors through site visits and through the
completion of bi-monthly reports. To increase citizenship knowledge and ensure AmeriCorps Members
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have the skills to perform their duties, Member development, training and community service
activities are provided by the Program Director, the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, and at
placement sites. A Member handbook, which documents requirements, prohibited activities and
expectations, is provided and reviewed during training for each Member. For recruitment purposes,
the Program Director works closely with Iowa Workforce Development. On a state level, Members
and grant staff participate yearly in the Iowa Volunteer Conference and the Iowa Leadership
Conference. In addition, the Director participates in Mississippi Valley Promise, the Martin Luther
King Diversity Committee, the Dubuque Mentoring Partnership, is a past Commissioner on the
Dubuque Human Rights Commission, and the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service.
Community Involvement:
In May 200, in conjunction with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and Mississippi
Valley Promise, community members, organizations and partners convened a new community
initiative -Every Child, Every Promise. The Dubuque America's Promise mission of Every Child
Every Promise is to engage the entire community in building a concrete commitment to deliver every
promise to every child. To address these needs and the goals of Every Child Every Promise, the
Program is seeking to focus on all of the Five Promises to Youth: Caring Adults, Safe Places, A
Healthy Start, Marketable Skills, and Opportunities to Serve. America's Promise vision states "we
believe every child deserves a chance to succeed, even when it is against all odds." We know that it will
take all of us working together to make that possible. This grant and continuing new partnerships will
allow for commitment to mobilizing all sections and every interested individual in Dubuque County to
ensure that every child has, at a minimum, five fundamental resources (the Five Promises).
Over the next three years, our goal is to carry out the following objectives, with measurable results
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that have been identified by America's Promise communities and provide impact that is greater than
individual organizations could achieve:
i. Secure commitments from partners (current and new) -- Examples of current partners that will
expand is Presentation Lantern and Multicultural Family Center which will increase community
education on diversity and support to newcomers. An example of a new partner will be the Great
Midwestern Educational Theatre Company whose mission is to promote learning and engage the
creative spirit in children of all ages by presenting relevant, thought-and-emotion provoking
experiences in the theatre arts. Many of our disadvantaged and under served individuals desperately
need these resources and experiences.
2. Encourage meaningful collaboration across sectors (business, government, city, human service and
education) -- The changes and expansion being proposed will bring about a more meaningful
collaboration. Dubuque County Extension will continue to provide educational resources and Member
training. Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque will increase our business connection and
community engagement through the visioning and prioritization process of strategic planning. A new
program administrator as well as personnel and fiscal services through the City of Dubuque is adding
increased accounting, fiscal reporting, and involvement of local elected officials. These new partners
will strengthen the Partners in Learning AmeriCorps Program.
3. Raise awareness of the status of children in Dubuque County and the power of the Five Promises to
make adifference -The Teen Leadership Council (TLC) now called the YAPPER's (Youth Area
Philanthropists) is an advisory board of the Community Foundation established to teach young people
about their duty to give back to the community in which they live. This advisory youth board consists
of 20+ students from area high schools who work to assess the needs of youth in the Dubuque Area.
These needs are then addressed through various service projects and strategic grant making that
benefits local nonprofit organizations working to support in-need youth. The Empty Bowls Project is
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an example of one of the youth board's service and grant-making projects. The goal of Empty Bowls is
to create awareness of child hunger while generating money that is granted to nonprofit organizations
working towards combating local child hunger. The YAPPER's meet twice a month to engage in
leadership and team-building activities to explore the many forms and ideas of philanthropy, to
conduct research about the needs within Dubuque land's youth, to participate in the full grant-making
process, and to have some fun. This group has been a joint effort of the Community Foundation and
AmeriCorps that can provide a voice for youth in our community.
Relationship to other National and Community Service Programs:
A VISTA Member, through the Program, procured grant funding through the City of Dubuque for the
birth and startup funding of the Multicultural Family Center. The Program Director is a past member
of the local RSVP Advisory Board collaborating together to recruit community mentors/tutors for
local school programs. The Program Director offers support and training and recruitment to
Members placed with the Governor's After School initiative at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Campus
Compact at Loras College, Iowa Legal Aid, and Promise Fellows at the Community Foundation of
Greater Dubuque. These are all AmeriCorps State Programs in the State of Iowa which have placed
AmeriCorps Members in Dubuque. In addition, the Program works closely with and supports the
National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Members placed each summer with the Dubuque
National Mississippi River Museum.
Potential for Replication:
Partners in Learning AmeriCorps Program has served for seven years as a model for other Iowa
tutoring programs. It is our goal during the next three years to undertake a few, focused, powerful
initiatives that create "flywheel momentum". America's Promise defines "flywheel momentum" as
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attracting believers, building strength, and creating vision that will in turn attract more believers. The
new collaboration between Dubuque County Extension, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque,
and City of Dubuque is strengthening the Partners in Learning AmeriCorps Program. These three
partners will deliver superior performance, have a distinctive impact, and ensure a program that can
be sustained through community support and possible grant funding. The tie to Dubuque Mississippi
Valley Promise will increase replication strategies as we will be learning about the success that other
communities have had in delivering the Five Promises to youth.
Member Outputs and Outcomes
Member Recruitment & Support:
As.an Intermediary Agency, Partners in Learning will require and depend on those partners to help in
the recruitment as well as the training of new Members. Other sources of Member recruitment will
include the on-line recruitment process, cooperation with other Iowa state AmeriCorps program and
the City of Dubuque Access Dubuque job site. Contacts are also provided by current and past
Members, family members of students served by AmeriCorps, and contacts with the Dubuque Human
Rights Commission and targeted minority populations. Members are recruited locally through Clarke
College, Loras College, Northeast Iowa Community College, University of Dubuque (and seminary),
Emmaus Bible College, and Wartburg Seminary. Colleges have offered credit to students, and free
housing during summer and holiday breaks. Summer recruitment efforts include an a-mail message
to all Iowa State University students and current Member contacts.
An annual news article assists in reaching a wide audience of age groups and backgrounds, as do
speaking engagements at local service clubs and contacts made by current staff, committee and
Members. All recruitment and marketing materials have inclusive statements such as 'Minorities and
individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply." Accommodations are made to assure access and
support to all applicants and Members. Since inception, the Program has had a minimum of three
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Members each year with disabilities. Once Members are placed, reasonable accommodations are
made to retain Members who disclose disability needs. Evaluation of the accessibility of all sites has
been completed and recommendations have been made in accordance with compliance. All
interviews, training, and required group activities are held at accessible sites. A mix of Members from
all religious, ethnic, age, and gender groups results in an enriched experience for youth and families.
Beyond recruiting within the community, partnerships with the colleges provide us access to this level
of diversity. We seek more diversity in our program than there is in the resident Dubuque population.
Recruitment focuses on selecting Members with skills that match our focus areas: Academic teaching
skills especially reading and math (all Members are high school graduates), ability to work with
volunteers, able to creatively present learning activities, able to develop activities and work from a
curriculum, sensitivity to developmental needs of children, and a strong appreciation for diversity and
multiculturalism. Tutors must meet the standards set by the school district per Iowa and Corporation
for National and Community Service rules. Cultural and recreational activities require Members who
have the ability to lead groups of youth, to tailor activities to differing skill/ability levels, to work from
a curriculum and work with staff to develop activities. Members with specific skills in dance, music,
drama, art, and recreation are channeled to those areas. Additionally, it is expected that Members are
responsible individuals who successfully complete a state criminal background check and child abuse
background check, are interested in service to others, have strong interest in working with the targeted
students, are committed to building upon their personal strengths as well as the strengths of others,
and possess a desire to work toward self-development.
All potential Members submit an application and complete an interview with the Director. Upon
demonstrating sincere interest in providing academic tutoring or providing cultural and recreational
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enrichment activities to the target population, a commitment to the goals of being an AmeriCorps
Member, the willingness to complete training and the flexibility to provide direct service and complete
community service projects, the Member is invited to a placement fair. At the fair, similar to a job fair,
Members can meet and interview with a number of site supervisors. This also allows sites to see the
array of skilled Members and increases the likelihood that strong placements are made and retention
is successfully achieved. Site supervisors in conjunction with the Director make offers of placements.
The Director is key in developing plans to share Members between sites, linking Member talents to
speck projects and finalizing all placements. All Members receive living allowances which is at the
85/i5 cost share with CNCS and partners as recommended by the Corporation. Education award
only Members receive these same living allowance dollars from site placements as we strive to be
equitable to all Members.
Member Development, Training, and Supervision:
The Director meets with site supervisor, principals/executive directors, and attends staff meetings to
introduce the AmeriCorps program. During these meetings the role of the Members and the role of the
site supervisors are discussed. Data collection procedures are reviewed and training is provided for
teachers who will be providing outcome data and to site supervisors who oversee the documentation
of Member activities and time logs. All Members participate in initial mandatory training that includes
strength based programming, how to tutor in math and reading, behavioral/instructional
management, appropriate discipline with students, team work, working with volunteers, and
motivating self and others. In addition Members complete aself-knowledge assessment, develop and
set personal and skill-related goals with the Director, and begin their portfolio. Members are trained in
all the reporting tools and a number of curricula. During this training Members become close as a
group and develop a relationship with grant staff. Each Member receives a basic level of leadership
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and team building training at the beginning of their term.
Upon reaching their placement site, Members receive orientation and training that is specific to that
site. For example: City of Dubuque Leisure Services orients Members on playground equipment and
checkout procedures. Beyond the initial training, additional training is provided during the school year
and summer. Those who will be tutor/mentors receive academic training from the school district
providing curriculum support skills specific to the five components identified by the National Reading
Panel as discussed earlier. Members providing cultural and recreational enrichment receive additional
training in developmentally appropriate and positive discipline, specific curriculum instruction (e.g.,
Science Fun, Growing in the Garden), creative arts playground ideas, and facilitation of family nights
and parents. Team development and volunteer recruitment and management skills are strengthened
during monthly training sessions and community service projects. Members also recruit, train, and
coordinate with private and public service partners to complete three special community service
projects as a "Corps". These one day community service events include October Make a Difference
Day, Martin Luther King Day, and National Volunteer Service Day.
Ethic of Service and Civic Responsibility:
Members are required to attend citizenship training totaling approximately 4 hours, provided by
program staff during their term of service. Members show a X8.6% of increase in civic engagement
knowledge, attitude, and skills from the beginning of service to end. Through the use of "By the
People", Members study our nation's social and political history. Training focuses on critical thinking
and deliberating with others to make a just society. Reflections and team discussions on these issues
are based on the premise that one needs to know "why" citizenship is important and how to recognize
those elements. Members are introduced to skills that are necessary to monitor and influence civic life,
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such as the ability to work with others and express ideas. Members provide an action plan based on
their new skills and knowledge of engagement. This training engages returning and past Members as
co-trainers. Members come to an understanding of civic responsibility first-hand through community
service.
As needed, Members respond to immediate community needs such as sandbagging for the flood of
2ooi. Members have chaperoned a youth dance, mentored at Girl Scout day camp, worked Special
Olympics events, and provided games and activities at community events such as the Chili Cook-off.
Members have also provided service by picking up trash at neighborhood clean-ups and assisted with
used book drives. The Program has noted during Member exit interviews, that Members usually
comment on their positive experience of volunteer service -- and the fact that they plan to participate
in service as a continuing part of their life. Many Members, who are attending college, decide on their
vocation as a result of their term of service by considering teaching, social work or counseling.
Enrollment & Retention:
Goal setting directs the development activities of the Member completed through contacts with the
site supervisor and attending training offered through the program or accessed through other sources
(including placement site). Members attend monthly large group meetings that allow time to check in
on their personal and professional development goals. Members document their progress and the
impact of their work in a portfolio of their accomplishments. This portfolio includes pictures, work
products, success stories, and journals of personal insights. At the end of their term, portfolios are
posted to the program web site http://www.extension.iastate.edu/dubuque. This documents that
Members leave the program with a deeper self-awareness, a sense of their strengths and knowledge of
their growth during the term of service. Members have made career decisions based on their
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experiences and some have developed such a strong link that they have changed their plans to leave
this community. Retention rate for 2004-2005 was 98% with recruitment at 94%; 2005-2006
retention was 94% and recruitment was ioo%; 2006-200 retention was 92% with recruitment at
ioo%, so Member satisfaction is noted and seen as a high priority. In 2006-0~, one Member did not
complete because of relocating, one because of health issues, one because of termination and one
because of failure to honor the terms of the Member contract.
Community Outputs and Outcomes
With this grant, Partners in Learning will continue to act as an intermediary agency to further
collaborate with partners and stakeholders in the Dubuque community. The Program has been
networking with Mississippi Valley Promise since inception to provide a broader base of services for
children in the community through the incorporation of the Five Promises for Youth. A further
partnership and administration through the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and the
initiative of Every Child, Every Promise will result in a bigger pool of stakeholders and the formulation
of youth philanthropy and the resultant benefits. Now is the time to expand and increase
sustainability by involving new partners and building on our past successes.
During the 2006-200 academic year, Members provided academic tutoring to a total of 2,961
students during school and 3i2 students after school engaging one-on-one or in small groups for 1-3
hours per week. Members at a,3 sites during school and 4 after school sites enabled students to improve
or maintain in the academic areas of reading and math. Assessments were provided by both Members
and teachers. Three Hundred and Forty-seven students were evaluated by their teachers. Elementary
students, who received academic tutoring from Members, improved their reading ability by 74%.
Teacher evaluation of middle school students and high school students showed that 63% and 80%
improved their reading skills. In math, elementary students showed, through teacher evaluation that
63% improved. Teacher evaluation of middle school students and high school students showed that
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ioo% and 63% improved their math skills. By comparison, elementary students were also evaluated
by Members; ioo% of those 9i% improved their reading ability. Member evaluation of middle school
students and high school students showed that ~~% and 46% improved in reading skills. In math,
elementary students were evaluated by Members and 85% of those improved. Member evaluation of
middle school students showed that ioo% improved; evaluation of high school students reported that
3% improved their math skills. Although the percentage of students on the high school level did not
meet the targeted ~o% improvement in math, overall the remaining number (which was the larger
group) closely met, in most cases, the desired achievement/result. In comparison, for a two year
period from 2004-05 and 2005-06, reading scores indicated 95% of the 155 students served improved
or maintained; in math 90% of the students improved or maintained. During 2006-0~,
evaluation/performance only measured improvement, not maintaining, so the percentages were
understandably lower.
The total number of beneficiaries served by Members in the Partners in Learning Program through
recreational, cultural and summer programming in 2006-200 was 5662 children. AmeriCorps
Members provided 5io hours of academic tutoring through a summer Kindergarten Jumpstart
Readiness program to 257 children in i3 public schools. Pre-Post outcomes provided by teachers
indicated that students increased by 25 points (12%) their ability to speak in sentences; 32 points (15%)
in ability to socialize with peers; 22 points (i1%) in ability to follow simple directions; 23 points (i1%)
able to work at quiet sitting activity for 15 minutes at a time; and 3o points (i4%) able to transition
from home to school.
During seven years of the Partners in Learning program, reporting methods have been perfected and
refined. Outcomes have steadily improved and Members and Teachers take a greater responsibility in
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the final reporting. In addition, summer activities continue to increase and have started to involve a
larger and more diverse population. Since 2000, Members have provided supervised recreational and
cultural activities that have reached 30, 358youth (K-6) at schools and playgrounds. Activities during
the 200 summer program sponsored io off site trolley trips that included Swiss Valley Nature Center,
Water Carnival, Dubuque Arboretum, the Children's Petting Zoo and weekly Dubuque Leisure Service
activities.
Each year Members complete personal development goals and portfolios of their experiences and
achieve certification in CPR, First Aid, universal precautions, and child abuse reporting. Since the
inception of the program, ioo% of Members showed pre- to post-test increases in knowledge as a
result of training provided. All Members receive amid-term and exit performance evaluation. In
addition, Members are required to evaluate their site supervisors and program director. This
information is summarized and used yearly to improve and make changes in the overall program
design.
The program has seen a steady increase of new community volunteers, business, and agency
partnerships and hours of service. The year 2006-0~ saw the engagement of i93 volunteers who
provided a total of ~,99o volunteer hours. The Program's volunteer goal is to sustain volunteers in
ongoing service as well reach new volunteers for occasional community service projects. In the
upcoming three years, Partners in Learning AmeriCorps Program, acting as an Intermediary Agency,
will continue to engage additional agencies and organizations. This expansion will allow for
addressing the needs of more disadvantaged youth and families and the continued engagement of new
community volunteers. Moving together with the. Mississippi Valley Promise initiative and the
community needs assessment and new strategic planning and prioritization of needs the time is right
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to reach out to new partners and increase sustainability by community engagement. The Partners in
Learning program can build on the past successes of the Caring Adults and Safe Places Promises as
well as adding new emphasis to A Healthy Start, Marketable Skills and Opportunities to Serve
Promises.
Ongoing volunteer recruitment remains a priority so as to enable sustainability of the services now
provided. As the net of partners and collaboration with area organizations grows wider, the likelihood
of increasing non-AmeriCorps volunteers becomes higher. Each year, the Program has exceeded its
goals in Member recruitment and retention, the number of children served and in exceeding the ~o%
goal of student improvement in the academic areas of reading and/or math.
Sustainability:
The Partners in Learning program has established a diversity of funding and revenue sources, which
includes other public and private funding streams. These streams come to the program indirectly
through its partners. Each partner hosting an AmeriCorps Member provides funding and a site
supervisor. Funds from the City of Dubuque's Leisure Services, public library, and neighborhood
budgets support Member positions. A neighborhood association in slow-income census tract writes
for 4 separate city grants annually to access $8,00o to support Member activities at 3 schools and 3
playgrounds. Schools have used a complex mix of grants, categorical funding streams and PTA raised
funds to support their Members. The Dubuque Community Y charges fees for their after-school and
non-school day programming to fund their Members, but also offers a number of scholarships. The
Arboretum (community-based non-profit) provides 25 summer garden spaces and funds their
Members. The Trolley (family owned business) provides rides to the Arboretum, library, fishing
experiences, and field trips at a greatly reduced rate. Thrivent provides Search Institute Asset training,
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the Solid Waste Agency provides funds for program supplies, private businesses provide reduced rates
for outreach and field trips and the Department of Natural Resources provides poles for fishing and
funds for bait. Additionally partnerships provide other in-kind resources to the program.
The four colleges and community college have become a strong source of Member recruitment by
offering college credit and allowing the term of service to be considered an internship or practicum
experience. School counselors, teachers and administrators, American Red Cross, Extension, and local
college staff provide elements of training. To increase long term sustainability, efforts are being made
to collaborate with the area college work study programs and other non-profit community agencies
reaching vulnerable youth. Our ability to offer increased education award only positions provides
superior incentives to Members and sustainability to the Program. Through our partnering with
institutions of higher learning, it will be possible to offer work study incentive and an education award
that would continue to entice Members. We continue to increase our efficiencies and expand the
number of volunteers involved, allowing the program to grow in its capacity to provide services.
Dollar match from sites has been increased from i5 to 20% and each year we are increasing the
private financial support from businesses and additional partners. The Partners in Learning program
and other community partners are collaborating to write supporting grants to further expand and
maintain services. Other areas that will be explored for local funding include Carver, McElroy, John
Deere, Alliant Energy, Prudential, and the Wahlert Foundations.
Volunteer Recruitment and Support:
Volunteers can play a vital role in making a difference. One volunteer during January through March
2006 at the Multicultural Family Center aided Spanish speaking families and new immigrants in the
long and confusing process of filing tax returns with state and federal tax agencies. This was an
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incredible service to the community which has not had this type of help offered to them previously.
One hundredtwenty-two new individuals came to the Multicultural Family Center for this service. As
workers in our community, they are entitled to tax refunds when having paid out of their weekly
wages. However, they are often times taken advantage of because of the language barrier and not
knowing the laws and how they pertain to them. The accomplishment of this tax assistance is simple
to understand and has made a difference in many families from this community. Additional
volunteers are needed to help individuals to learn Spanish as well as English for those who it is not
their primary language.
Dubuque County is a great place to live because of the contributions of many volunteers. However,
many times it is difficult to match the time and talents of a volunteer to a specific organization or
event. Our plan is have interested community agencies, team with Woodward Internet Services
(WINS) to provide a Dubuque County Volunteer Web site to address this issue. Each organization or
group offering volunteer opportunities would be able to post their volunteer position description on the
Web site for all volunteers to browse. The benefits to this idea are endless. A potential volunteer will be
able to access the internet site and browse by interest category or submit a volunteer resume for
organizations to view. The Web site will provide new volunteers for organizations or groups and new
opportunities for volunteers. This web site would offer 24 hour volunteer recruitment and the Partners
in Learning program and its partner organizations and groups would be portrayed as a community
that values its volunteers and understands the importance of providing service to others.
One hundred ninety three community volunteers were recruited and trained to serve during 2006-
200 program year providing ~,99o hours of service. Recruitment is facilitated by Members in the
form of public service announcements, postings at area colleges and engagement of the faith/church
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communities. Some volunteers are recruited to do service hours at one of the three community service
events (October Make A Difference Day, Martin Luther King Day, Volunteer Service Day); others are
recruited to serve as tutors/mentors in the Dubuque Community Schools, Multicultural Family
Center, Presentation Lantern Center, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque (YAPPERS), and
St. Mark Community Center. Members will not only recruit community volunteers but train, monitor,
and serve as role models in their perspective sites. The goal is to provide more offerings in these areas
as the volunteer pool increases. Volunteers can assist with language skills, student's homework,
cultural or ethnic events as well as neighborhood projects. To implement these activities and increase
the capacity of community-based organizations and groups, AmeriCorps members in 2008-2009 will
have the goal to recruit and support 24o volunteers with the goal of 3,00o hours of service.
Capacity Building:
The addition of AmeriCorps to the Dubuque Community School's before, during and after school
programming has increased the quality by providing Members trained in a number of learning
enrichment curricula. This has increased the attendance which has stabilized the funding. In a similar
way, Members have increased the quantity, quality, and attendance at summer playground programs
offered by Leisure Services. Members provide a safe place during the summer for 50+ children on
Audubon playground from g a.m. to noon and 6 to 9 p.m. every Monday through Friday. In addition
day workshops are provided weekly covering academic enrichment areas such as Growing in the
Garden, Space and Flight, Food Safety, Spanish, Sign Language, and Multicultural studies.
Members built upon the current capacity at St. Mark Community Center and as a result of Member
volunteer recruitment efforts (35 volunteers) tutoring at St. Mark was expanded from twice a week to
four days per week. Currently the program has expanded through a list Century Grant to three
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locations, where Members are placed, reaching additional students and volunteers with five days of
programming. The Center also expanded to include the addition of an eight week summer camp. This
was made possible because of Member placements. Members have increased the capacity of St. Mark
in a number of other areas, beyond the expanded tutoring program. In 2000, St. Mark had only a
director on staff. As a result of AmeriCorps, St. Mark has experienced an increase in donations and has
a non-Member staff of 3 full-time and 20 part- time. Members have initiated, coordinated, and offered
activities in the after school program, weekend teen activities, Saturday art and music classes, and
monthly family activities that have increased visibility and provided startup for new initiatives.
An AmeriCorps VISTA with the Program worked in capacity building to secure funding for the startup
of the Multicultural Family Center (MFC) which opened its doors in July 2005. Members serve as
staff to do homework help, programming, and to recruit and engage volunteers. This MFC continues
to grow in the number of people who seek services. The City of Dubuque, Workforce Development,
Visiting Nurse Association, Northeast Iowa Community College, and others are working
collaboratively to meet the needs to this growing population in the Dubuque community. The addition
of AmeriCorps at the Dubuque Community Y enabled that agency to build a teen center available
after school and evenings to middle school students. Members provide programming, educational
curricula, homework help and mentoring to this previously underserved population in the
community. The Community College and University of Dubuque are now able to provide scholarships
to special needs children in their "College for Kids" programs, with AmeriCorps Members' assistance to
support individual children and prevent class interruptions. AmeriCorps has enabled Martin Luther
King Day activities to be provided to 2,00o youth over the past five years in conjunction with schools,
the Carnegie Stout Public Library and 6o volunteers. AmeriCorps Members are an invaluable
community resource available for community service.
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Organizational Capability
The City of Dubuque is located on the Mississippi River in northeast Iowa. Dubuque was founded by
Julien Dubuque in i~85 and is the oldest City in Iowa. The City of Dubuque has unique combination
of old and new, ranging from cable cars, Victorian architecture, and a Civil War shot tower, to an
enclosed shopping mall, riverboat casino, and a parrmutual dog track with a slot machine casino.
Sound Organizational Structure & Sound Record of Accomplishment as an Organization:
In order to increase resources for the Partners in Learning AmeriCorps program and increase
sustainability a new three way partnership has been started. The partners include the City of Dubuque
for grant administration, personnel, and fiscal responsibilities, Community Foundation of Greater
Dubuque who are spearheading the America' Promise vision and community commitment, and
Dubuque County Extension who continue to provide education and curriculum resources.
The first partner is the City of Dubuque which is a municipal corporation governed by an elected
mayor and asix-member council. Council appointed officials and department managers who will be
involved in the management of the AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Program are: Michael
VanMilligen, City Manager; Randall Peck, Personnel Manager; David Harris, Community
Development Manager; and Kenneth TeKippe, Finance Director as well as David Harris, Housing and
Community Development Director. The City of Dubuque has a number of federal grant awards,
including HUD, and in Fiscal Year 2006 successfully managed ii.5 million dollars of federal funds.
David Harris will be the primary contact and has extensive skills in facilitating grants and contracts.
The National Community Development Association recognized David Harris, Community and
Development Manager, and the City of Dubuque with the Audrey Nelson Community Development
Achievement Award for Dubuque Housing Education and Rehabilitation Training (HEART)
Partnership. This award was presented for exemplary use of Community Development Block Grant
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(CDBG) funds that address the needs of low-income families and neighborhoods. Kenneth TeKippe,
City Finance Director, will oversee accounting and fiscal management. In 2005 the Government
Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada presented the Distinguished Budget
Presentation Award to the City of Dubuque and City staff for meeting the highest principles of
governance and budgeting. In 2006, the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs named Dubuque as
one of Iowa's Great Places. Recently, Dubuque was names as one of the io communities to earn the
200 All-America City (AAC) national award title. Often referred to as "the Nobel Prize of civic
engagement," it is the oldest and most prestigious civic recognition competition in the nation. The
winners were selected in part for their ability to engage a broad cross section of the community,
including youth, business leaders, elected officials, city staff and nonprofit groups in civic dialogues
leading to tangible results.
The second partner is the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque which was formed on October
26, 2001. The Community Foundation had an active 2006 year partnering with 952 donors. Most
notably, 47 new funds were established at the Foundation, and current donors made Rio gifts to the
existing funds. Total assets on June 30, 2006 were i2.8 million. The Board of Directors of the
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque is comprised of outstanding leaders from all sectors of
the community who focus on improving the quality of life in Dubuque. President and CEO, Nancy
VanMilligen's education, work experience and volunteer activities have afforded her a unique
perspective that drives her passion for community building and making a difference in the lives of
others. Among her leadership experiences is service as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at
Clarke College, Area Administrator for the Iowa Citizens Foster Care Review Board, Chair of the Iowa
Commission on Volunteer Service, and Chair of the State of Iowa Empowerment Board. Nancy and
the Community Foundation Board of Directors are spearheading the America's Promise local initiative
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of Every Child, Every Promise.
This initiative serves to bring the entire community together into community conversations to raise
awareness, identify and prioritize gaps in services for meeting one challenge -- keep all 5 promises for
every child (0-20) in our community. This vision is to get a collaborative strategic plan for youth
services in the community and "flywheel momentum" from all segments of the community which
will intern increase financial support and volunteer commitments or human resource support. This
will facilitate collaboration to eliminate duplication of services, promote more efficient use of limited
funds and build a more efficient delivery system.
Dubuque County Extension will continue to provide the Member training and educational curriculum
and resources. Dubuque county Extension staff has a long history of collaboration and administering
programs in partnership with other organizations while addressing the issues of children, youth and
families at risk. The Dubuque County Extension has anine-member Council.
Since inception, the Partners in Learning AmeriCorps staff has been Beverly Berna, Extension
Families Specialist and Penny Ehlinger, Partners in Learning AmeriCorps Director. Both of these
positions are focused on making a stronger, more sustainable structure that is tied to Dubuque
Promise initiatives in partnership with the City of Dubuque and the Community Foundation of
Greater Dubuque. Ms. Berna has 37 years of experience in a variety of Extension education and
administration positions and has managed numerous grants and contracts. Her efforts will be to
continue to engage new partners especially in the diversity and underserved or disadvantaged
populations. Ms. Ehlinger brings linkages to the colleges, experience working with college students of
all ages, experience as a returning adult student and connections in the art and service community.
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She will continue to conduct recruitment, provide training, support Members and supervisors, oversee
Member time and attendance, coordinate service projects and monitor sites.
Drawing on the expertise of each of the partners listed above has provided a dynamic leadership team
that is future oriented and giving sound AmeriCorps program leadership. In 200, the America's
Promise awarded this partnership with the prestigious title of one of the loo Best Communities for
Youth.
Volunteers are sought through various avenues and drawn from a pool of high school and college
students, retirees, business partners and local convents and church agencies.
The Dubuque Mentoring Partnership, a collaborative effort of agencies and organizations, started in
Apri12oo5. The Program Director was one of the initial organizers for this initiative. Due to these
efforts, mentors/volunteers have increased from 35o to i,2o3 in Apri12oo6. The number of youth
waiting for mentors has gone down from i,i5o to 524. Bilingual community volunteers are
recruited to better serve a more diverse population at the Multicultural Family Center and
Presentation Lantern.
At the Multicultural Family Center during 2006-200 (the second year of operation) 1,795 volunteer
hours were logged and reached x,884 contacts. These volunteers included general volunteers who
came for special events such as culture days to other individuals who come weekly to help students
with homework. In addition language volunteers assisted others to teach Spanish or Spanish speaking
individuals to learn English and technical computer volunteers assistance ranged from teaching
computer basics to explaining how to do college computer research. The Multicultural Family Center
is a partnership between AmeriCorps and Dubuque County Extension which during the second year of
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operation secured $83,038 in funds. During two years of operation the Center has seen 1,257 different
individuals (unduplicated count) come through the door of the Multicultural Family Center.
AmeriCorps Members are given the responsibility of recruiting, training and orientating community
volunteers at their placement sites, community events and service projects.
The Partners in Learning AmeriCorps Program completes a number of self-evaluations and
continuous improvement processes. In addition to regularly scheduled on-site conferences and
monitoring activities noted previously, Ms. Ehlinger surveys Members and site supervisors for
feedback. Feedback is also received through sites administrating surveys and through interactions
with family members, e.g. family nights noted earlier. The program has tracked outcomes and process
data since inception per the tools and processes noted earlier. Ms. Ehlinger and Ms. Berna have
attended ongoing trainings through the Corporation for National and Community Service and the
Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service.
In collaboration with Project Star, the Program continues to refine and strengthen the program
objectives, outcome measures and data collections tools. In developing this proposal, research staff
from the Institute for Social and Economic Development was contacted. The academic mentoring
component is the best candidate for a scientific study. When the school determines the testing
mechanisms they will be using, we can work more closely with ISED to develop an evaluation study.
The fact that children receive a number of interventions (some children more than others) and that a
control group is difficult to establish are factors that make studies difficult. As an Intermediary
Agency, the Partners in Learning AmeriCorps Program will draw from its many partners and
collaborate for technical and financial assistance through many avenues. A new addition is the
Extension CYFAR national evaluator who is assisting with logic model planning and reviews of
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current outcome methodology.
Success in Securing Community Support:
The Program has been successful in obtaining a local grant from the Dubuque Racing Association
with the average award of $io,ooo each year for the last three years. This grant has helped to
purchase educational resources, healthy snacks, playground supplies and office equipment such as a
copy machine, fax and laser printer. Other grants have been received from the Community
Foundation of Greater Dubuque and Neighborhood Grants. The Neighborhood grants now total
$5~75o in yearly support for transportation and program supplies for the Partners in Learning
AmeriCorps initiatives. All Members receive a living allowance which is at the 85/i5 cost share with
CNCS and partners as recommended by the Corporation. Education award only Members receive
these same living allowance dollars from site placements as we strive to be equitable to all Members.
The number of education award only positions had increase significantly as partner organizations see
the value of collaboration and group synergism. The outcomes of this collaboration are also ensuring
program sustainability.
The Program Director provides yearly orientation training to supervisors and sites at a two hour
meeting that includes distribution and discussion of a Site Supervisor Manual. The Director also is
available each fall to attend teacher in service days in order to answer any questions and give
feedback. Ongoing support is provided throughout the year in areas such as Member scheduling,
training, mediation and conflict management. With the new Program design, sites and site
supervisors are required to assist in recruitment and increase their contributions to training of
Members. Intermediary partners and staff provide initial and ongoing Member training. Staff as well
as resources and non-fmancial support are utilized from the Dubuque County Extension, Community
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Foundation of Greater Dubuque and City of Dubuque.
Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy
Each partner pays approximately $2 per Member hour as cash match for Member placement. These
sources include City of Dubuque, Museum admissions, State of Iowa Allowable Growth Funds, and
Dubuque Community Schools. This match is approximately $26,268 for this grant year for grantee
living allowance and member support costs. Teachers and other professionals share their expertise
through in-kind training for Member development. In addition all administrative costs received from
Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) are put back into the personnel and
Member support costs. The program partnerships will provide additional in-kind support for the
project valued at $50,049 annually. The local sustainability is being increased yearly by the addition of
Education Award only Member positions. This grant request is for i4 Education Award positions
where partners will commit $28,168 of living allowance benefits to this grant. This brings our total
match to $io4,485 or grantee share of 34% with total budget of $309,863.
Partners in Learning Program staff have been successful in receiving local funds. For example, the
Dubuque Racing Association grant has purchased program supplies and equipment which amount to
approximately $6,00o yearly. The City of Dubuque has received a number of federal grant awards,
including HUD, and in Fiscal Year 2006 successfully managed i1.5 million dollars of federal funds.
The Partners in Learning AmeriCorps Program and other community partners continue to collaborate
to write supporting grants to further expand and maintain services. Local funding grants that have
been explored include Carver, McElroy, Prudential, and Wahlert Foundations. To provide for a
community engagement piece for strategic planning, Mississippi Valley Promise received $30,000
from the Dubuque Racing Association and Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque. These funds
are being utilized to do an inclusive visioning process that will result in a strategic youth plan with
goals and priorities that to be used as a roadmap for the future. In addition, hundreds of hours of
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community partners and volunteers will contribute their time to this inclusive, visioning process. The
cash match for this youth community-wide strategic planning process from the Community
Foundation has been incorporated into the in-kind match. However the hours of community partners,
volunteers and business leaders' contributions will serve to engage and increase community visibility
but were not included in the grant budget. The City of Dubuque is providing personnel, budget,
financial and program administration as in kind services through City of Dubuque Housing and
Development Department. Clarke College office space has been secured at to assist the Program
Director in recruitment, training, and accessibility to potential Members.
The Partners in Learning AmeriCorps Program has and will continue to build support as part of its
community strengthening efforts. In collaboration with Mississippi Valley Promise and through the
program administration with the City of Dubuque and the visioning and community engagement
leadership from the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, the program can strategically allow
for community engagement as we define and address identified needs of children, youth and families.
Program cost per member service year (MSY) is $i2,6oo. The Partners in Learning program currently
meets its non-federal support match requirement through funds provided by our partners -schools,
city, community and will expand the Youth Area Philanthropists (YAPPERS), Multicultural Family
Center, Presentation Lantern Center. All the funds noted in the budget as available to this program are
secured. Outreach speaking engagements and a successful track record have increased visibility of the
program and AmeriCorps is awell-respected entity in the Dubuque community.
Evaluation Summary or Plan
AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Internal Evaluation Plan: AmeriCorps Partners in Learning
Members provide academic tutoring/mentoring and the Program also serves as an Intermediary
Agency to address the at-risk population that includes minorities, underserved and disadvantaged
children, youth and families. In addition, the AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Member provides safe
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places of learning through cultural and enrichment opportunities while recruiting and supporting
volunteers and volunteer service in the Dubuque community.
Purpose of Evaluation: The Dubuque Community-wide strategic planning process will allow the
Program the opportunity to engage local leaders, family and youth-serving agencies and
organizations, community volunteers, families and youth themselves to determine priorities. This
process will provide the prioritization of identifying needs currently being served as well as unmet
needs and provide focus and renewed direction to the AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Program. The
community has already done a similar community visioning process called Envision 2oio and is
working toward the ten goals to make Dubuque a better place to live, work, and play by the year
2010. The youth community-wide strategic planning process will be patterned after the Envision
2oio. This youth strategic planning process will increase community buy-in and will be invaluable as
we develop the Intermediary Agency component of this grant. Informal groups will meet, brainstorm
and submit their ideas for making children and youth a priority in the Dubuque County. In addition
to meeting the AmeriCorps funding requirement, this plan will serve to determine if program targets
are realistic and it will address program output and program outcomes. The plan will also serve as a
management and decision making tool.
Current Performance Measures: During the year 2006-200, for students K-i2, 29 Members provided
academic tutoring to 2,912 students during school and 3i2 K-8 students after school, engaging one-
on-one or in small groups for i-3 hours per week. The goal was that ~o% of students, for whom we
had data, would improve their academic performance in reading and math. All students exceeded the
~o% improvement performance goal except for the students on the high school level. According to
Test Scores released by the Dubuque Community School District on 2/2~/0~, g2% of all elementary
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schools improved reading scores and 82% improved their math scores over last years performance.
Middle Schools and High Schools improved reading and math scores as well.
Current Member Evaluations: When Members in the Program reach the halfway mark of service, a
mid-term evaluation is conducted with them present along with the site supervisor, teacher(s) or any
other interested individual. An evaluation form is used to measure expectations and progress of
Members and it also serves as an opportunity for Members to evaluate their supervisors via another
evaluation instrument. It is an important part of any program to evaluate the participants and
partners; this also helps to reassess the program to anticipate changes or expectations and make
needed improvements. Additionally, all Members are required to participate in an exit interview upon
completion of their service. At this time, suggestions, criticisms and comments are collected to better
improve the Program. Comparisons are made between the mid-term evaluation and the end of service
performance to see if there has been improvement and growth. This is also an opportune time to
discuss "Life After AmeriCorps," and to discuss future goals and career direction.
Evaluation Plan Designers: Penny Ehlinger, AmeriCorps Partners in learning Program Director,
Nancy VanMilligen, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Executive Director, Beverly Berna,
Iowa State University Extension Families Specialist & Human Subjects Researcher.
Evaluation Timeline: A focus group of community visioning members will be recalled in Year Two
and these results will be reviewed in consultation with the Extension Children, Youth & Families at
Risk (CYFAR) National Evaluator. These efforts will review outcome tools to determine logic model
planning evaluation changes. In Year Three as acompetitively-funded program, the Corporation will
require us to submit an evaluation report when we re-apply for continued funds in 2oio.
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How Results Will Be Used: The youth community-wide visioning process will determine if our current
performance measures are on track and provide valuable information as we make future decisions
towards continuous improvement. In addition these findings will be applied to improving promotion
and outreach activities for recruiting new AmeriCorps Members, community volunteers, and strategic
business partners. In addition, this community prioritization will be critical to our ability to seek
partners as we collaborate to determine continued and new placement sites for AmeriCorps Members.
We want to show that AmeriCorps Partners in Learning is making a difference in our community as
we need the continued support as we reach out to the community for matching funds. All findings
and evaluation insights and the release of these results will be used to increase sustainability and
community buy-in.
Amendment Justification
Not Applicable.
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Performance Measures
Service Categories
Adult Education and Literacy
R-imary ^x Secondary ^
Service Category: Adult Education and Literacy
Measure Category: Needs and Service Activities
Need
Briefly describe the need to be addressed (Max. 4,000 characters)
NA
Activity
Briefly describe how you will achieve this result (Max 4,000 chars.)
NA
Activity Start Date: Number of Members: 0
Activity Fsd Date: Hours per Day (on averagep
Days per Week (on average
Results
Result: Output
NA
Indicator: NA
Target: NA
Target Value: 0
Instruments: NA
PM Statement: NA
Prev. Yrs. Data: NA
Result: Intermediate Outcome
NA
Indicator: NA
Target: NA
Target Value: 0
Instruments: NA
PM Statement: NA
Prev. Yrs. Data: NA
Result: End Outcome
NA
Indicator: NA
Target: NA
Target Value: 0
Instruments: NA
PM Statement: NA
Prev. Yrs. Data: NA
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Required Documents
Document Name
Evaluation
Status
Not Applicable
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Page 39
Exhibit D
Federal Regulations
PART 2520 --GENERAL PROVISIONS: AMERICORPS SUBTITLE C PROGRAMS
Sec.
§ 2520.5 What definitions apply to this part?
§ 2520.10 What is the purpose of the AmeriCorps subtitle C program described in parts 2520 through 2524
of this chapter?
§ 2520.20 What service activities may I support with my grant?
§ 252,0.25 What direct service activities may AmeriCorps members perform?
§ 2520.30 What capacity-building activities may AmeriCorps members perform?
§ 2520.35 Must my program recruit or support volunteers?
§ 2520.40 Under what circumstances may AmeriCorps members in my program raise resources?
§ 2520.45 How much time may an AmeriCorps member spend fundraising?
§ 2520.50 How much time may AmeriCorps members in my program spend in education and training
activities?
§ 2520.55 When may my organization collect fees for services provided by AmeriCorps members?
§ 2520.60 What government-wide requirements apply to staff fundraising under my AmeriCorps grant?
§ 2520.65 What activities are prohibited in AmeriCorps subtitle C programs?
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 12571-12595.
Source: 59 FR 13794, Mar. 23, 1994, unless otherwise noted.
§ 2520.5 What definitions apply to this part?
You. For this part, you refers to the grantee or an organization operating an AmeriCorps program.
[70 FR 39596, July 8, 2005]
§ 2520.10 What is the purpose of the AmeriCorps subtitle C program described in parts 2520 through 2524
of this chapter?
The purpose of the AmeriCorps subtitle C program is to provide financial assistance under subtitle C of the National
and Community Service Act to support AmeriCorps programs that address educational, public safety, human, or
environmental needs through national and community service, and to provide AmeriCorps education awards to
participants in such programs.
[67 FR 45359, July 9, 2002]
§ 2520.20 What service activities may I support with my grant?
(a) Your grant must initiate, improve, or expand the ability of an organization and community to provide services to
address local unmet environmental, educational, public safety (including disaster preparedness and response), or
other human needs.
(b) You may use your grant to support AmeriCorps members:
(1) Performing direct service activities that meet local needs.
79
(2) Performing capacity-building activities that improve the organizational and financial capability of nonprofit
organizations and communities to meet local needs by achieving greater organizational efficiency and effectiveness,
greater impact and quality of impact, stronger likelihood of successful replicability, or expanded scale.
[70 FR 39596, July 8, 2005]
§ 2520.25 What direct service activities may AmeriCorps members perform?
(a) The AmeriCorps members you support under your grant may perform direct service activities that will advance
the goals of your program, that will result in a specific identifiable service or improvement that otherwise would not
be provided, and that are included in, or consistent with, your Corporation-approved grant application.
(b) Your members' direct service activities must address local environmental, educational, public safety (including
disaster preparedness and response), or other human needs.
(c) Direct service activities generally refer to activities that provide a direct, measurable benefit to an individual, a
group, or a community.
(d) Examples of the types of direct service activities AmeriCorps members may perform include, but are not limited
to, the following:
(1) Tutoring children in reading;
(2) Helping to run an after-school program;
(3) Engaging in community clean-up projects; ~
(4) Providing health information to a vulnerable population;
(5) Teaching as part of a professional corps;
(6) Providing relief services to a community affected by a disaster; and
(7) Conducting a neighborhood watch program as part of a public safety effort.
[70 FR 39597, July 8, 2005]
§ 2520.30 What capacity-building activities may AmeriCorps members perform?
Capacity-building activities that AmeriCorps members perform should enhance the mission, strategy, skills, and
culture, as well as systems, infrastructure, and human resources of an organization that is meeting unmet community
needs. Capacity-building activities help an organization gain greater independence and sustainability.
(a) The AmeriCorps members you support under your grant may perform capacity-building activities that advance
your program's goals and that are included in, or consistent with, your Corporation-approved grant application.
(b) Examples ofcapacity-building activities your members may perform include, but are not limited to, the
following:
(1) Strengthening volunteer management and recruitment, including:
(i) Enlisting, training, or coordinating volunteers;
(ii) Helping an organization develop an effective volunteer management system;
(iii) Organizing service days and other events in the community to increase citizen engagement;
(iv) Promoting retention of volunteers by planning recognition events or providing ongoing support and follow-up to
ensure that volunteers have ahigh-quality experience; and
(v) Assisting an organization in reaching out to individuals and communities of different backgrounds when
encouraging volunteering to ensure that a breadth of experiences and expertise is represented in service activities.
(2) Conducting outreach and securing resources in support of service activities that meet specific needs in the
community;
(3) Helping build the infrastructure of the sponsoring organization, including:
(i) Conducting research, mapping community assets, or gathering other information that will strengthen the
sponsoring organization's ability to meet community needs;
(ii) Developing new programs or services in a sponsoring organization seeking to expand;
(iii) Developing organizational systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness;
(iv) Automating organizational operations to improve efficiency and effectiveness;
(v) Initiating or expanding revenue-generating operations directly in support of service activities; and
(vi) Supporting staff and board education.
80
(4) Developing collaborative relationships with other organizations working to achieve similar goals in the
community, such as:
(i) Community organizations, including faith-based organizations;
(ii) Foundations;
(iii) Local government agencies;
(iv) Institutions of higher education; and
(v) Local education agencies or organizations.
[70 FR 39597, July 8, 2005]
§ 2520.35 Must my program recruit or support volunteers?
(a) Unless the Corporation or the State commission, as appropriate, approves otherwise, some component of your
program that is supported through the grant awarded by the Corporation must involve recruiting or supporting
volunteers.
(b) If you demonstrate that requiring your program to recruit or support volunteers would constitute a fundamental
alteration to your program structure, the Corporation (or the State commission for formula programs) may waive the
requirement in response to your written request for such a waiver in the grant application.
[70 FR 39597, July 8, 2005]
§ 2520.40 Under what circumstances may AmeriCorps members in my program raise resources?
(a) AmeriCorps members may raise resources directly in support of your program's service activities.
(b) Examples of fundraising activities AmeriCorps members may perform include, but are not limited to, the
following:
(1) Seeking donations of books from companies and individuals for a program in which volunteers teach children to
read;
(2) Writing a grant proposal to a foundation to secure resources to support the training of volunteers;
(3) Securing supplies and equipment from the community to enable volunteers to help build houses for low-income
individuals;
(4) Securing financial resources from the community to assist in launching or expanding a program that provides
social services to the members of the community and is delivered, in whole or in part, through the members of a
community-based organization;
(5) Seeking donations from alumni of the program for specific service projects being performed by current
members.
(c) AmeriCorps members may not:
(1) Raise funds for living allowances or for an organization's general (as opposed to project) operating expenses or
endowment;
(2) Write a grant application to the Corporation or to any other Federal agency.
[70 FR 39597, July 8, 2005]
§ 2520.45 How much time may an AmeriCorps member spend fundraising?
An AmeriCorps member may spend no more than ten percent of his or her originally agreed-upon term of service, as
reflected in the member enrollment in the National Service Trust, performing fundraising activities, as described in
§2520.40.
[70 FR 39597, July 8, 2005]
§ 2520.50 How much time may AmeriCorps members in my program spend in education and training
activities?
(a) No more than 20 percent of the aggregate of all AmeriCorps member service hours in your program, as reflected
in the member enrollments in the National Service Trust, may be spent in education and training activities.
81
(b) Capacity-building activities and direct service activities do not count towards the 20 percent cap on education
and training activities.
[70 FR 39597, July 8, 2005]
§ 2520.55 When may my organization collect fees for services provided by AmeriCorps members?
You may, where appropriate, collect fees for direct services provided by AmeriCorps members if:
(a) The service activities conducted by the members are allowable, as defined in this part, and do not violate the
non-displacement provisions in §2540.100 of these regulations; and
(b) You use any fees collected to finance your non-Corporation share, or as otherwise authorized by the Corporation.
[70 FR 39597, July 8, 2005]
§ 2520.60 What government-wide requirements apply to staff fundraising under my AmeriCorps grant?
You must follow all applicable OMB circulars on allowable costs (OMB Circular A-87 for State, Local, and Indian
Tribal Governments, OMB Circular A-122 for Nonprofit Organizations, and OMB Circular A-21 for Educational
Institutions). In general, the OMB circulars do not allow the following as direct costs under the grant: Costs of
organized fundraising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and
similar expenses incurred solely to raise capital or obtain contributions.
[70 FR 39597, July 8, 2005]
§ 2520.65 What activities are prohibited in AmeriCorps subtitle C programs?
(a) While charging time to the AmeriCorps program, accumulating service or training hours, or otherwise
performing activities supported by the AmeriCorps program or the Corporation, staff and members may not engage
in the following activities:
(1) Attempting to influence legislation;
(2) Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes;
(3) Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing;
(4) Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements;
(5) Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to
any public office;
(6) Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political
parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials;
(7) Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that
includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious
instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or
engaging in any form of religious proselytization;
(8) Providing a direct benefit to-
(i) Abusiness organized for profit;
(ii) A labor union;
(iii) A partisan political organization;
(iv) A nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 except that nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent participants from engaging in
advocacy activities undertaken at their own initiative; and
(v) An organization engaged in the religious activities described in paragraph (g) of this section, unless Corporation
assistance is not used to support those religious activities; and
(9) Such other activities as the Corporation may prohibit.
(b) Individuals may exercise their rights as private citizens and may participate in the activities listed above on their
initiative, on non-AmeriCorps time, and using non-Corporation funds. Individuals should not wear the AmeriCorps
logo while doing so.
82
[67 FR 45359, July 9, 2002. Redesignated at 70 FR 39597, July 8, 2005)
PART 2521-ELIGIBLE AMERICORPS SUBTITLE C PROGRAM APPLICANTS AND TYPES OF
GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR AWARD
Sec.
§ 2521.5 What definitions apply to this part?
§ 2521.10 Who may apply to receive an AmeriCorps subtitle C grant?
§ 2521.20 What types of AmeriCorps subtitle C program grants are available for award?
§ 2521.30 How will AmeriCorps subtitle C program grants be awarded?
Program Matching Requirements
§ 2521.35 Who must comply with matching requirements?
§ 2521.40 What are the matching requirements?
§ 2521.45 What are the limitations on the Federal government's share of program costs?
§ 2521.50 If I am an Indian Tribe, to what extent may I use tribal funds towards my share of costs?
§ 2521.60 To what extent must my share of program costs increase over time?
§ 2521.70 To what extent may the Corporation waive the matching requirements in §§2521.45 and 2521.60
of this part?
§ 2521.80 What matching level applies if my program was funded in the past but has not recently received
an AmeriCorps grant?
§ 2521.90 If I am a new or replacement legal applicant for an existing program, what will my matching
requirements be?
§ 2521.95 To what extent may I use grant funds for administrative costs?
Authority.• 42 U.S.C. 12571-12595.
Source: 59 FR 13794, Mar. 23, 1994, unless otherwise noted
§ 2521.5 What definitions apply to this part?
You. For this part, you refers to the grantee, unless otherwise noted.
[70 FR 39598, July 8, 2005]
§ 2521.10 Who may apply to receive an AmeriCorps subtitle C grant?
(a) States (including Territories), subdivisions of States, Indian tribes, public or private nonprofit organizations
(including religious organizations and labor organizations), and institutions of higher education are eligible to apply
for AmeriCorps subtitle C grants. However, the fifty States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico must first
receive Corporation authorization for the use of a State Commission or alternative administrative or transitional
entity pursuant to part 2550 of this chapter in order to be eligible.
(b) The Corporation may also enter into contracts or cooperative agreements for AmeriCorps assistance with Federal
agencies that are Executive Branch agencies or departments. Bureaus, divisions, and local and regional offices of
such departments and agencies may only receive assistance pursuant to a contract or agreement with the central
department or agency. The requirements relating to Federal agencies are described in part 2523 of this chapter.
[59 FR 13794, Mar. 23, 1994, as amended at 67 FR 45360, July 9, 2002]
§ 2521.20 What types of AmeriCorps subtitle C program grants are available for award?
83
The Corporation may make the following types of grants to eligible applicants. The requirements of this section will
also apply to any State or other applicant receiving assistance under this part that proposes to conduct a grant
program using the assistance to support other national or community service programs.
(a) Planning grants-(1) Purpose. The purpose of a planning grant is to assist an applicant in completing the
planning necessary to implement a sound concept that has already been developed.
(2) Eligibility. (i) States may apply directly to the Corporation for planning grants
(ii) Subdivisions of States, Indian Tribes, public or private nonprofit organizations (including religious organizations
and labor organizations), and institutions of higher education may apply either to a State or directly to the
Corporation for planning grants.
(3) Duration. A planning grant will be negotiated for a term not to exceed one year.
(b) Operational grants-~1) Purpose. The purpose of an operational grant is to fund an organization that is ready to
establish, operate, or expand an AmeriCorps program. An operational grant may include AmeriCorps educational
awards. An operational grant may also include a short planning period of up to six months, if necessary, to
implement a program.
(2) Eligibility. (i) States may apply directly to the Corporation for operational grants.
(ii) Subdivisions of States, Indian Tribes, public or private nonprofit organizations (including religious organizations
and labor organizations), and institutions of higher education may apply either to a State or directly to the
Corporation for operational grants. The Corporation may limit the categories of applicants eligible to apply directly
to the Corporation for assistance under this section consistent with its National priorities.
(3) Duration. An operational grant will be negotiated for a term not to exceed three years. Within athree-year term,
renewal funding will be contingent upon periodic assessment of program quality, progress to date, and availability
of Congressional appropriations.
(c) Replication Grants. The Corporation may provide assistance for the replication of an existing national service
program to another geographical location.
(d) Training, technical assistance and other special grants~l) Purpose. The purpose of these grants is to ensure
broad access to AmeriCorps programs for all Americans, including those with disabilities; support disaster relief
efforts; assist efforts to secure private support for programs through challenge grants; and ensure program quality by
supporting technical assistance and training programs.
(2) Eligibility. Eligibility varies and is detailed under 45 CFR part 2524, "Technical Assistance and Other Special
Grants."
(3) Duration. Grants will be negotiated for a renewable term of up to three years.
[59 FR 13794, Mar. 23, 1994, as amended at 67 FR 45360, July 9, 2002]
§ 2521.30 How will AmeriCorps subtitle C program grants be awarded?
In any fiscal year, the Corporation will award AmeriCorps subtitle C program grants as follows:
84
(a) Grants to State Applicants. (1) For the purposes of this section, the term "State" means the fifty States, Puerto
Rico, and the District of Columbia.
(2) One-third of the funds available under this part and a corresponding allotment of AmeriCorps educational
awards, as specified by the Corporation, will be distributed according to a population-based formula to the 50 States,
Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia if they have applications approved by the Corporation.
(3) At least one-third of funds available under this part and an appropriate number of AmeriCorps awards, as
determined by the Corporation, will be awarded to States on a competitive basis. In order to receive these funds, a
State must receive funds under paragraphs ~a)(2) or (b)(1) of this section in the same fiscal yeaz.
(4) In making subgrants with funds awazded by formula or competition under paragraphs (a) (2) or (3) of this
section, a State must: (i) Provide a description of the process used to select programs for funding including a
certification that the State or other entity used a competitive process and criteria that were consistent with the
selection criteria in §2522.410 of this chapter. In making such competitive selections, the State must ensure the
equitable allocation within the State of assistance and approved AmeriCorps positions provided under this subtitle to
the State taking into consideration such factors as the location of the programs applying to the State, population
density, and economic distress;
(ii) Provide a written assurance that not less than 60 percent of the assistance provided to the State will be used to
make grants in support of AmeriCorps programs other than AmeriCorps programs carried out by the State or a State
agency. The Corporation may permit a State to deviate from this percentage if the State demonstrates that it did not
receive a sufficient number of acceptable applications; and
(iii) Ensure that a minimum of 50 percent of funds going to States will be used for programs that operate in the areas
of need or on Federal or other public lands, and that place a priority on recruiting participants who are residents in
high need areas, or on Federal or other public lands. The Corporation may waive this requirement for an individual
State if at least 50 percent of the total amount of assistance to all States will be used for such programs.
(b) Grants to Applicants other than States. (1) One percent of available funds will be distributed to the U.S.
Territories ~ that have applications approved by the Corporation according to a population-based formula. z
I The United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth bf the Northern Mariana
Islands.
s The amount allotted as a grant to each such territory or possession is equal to the ratio of each such Territory's
population to the population of al] such territories multiplied by the amount of the one percent set-aside.
(2) One percent of available funds will be reserved for distribution to Indian tribes on a competitive basis.
(3) The Corporation will use any funds available under this pazt remaining after the award of the grants described in
paragraphs (a) and (b) (1) and (2) of this section to make direct competitive grants to subdivisions of States, Indian
tribes, public or private nonprofit organizations (including religious organizations and labor organizations),
institutions of higher education, and Federal agencies. No more than one-third of the these remaining funds may be
awarded to Federal agencies.
(c) Allocation ofAmeriCorps educational awards only. The Corporation will determine on an annual basis the
appropriate number of educational awards to make available for eligible applicants who have not applied for
program assistance.
(d) Effect of States' or Territories' failure to apply. If a State or U.S. Territory does not apply for or fails to give
adequate notice of its intent to apply for aformula-based grant as announced by the Corporation and published in
85
applications and the Notice of Funds Availability, the Corporation will use the amount of that State's allotment to
make grants to eligible entities to carry out AmeriCorps programs in that State or Territory. Any funds remaining
from that State's allotment after making such grants will be reallocated to the States, Territories, and Indian tribes
with approved AmeriCorps applications at the Corporation's discretion.
(e) Effect of rejection of State application. If a State's application for aformula-based grant is ultimately rejected by
the Corporation pursuant to §2522.320 of this chapter, the State's allotment will be available for redistribution by the
Corporation to the States, Territories, and Indian Tribes with approved AmeriCorps applications as the Corporation
deems appropriate.
(f) The Corporation will make grants for training, technical assistance and other special programs described in part
2524 of this chapter at the Corporation's discretion.
[59 FR 13794, Mar. 23, 1994, as amended at 63 FR 18138, Apr. 14, 1998; 67 FR 45360, July 9, 2002; 70 FR 39598,
July 8, 2005]
Program Matching Requirements
§ 2521.35 Who must comply with matching requirements?
(a) The matching requirements described in §§2521.40 through 2521.95 apply to you if you are a subgrantee of a
State commission or a direct program grantee of the Corporation. These requirements do not apply to Education
Award Programs.
(b) If you are a State commission, you must ensure that your grantees meet the match requirements established in
this part, and you are also responsible for meeting an aggregate overall match based on your grantees' individual
match requirements.
[70 FR 39598, July 8, 2005; 70 FR 48882, Aug. 22, 2005]
§ 2521.40 What are the matching requirements?
If you are subject to matching requirements under §2521.35, you must adhere to the following:
(a) Basic match: At a minimum, you must meet the basic match requirements as articulated in §2521.45.
(b) Regulatory match: In addition to the basic requirements under paragraph (a) of this section, you must provide an
overall level of matching funds according to the schedule in §2521.60(a), or §2521.60(b) if applicable.
(c) Budgeted match: To the extent that the match in your approved budget exceeds-your required match levels under
paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, any failure to provide the amount above your regulatory match but below your
budgeted match will be considered as a measure of past performance in subsequent grant competitions.
[70 FR 39598, July 8, 2005]
§ 2521.45 What are the limitations on the Federal government's share of program costs?
The limitations on the Federal government's share are different-in type and amount-for member support costs and
program operating costs.
86
(a) Member support: The Federal share, including Corporation and other Federal funds, of member support costs,
which include the living allowance required under §2522.240(b)(1), FICA, unemployment insurance (if required
under State law), worker's compensation (if required under State law), is limited as follows:
(1) The Federal share of the living allowance may not exceed 85 percent of the minimum living allowance required
under §2522.240(b)(1), and 85 percent of other member support costs.
(2) If you are a professional corps described in §2522.240(b)(2)(i), you may not use Corporation funds for the living
allowance.
(3) Your share of member support costs must be non-Federal cash.
(4) The Corporation's share of health care costs may not exceed 85 percent.
(b) Program operating costs: The Corporation share of program operating costs may not exceed 67 percent. These
costs include expenditures (other than member support costs described in paragraph (a) of this section) such as staff,
operating expenses, internal evaluation, and administration costs.
(1) You may provide your share of program operating costs with cash, including other Federal funds (as long as the
other Federal agency permits its funds to be used as match), or third party in-kind contributions.
(2) Contributions, including third party in-kind must:
(i) Be verifiable from' your records;
(ii) Not be included as contributions for any other Federally assisted program;
(iii) Be necessary and reasonable for the proper and efficient accomplishment of your program's objectives; and
(iv) Be allowable under applicable OMB cost principles.
(3) You may not include the value of direct community service performed by volunteers, but you may include the
value of services contributed by volunteers to your organizations for organizational functions such as accounting,
audit, and training of staff and AmeriCorps programs.
[70 FR 39598, July 8, 2005]
§ 2521.50 If I am an Indian Tribe, to what extent may I use tribal funds towards my share of costs?
If you are an Indian Tribe that receives tribal funds through Public Law 93-638 (the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act), those funds are considered non-Federal and you may use them towards your share of
costs, including member support costs.
[70 FR 39598, July 8, 2005]
§ 2521.60 To what extent must my share of program costs increase over time?
Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, if your program continues to receive funding after an initial
three-year grant period, you must continue to meet the minimum requirements in §2541.45 of this part. In addition,
your required share of program costs, including member support and operating costs, will incrementally increase to
a 50 percent overall share by the tenth year and any year thereafter that you receive a grant, without a break in
87
funding of five years or more. A 50 percent overall match means that you will be required to match $1 for every $1
you receive from the Corporation.
(a) Minimum Organization Share: (1) Subject to the requirements of §2521.45 of this part, and except as provided in
paragraph (b) of this section, your overall share of program costs will increase as of the fourth consecutive year that
you receive a grant, according to the following timetable:
Year
1 Year
2 Year
3 Year
4 Year
5 Year
6 Year
7 Year
8 Year
9 Year
10
Minimum
Member 15% 15% 15% 15% 15% 15% 15% 15% 15% 15%
_5u~port---- ---------
--------
- -
-------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Minimum
Operating 33% 33% 33% 33% 33% 33% 33% 33% 33% 33%
Costs
Minimum
Overall N/A N/A N/A 26% 30% 34% 38% 42% 46% 50%
Share
(2) A grantee must have contributed matching resources by the end of a grant period in an amount equal to the
combined total of the minimum overall annual match for each year of the grant period, according to the table in
paragraph (a)(1) of this section.
(3) A State commission may meet its match based on the aggregate of its grantees' individual match requirements.
(b) Alternative match requirements: If your program is unable to meet the match requirements as required in
paragraph (a) of this section, and is located in a rural or a severely economically distressed community, you may
apply to the Corporation for a waiver that would require you to increase the overall amount of your share of program
costs beginning in the seventh consecutive year that you receive a grant, according to the following table:
Year
1 Year
2 Year
3 Year
4 Year
5 Year
6 Year
7 Year
8 Year
9 Year
10
Minimum
Member 15% 15% 15% 15% 15% 15% 15% 15% 15% 15%
Su ort
--- ~'p--------
---------
---------
---------
---------
---------
----------
---------
----------
----------
----------
Minimum
Operating 33% 33% 33% 33% 33% 33% 33% 33% 33% 33%
Costs
Minimum
Overall N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 29% 31% 33% 35%
Share
(c) Determining Program Location. (1) The Corporation will determine whether your program is located in a rural
county by considering the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Beale Codes.
88
(2) The Corporation will determine whether your program is located in a severely economically distressed county by
considering unemployment rates, per capita income, and poverty rates.
(3) Unless the Corporation approves otherwise, as provided in paragraph (c)(4) of this section, the Corporation will
determine the location of your program based on the legal applicant's address.
(4) If you believe that the legal applicant's address is not the appropriate way to consider the location of your
program, you may request the waiver described in paragraph (b) of this section and provide the relevant facts about
your program location to support your request.
(d) Schedule for current program grants: If you have completed at least one three-yeaz grant cycle on the date this
regulation takes effect, you will be required to provide your shaze of costs beginning at the year three level,
according to the table in pazagraph (a) of this section, in the first program year in your grant following the
regulation's effective date, and increasing each yeaz thereafter as reflected in the table.
(e) Flexibility in how you provide your share: As long as you meet the basic match requirements in §2521.45, you
may use cash or in-kind contributions to reach the overall share level. For example, if your organization finds it
easier to raise member support match, you may choose to meet the required overall match by raising only more
member support match, and leave operational match at the basic level, as long as you provide the required overall
match.
(f) Reporting excess resources. (1) The Corporation encourages you to obtain support over-and-above the matching
fund requirements. Reporting these resources may make your application more likely to be selected for funding,
based on the selection criteria in §§2522.430 and 2522.435 of these regulations.
(2) You must comply with §2543.23 of this title and applicable OMB circulars in documenting cash and in-kind
contributions and excess resources.
[70 FR 39598, July 8, 2005]
§ 2521.70 To what extent may the Corporation waive the matching requirements in §§2521.45 and 2521.60
of this part?
(a) The Corporation may waive, in whole or in part, the requirements of §§2521.45 and 2521.60 of this part if the
Corporation determines that a waiver would be equitable because of a lack of available financial resources at the
local level.
(b) If you -are requesting a waiver; you must demonstrate:
(1) The lack of resources at the local level;
(2) That the lack of resources in your local community is unique or unusual;
(3) The efforts you have made to raise matching resources; and
(4) The amount of matching resources you have raised or reasonably expect to raise.
(c) You must provide with your waiver request:
(1) A request for the specific amount of match you are requesting that the Corporation waive; and
89
(2) A budget and budget narrative that reflects the requested level in matching resources.
[70 FR 39598, July 8, 2005]
§ 2521.80 What matching level applies if my program was funded in the past but has not recently received
an AmeriCorps grant?
(a) If you have not been a direct recipient of an AmeriCorps operational grant from the Corporation or a State
commission for five years or more, as determined by the end date of your most recent grant period, you may begin
matching at the year one level, as reflected in the timetable in §2521.60(a) of this part, upon receiving your new
grant award.
(b) If you have not been a direct recipient of an AmeriCorps operational grant from the Corporation or a State
commission for fewer than five years, you must begin matching at the same level you were matching at the end of
your most recent grant period.
[70 FR 39598, July 8, 2005]
§ 2521.90 If I am a new or replacement legal applicant for an existing program, what will my matching
requirements be?
If your organization is a new or replacement legal applicant for an existing program, you must provide matching
resources at the level the previous legal applicant had reached at the time you took over the program.
[70 FR 39598, July 8, 2005]
§ 2521.95 To what extent may I use grant funds for administrative costs?
(a) Not more than five percent of the grant funds provided under this part for any fiscal year may be used to pay for
administrative costs, as defined in §2510.20 of this chapter.
(b) The distribution of administrative costs between the grant and any subgrant will be subject to the approval of the
Corporation.
(c) In applying the limitation on administrative costs the Corporation will approve one of the following methods in
the award document:
(1) Limit the amount or rate of indirect costs that may be paid with Corporation funds under a grant or subgrant to
five percent of total Corporation funds expended, provided that-
(i) Organizations that have an established indirect cost rate for Federal awards will be limited to this method; and
(ii) Unreimbursed indirect costs may be applied to meetil-g operational matching requirements under the
Corporation's award;
(2) Specify that a fixed rate of five percent or less (not subject to supporting cost documentation) of total
Corporation funds expended may be used to pay for administrative costs, provided that the fixed rate is in
conjunction with an overall 15 percent administrative cost factor to be used for organizations that do not have
established indirect cost rates; or
90
(3) Utilize such other method that the Corporation determines in writing is consistent with OMB guidance and other
applicable requirements, helps minimize the burden on grantees or subgrantees, and is beneficial to grantees or
subgrantees and the Federal Government.
[70 FR 39598, July 8, 2005]
PART 2522-AMERICORPS PARTICIPANTS, PROGRAMS, AND APPLICANTS
Subpart A-Minimum Requirements and Program Types
§ 2522.10 What definitions apply to this part?
§ 2522.100 What are the minimum requirements that every AmeriCorps program, regardless of type, must
meet?
§ 2522.110 What types of programs are eligible to compete for AmeriCorps grants?
Subpart B-Participant Eligibility, Requirements, and Benefits
§ 2522.200 What are the eligibility requirements for an AmeriCorps participant?
§ 2522.210 How are AmeriCorps participants recruited and selected?
§ 2522.220 What are the required terms of service for AmeriCorps participants, and may they serve for
more than one term?
§ 2522.230 Under what circumstances may AmeriCorps participants be released from completing a term of
service, and what are the consequences?
§ 2522.240 What financial benefits do AmeriCorps participants serving in approved AmeriCorps positions
receive?
§ 2522.250 What other benefits do AmeriCorps participants serving in approved AmeriCorps positions
receive?
Subpart C-Application Requirements
§ 2522.300 What are the application requirements for AmeriCorps program grants?
§ 2522.310 What are the application requirements for AmeriCorps educational awards only?
§ 2522.320 May an applicant submit more than one application to the Corporation for the same project at
the same time?
Subpart D-Selection of AmeriCorps Programs
§ 2522.400 What process does the Corporation use to select new grantees?
§ 2522.410 What is the role of the Corporation's Board of Directors in the selection process?
§ 2522.415 How does the grant selection process work?
§ 2522.420 What basic criteria does the Corporation use in making funding decisions?
§ 2522. 425 What does the Corporation consider in assessing Program Design?
§ 2522.430 How does the Corporation assess my organizational capability?
§ 2522.435 How does the Corporation evaluate the cost-effectiveness and budget adequacy of my program?
§ 2522.440 What weight does the Corporation give to each category of the basic criteria?
§ 2522.445 What weights does the Corporation give to the subcategories under Program Design?
§ 2522.448 What weights does the Corporation give to the subcategories under Cost Effectiveness and
Budget Adequacy?
§ 2522.450 What types of programs or program models may receive special consideration in the selection
process?
§ 2522.455 How do I find out about additional priorities governing the selection process?
§ 2522. 460 To what extent may the Corporation or a State commission consider priorities other than those
stated in these regulations or the Notice of Funding Availability?
§ 2522.465 What information must a State commission submit on the relative strengths of applicants for
91
State competitive funding?
§ 2522.470 What other factors or information may the Corporation consider in making final funding
decisions?
§ 2522. 475 To what extent must I use the Corporation's selection criteria and priorities when selecting
formula programs or operating sites?
§ 2522.480 Can a State's application for formula funds be rejected?
§ 2522.485 How do I calculate my program's budgeted Corporation cost per member service year (MSI~?
Subpart E-Evaluation Requirements
§ 2522.500 What is the purpose of this subpart?
§ 2522.510 To whom does this subpart apply?
§ 2522.520 What special terms are used in this subpart?
§ 2522.530 May I use the Corporation's program grant funds for performance measurement and
evaluation?
§ 2522.540 Do the costs of performance measurement or evaluation count towards the statutory cap on
administrative costs?
Performance Measures: Requirements and Procedures
§ 2522.550 What basic requirements must I follow in measuring performance under my grant?
§ 2522.560 What are performance measures and performance measurement?
§ 2522.570 What information on performance measures must my grant application include?
§ 2522.580 What performance measures am I required to submit to the Corporation?
§ 2522.590 Who develops my performance measures?
§ 2522.600 Who approves my performance measures?
§ 2522.610 What is the difference in performance measurements requirements for competitive and formula
programs?
§ 2522.620 How do I report my performance measures to the Corporation?
§ 2522.630 What must I do if I am not able to meet my performance measures?
§ 2522.640 Under what circumstances may I change my performance measures?
§ 2522.650 What happens if I fail to meet the performance measures included in my grant?
Evaluating Programs: Requirements and Procedures
§ 2522.700 How does evaluation differ from performance measurement?
§ 2522.710 What are my evaluation requirements?
§ 2522.720 How many years must my evaluation cover?
§ 2522.730 How and when do I submit my evaluation to the Corporation?
§ 2522.740 How will the Corporation use my evaluation?
§ 2522.800 How will the Corporation evaluate individual AmeriCorps programs?
§ 2522.810 What will the Corporation do to evaluate the overall success of the AmeriCorps programs?
§ 2522.820 Will information on individual participants be kept confidential?
Subpart F-Program Management Requirements for Grantees
§ 2522.900 What definitions apply to this subpart?
§ 2522.910 What basic qualifications must an AmeriCorps member have to serve as a tutor?
§ 2522.920 Are there any exceptions to the qualifications requirements?
§ 2522.930 What is an appropriate proficiency test?
§ 2522.940 What are the requirements for a program in which AmeriCorps members serve as tutors?
§ 2522.950 What requirements and qualifications apply if my program focuses on supplemental academic
support activities other than tutoring?
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 12571-12595.
92
Source: 59 FR 13796, Mar. 23, 1994, unless otherwise noted.
Subpart A-Minimum Requirements and Program Types
§ 2522.10 What definitions apply to this part?
You. For this part, you refers to the grantee, unless otherwise noted.
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.100 What are the minimum requirements that every AmeriCorps program, regardless of type, must
meet?
Although a wide range of programs may be eligible to apply for and receive support from the Corporation, all
AmeriCorps subtitle C programs must meet certain minimum program requirements. These requirements apply
regardless of whether a program is supported directly by the Corporation or through a subgrant. All AmeriCorps
programs must: (a) Address educational, public safety, human, or environmental needs, and provide a direct and
demonstrable benefit that is valued by the community in which the service is performed;
(b) Perform projects that are designed, implemented, and evaluated with extensive and broad-based local input,
including consultation with representatives from the community served, participants (or potential participants) in the
program, community-based agencies with a demonstrated record of experience in providing services, and local labor
organizations representing employees of project sponsors (if such entities exist in the area to be served by the
program);
(c) Obtain, in the case of a program that also proposes to serve as the project sponsor, the written concurrence of any
local labor organization representing employees of the project sponsor who are engaged in the same or substantially
similar work as that proposed to be carried out by the AmeriCorps participant;
(d) Establish and provide outcome objectives, including a strategy for achieving these objectives, upon which self-
assessment and Corporation-assessment of progress can rest. Such assessment will be used to help determine the
extent to which the program has had a positive impact: (1) On communities and persons served by the projects
performed by the program;
(2) On participants who take part in the projects; and
(3) In such other areas as the program or Corporation may specify;
(e) Strengthen communities and encourage mutual respect and cooperation among citizens of different races,
ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, educational levels, both men and women and individuals with disabilities;
(f) Agree to seek actively to include participants and staff from the communities in which projects are conducted,
and agree to seek program staff and participants of different races and ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds,
educational levels, and genders as well as individuals with disabilities unless a program design requires emphasizing
the recruitment of staff and participants who share a specific characteristic or background. In no case may a program
violate the nondiscrimination, nonduplication and nondisplacement rules governing participant selection described
in part 2540 of this chapter. In addition, programs are encouraged to establish, if consistent with the purposes of the
program, an intergenerational component that combines students, out-of-school youths, and older adults as
participants;
(g)(1) Determine the projects in which participants will serve and establish minimum qualifications that individuals
must meet to be eligible to participate in the program; these qualifications may vary based on the specific tasks to be
93
performed by participants. Regardless of the educational level or background of participants sought, programs are
encouraged to select individuals who posses leadership potential and a commitment to the goals of the AmeriCorps
program. In any case, programs must select participants in anon-partisan, non-political, non-discriminatory manner,
ensuring fair access to participation. In addition, programs are required to ensure that they do not displace any
existing paid employees as provided in part 2540 of this chapter;
(2) In addition, all programs are required to comply with any pre-service orientation or training period requirements
established by the Corporation to assist in the selection of motivated participants. Finally, all programs must agree to
select a percentage (to be determined by the Corporation) of the participants for the program from among
prospective participants recruited by the Corporation or State Commissions under part 2532 of this chapter. The
Corporation may also specify a minimum percentage of participants to be selected from the national leadership pool
established under §2522.210(c). The Corporation may vary either percentage for different types of AmeriCorps
programs;
(h) Provide reasonable accommodation, including auxiliary aids and services (as defined in section 3(1) of the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102(1)) based on the individualized need of a participant who
is a qualified individual with a disability (as defined in section 101(8) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12111(8)). For the
purpose of complying with this provision, AmeriCorps programs may apply for additional financial assistance from
the Corporation pursuant to §2524.40 of this chapter;
(i) Use service experiences to help participants achieve the skills and education needed for productive, active
citizenship, including the provision, if appropriate, of structured opportunities for participants to reflect on their
service experiences. In addition, all programs must encourage every participant who is eligible to vote to register
prior to completing a term of service;
(j) Provide participants in the program with the training, skills, and knowledge necessary to perform the tasks
required in their respective projects, including, if appropriate, specific training in a particular field and background
information on the community, including why the service projects are needed;
(k) Provide support services
(1) To participants who are completing a term of service and making the transition to other educational and career
opportunities; and
(2) To those participants who are school dropouts in order to assist them in earning the equivalent of a high school
diploma;
(1) Ensure that participants serving in approved AmeriCorps positions receive the living allowance and other benefits
described in §§2522.240 through 2522.250 of this chapter;
(m) Describe the manner in which the AmeriCorps educational awards will be apportioned among individuals
serving in the program. If a program proposes to provide such benefits to less than 100 percent of the participants in
the program, the program must provide a compelling rationale for determining which participants will receive the
benefits and which participants will not. AmeriCorps programs are strongly encouraged to offer alternative post-
service benefits to participants who will not receive AmeriCorps educational awards, however AmeriCorps grant
funds may not be used to provide such benefits;
(n) Agree to identify the program, through the use of logos, common application materials, and other means (to be
specified by the Corporation), as part of a larger national effort and to participate in other activities such as common
opening ceremonies (including the administration of a national oath or affirmation), service days, and conferences
designed to promote a national identity for all AmeriCorps programs and participants, including those participants
not receiving AmeriCorps educational awards. This provision does not preclude an AmeriCorps program from
94
continuing to use its own name as the primary identification, or from using its name, logo, or other identifying
materials on uniforms or other items;
(o) Agree to begin terms of service at such times as the Corporation may reasonably require and to comply with any
restrictions the Corporation may establish as to when the program may take to fill an approved AmeriCorps position
left vacant due to attrition;
(p) Comply with all evaluation procedures specified by the Corporation, as explained in §§2522.500 through
2522.560;
(q) In the case of a program receiving funding directly from the Corporation, meet and consult with the State
Commission for the State in which the program operates, if possible, and submit a copy of the program application
to the State Commission; and
(r) Address any other requirements as specified by the Corporation.
[59 FR 13796, Mar. 23, 1994, as amended at 67 FR 45360, July 9, 2002]
§ 2522.110 What types of programs are eligible to compete for AmeriCorps grants?
Types of programs eligible to compete for AmeriCorps grants include the following: (a) Specialized skills programs.
(1) A service program that is targeted to address specific educational, public safety, human, or environmental needs
and that-
(i) Recruits individuals with special skills or provides specialized pre-service training to enable participants to be
placed individually or in teams in positions in which the participants can meet such needs; and
(ii) If consistent with the purposes of the program, brings participants together for additional training and other
activities designed to foster civic responsibility, increase the skills of participants, and improve the quality of the
service provided.
(2) A preprofessional training program in which students enrolled in an institution of higher education-
(i) Receive training in specified fields, which may include classes containing service-learning;
(ii) Perform service related to such training outside the classroom during the school term and during summer or
other vacation periods; and
(iii) Agree to provide service upon graduation to meet educational, public safety, human, or environmental needs
related to such training.
(3) A professional corps program that recruits and places qualified participants in positions-
(i) As teachers, nurses and other health care providers, police officers, early childhood development staff, engineers,
or other professionals providing service to meet educational, public safety, human, or environmental needs in
communities with an inadequate number of such professionals;
(ii) That may include a salary in excess of the maximum living allowance authorized in §2522.240(b)(2); and
(iii) That are sponsored by public or private nonprofit employers who agree to pay 100 percent of the salaries and
benefits (other than any AmeriCorps educational award from the National Service Trust) of the participants.
95
(b) Specialized service programs. (1) A community service program designed to meet the needs of rural
communities, using teams or individual placements to address the development needs of rural communities and to
combat rural poverty, including health care, education, and job training.
(2) A program that seeks to eliminate hunger in communities and rural areas through service in projects-
(i) Involving food banks, food pantries, and nonprofit organizations that provide food during emergencies;
(ii) Involving the gleaning of prepared and unprepared food that would otherwise be discarded as unusable so that
the usable portion of such food may be donated to food banks, food pantries, and other nonprofit organizations;
(iii) Seeking to address the long term causes of hunger through education and the delivery of appropriate services; or
(iv) Providing training in basic health, nutrition, and life skills necessary to alleviate hunger in communities and
rural areas.
(3) A program in which economically disadvantaged individuals who are between the ages of 16 and 24 years of
age, inclusive, are provided with opportunities to perform service that, while enabling such individuals to obtain the
education and employment skills necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency, will help their communities
meet-
(i) The housing needs oflow-income families and the homeless; and
(ii) The need for community facilities in low-income areas.
(c) Community-development programs. (1) A community corps program that meets educational, public safety,
human, or environmental needs and promotes greater community unity through the use of organized teams of
participants of varied social and economic backgrounds, skill levels, physical and developmental capabilities, ages,
ethnic backgrounds, or genders.
(2) A program that is administered by a combination of nonprofit organizations located in aloes-income area,
provides a broad range of services to residents of such an area, is governed by a board composed in significant part
of low-income individuals, and is intended to provide opportunities for individuals or teams of individuals to engage
in community projects in such an area that meet unaddressed community and individual needs, including projects
that would-
(i) Meet the needs oflow-income children and youth aged 18 and younger, such as providing after-school 'safe-
places', including schools, with opportunities for learning and recreation; or
(ii) Be directed to other important unaddressed needs in such an area.
(d) Programs that expand service program capacity. (1) A program that provides specialized training to individuals
in service-learning and places the individuals after such training in positions, including positions asservice-learning
coordinators, to facilitate service-learning in programs eligible for funding under Serve-America.
(2) An AmeriCorps entrepreneur program that identifies, recruits, and trains gifted young adults of all backgrounds
and assists them in designing solutions to community problems.
(e) Campus-based programs. Acampus-based program that is designed to provide substantial service in a
community during the school term and during summer or other vacation periods through the use of-
96
(1) Students who are attending an institution of higher education, including students participating in a work-study
program assisted under part C of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.);
(2) Teams composed of such students; or
(3) Teams composed of a combination of such students and community residents
(f) Intergenerational programs. An intergenerational program that combines students, out-of-school youths, and
older adults as participants to provide needed community services, including an intergenerational component for
other AmeriCorps programs •described in this subsection.
(g) Youth development programs. Afull-time, year-round youth corps program or full-time summer youth corps
program, such as a conservation corps or youth service corps (including youth corps programs under subtitle I, the
Public Lands Corps established under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, the Urban Youth Corps established
under section 106 of the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, and other conservation corps or youth
service corps that perform service on Federal or other public lands or on Indian lands or Hawaiian home lands), that:
(1) Undertakes meaningful service projects with visible public benefits, including natural resource, urban
renovation, or human services projects;
(2) Includes as participants youths and young adults between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, including out-of-
school youths and other disadvantaged youths (such as youths with limited basic skills, youths in foster care who are
becoming too old for foster care, youths of limited English proficiency, homeless youths, and youths who are
individuals with disabilities) who are between those ages; and
(3) Provides those participants who are youths and young adults with
(i) Crew-based, highly structured, and adult-supervised work experience, life skills, education, career guidance and
counseling, employment training, and support services; and
(ii) The opportunity to develop citizenship values and skills through service to their community and the United
States.
(h) Individualized placement programs. An individualized placement program that includes regular group activities,
such as leadership training and special service projects.
(i) Other programs. Such other AmeriCorps programs addressing educational, public safety, human, or
environmental needs as the Corporation may designate in the application.
Subpart B-Participant Eligibility, Requirements, and Benefits
§ 2522.200 What are the eligibility requirements for an AmeriCorps participant?
(a) Eligibility. An AmeriCorps participant must-
(1)(i) Be at least 17 years of age at the commencement of service; or
(ii) Be anout-of-school youth 16 years of age at the commencement of service participating in a program described
in §2522.110(b)(3) or (g);
(2)(i) Have a high school diploma or its equivalent; or
97
(ii) Not have dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and must agree
to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award; or
(iii) Obtain a waiver from the Corporation of the requirements in paragraphs (a)(2)(i) and (a)(2)(ii) of this section
based on an independent evaluation secured by the program demonstrating that the individual is not capable of
obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent; or
(iv) Be enrolled in an institution of higher education on an ability to benefit basis and be considered eligible for
funds under section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091);
(3) Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States.
(b) Written declaration regarding high school diploma sufficient for enrollment. For purposes of enrollment, if an
individual provides a written declaration under penalty of law that he or she meets the requirements in paragraph (a)
of this section relating to high school education, a program need not obtain additional documentation of that fact.
(c) Primary documentation of status as a U.S. citizen or national. The following are acceptable forms of certifying
status as a U.S. citizen or national:
(1) A birth certificate showing that the individual was born in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands;
(2) A United States passport;
(3) A report of birth abroad of a U.S. Citizen (FS-240) issued by the State Department;
(4) A certificate ofbirth-foreign service (FS 545) issued by the State Department;
(5) A certification of report of birth (DS-1350) issued by the State Department;
(6) A certificate of naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570) issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service; or
(7) A certificate of citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561) issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
(d) Primary documentation of status as a lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. The following are
acceptable forms of certifying status as a lawful permanent resident alien of the United States:
(1) Permanent Resident Card, INS Form I-551;
(2) Alien Registration Receipt Card, INS Form I-551;
(3) A passport indicating that the INS has approved it as temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent
residence; or
(4) A Departure Record (INS Form I-94) indicating that the INS has approved it as temporary evidence of lawful
admission for permanent residence.
(e) Secondary documentation of citizenship or immigration status. If primary documentation is not available, the
program must obtain written approval from the Corporation that other documentation is sufficient to demonstrate the
individual's status as a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident alien.
98
[64 FR 37413, July 12, 1999, as amended at 67 FR 45360, July 9, 2002]
§ 2522.210 How are AmeriCorps participants recruited and selected?
(a) Local recruitment and selection. In general, AmeriCorps participants will be selected locally by an approved
AmeriCorps program, and the selection criteria will vary widely among the different programs. Nevertheless,
AmeriCorps programs must select their participants in a fair and non-discriminatory manner which complies with
part 2540 of this chapter. In selecting participants, programs must also comply with the recruitment and selection
requirements specified in this section.
(b)(1) National and State recruitment and selection. The Corporation and each State Commission will establish a
system to recruit individuals who desire to perform national service and to assist the placement of these individuals
in approved AmeriCorps positions, which may include positions available under titles I and II of the Domestic
Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4951 et seq.). The national and state recruitment and placement system
will be designed and operated according to Corporation guidelines.
(2) Dissemination of information. The Corporation and State Commissions will disseminate information regarding
available approved AmeriCorps positions through cooperation with secondary schools, institutions of higher
education, employment service offices, community-based organizations, State vocational rehabilitation agencies
within the meaning of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) and other State agencies-that primarily
serve qualified individuals with disabilities, and other appropriate entities, particularly those organizations that
provide outreach to disadvantaged youths and youths who are qualified individuals with disabilities.
(c) National leadership pool-(1) Selection and training. From among individuals recruited under paragraph (b) of
this section or nominated by service programs, the Corporation may select individuals with significant leadership
potential, as determined by the Corporation, to receive special training to enhance their leadership ability. The
leadership training will be provided by the Corporation directly or through a grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement as the Corporation determines.
(2) Emphasis on certain individuals. In selecting individuals to receive leadership training under this provision, the
Corporation will make special efforts to select individuals who have served-
(i) In the Peace Corps;
(ii) As VISTA volunteers;
(iii) As participants in AmeriCorps programs receiving assistance under parts 2520 through 2524 of this chapter;
(iv) As participants in National Service Demonstration programs that received assistance from the Commission on
National and Community Service; or
(v) As members of the Armed Forces of the United States and who were honorably discharged from such service.
(3) Assignment. At the request of a program that receives assistance, the Corporation may assign an individual who
receives leadership training under paragraph (c)(1) of this section to work with the program in a leadership position
and carry out assignments not otherwise performed by regular participants. An individual assigned to a program will
be considered to be a participant of the program.
§ 2522.220 What are the required terms of service for AmeriCorps participants, and may they serve for
more than one term?
99
(a) Term of service. In order to be eligible for the educational award described in §2522.240(a), participants serving
in approved AmeriCorps positions must complete a term of service as defined in this section:
(1) Full-time service. 1,700 hours of service during a period of not less than nine months and not more than one
year.
(2) Part-time service. 900 hours of service during a period of not more than two years, or, if the individual is
enrolled in an institution of higher education while performing all or a portion of the service, not more than three
years.
(3) Reduced part-time term of service. The Corporation may reduce the number of hours required to be served in
order to receive an educational award for certain part-time participants serving in approved AmeriCorps positions.
In such cases, the educational award will be reduced in direct proportion to the reduction in required hours of
service. These reductions may be made for summer programs, for categories of participants in certain approved
AmeriCorps programs and on a case-by-case, individual basis as determined by the Corporation.
(4) Summer programs. A summer program, in which less than 1700 hours of service are performed, are part-time
programs.
(b) Restriction on multiple terms. An AmeriCorps participant may only receive the benefits described in §§2522.240
through 2522.250 for the first two successfully-completed terms of service, regardless of whether those terms were
served on a full-, part-, or reduced part-time basis.
(c) Eligibility for second term. A participant will only be eligible to serve a second or additional term of service if
that individual has received satisfactory performance review(s) for any previous term(s) of service in accordance
with the requirements of paragraph (d) of this section. Mere eligibility for a second or further term of service in no
way guarantees a participant selection or placement.
(d) Participant performance review. For the purposes of determining a participant's eligibility for a second or
additional term of service and/or for an AmeriCorps educational award, each AmeriCorps program will evaluate the
performance of a participant mid-term and upon completion of a participant's term of service. The end-of--term
performance evaluation will assess the following: (1) Whether the participant has completed the required number of
hours described in paragraph (a) of this section;
(2) Whether the participant has satisfactorily completed assignments, tasks or projects; and
(3) Whether the participant has met any other performance criteria which had been clearly communicated both
orally and in writing at the beginning of the term of service.
(e) Limitation. The Corporation may set a minimum or maximum percentage of hours of a full-time, part-time, or
reduced term of service described in paragraphs (a)(1),(a)(2), and (a)(3) of this section that a participant may engage
in training, education, or other similar approved activities
(f) Grievance procedure. Any AmeriCorps participant wishing to contest a program's ruling of unsatisfactory
performance may file a grievance according to the procedures set forth in part 2540 of this chapter. If that grievance
procedure or subsequent binding arbitration procedure finds that the participant did in fact satisfactorily complete a
term of service, then that individual will be eligible to receive an educational award and/or be eligible to serve a
second term of service.
§ 2522.230 Under what circumstances may AmeriCorps participants be released from completing a term of
service, and what are the consequences?
100
An AmeriCorps program may release a participant from completing a term of service for compelling personal
circumstances as demonstrated by the participant, or for cause.
(a) Release for compelling personal circumstances. (1) An AmeriCorps program may release a participant upon a
determination by the program, consistent with the criteria listed in paragraphs (a)(5) through (a)(6) of.this section,
that the participant is unable to complete the term of service because of compelling personal circumstances.
(2) A participant who is released for compelling personal circumstances and who completes at least 15 percent of
the required term of service is eligible for apro-rated education award.
(3) The participant has the primary responsibility for demonstrating that compelling personal circumstances prevent
the participant from completing the term of service.
(4) The program must document the basis for any determination that compelling personal circumstances prevent a
participant from completing a term of service.
(5) Compelling personal circumstances include:
(i) Those that are beyond the participant's control, such as, but not limited to:
(A) A participant's disability or setious illness;
(B) Disability, serious illness, or death of a participant's family member if this makes completing a term
unreasonably difficult or impossible; or
(C) Conditions attributable to the program or otherwise unforeseeable and beyond the participant's control, such as a
natural disaster, a strike, relocation of a spouse, or the nonrenewal or premature closing of a project or program, that
make completing a term unreasonably difficult or impossible;
(ii) Those that the Corporation, has for public policy reasons, determined as such, including:
(A) Military service obligations;
(B) Acceptance by a participant of an opportunity to make the transition from welfare to work; or
(C) Acceptance of an employment opportunity by a participant serving in a program that includes in its approved
objectives the promotion of employment among its participants.
(6) Compelling personal circumstances do not include leaving a program:
(i) To enroll in school;
(ii) To obtain employment, other than in moving from welfare to work or in leaving a program that includes in its
approved objectives the promotion of employment among its participants; or
(iii) Because of dissatisfaction with the program.
(7) As an alternative to releasing a participant, an AmeriCorps*StatelNational program may, after determining that
compelling personal circumstances exist, suspend the participant's term of service for up to two years (or longer if
approved by the Corporation based on extenuating circumstances) to allow the participant to complete service with
the same or similar AmeriCorps program at a later time.
101
(b) Release for cause. (1) A release for cause encompasses any circumstances other than compelling personal
circumstances that warrant an individual's release from completing a term of service.
(2) AmeriCorps programs must release for cause any participant who is convicted of a felony or the sale or
distribution of a controlled substance during a term of service.
(3) A participant who is released for cause may not receive any portion of the AmeriCorps education award or any
other payment from the National Service Trust.
(4) An individual who is released for cause must disclose that fact in any subsequent applications to participate in an
AmeriCorps program. Failure to do so disqualifies the individual for an education award, regardless of whether the
individual completes a term of service.
(5) An AmeriCorps*State/National participant released for cause. may contest the program's decision by filing a
grievance. Pending the resolution of a grievance procedure filed by an individual to contest a determination by a
program to release the individual for cause, the individual's service is considered to be suspended. For this type of
grievance, a program may not-while the grievance is pending or as part of its resolution-provide a participant
with federally-funded benefits (including payments from the National Service Trust) beyond those attributable to
service actually performed, without the program receiving written approval from the Corporation.
(c) Suspended service. (1) A program must suspend the service of an individual who faces an official charge of a
violent felony (e.g., rape, homicide) or sale or distribution of a controlled substance.
(2) A program must suspend the service of an individual who is convicted of possession of a controlled substance.
(3) An individual may not receive a living allowance or other benefits, and may not accrue service hours, during a
period of suspension under this provision.
(d) Reinstatement. (1) A program may reinstate an individual whose service was suspended under paragraph (c)(1)
of this section if the individual is found not guilty or if the charge is dismissed.
(2) A program may reinstate an individual whose service was suspended under paragraph (c)(2) of this section only
if the individual demonstrates the following:
(i) For an individual who has been convicted of a first offense of the possession of a controlled substance, the
individual must have enrolled in a drug rehabilitation program;
(ii) For an individual who has been convicted for more than one offense of the possession of a controlled substance,
the individual must have successfully completed a drug rehabilitation program.
[64 FR 37413, July 12, 1999]
§ 2522.240 What financial benefits do AmeriCorps participants serving in approved AmeriCorps positions
receive?
(a) AmeriCorps educational awards. An individual serving in an approved AmeriCorps position will receive an
educational awazd from the National Service Trust upon successful completion of each of up to two terms of service
as defined in §2522.220.
(b) Living allowances-(I) Amount. Subject to the provisions of this part, any individual who participates on a full-
time basis in an AmeriCorps program carried out using assistance provided pursuant to §2521.30 of this chapter,
102
including an AmeriCorps program that receives educational awards only pursuant to §2521.30(c) of this chapter,
will receive a living allowance in an amount equal to or greater than the average annual subsistence allowance
provided to VISTA volunteers under § 105 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4955). This
requirement will not apply to any program that was in existence prior to September 21, 1993 (the date of the
enactment of the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993).
(2) Maximum living allowance. With the exception of a professional corps described in §2522.110(a)(3), the
AmeriCorps living allowances may not exceed 200 percent of the average annual subsistence allowance provided to
VISTA volunteers under section 105 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4955). A
professional corps AmeriCorps program may provide a stipend in excess of the maximum, subject to the following
conditions: (i) Corporation assistance may not be used to pay for any portion of the allowance; and
(ii) The program must be operated directly by the applicant, selected on a competitive basis by submitting an
application directly to the Corporation, and may not be included in a State's application for the AmeriCorps program
funds distributed by formula, or competition described in §§2521.30 (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this chapter.
(3) Living allowances for part-time participants. Programs may, but are not required to, provide living allowances to
individuals participating on a part-time basis (or a reduced term of part-time service authorized under
§2522.220(a)(3). Such living allowances should be prorated to the living allowance authorized in paragraph (b)(1) of
this section and will comply with such restrictions therein.
(4) Waiver or reduction of living allowance. The Corporation may, at its discretion, waive or reduce the living
allowance requirements if a program can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Corporation that such requirements
are inconsistent with the objectives of the program, and that participants will be able to meet the necessary and
reasonable costs of living (including food, housing, and transportation) in the area in which the program is located.
(5) Limitation on Federal share. The Federal share, including Corporation and other Federal funds, of the total
amount provided to an AmeriCorps participant for a living allowance is limited as follows: (i) In no case may the
Federal share exceed 85% of the minimum required living allowance enumerated in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(ii) For professional corps described in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section, Corporation and other Federa] funds may
be used to pay for no portion of the living allowance.
(iii) If the minimum living allowance requirements has been waived or reduced pursuant to paragraph (b)(4) of this
section and the amount of the living allowance provided to a participant has been reduced correspondingly-
(A) In general, the Federal share may not exceed 85% of the reduced living allowance; however,
(B) If a participant is serving in a program that provides room or board, the Corporation will consider on a case-by-
case basis allowing the portion of that living allowance that may be paid using Corporation and other Federal funds
to be between 85% and 100%.
§ 2522.250 What other benefits do AmeriCorps participants serving in approved AmeriCorps positions
receive?
(a) Child Care. Grantees must provide child care through an eligible provider or a child care allowance in an amount
determined by the Corporation to those full-time participants who need child care in order to participate.
(1) Need. A participant is considered to need child care in order to participate in the program if he or she: (i) Is the
parent or legal guardian of, or is acting in loco parentis for, a child under 13 who resides with the participant;
(ii) Has a family income that does not exceed 75 percent of the State's median income for a family of the same size;
103
(iii) At the time of acceptance into the program, is not currently receiving child care assistance from another source,
including a parent or guazdian, which would continue to be provided while the participant serves in the program; and
(iv) Certifies that he or she needs child care in order to participate in the program.
(2) Provider eligibility. Eligible child care providers are those who are eligible child care providers as defined in the
Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n(5)).
(3) Child care allowance. The amount of the child-caze allowance may not exceed the applicable payment rate to an
eligible provider established by the State for child caze funded under the Child Care and Development Block Grant
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858c(4)(A)).
(4) Corporation share. The Corporation will pay 100 percent of the child care allowance, or, if the program provides
child care through an eligible provider, the actual cost of the care or the amount of the allowance, whichever is less.
(b) Health care. (1) Grantees must provide to all eligible participants who meet the requirements of paragraph (b)(2)
of this section health care coverage that-
(i) Provides the minimum benefits determined by the Corporation;
(ii) Provides the alternative minimum benefits determined by the Corporation; or
(iii) Does not provide all of either the minimum or the alternative minimum benefits but that has a fair market value
equal to or greater than the fair market value of a policy that provides the minimum benefits.
(2) Participant eligibility. Afull-time participant is eligible for health care benefits if he or she is not otherwise
covered by a health benefits package providing minimum benefits established by the Corporation at the time he or
she is accepted into a program. If, as a result of participation, or if, during the term of service, a participant
demonstrates loss of coverage through no deliberate act of his or her own, such as parental or spousal job loss or
disqualification from Medicaid, the participant will be eligible for health care benefits.
(3) Corporation share. (i) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section, the Corporation's share of the
cost of health coverage may not exceed 85 percent.
(ii) The Corporation will pay no share of the cost of a policy that does not provide the minimum or alternative
minimum benefits described in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (b)(1)(ii) of this section.
[59 FR 13796, Mar. 23, 1994, as amended at 70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
Subpart C-Application Requirements
§ 2522.300 What are the application requirements for AmeriCorps program grants?
All eligible applicants seeking AmeriCorps program grants must-
(a) Provide a description of the specific program(s) being proposed, including the type of program and of how it
meets the minimum program requirements described in §2522.100; and
(b) Comply with any additional requirements as specified by the Corporation in the application package.
§ 2522.310 What are the application requirements for AmeriCorps educational awards only?
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(a) Eligible applicants may apply for AmeriCorps educational awards only for one of the following eligible service
positions: (1) A position for a participant in an AmeriCorps program that:
(i) Is carried out by an entity eligible to receive support under part 2521 of this chapter;
(ii) Would be eligible to receive assistance under this part, based on criteria established by the Corporation, but has
not applied for such assistance;
(2) A position facilitating service-learning in a program described in parts 2515 through 2519 of this chapter;
(3) A position involving service as a crew leader in a youth corps program or a similaz position supporting an
AmeriCorps program; and
(4) Such other AmeriCorps positions as the Corporation considers to be appropriate.
(b) Because programs applying only for AmeriCorps educational awards must, by definition, meet the same basic
requirements as other approved AmeriCorps programs, applicants must comply with the same application
requirements specified in §2522.300.
§ 2522.320 May an applicant submit more than one application to the Corporation for the same project at
the same time?
No. The Corporation will reject an application for a project if an application for funding or educational awards for
the same project is already pending before the Corporation.
Subpart D--Selection of AmeriCorps Programs
§ 2522.400 What process does the Corporation use to select new grantees?
The Corporation uses amulti-stage process, which may include review by panels of experts, Corporation staff
review, and approval by the Chief Executive Officer or the Boazd of Directors, or their designee.
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.410 What is the role of the Corporation's Board of Directors in the selection process?
The Board of Directors has general authority to determine the selection process, including priorities and selection
criteria, and has authority to make grant decisions. The Board may delegate these functions to the Chief Executive
Officer.
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.415 How does the grant selection process work?
The selection process includes:
(a) Determining whether your proposal complies with the application requirements, such as deadlines and eligibility
requirements;
(b) Applying the basic selection criteria to assess the quality of your proposal;
105
(c) Applying any applicable priorities or preferences, as stated in these regulations and in the applicable Notice of
Funding Availability; and
(d) Ensuring innovation and geographic, demographic, and programmatic diversity across the Corporation's national
AmeriCorps portfolio.
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.420 What basic criteria does the Corporation use in making funding decisions?
In evaluating your application for funding, the Corporation will assess:
(a) Your program design;
(b) Your organizational capability; and
(c) Your program's cost-effectiveness and budget adequacy.
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522. 425 What does the Corporation consider in assessing Program Design?
In determining the quality of your proposal's program design, the Corporation considers your rationale and approach
for the proposed program, member outputs and outcomes, and community outputs and outcomes.
(a) Rationale and approach. In evaluating your rationale and approach, the Corporation considers the following
criteria:
(1) Whether your proposal describes and adequately documents a compelling need within the target community,
including a description of how you identified the need;
(2) Whether your proposal includes well-designed activities that address the compelling need, with ambitious
performance measures, and a plan or system for continuous program self-assessment and improvement;
(3) Whether your proposal describes well-defined roles for participants that are aligned with the identified needs and
that lead to measurable outputs and outcomes; and
(4) The extent to which your proposed program or project:
(i) Effectively involves the target community in planning and implementation;
(ii) Builds on (without duplicating), or reflects collaboration with, other national and community service programs
supported by the Corporation; and
(iii) Is designed to be replicated.
(b) Member outputs and outcomes. In evaluating how your proposal addresses member outputs and outcomes, the
Corporation considers the extent to which your proposal or program:
106
(1) Includes effective and feasible plans for, or evidence of, recruiting, managing, and rewarding diverse members,
including those from the target community, and demonstrating member satisfaction;
(2) If you are a current grantee, has succeeded in meeting reasonable member enrollment and retention targets in
prior grant periods, as determined by the Corporation;
(3) Includes effective and feasible plans for, or evidence of, developing, training, and supervising members;
(4) Demonstrates well-designed training or service activities that promote and sustain post-service, an ethic of
service and civic responsibility, including structured opportunities for members to reflect on and learn from their
service; and
(5) If you are a current grantee, has met well-defined, performance measures regarding AmeriCorps members,
including any applicable national performance measures, and including outputs and outcomes.
(c) Community outputs and outcomes. In evaluating whether your proposal adequately addresses community outputs
and outcomes, the Corporation considers the extent to which your proposal or program:
(1) Is successful in meeting targeted, compelling community needs, or if you are a current grantee, the extent to
which your program has met its well-defined, community-based performance measures, including any applicable
national performance measures, and including outputs and outcomes, in previous grant cycles, and is continually
expanding and increasing its reach and impact in the community;
(2) Has an impact in the community that is sustainable beyond the presence of Federal support (For example, if one
of your projects is to revitalize a local park, you would meet this criterion by showing that after you have completed
your revitalization project, the community will continue its upkeep on its own);
(3) Generates and supports volunteers to expand the reach of your program in the community; and
(4) Enhances capacity-building of other organizations and institutions important to the community, such as schools,
homeland security organizations, neighborhood watch organizations, civic associations, and community
organizations, including faith-based organizations.
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.430 How does the Corporation assess my organizational capability?
(a) In evaluating your organizational capability, the Corporation considers the following:
(1) The extent to which your organization has a sound structure including:
(i) The ability to provide sound programmatic and fiscal oversight;
(ii) Wel]-defined roles for your board of directors, administrators, and staff;
(iii) Awell-designed plan or systems for organizational (as opposed to program) self-assessment and continuous
improvement; and
(iv) The ability to provide or secure effective technical assistance.
107
(2) Whether your organization has a sound record of accomplishment as an organization, including the extent to
which you:
(i) Generate and support diverse volunteers who increase your organization's capacity;
(ii) Demonstrate leadership within the organization and the community served; and
(iii) If you are an existing grantee, you have secured the matching resources as reflected in your prior grant awards;
(3) The extent to which you are securing community support that recurs, expands in scope, or increases in amount,
and is more diverse, as evidenced by-
(i) Collaborations that increase the quality and reach of service and include well-defined roles for faith-based and
other community organizations;
(ii) Local financial and in-kind contributions; and
(iii) Supporters who represent a wide range of community stakeholders.
(b) In applying the criteria in paragraph (a) of this section to each proposal, the Corporation may take into account
the following circumstances of individual organizations:
(I) The age of your organization and its rate of growth; and
(2) Whether your organization serves aresource-poor community, such as a rural or remote community, a
community with a high poverty rate, or a community with a scarcity of philanthropic and corporate resources.
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.435 How does the Corporation evaluate the cost-effectiveness and budget adequacy of my program?
(a) In evaluating the cost-effectiveness and budget adequacy of your proposed program, the Corporation considers
the following:
(1) Whether your program is cost-effective based on:
(i) Your program's proposed Corporation cost per MSY, as defined in §2522.485; and
(ii) Other indicators of cost-effectiveness, such as:
(A) The extent to which your program demonstrates diverse non-Federal resources for program implementation and
sustainability;
(B) If you are a current grantee, the extent to which you are increasing your share of costs to meet or exceed
program goals; or
(C) If you are a current grantee, the extent to which you are proposing deeper impact or broader reach without a
commensurate increase in Federal costs; and
(2) Whether your budget is adequate to support your program design.
108
(b) In applying the cost-effectiveness criteria in paragraph (a) of this section, the Corporation will take into account
the following circumstances of individual programs:
(1) Program age, or the extent to which your program brings on new sites;
(2) Whether your program or project is located in a resource-poor community, such as a rural or remote community,
a community with a high poverty rate, or a community with a scarcity of corporate or philanthropic resources;
(3) Whether your program or project is located in a high-cost, economically distressed community, measured by
applying appropriate Federal and State data; and
(4) Whether the reasonable and necessary costs of your program or project are higher because they are associated
with engaging or serving difficult-to-reach populations, or achieving greater program impact as evidenced through
performance measures and program evaluation.
(c) The indicators in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii)(B) of this section do not apply to Education Award Program
applicants.
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.440 What weight does the Corporation give to each category of the basic criteria?
In evaluating applications, the Corporation assigns the following weights for each category:
Category Percentage
Program Design 50
Organizational Capability 25
Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy 25
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.445 What weights does the Corporation give to the subcategories under Program Design?
The Corporation gives the following weights to the subcategories under Program Design:
Program Design Sub-Category Percentage
Rationale and Approach 10
Member Outputs and Outcomes 20
Community Outputs and Outcomes 20
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
109
§ 2522.448 What weights does the Corporation give to the subcategories under Cost Effectiveness and
Budget Adequacy?
Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy Percentage
Sub-Category
Cost-Effectiveness 15
Adequacy of Budget 10
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.450 What types of programs or program models may receive special consideration in the selection
process?
Following the scoring of proposals under §2522.440 of this part, the Corporation will seek to ensure that its portfolio
of approved programs includes a meaningful representation of proposals that address one or more of the following
priorities:
(a) Program models: (1) Programs operated by community organizations, including faith-based organizations, or
programs that support the efforts of community organizations, including faith-based organizations, to solve local
problems;
(2) Lower-cost professional corps programs, as defined in paragraph (a)(3) of §2522.110 of this chapter.
(b) Program activities: (1) Programs that serve or involve children and youth, including mentoring of disadvantaged
youth and children of prisoners;
(2) Programs that address educational needs, including those that carry out literacy and tutoring activities generally,
and those that focus on reading for children in the third grade or younger;
(3) Programs that focus on homeland security activities that support and promote public safety, public health, and
preparedness for any emergency, natural or man-made (this includes programs that help to plan, equip, train, and
practice the response capabilities of many different response units ready to mobilize without warning for any
emergency);
(4) Programs that address issues relating to the environment;
(5) Programs that support independent living for seniors or individuals with disabilities;
(6) Programs that increase service and service-learning on higher education campuses in partnership with their
surrounding communities;
(7) Programs that foster opportunities for Americans born in the post-World War II baby boom to serve and
volunteer in their communities; and
(8) Programs that involve community-development by finding and using local resources, and the capacities, skills,
and assets of lower-income people and their community, to rejuvenate their local economy, strengthen public and
private investments in the community, and help rebuild civil society.
110
(c) Programs supporting distressed communities: Programs or projects that will be conducted in:
(1) A community designated as an empowerment zone or redevelopment area, targeted for special economic
incentives, or otherwise identifiable as having high concentrations of low-income people;
(2) An area that is environmentally distressed, as demonstrated by Federal and State data;
(3) An area adversely affected by Federal actions related to managing Federal lands that result in significant regional
job losses and economic dislocation;
(4) An area adversely affected by reductions in defense spending or the closure or realignment of military
installation;
(5) An area that has an unemployment rate greater than the national average unemployment for the most recent 12
months for which State or Federal data are available;
(6) A rural community, as demonstrated by Federal and State data; or
(7) A severely economically distressed community, as demonstrated by Federal and State data.
(d) Other programs: Programs that meet any additional priorities as the Corporation determines and disseminates in
advance of the selection process.
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.455 How do I find out about additional priorities governing the selection process?
The Corporation posts discretionary funding opportunities addressing the Corporation's selection preferences and
additional requirements on our website at www. nationalservice.gov and at www.grants.gov in advance of grant
competitions
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522. 460 To what extent may the Corporation or a State commission consider priorities other than those
stated in these regulations or the Notice of Funding Availability?
(a) The Corporation may give special consideration to a national service program submitted by a State commission
that does not meet one of the Corporation's priorities if the State commission adequately explains why the State is
not able to carry out a program that meets one of the Corporation's priorities, and why the program meets one of the
State's priorities.
(b) A State may apply priorities different than those of the Corporation in selecting its formula programs.
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.465 What information must a State commission submit on the relative strengths of applicants for
State competitive funding?
(a) If you are a State commission applying for State competitive funding, you must prioritize the proposals you
submit in rank order based on their relative quality and according to the following table:
111
If You Submit this Number of State
Com etitive Pro osals to the Cor oration: Then You Must Rank this Number of
Pro osals:
1 to 12 At least top 5
13 to 24 At least top 10
25 or more At least top 15
(b) While the rankings you provide will not be determinative in the grant selection process, and the Corporation will
not be bound by them, we will consider them in our selection process.
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.470 What other factors or information may the Corporation consider in making final funding
decisions?
(a) The Corporation will seek to ensure that our portfolio of AmeriCorps programs is programmatically,
demographically, and geographically diverse and includes innovative programs, and projects in rural, high poverty,
and economically distressed areas.
(b) In applying the selection criteria under §§2522.420 through 2522.435, the Corporation may, with respect to a
particular proposal, also consider one or more of the following for purposes of clarifying or verifying information in
a proposal, including conducting due diligence to ensure an applicant's ability to manage Federal funds:
(1) For an applicant that has previously received a Corporation grant, any information or records the applicant
submitted to the Corporation, or that the Corporation has in its system of records, in connection with its previous
grant (e.g. progress reports, site visit reports, financial status reports, audits, HHS Account Payment Data Reports,
Federal Cash Transaction Reports, timeliness of past reporting, etc.);
(2) Program evaluations;
(3)Member-related information from the Corporation's systems;
(4) Other Corporation internal information, including information from the Office of Inspector General,
administrative standards for State commissions, and reports on program training and technical assistance;
(5) IRS Tax Form 990;
(6) An applicant organization's annual report;
(7) Information relating to the applicant's financial management from Corporation records;
(8) Member satisfaction indicators;
(9) Publicly available information including:
(i) Socio-economic and demographic data, such as poverty rate, unemployment rate, labor force participation, and
median household income;
112
(ii) Information on where an applicant and its activities fall on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's urban-rural
continuum (Beale codes);
(iii) Information on the nonprofit and philanthropic community, such as charitable giving per capita;
(iv) Information from an applicant organization's website; and
(v) U.S. Department of Education data on Federal Work Study and Community Service; and
(10) Other information, following notice in the relevant Notice of Funding Availability, of the specific information
and the Corporation's intention to be able to consider that information in the review process.
(c) Before approving a program grant to a State commission, the Corporation will consider a State commission's
capacity to manage and monitor grants.
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522. 475 To what extent must I use the Corporation's selection criteria and priorities when selecting
formula programs or operating sites?
You must ensure that the selection criteria you use include the following criteria:
(a) The quality of the national service program proposed to be carried out directly by the applicant or supported by a
grant from the applicant.
(b) The innovative aspects of the national service program, and the feasibility of replicating the program.
(c) The sustainability of the national service program.
(d) The quality of the leadership of the national service program, the past performance of the program, and the
extent to which the program builds on existing programs.
(e) The extent to which participants of the national service program are recruited from among residents of the
communities in which projects are to be conducted, and the extent to which participants and community residents
are involved in the design, leadership, and operation of the program.
(f) The extent to which projects would be conducted in one of the areas listed in §2522.450(c)(I)thrnugh (5) of this
subpart.
(g) In the case of applicants other than States, the extent to which the application is consistent with the application of
the State in which the projects would be conducted.
(h) Such other criteria as the Corporation considers to be appropriate, following appropriate notice.
[70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.480 Can a State's application for formula funds be rejected?
Yes. Formula funds are not an entitlement.
113
(a) Notification. If the Corporation rejects an application submitted by a State Commission under part 2550 of this
chapter for funds described in §2521.30 of this chapter, the Corporation will promptly notify the State Commission
of the reasons for the rejection of the application.
(b) Revision. The Corporation will provide a State Commission notified under paragraph (a) of this section with a
reasonable opportunity to revise and resubmit the application. At the request of the State Commission, the
Corporation will provide technical assistance to the State Commission as part of the resubmission process. The
Corporation will promptly reconsider an application resubmitted under this paragraph.
(c) Redistribution. The amount of any State's allotment under §2521.30(a) of this chapter for a fiscal year that the
Corporation determines will not be provided for that fiscal year will be available for redistribution by the
Corporation to the States, Territories and Indian Tribes with approved AmeriCorps applications as the Corporation
deems appropriate.
[59 FR 13796, Mar. 23, 1994. Redesignated at 70 FR 39600, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.485 How do I calculate my program's budgeted Corporation cost per member service year (MSY)?
If you are an AmeriCorps national and community service program, you calculate your Corporation cost per MSY
by dividing the Corporation's share of budgeted grant costs by the number of member service years you are awarded
in your grant. You do not include child-care or the cost of the. education award a member may earn through serving
with your program.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
Subpart E-Evaluation Requirements
§ 2522.500 What is the purpose of this subpart?
(a) This subpart sets forth the minimum performance measures and evaluation requirements that you as a
Corporation applicant or grantee must follow.
(b) The performance measures that you, as an applicant, propose when you apply will be considered in the review
process and may affect whether the Corporation selects you to receive a grant. Your performance related to your
approved measures will influence whether you continue to receive funding.
(c) Performance measures and evaluations are designed to strengthen your AmeriCorps program and foster
continuous improvement, and help identify best practices and models that merit replication, as well as programmatic
weaknesses that need attention.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.510 To whom does this subpart apply?
This subpart applies to you if you are a Corporation grantee administering an AmeriCorps grant, including an
Education Award Program grant, or if you are applying to receive AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.520 What special terms are used in this subpart?
114
The following definitions apply to terms used in this subpart of the regulations:
(a) Approved application means the application approved by the Corporation or, for formula programs, by a State
commission.
(b) Community beneficiaries refers to persons who receive services or benefits from a program, but not to
AmeriCorps members or to staff of the organization operating the program.
(c) Outputs are the amount or units of service that members or volunteers have completed, or the number of
community beneficiaries the program has served. Outputs do not provide information on benefits or other changes in
communities or in the lives of members or community beneficiaries. Examples of outputs could include the number
of people a program tutors, counsels, houses, or feeds.
(d) Intermediate-outcomes specify a change that has occurred in communities or in the lives of community
beneficiaries or members, but is not necessarily a lasting benefit for them. They are observable and measurable
indications of whether or not a program is making progress and are logically connected to end outcomes. An
example would be the number and percentage of students who report reading more books as a result of their
participation in a tutoring program.
(e) Internal evaluation means an evaluation that a grantee performs in-house without the use of an independent
external evaluator.
(f) End-outcomes specify a change that has occurred in communities or in the lives of community beneficiaries or
members that is significant and lasting. These are actual benefits or changes for participants during or after a
program. For example, in a tutoring program, the end outcome could be the percent and number of students who
have improved their reading scores to grade-level, or other specific measures of academic achievement.
(g) Grantee includes subgrantees, programs, and projects.
(h) National performance measures are performance measures that the Corporation develops.
(i) You refers to a grantee or applicant organization.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005; 70 FR 48882, Aug. 22, 2005]
§ 2522.530 May I use the Corporation's program grant funds for performance measurement and
evaluation?
If performance measurement and evaluation costs were approved as part of your grant, you may use your program
grant funds to support them, consistent with the level of approved costs for such activities in your grant award.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.540 Do the costs of performance measurement or evaluation count towards the statutory cap on
administrative costs?
No, the costs of performance measurement and evaluation do not count towards the statutory five percent cap on
administrative costs in the grant, as provided in §2540.110 of this chapter.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
115
Performance Measures: Requirements and Procedures
§ 2522.550 What basic requirements must I follow in measuring performance under my grant?
All grantees must establish, track, and assess performance measures for their programs. As a grantee, you must
ensure that any program under your oversight fulfills performance measure and evaluation requirements. In addition,
you must:
(a) Establish ambitious performance measures in consultation with the Corporation, or the State commission, as
appropriate, following §§2422.560 through 2422.660 of this subpart;
(b) Ensure that any program under your oversight collects and organizes performance data on an ongoing basis, at
least annually;
(c) Ensure that any program under your oversight tracks progress toward meeting your performance measures;
(d) Ensure that any program under your oversight corrects performance deficiencies promptly; and
(e) Accurately and fairly present the results in reports to the Corporation.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.560 What are performance measures and performance measurement?
(a) Performance measures are measurable indicators of a program's performance as it relates to member service
activities.
(b) Performance measurement is the process of regularly measuring the services provided by your program and the
effect your program has in communities or in the lives of members or community beneficiaries.
(c) The main purpose of performance measurement is to strengthen your AmeriCorps program and foster continuous
improvement and to identify best practices and models that merit replication. Performance measurement will also
help identify programmatic weaknesses that need attention.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.570 What information on performance measures must my grant application include?
You must submit all of the following as part of your application for each program:
(a) Proposed performance measures, as described in §2522.580 and §2522.590 of this part.
(b) Estimated performance data for the program years for which you submit your application; and
(c) Actual performance data, where available, as follows:
(i) For continuation programs, performance data over the course of the grant to date; and
(ii) For recompeting programs, performance data for the preceding three-year grant cycle.
116
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.580 What performance measures am I required to submit to the Corporation?
(a) When applying for funds, you must submit, at a minimum, the following performance measures:
(1) One set of aligned performance measures (one output, one intermediate-outcome, and one end-outcome) that
capture the results of your program's primary activity, or area of significant activity for programs whose design
precludes identifying a primary activity; and
(2) Any national performance measures the Corporation may require, as specified in paragraph (b) of §2522.590.
(b) For example, a tutoring program might use the following aligned performance measures:
(1) Output: Number of students that participated in a tutoring program;
(2) Intermediate-Outcome: Percent of students reading more books; and
(3)End-Outcome: Number and percent of students who have improved their reading score to grade level.
(c) The Corporation encourages you to exceed the minimum requirements expressed in this section and expects, in
second and subsequent grant cycles, that you will more fully develop your performance measures, including
establishing multiple performance indicators, and improving and refining those you used in the past. Any
performance measures you submit beyond what is required in paragraph (a)(1) of this section may or may not be
aligned sets of measures.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.590 Who develops my performance measures?
(a) You are responsible for developing your program-specific performance measures through your own internal
process.
(b) In addition, the Corporation may, in consultation with grantees, establish performance measures that will apply
to all Corporation-sponsored programs, which you will be responsible for collecting and meeting.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.600 Who approves my performance measures?
(a) The Corporation will review and approve performance measures, as part of the grant application review process,
for all non-formula programs. If the Corporation selects your application for funding, the Corporation will approve
your performance measures as part of your grant award.
(b) If you are a program submitting an application under the State formula category, the applicable State
commission is responsible for reviewing and approving your performance measures. The Corporation will not
separately approve these measures.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
117
§ 2522.610 What is the difference in performance measurements requirements for competitive and formula
programs?
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, State commissions are responsible for making the final
determination of performance measures for State formula programs, while the Corporation makes the final
determination for all other programs.
(b) The Corporation may, through the State commission, require that formula programs meet certain national
performance measures above and beyond what the State commission has individually negotiated with its formula
grantees.
(c) While State commissions must hold their sub-grantees responsible for their performance measures, a State
commission, as a grantee, is responsible to the Corporation for its formula programs' performance measures.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.620 How do I report my performance measures to the Corporation?
The Corporation sets specific reporting requirements, including frequency and deadlines, for performance measures
in the grant award.
(a) In general, you are required to report on the actual results that occurred when implementing the grant and to
regularly measure your program's performance.
(b) Your report must include the results on the performance measures approved as part of your grant award.
(c) At a minimum, you are required to report on outputs at the end of year one; outputs and intermediate-outcomes at
the end of year two; and outputs, intermediate-outcomes and end-outcomes at the end of year three. We encourage
you to exceed these minimum requirements and report results earlier.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.630 What must I do if I am not able to meet my performance measures?
If you are not on track to meet your performance measures, you must develop and submit to the Corporation, or the
State commission for formula programs, a corrective action plan, consistent with paragraph (a) of this section, or
submit a request to the Corporation, or the State commission for formula programs, consistent with paragraph (b) of
this section, to amend your requirements under the circumstances described in §2522.640 of this subpart.
(a) Your corrective action plan must be in writing and include all of the following:
(1) The factors impacting your performance goals;
(2) The strategy you are using and corrective action you are taking to get back on track toward your established
performance measures; and
(3) The timeframe in which you plan to achieve getting back on track with your performance measures.
(b) A request to amend your performance measures must include all of the following:
(1) Why you are not on track to meet your performance requirements;
118
(2) How you have been tracking performance measures;
(3) Evidence of the corrective action you have taken;
(4) Any new proposed performance measures or targets; and
(5) Your plan to ensure that you meet any new measures.
(c) You must submit your plan under paragraph (a) of this section, or your request under paragraph (b) of this
section, within 30 days of determining that you are not on track to meeting your performance measures.
(d) If you are a formula program, the State commission that approves the plan under paragraph (a) of this section or
the request to amend your performance measures under paragraph (b) of this section, must forward an information
copy to the Corporation's AmeriCorps program office within 15 days of approving the plan or the request.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.640 Under what circumstances may I change my performance measures?
(a) You may change your performance measures only if the Corporation or, for formula programs, the State
commission, approves your request to do so based on your need to:
(1) Adjust your performance measure or target based on experience so that your program's goals are more realistic
and manageable;
(2) Replace a measure related to one issue area with one related to a different issue area that is more aligned with
your program service activity. For example, you may need to replace an objective related to health with one related
to the environment;
(3) Redefine the service that individuals perform under the grant. For example, you may need to define your service
as tutoring adults in English, as opposed to operating an after-school program for third-graders;
(4) Eliminate an activity because you have been unable to secure necessary matching funding; or
(5) Replace one measure with another. For example, you may decide that you want to replace one measure of
literacy tutoring (increased attendance at school) with another (percentage of students who are promoted to the next
grade level).
(b) [Reserved]
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.650 What happens if I fail to meet the performance measures included in my grant?
(a) If you are significantly under-performing based on the performance measures approved in your grant, or fail to
collect appropriate data to allow performance measurement, the Corporation, or the State commission for formula
grantees, may specify a period of correction, after consulting with you. As a grantee, you must report results at the
end of the period of correction. At that point, if you continue to under-perform, or fail to collect appropriate data to
allow performance measurement, the Corporation may take one or more of the following actions:
(1) Reduce the amount of your grant;
119
(2) Suspend or terminate your grant;
(3) Use this information to assess any application from your organization for a new AmeriCorps grant or a new grant
under another program administered by the Corporation;
(4) Amend the terms of any Corporation grants to your organization; or
(5) Take other actions that the Corporation deems appropriate.
(b) If you are a State commission whose formula program(s) is significantly under-performing or failing to collect
appropriate data to allow performance measurement, we encourage you to take action as delineated in paragraph (a)
of this section.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
Evaluating Programs: Requirements and Procedures
§ 2522.700 How does evaluation differ from performance measurement?
(a) Evaluation is a more in-depth, rigorous effort to measure the impact of programs. While performance
measurement and evaluation both include systematic data collection and measurement of progress, evaluation uses
scientifically-based research methods to assess the effectiveness of programs by comparing the observed program
outcomes with what would have happened in the absence of the program. Unlike performance measures, evaluations
estimate the impacts of programs by comparing the outcomes for individuals receiving a service or participating in a
program to the outcomes for similar individuals not receiving a service or not participating in a program. For
example, an evaluation of a literacy program may compare the reading ability of students in a program over time to
a similar group of students not participating in a program.
(b) Performance measurement is the process of systematically and regularly collecting and monitoring data related
to the direction of observed changes in communities, participants (members), or end beneficiaries receiving your
program's services. It is intended to provide an indication of your program's operations and performance. In contrast
to evaluation, it is not intended to establish a causal relationship between your program and a desired (or undesired)
program outcome. For example, a performance measure for a literacy program may include the percentage of
students receiving services from your program who increase their reading ability from "below grade level" to "at or
above grade level". This measure indicates something good is happening to your program's service beneficiaries, but
it does not indicate that the change can be wholly attributed to your program's services.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.710 What are my evaluation requirements?
(a) If you are a State commission, you must establish and enforce evaluation requirements for your State formula
subgrantees, as you deem appropriate.
(b) If you are a State competitive or direct Corporation AmeriCorps grantee (other than an Education Award
Program grantee), and your average annual Corporation program grant is $500,000 or more, you must arrange for an
independent evaluation of your program, and you must submit the evaluation with any application to the
Corporation for competitive funds as required in §2522.730 of this subpart.
(c) If you are a State competitive or direct Corporation AmeriCorps grantee whose average annual Corporation
program grant is less than $500,000, or an Education Award Program grantee, you must conduct an internal
120
evaluation of your program, and you must submit the evaluation with any application to the Corporation for
competitive funds as required in §2522.730 of this subpart.
(d) The Corporation may, in its discretion, supersede these requirements with an alternative evaluation approach,
including one conducted by the Corporation at the national level.
(e) Grantees must cooperate fully with all Corporation evaluation activities.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.720 How many years must my evaluation cover?
(a) If you are a State formula grantee, you must conduct an evaluation, as your State commission requires.
(b) If you are a State competitive or direct Corporation grantee, your evaluation must cover a minimum of one year
but may cover longer periods.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.730 How and when do I submit my evaluation to the Corporation?
(a) If you are an existing grantee recompeting for AmeriCorps funds for the first time, you must submit a summary
of your evaluation efforts or plan to date, and a copy of any evaluation that has been completed, as part of your
application for funding.
(b) If you again compete for AmeriCorps funding after a second three-year grant cycle, you must submit the
completed evaluation with your application for funding.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.740 How will the Corporation use my evaluation?
The Corporation will consider the evaluation you submit with your application as follows:
(a) If you do not include with your application for AmeriCorps funding a summary of the evaluation, or the
evaluation itself, as applicable, under §2522.730, the Corporation reserves the right to not consider your application.
(b) If you do submit an evaluation with your application, the Corporation will consider the results of your evaluation
in assessing the quality and outcomes of your program.
[70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.800 How will the Corporation evaluate individual AmeriCorps programs?
The Corporation will evaluate programs based on the following: (a) The extent to which the program meets the
objectives established and agreed to by the grantee and the Corporation before the grant award;
(b) The extent to which the program is cost-effective; and
121
(c) The effectiveness of the program in meeting the following legislative objectives: (1) Providing direct and
demonstrable services and projects that benefit the community by addressing educational, public safety, human, or
environmental needs;
(2) Recruiting and enrolling diverse participants consistent with the requirements of part 2540 of this chapter, based
on economic background, race, ethnicity, age, gender, marital status, education levels, and disability;
(3) Promoting the educational achievement of each participant based on earning a high school diploma or its
equivalent and future enrollment in and completion of increasingly higher levels of education;
(4) Encouraging each participant to engage in public and community service after completion of the program based
on career choices and participation in other service programs;
(5) Promoting an ethic of active and productive citizenship among participants;
(6) Supplying additional volunteer assistance to community agencies without providing more volunteers than can be
effectively utilized;
(7) Providing services and activities that could not otherwise be performed by employed workers and that will not
supplant the hiring of, or result in the displacement of, employed workers; and
(8) Other criteria determined and published by the Corporation.
[59 FR 13796, Mar. 23, 1994. Redesignated at 70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.810 What will the Corporation do to evaluate the overall success of the AmeriCorps programs?
(a) The Corporation will conduct independent evaluations of programs, including in-depth studies of selected
programs. These evaluations will consider the opinions of participants and members of the community where
services are delivered. Where appropriate these studies will compare participants with individuals who have not
participated in service programs. These evaluations will: (1) Study the extent to which the national service impacts
involved communities;
(2) Study the extent to which national service increases positive attitudes among participants regarding the
responsibilities of citizens and their role in solving community problems;
(3) Study the extent to which national service enables participants to afford post-secondary education with fewer
student loans;
(4) Determine the costs and effectiveness of different program models in meeting program objectives including full-
and part-time programs, programs involving different types of national service, programs using different recruitment
methods, programs offering alternative non-federally funded vouchers or post-service benefits, and programs
utilizing individual placements and teams;
(5) Determine the impact of programs in each State on the ability of VISTA and National Senior Volunteer Corps,
each regular and reserve component of the Armed Forces, and the Peace Corps to recruit individuals residing in that
State; and
(6) Determine the levels of living allowances paid in all AmeriCorps programs and American Conservation and
Youth Corps, individually, by State, and by region and determine the effects that such living allowances have had on
the ability of individuals to participate in such programs.
122
(b) The Corporation will also determine by June 30, 1995: (1) Whether the State and national priorities designed to
meet educational, public safety, human, or environmental needs are being addressed;
(2) Whether the outcomes of both stipended and nonstipended service programs are defined and measured
appropriately;
(3) Whether stipended service programs, and service programs providing educational benefits in return for service,
should focus on economically disadvantaged individuals or at risk youth, or whether such programs should include a
mix of individuals, including individuals from middle and upper income families;
(4) The role and importance of stipends and educational benefits in achieving desired outcomes in the service
programs;
(5) The income distribution of AmeriCorps participants, to determine the level of participation of economically
disadvantaged individuals. The total income of participants will be determined as of the date the participant was first
selected to participate in a program and will include family total income unless the evaluating entity determines that
the participant was independent at the time of selection. Definitions for "independent" and "total income" are those
used in section 480(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965;
(6) The amount of assistance provided under the AmeriCorps programs that has been expended for projects
conducted in areas classified as empowerment zones (or redevelopment areas), in areas that are targeted for special
economic incentives or are otherwise identifiable as having high concentrations of low-income people, in areas that
are environmentally distressed or adversely affected by Federal actions related to the management of Federal lands,
in areas that are adversely affected by reductions in defense spending, or in areas that have an unemployment rate
greater than the national average unemployment rate for the most recent 12 months for which satisfactory data are
available; and
(7) The implications of the results of these studies as appropriate for authorized funding levels.
[59 FR 13796, Mar. 23, 1994. Redesignated at 70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
§ 2522.820 Will information on individual participants be kept confidential?
(a) Yes. The Corporation will maintain the confidentiality of information regarding individual participants that is
acquired for the purpose of the evaluations described in X2522.540. The Corporation will disclose individual
participant information only with the prior written consent of the participant. However, the Corporation may
disclose aggregate participant information.
(b) Grantees and subgrantees that receive assistance under this chapter must comply with the provisions of
paragraph (a) of this section.
[59 FR 13796, Mar. 23, 1994. Redesignated at 70 FR 39603, July 8, 2005]
Subpart F-Program Management Requirements for Grantees
Source: 70 FR 39606, July 8, 2005, unless otherwise noted.
§ 2522.900 What definitions apply to this subpart?
Tutor is defined as someone whose primary goal is to increase academic achievement in reading or other core
subjects through planned, consistent, one-to-one or small-group sessions and activities that build on the academic
123
strengths of students in kindergarten through 12th grade, and target their academic needs. A tutor does not include
someone engaged in other academic support activities, such as mentoring and after-school program support, whose
primary goal is something other than increasing academic achievement. For example, providing a safe place for
children is not tutoring, even if some of the program activities focus on homework help.
§ 2522.910 What basic qualifications must an AmeriCorps member have to serve as a tutor?
IF THE TUTOR IS : THEN THE TUTOR MUST MEET THE
FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:
(a) Is considered to be an employee Paraprofessional qualifications under No Child Left
of the Local Education Agency or Behind Act, as required in 34 C.F.R. 200.58
school, as determined by State law
(b) Is not considered to be an (1)(i) High School diploma or its equivalent, or a higher
employee of the Local Education degree OR
Agency or school, as determined by (ii) Proficiency test, as described in § 2522.930 of this
State law subpart; and
(2) Successful completion of pre- and in-service
specialized training, as required in § 2522.940 of this
su
§ 2522.920 Are there any exceptions to the qualifications requirements?
The qualifications requirements in §2522.910 of this subpart do not apply to a member who is a K-12 student
tutoring younger children in the school or after school as part of a structured, school-managed cross-grade tutoring
program.
§ 2522.930 What is an appropriate proficiency test?
(a) If a member serving as a tutor does not have ahigh-school diploma or its equivalent, or a higher degree, the
member must pass a proficiency test that the program has determined effective in ensuring that members serving as
tutors have the necessary skills to achieve program goals.
(b) The program must maintain in the member file of each member who takes the test documentation on the
proficiency test selected and the results.
§ 2522.940 What are the requirements for a program in which AmeriCorps members serve as tutors?
A program in which members engage in tutoring for children must:
(a) Articulate appropriate criteria for selecting and qualifying tutors, including the requirements in §2522.910 of this
subpart;
(b) Identify the strategies or tools it will use to assess student progress and measure student outcomes;
(c) Certify that the tutoring curriculum and pre-service and in-service training content are high-quality and research-
based, consistent with the instructional program of the local educational agency or with State academic content
standards;
124
(d) Include appropriate member supervision by individuals with expertise in tutoring; and
(e) Provide specialized high-quality and research-based, member pre-service and in-service training consistent with
the activities the member will perform.
§ 2522.950 What requirements and qualifications apply if my program focuses on supplemental academic
support activities other than tutoring?
(a) If your program does not involve tutoring as defined in §2522.900 of this subpart, the Corporation will not
impose the requirements in §2522.910 through §2522.940 of this subpart on your program.
(b) At a minimum, you must articulate in your application how you will recruit, train, and supervise members to
ensure that they have the qualifications and skills necessary to provide the service activities in which they will be
engaged.
PART 2523 -- AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES FOR THE PROVISION OF
AMERICORPS PROGRAM ASSISTANCE
Sec.
2523.10 Are Federal agencies eligible to apply for AmeriCorps program funds?
2523.20 Which Federal agencies may apply for such funds?
2523.30 Must Federal agencies meet the requirements imposed on grantees under parts 2521 and
2522 of this chapter?
2523.40 For what purposes should Federal agencies use AmeriCorps program funds?
2523.50 What types of grants are Federal agencies eligible to receive?
2523.60 May Federal agencies enter into partnerships or participate in consortia?
2523.70 Will the Corporation give special consideration to Federal agency applications that address
certain needs?
2523.80 Are there restrictions on the use of Corporation funds?
2523.90 Is there a matching requirement for Federal agencies?
2523.100 Are participants in programs operated by Federal agencies Federal employees?
2523.110 Can Federal agencies submit multiple applications?
2523.120 Must Federal agencies consult with State Commissions?
Authority: 42 U. S. C. 12501 et seq. Source: 59 FR 13804, Mar. 23, 1994, unless otherwise noted.
§2523.10 Are Federal agencies eligible to apply for AmeriCorps program funds?
Yes. Federal agencies may apply for and receive AmeriCorps funds under parts 2521 and 2522 of this chapter, and
they are eligible to receive up to one-third of the funds available for competitive distribution under §2521.30(b)(3)
of this chapter. The Corporation may enter into a grant, contract or cooperative agreement with another Federal
agency to support an AmeriCorps program carried out by the agency. The Corporation may transfer funds available
to it to other Federal agencies.
§2523.20 Which Federal agencies may apply for such funds?
The Corporation will consider applications only from Executive Branch agencies or departments. Bureaus,
divisions, and local and regional offices of such departments and agencies can only apply through the central
department or agency; however, it is possible for the department or agency to submit an application proposing more
than one program.
125
Exhibit E
AmeriCorps Provisions
2008 AMERICORPS GRANT PROVISIONS
Effective May 20, 2008
These AmeriCorps Grant Provisions are binding on the grantee. By accepting funds under
this grant, the grantee agrees to comply with, and include in all subgrants, the AmeriCorps
Provisions, all applicable federal statutes, regulations and guidelines, and any amendments
thereto. The grantee agrees to operate the funded program in accordance with the approved grant
application and budget, supporting documents, and other representations made in support of the
approved grant application. For the purposes of these Provisions, "AmeriCorps" refers to
AmeriCorps State and National grantees only. The term grantee is used to connote either grantee
or subgrantee, as appropriate, throughout these Provisions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Changes to the 2008 AmeriCorps Grant Provisions .........................................................2
II. Legislative and Regulatory Authority .......................................................................... .....5
III. Othe r Applicable Statutory and Administrative Provisions ......................................... .....5
A. States, Indian Tribes, U.S. Territories and Local Governments ......................... .....5
B. Nonprofit Organizations ..................................................................................... .....5
C. Educational Institutions ...................................................................................... .....5
D. Other Applicable Statutes and Regulations ........................................................ .....6
E. Order of Precedence ............................................................................................ .....6
IV. Ame riCorps Special Provisions ................................................................................... .....6
A. Definitions ........................................................................................................... .....6
B. Affiliation with the AmeriCorps National Service Network .............................. .....7
C. Member Recruitment, Selection, and Exit .......................................................... .....8
D. Supervision and Support ..................................................................................... .....9
E. Release from Participation .................................................................................. ...10
F. Living Allowances, Other In-Service Benefits, and Taxes ................................. ...10
G. Member Records and Confidentiality ................................................................. ...12
H. Budget and Programmatic Changes .................................................................... ...13
I. Reporting Requirements ..................................................................................... ...14
J. Grant Period and Incremental Funding ............................................................... ...15
V. General Provisions ....................................................................................................... ...15
A. Responsibilities under Grant Administration .........................................................15
B. Financial Management Standards ..........................................................................16
C. The Office of Inspector General ............................................................................17
D. Program Income .....................................................................................................17
E. Safety .....................................................................................................................18
F. Non-discrimination Public Notice and Records Compliance ................................18
G. Grants Products ......................................................................................................19
H. Suspension or Termination of Grant .................................................................... ..19
I. Fixed Amount Award (Education Award Programs Only) ...................................19
J. Trafficking in Persons ...........................................................................................20
VI. Attachment
Grant Program Civil Rights and Non-Harassment Policy ......................................... ..22
Revised - 5/27/2008
I. CHANGES IN THE 2008 AMERICORPS GRANT PROVISIONS
A previously separate set of Provisions for Education Award Programs (EAPs) has been
incorporated into these 2008 AmeriCorps Provisions. The Corporation will no longer maintain
two separate sets of Provisions. The Provisions were edited throughout for clarity and accuracy.
The AmeriCorps Statute, Regulations, these Provisions, and the Policy FAQs can be found in
keyword searchable format here:
http://www.americorps. gov/for_organizations/manage/index.asp.
The following sections from the 2007 Provisions were deleted or revised in the 2008
Provisions.
Section IV. A. I .The definition for "AmeriCorps National Service Network" was deleted and
can be found in the Policy FAQ entitled Definitions.
Section IV. A. 2. The definition for "Approved National Service Position" was deleted and can
be found in the AmeriCorps regulations 45 CFR 2550.20.
Section IV. A. 3, 6 and 7. The definitions for "Faith Based Organization," "Parent Organization,"
and "Service Recipient" were deleted as immaterial to these Provisions.
Section IV. B. 3. and 4. on AmeriCorps Service Gear and Participation in AmeriCorps Events
were deleted and can be found in the AmeriCorps regulations 45 CFR 2520.65 and 2522.100(n),
and the Policy FAQ entitled Member Service Gear.
Section IV. C. on Enrollment was revised, re-titled "Member Recruitment, Selection, and Exit"
and includes Exit information.
Section IV. C. 1. on Enrollment Procedures was deleted and replaced with former IV. E. 2.
Notification to the National Service Trust.
Section IV. C. 4. on Reasonable Accommodation, paragraphs 2 and 3 were deleted and can be
found in the AmeriCorps regulations 45 CFR 2522.100 (h) and the Policy FAQ entitled
Reasonable Accommodation.
Section IV. C. 5. on Member Classification was deleted and can be found in the Policy FAQ
entitled Member Classification.
Section IV. C. 7. on Criminal Charges was deleted and can be found in the AmeriCorps
regulations 45 CFR 2522.230(c) and (d) and the Policy FAQ entitled Criminal Charges.
Section IV. D. on Training, Supervision, and Support has been re-titled "Supervision and
Support."
Section IV. D. 1. on Completion of Term can be found in the Policy FAQ entitled Completion of
Term.
Section IV. D. 2. on Member Contracts was revised and includes a paragraph recommending that
a member signs a contract before commencement of service.
Section IV. D. 3. on Training and Orientation was deleted and can be found in the AmeriCorps
regulations 45 CFR 2522.100(g)(2) and (j) and the Policy FAQ entitled Orientation.
Section IV. D. 4. on Service Learning was deleted and can be found in the AmeriCorps
regulations 45 CFR 2522.100 (j).
Section IV. D. 7. on Registration to Vote was deleted and can be found in the AmeriCorps
regulations 45 CFR 2522.100(1) and the Policy FAQ entitled Voting. Section IV. D. 7. (b) was
retained.
Section IV. D. 8. on Jury Duty was deleted and can be found in the Policy FAQ entitled Jury
Duty.
Section IV. D. 10. on Armed Forces Reserves was deleted and can be found in the Policy FAQ
entitled Armed Forces Reserves.
Section IV. E. on Terms of Service, paragraph 1 was deleted and can be found in the
AmeriCorps regulations 45 CFR 2522.220 and in the Policy FAQ entitled Definitions. The
remainder, on Notification to the National Service Trust, was maintained and moved to IV. C. 1.
Member Enrollment and Exit.
Section IV. F. on Changes in Member Status was deleted and can be found in the Policy FAQ
entitled Changes in Member Status.
Section IV. F. 4 includes language to clarify the amount of time a person must serve to qualify
for healthcare when serving part time in a full time capacity (former Section IV. I. 5. d.)
Section IV. F 4. on Notice to Childcare and Healthcare Providers was retained and can be found
in Section IV. F. 6.
Section IV. G. 2. on Required Disclosure by Member of Prior Release for Cause was deleted and
can be found in the AmeriCorps regulations 45 CFR 2522.230 (b) (4) and in the Policy FAQ
entitled Release for Cause.
Section IV. H. on Minor Disciplinary Actions was deleted and can be found in the Policy FAQ
entitled Minor Disciplinary Actions.
Section IV. I. 2. d. on Unemployment Insurance was deleted and can be found in the Policy FAQ
entitled Unemployment Insurance.
Section IV. I. 7. on Administration of Childcare Payments, paragraph 2 was deleted and can be
found in the Policy FAQ entitled Administration of Childcare Payments.
Section IV. I. 8. on Family and Medical Leave was deleted and eligibility requirements can be
found in the AmeriCorps regulations 45 CFR 2523.100 and 2540.220(b). The remainder of the
Provision can be found in the Policy FAQ entitled Family and Medical Leave.
Section IV. I. 9. on Federal Work Study was deleted and can be found in the Policy FAQ entitled
Federal Work Study.
Section IV. J. on Post-Service Education Awards, paragraph 1 was moved to C. 6. and retitled
Exit.
Section IV. J. on Post-Service Education Awards, paragraphs 2 was deleted and can be found in
the AmeriCorps regulations 45 CFR 2526.50. Paragraph 3 can be found Policy FAQ entitled
Post-service Education Awards.
Section IV. K. on Matching Requirements was deleted and can be found in the AmeriCorps
regulations 45 CFR 2521.35-2521.95. The section on the Exception for Donated Professional
Service can be found in the Policy FAQ entitled Exception for Donated Professional Service.
Changes in Matching Requirements implemented through appropriations language are reflected
in Application Instructions.
Section V. C. on Administrative Costs was deleted and can be found in the AmeriCorps
regulations 45 CFR 2510.20 and 45 CFR 2521.95.
Section V. D. on Program Income was revised to specify how grantees must use program income
in excess of match.
Section V. E. on Retention of Records was deleted and can be found in the AmeriCorps
regulations 45 CFR 2543.53 and 2541.420.
Section V. F. on Liability was moved to Section IV. F. 2. (a).
Section V. E entitled Liability and Safety Issues has been retitled Safety.
Section V. G. on Non-Discrimination was deleted. The AmeriCorps requirements on non-
discrimination can be found in the AmeriCorps regulations 45 CFR 2540.210, the Attachment to
these Provisions, the Certifications and Assurances, and the Policy FAQ entitled Non-
Discrimination. The sections on Public Notice and Records Compliance were retained.
Sections V. I. on Ownership and Sharing of Grant Products, paragraph 3 and V. J. on
Publications were merged, revised, and retitled V. G. Grant Products.
Section V. I. on Ownership and Sharing of Grant Products, paragraphs 1 and 2 were deleted and
can be found in the AmeriCorps regulations 45 CFR 2541.340 and 2543.36.
Section V. J. 2. on Materials Provided to the Corporation was deleted and is no longer required.
Section V.J. on Trafficking in Persons was added to comply with agovernment-wide
administrative order. '
Section VI. ATTACHMENTS
A revised Grant Program Civil Rights and Non-harassment Policy, effective November 5, 2007,
replaces former attachments.
II. LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY AUTHORITY
This grant is authorized by and subject to the National and Community Service Act of 1990 as
amended, codified as 42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq., and 45 CFR 2510 et seq. Grantees must comply
with the requirements of the Act and its implementing regulations.
III. OTHER APPLICABLE STATUTORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
The following applicable federal cost principles, administrative requirements and audit
requirements are incorporated by reference.
A. STATES, INDIAN TRIBES, U.S. TERRITORIES, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
The following circulars and their implementing regulations apply to states, Indian tribes, U.S.
territories, and local governments:
1. OMB Circular A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative
Agreements to State and Local Governments - 45 CFR part 2541.
2. OMB Circular A-87, Cost Principles for State and Local Governments - 2 CFR part 225.
3. OMB Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments and Non-Profit
Organizations._
B. NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
The following circulars and their implementing regulations apply to nonprofit organizations:
1. OMB Circular A-110, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements
with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Nonprofit Organizations - 45
CFR 2543 or 2 CFR part 215.
2. OMB Circular A-122, Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations - 2 CFR part 230.
3. OMB Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments and Non-Profit
Organizations._
C. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
The following circulars and their implementing regulations apply to educational institutions:
1. OMB Circular A-110, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements
with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Nonprofit Organizations - 45
CFR 2543 or 2 CFR part 215.
2. OMB Circular A-21, Cost Principles for Educational Institutions - 2 CFR part 220.
3. OMB Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments and Non-Profit
Organizations._
These documents can be found here:
http://www.access.gpo.~ov/nara/cfr/waisidx 07/2cfrv1 07.htm1#215 and here:
http://ecfr.gpoaccess. Gov/c ei/t/text/text-
idx?sid=1289932cf6539210eb 14f3 d8d3052a8b&c=ecfr&tp1=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfrv 1 02.tp1#200
D. OTHER APPLICABLE STATUTES AND REGULATIONS
The grantee must comply with all other applicable statutes, executive orders, regulations, and
policies governing the grant, including, but not limited to, those cited in these Grant Provisions,
the Grant Assurances and Certifications, and those cited in 45 CFR Parts 2541 and 2543.
E. ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
Should there be any inconsistency among the Notice of Grant Award, the AmeriCorps Special
Provisions, the General Provisions, and the approved grant application, the order of precedence
is: (1) Notice of Grant Award; (2) the AmeriCorps Special Provisions; (3) the General
Provisions; and (4) the approved Grant Application.
IV. AMERICORPS SPECIAL PROVISIONS
A. DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this grant the following definitions apply:
Grantee, for the purposes of this agreement, means the direct recipient of this grant (45
CFR 2542.510). The grantee is legally accountable to the Corporation for the use of grant
funds and is bound by the provisions of the grant. The grantee is responsible for ensuring
that sub-grantees or other organizations carrying out activities under this award comply
with these provisions, including regulations and OMB circulars incorporated by
reference.
2. Sub-grantee refers to an organization receiving AmeriCorps grant funds or member
positions from a grantee of the Corporation. See 45 CFR 2541.370.
3. Member or participant means an individual:
a. Who has been selected by a grantee or sub-grantee to serve in an approved national
service position;
b. Who is a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United
States;
Who is at least 17 years of age at the commencement of service unless the member is
out of school and enrolled
i. in a full-time, year-round youth corps or full-time summer program as defined in
the Act (42 U.S.C. 12572 (a) (2)), in which case he or she must be between the
ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, or
ii. in a program for economically disadvantaged youth as defined in the Act (42
U.S.C. 12572 (a)(9)), in which case he or she must be between the ages of 16 and
24, inclusive; and
iii. Has a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate (or agrees to obtain a high
school diploma or its equivalent before using an education award) and who has
not dropped out of elementary or secondary school in order to begin a term of
service as an AmeriCorps member (unless enrolled in an institution of higher
education on an ability to benefit basis and is considered eligible for funds under
section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 1091), or who has
been determined through an independent assessment conducted by the grantee to
be incapable of obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent.
B. AFFILIATION WITH THE AMERICORPS NATIONAL SERVICE NETWORK
1. Identification as an AmeriCorps Program or Member. The grantee must identify the
program as an AmeriCorps program and members eligible for an education award as
AmeriCorps members.
2. The AmeriCorps Name and Logo. AmeriCorps is a registered service mark of the
Corporation for National and Community Service.
Grantees and sub-grantees except for Education Award Programs (EAPs) must use the
AmeriCorps name and logo on service gear and public materials such as stationery,
application forms, recruitment brochures, orientation materials, member curriculum,
signs, banners, press releases and publications created by AmeriCorps members in
accordance with Corporation requirements. The Corporation provides acamera-ready
logo. EAPS are strongly encouraged to use the AmeriCorps name and logo on such
materials.
To establish the relationship between the program and AmeriCorps, the grantee must use
the phrase "The AmeriCorps National Service Network" or "an AmeriCorps program"
and may use the slogan "Getting Things Done"TM on such materials in accordance with
Corporation guidelines and requirements.
The grantee may not alter the AmeriCorps logo, and must obtain the written permission
of the Corporation before using the AmeriCorps name or logo on materials that will be
sold, or permitting donors to use the AmeriCorps name or logo in promotional materials.
The grantee may not use or display the AmeriCorps name or logo in connection with any
activity prohibited in these grant provisions.
C. MEMBER RECRUITMENT, SELECTION, AND EXIT
Member recruitment and selection requirements are in the Corporation's regulations at 45 CFR
part 2522.210. In addition, the grantee must ensure that the following procedures are followed:
1. Notice to the Corporation's National Service Trust. The grantee must notify the
Corporation's National Service Trust within 30 days of a member's selection for,
completion of, suspension from, or release from, a term of service. Suspension of service
is defined as an extended period during which the member is not serving, nor
accumulating service hours or receiving AmeriCorps benefits.
The grantee also must notify the Trust when a change in a member's status is approved
and changed (i.e. from full-time to less than full-time or vice versa). Failure to report
such changes within 30 days may result in sanctions to the grantee, up to and including,
suspension or termination. Grantees or sub-grantees meet notification requirements when
they use the appropriate electronic system to inform the Corporation within the approved
time frames. Any questions regarding the Trust should be directed to the Trust Office
(800) 942-2677.
Penalties for false information: Any individual who makes a materially false statement
or representation in connection with the approval or disbursement of an education award
or other payment from the National Service Trust may be liable for the recovery of funds
and subject to civil and criminal sanctions.
2. Parental Consent. Parental or legal guardian consent must be obtained for members
under 18 years of age before beginning a term of service. Grantees may also include an
informed consent form of their own design as part of the member contract materials.
3. Reasonable Accommodation. Programs and activities must be accessible to persons with
disabilities, and the grantee must provide reasonable accommodation to the known
mental or physical disabilities of otherwise qualified members, service recipients,
applicants, and staff. All selections and project assignments must be made without regard
to the need to provide reasonable accommodation. See the Policy FAQ entitled
Reasonable Accommodation for more information.
4. Timekeeping. The grantee is required to ensure that time and attendance recordkeeping is
conducted by the individual who supervises the AmeriCorps member. This time and
attendance record is used to document member eligibility for in-service and post-service
benefits. Time and attendance records must be signed and dated both by the member and
by an individual with oversight responsibilities for the member.
5. Completion of Terms of Service. The grantee must ensure that each member has
sufficient opportunity to complete the required number of hours of service to qualify for
their education award. Members must be exited within 30 days of the end of their term of
service. Should a program not be renewed, a member who was scheduled to continue in a
term of service may either be placed in another program where feasible, or a member
c. Whether the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly
communicated at the beginning of the term of service.
5. Voter Registration Activities Prohibited. In addition to the prohibited activities listed in
45 CFR 2520.65, staff and members may not engage in voter registration drives, and the
grantee may not use grant funds to conduct a voter registration drive.
6. Member Death or Injury. The grantee must report any member deaths or serious
injuries to the designated Corporation Program Officer immediately.
E. RELEASE FROM PARTICIPATION
Grantees may release members from participation for two reasons: (a) for compelling personal
circumstances; and (b) for cause. See 45 CFR §2522.230 for requirements. In addition to the
regulations, the following applies:
No Automatic Disqualification if Released for Cause: A release for cause covers all
circumstances in which a member does not successfully complete his/her term of service for
reasons other than compelling personal circumstances. Therefore, it is possible for a member to
receive a satisfactory performance review and be released for cause. For example, a member who
is released for cause for a first term for personal reasons-e.g. he/she has decided to take a job
offer-but who, otherwise, was performing well up until the time he/she decided to leave, would
not be disqualified for a second term as long as he/she received a satisfactory performance
evaluation for the period he/she served.
F. LIVING ALLOWANCES, OTHER IN-SERVICE BENEFITS, AND TAXES
Living Allowance Distribution. A living allowance is not a wage. Grantees must not
pay a living allowance on an hourly basis. Grantees should pay the living allowance in
regular increments, such as weekly or bi-weekly, paying an increased increment only on
the basis of increased living expenses such as food, housing, or transportation. Payments
should not fluctuate based on the number of hours served in a particular time period, and
must cease when a member concludes a term of service.
If a member serves all required hours and is permitted to conclude his or her term of
service before the originally agreed upon end of term, the grantee may not provide a lump
sum payment to the member. Similarly, if a member is selected after the program's start
date, the grantee must provide regular living allowance payments from the member's
start date and may not increase the member's living allowance incremental payment or
provide a lump sum to make up any missed payments.
AmeriCorps EAPs may provide a living allowance or other in-service benefits to their
members, but are not required to do so.
2. Waiving the Living Allowance. If a living allowance is paid, a member may waive all
or part of the payment of a living allowance if he or she believes his or her public
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may receive apro-rated education award if the member has completed at least 15% of the
service hour requirement.
6. Member Exit. In order for a member to receive apost-service education award from the
National Service Trust, the grantee must certify to the National Service Trust that the
member is eligible to receive the education benefit. The grantee (and any individual or
entity acting on behalf of the grantee) is responsible for the accuracy of the information
certified on the end-of--term certification.
D. SUPERVISION AND SUPPORT
1. Planning for the Term of Service. The grantee must develop member position
descriptions that provide for meaningful service activities and performance criteria that
are appropriate to the skill level of members. In planning for the member's term of
service, the grantee must account for holidays and other time off, and must provide each
member with sufficient opportunity to make up missed hours.
2. Member Contracts. The grantee must require that each member signs a contract that, at
a minimum, includes or refers to the following:
a. Member position description;
b. The minimum number of service hours (as authorized by statute) and other
requirements (as developed by the grantee) necessary to successfully complete the
term of service and to be eligible for the education award;
c. Standards of conduct, as developed by the grantee or sub-grantee;
d. Prohibited activities, including those specified in the regulations;
e. Requirements under the Drug-Free Workplace Act (41 U.S.C. 701 et seq.);
£ Suspension and termination rules;
g. The specific circumstances under which a member may be released for cause;
h. Grievance procedures; and
i. Other requirements as established by the grantee.
The grantee should ensure that the contract is signed before commencement of service
so that members are fully aware of their rights and responsibilities.
3. Supervision. The grantee must provide members with adequate supervision by qualified
supervisors in accordance with the approved application. The grantee must conduct an
orientation for members and comply with any pre-service orientation or training required
by the Corporation.
4. Performance Reviews. The grantee must conduct and keep a record of at least a
midterm and end-of--term written evaluation of each member's performance for Full and
Half-Time members and an end-of--term written evaluation for less than Half-time
members. The evaluation should focus on such factors as:
a. Whether the member has completed the required number of hours;
b. Whether the member has satisfactorily completed assignments; and
assistance may be lost or decreased because of the living allowance. Even if a member
waives his or her right to receive the living allowance, it is possible-depending on the
specific public assistance program rules-that the amount of the living allowance that
the member is eligible to receive will be deemed available. A member who has waived
the living allowance may revoke the waiver at any time and may begin receiving the
living allowance prospective to the revocation date; the member may not receive any
portion of the living allowance accrued during the waiver period.
3. Taxes and Insurance. Requirements related to member living allowances and benefits
are in 45 CFR§§2522.240 and 2522.250. In addition, grantees must ensure that the
following procedures are followed:
a. Liability Insurance. The grantee is responsible for ensuring adequate general
liability coverage for the organization, employees and members, including coverage
of members engaged in on- and off-site project activities.
b. FICA (Social Security and Medicare taxes). Unless the grantee obtains a ruling
from the Social Security Administration or the Internal Revenue Service that
specifically exempts its AmeriCorps members from FICA requirements, the grantee
must pay FICA for any member receiving a living allowance. The grantee also must
withhold 7.65% from the member's living allowance.
c. Income Taxes. The grantee must withhold Federal personal income taxes from
member living allowances, requiring each member to complete a W-4 form at the
beginning of the term of service and providing a W-2 form at the close of the tax
year. The grantee must comply with any applicable state or local tax requirements.
d. Worker's Compensation. Some states require worker's compensation for
AmeriCorps members. Grantees must check with State Departments of Labor or state
commissions to determine worker's compensation requirements. If worker's
compensation is not required, grantees must obtain Occupational, Accidental, and
Death and Dismemberment coverage for members to cover in-service injury or
incidents.
4. Healthcare Coverage. Except for EAPs, Professional Corps, or members covered under
a collective bargaining agreement, the grantee must provide healthcare insurance to those
members serving on a full-time basis who are not otherwise covered by a healthcare
policy at the time each begins his/her period of full-time service. For purposes of this
provision, a member is serving on a full-time basis when his/her regular term of service
will involve performing service on a normal full-time schedule for a period of six weeks
or more. A member may be serving on a full-time basis without regard to whether his/her
agreed term of service will result in a full-time Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. The
grantee must also provide healthcare insurance to members serving on a full-time basis
who lose coverage during their term of service as a result of service or through no
deliberate act of their own. The Corporation will not cover healthcare costs for family
members or for members who have not served on a full-time, or who have ceased serving
on a full-time basis.
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Minimum Benefits. When required to provide healthcare insurance coverage, the grantee
may obtain healthcare from any provider as long as the coverage provided by the grantee
provides the following minimum benefits:
a. Physician services for illness or injury
b. Hospital room and board
c. Emergency room
d. X-ray and laboratory
e. Prescription drugs
£ Limited mental/nervous disorders
g. Limited substance abuse coverage
h. An annual deductible of no more than $250 charges per member
i. No more than $1,000 total annual out-of-pocket per member
j. A 20% co-pay or a comparable fixed fee with the exception of a 50% co-pay for
mental and substance abuse care
k. A maximum benefit of at least $50,000 per occurrence or cause
5. Administration of Childcare Payments. In general, the Corporation will provide for
childcare payments, which will be administered through the National Association of
Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA), hereafter referred to as
AmeriCorps®CARE. Requirements and eligibility criteria are in the AmeriCorps
regulation 45 CFR §2522.250. Grantees that choose to provide childcare as a match
source (as approved in their budget) may use AmeriCorps®CARE for technical
assistance. Grantees can contact AmeriCorps®CARE at (800) 570-4543 with questions
regarding childcare. The criteria for member eligibility are contained in 45 CFR
2522.250. Members are considered to be full-time participants for purposes of eligibility
for childcare payments on the same basis as eligibility for healthcare coverage. Members
who excluded from healthcare coverage solely on the basis of serving in a Professional
Corps, or because they are covered under a collective bargaining agreement are not
excluded from receiving childcare benefits on that basis. Members serving in EAPs are
not eligible for the childcare benefit. The Corporation will not cover childcare costs for
family members or for members who have not served on a full-time, or who have ceased
serving on a full-time basis. Also see the Policy FAQs for more detailed information on
administering childcare and healthcare.
6. Notice to Childcare and Healthcare Providers. The grantee must notify the Corporation's
designated agents immediately in writing when a member's status changes, such that it would
affect eligibility for childcare or healthcare. Examples of changes in status include: changes to a
member's scheduled service so that he/she is no longer serving on a full-time basis; terminating
or releasing a member from service; and suspending a member for cause for a lengthy or
indefinite time period. Program directors should contact AmeriCorps®CARE at NACCRRA at
(800) 570-4543 on childcare related changes, and their health insurance provider about health
insurance related changes.
G. MEMBER RECORDS AND CONFIDENTIALITY
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submits a written request for access to review records that pertain to the member and
were created pursuant to this grant.
H. BUDGET AND PROGRAMMATIC CHANGES
1. Programmatic Changes. The grantee must first obtain the prior written approval of the
AmeriCorps Program Office before making the following changes:
a. Changes in the scope, objectives or goals of the program, whether or not they involve
budgetary changes;
b. Substantial changes in the level of participant supervision;
c. Entering into additional sub-grants or contracts for AmeriCorps activities funded by
the grant, but not identified or included in the approved application and grant budget.
2. Program Changes for Formula Programs. State Commissions are responsible for
approving the above changes for state formula programs.
3. Budgetary Changes. The grantee must obtain the prior written approval of the
Corporation's Office of Grants Management before amending the approved budget in any
of the following ways:
a. Specific Costs Requiring Prior Approval before Incurrence under OMB Circulars A-
21 (2 CFR part 220), A-87 (2 CFR part 225) or A-122 (2 CFR part 230). For certain
cost items, the cost circulars require approval of the awarding agency for the cost to
be allowable. Examples of these costs are overtime pay, rearrangement and alteration
costs, and pre-award costs.
b. Purchases of Equipment over $5,000 using grant funds, unless specified in the
approved application and budget.
c. Unless the Corporation share of the award is $100,000 or less, changes to cumulative
and/or aggregate budget line items that amount to 10 per cent or more of the total
budget must be approved in writing in advance by the Corporation. The total budget
includes both the Corporation and grantee shares. Grantees may transfer funds among
approved direct cost categories when the cumulative amount of such transfers does
not exceed 10 percent of the total budget.
4. Approvals of Programmatic and Budget Changes. Programmatic changes also require
final approval of the Corporation's Office of Grants Management after written
recommendation for approval is received from the Program Office. The Grants Officers
will execute written amendments, and grantees should not assume approvals have been
granted unless documentation from the Grants Office has been received.
L REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1. Grantee Progress Reports. Each grantee must submit an annual progress report due to
the Corporation by the first Monday in December. The report is submitted through the
appropriate electronic system.
14
1. Recordkeeping. The grantee must ensure that records are maintained sufficient to
establish that each member was eligible to participate and that the member successfully
completed all requirements. A program may store member files electronically if the
program can ensure that the validity and integrity of the record is not compromised. The
Corporation will recognize electronically stored files where:
The electronic storage procedures and system provide for the safe-keeping and security of
the records, including:
a. Sufficient prevention of unauthorized alterations or erasures of records;
b. Effective security measures to ensure that only authorized persons have access to
records;
c. Adequate measures designed to prevent physical damage to records; and
d. A system providing for back-up and recovery of records; and
The electronic storage procedures and system provide for the easy retrieval of records in
a timely fashion, including:
e. Storage of the records in a physically accessible location;
f. Clear and accurate labeling of all records; and
g. Storage of the records in a usable, readable format.
Where there is a requirement for a signature on a record, electronically stored records
must include an image of the original signature; records without signatures, when
required, are considered incomplete.
2. Documentation. The grantee must obtain and maintain documentation as required by 45
CFR§2522.200(c). The Corporation does not require programs to make and retain copies
of the actual documents used to confirm age or citizenship eligibility requirements, such
as a driver's license, or birth certificate, as long as the grantee has a consistent practice of
identifying the documents that were reviewed and maintaining a record of the review.
To verify whether the member meets the requirements relating to high-school education,
the grantee must obtain from the member, and maintain in the member's file, a written
declaration under penalty of law that the member meets the requirements of these
provisions relating to high school education as required by 45 CFR§2522.200(b). If the
member has been determined to be incapable of obtaining a high school diploma or its
equivalent, the grantee must retain a copy of the supporting independent evaluation.
Confidential Member Information. The grantee must maintain the confidentiality of
information regarding individual members. The grantee must obtain the prior written
consent of all members before using their names, photographs and other identifying
information for publicity, promotional or other purposes. Grantees may release aggregate
and other non-identifying information, and are required to release member information to
the Corporation and its designated contractors. The grantee must permit a member who
13
2. Financial Reports. The grantee must submit semi-annual cumulative financial reports,
summarizing expenditures during the reporting period. These reports will be submitted
through the appropriate electronic system. Financial report deadlines are as follows:
Due Date Reporting Period Covered
April 30 Start of grant through March 31
October 31 April 1 -September 30
A grantee must set its own submission deadlines for its respective sub-grantees sufficient
to enable the grantee to report on-time. National Professional Corps grantees submit one
financial report per year.
All grantees including EAPs must submit cash transaction reports on a quarterly basis to
the Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System per the
Electronic Funds Transfer Agreement.
3. Financial Reports for EAPs. EAP grants are fixed amount awards, so the financial report
is not required.
4. Requests for Extensions. Requests for extensions of reporting deadlines will be granted
when 1) the report cannot be furnished in a timely manner for reasons legitimately
beyond the control of the grantee and 2) the Corporation receives a request explaining the
need for an extension before the due date of the report.
Extensions of deadlines for financial reports may only be granted by the Office of Grants
Management, and extensions of deadlines for Progress Reports may only be granted by
the AmeriCorps Program Office.
5. Final Financial Reports. A grantee completing the final year of its grant must submit, in
lieu of the last semi-annual financial report, a final financial report that is due within 90
days after the end of the grant.
J. GRANT PERIOD AND INCREMENTAL FUNDING
For the purpose of the grant, a project period is the complete length of time the grantee is
proposed to be funded to complete approved activities under the grant. A project period may
contain one or more budget periods. A budget period is a specific interval of time for which
Federal funds are being provided to fund a grantee's approved activities and budget.
Unless otherwise specified, the grant covers athree-year project period. In approving amulti-
yearproject period, the Corporation generally makes an initial award for the first year of
operation. Additional funding is contingent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of
funds. The project period and the budget period are noted on the award document.
V. GENERAL PROVISIONS
IS
A. RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER GRANT ADMINISTRATION
Accountability of Grantee. The grantee has full responsibility for managing all aspects
of the grant and grant-supported activities, subject to the oversight of the Corporation.
The grantee is accountable to the Corporation for its operation of the AmeriCorps
program and the use of Corporation grant funds. The grantee must expend grant funds in
a judicious and reasonable manner, and it must record accurately the service activities
and outcomes achieved under the grant. Although grantees are encouraged to seek the
advice and opinion of the Corporation on special problems that may arise, such advice
does not diminish the grantee's responsibility for making sound judgments and does not
mean that the responsibility for operating decisions has shifted to the Corporation.
2. Notice to Corporation. The grantee will notify the appropriate Corporation Program or
Grants Officer immediately of any developments or delays that have a significant impact
on funded activities, any significant problems relating to the administrative or financial
aspects of the grant, or any suspected misconduct or malfeasance related to the grant or
grantee. The grantee will inform the Corporation official about the corrective action taken
or contemplated by the grantee and any assistance needed to resolve the situation.
B. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT STANDARDS
General. The grantee must maintain financial management systems that include standard
accounting practices, sufficient internal controls, a clear audit trail, and written cost
allocation procedures, as necessary. Financial management systems must be capable of
distinguishing expenditures attributable to this grant from expenditures not attributable to
this grant. The systems must be able to identify costs by programmatic year and by
budget category and to differentiate between direct and indirect costs or administrative
costs. For further details about the grantee's financial management responsibilities, refer
to OMB Circular A-102 and its implementing regulations (45 CFR§2541) or A-110 (2
CFR part 215) and its implementing regulations (45 CFR§2543), as applicable.
2. Consistency of Treatment. To be allowable under an award, costs must be consistent
with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally financed and other
activities of the organization. Furthermore, the costs must be accorded consistent
treatment in both federally financed and other activities, as well as between activities,
supported by different sources of federal funds.
3. Audits. Grantee organizations that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards
shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with
the Single Audit Act, as amended, 31 U.S.C. 7501, et seq., and OMB Circular A-133. If
the grantee expends federal awards under only one federal program, it may elect to have a
program specific audit, if it is otherwise eligible. A grantee that does not expend
$500,000 in federal awards is exempt from the single audit requirements of OMB
Circular A-133 for that year. However, it must continue to conduct financial management
reviews of its sub-grantees, and records must be available for review and audit.
16
A recipient of a Federal grant (pass-through entity) is required in accordance with
paragraph 400(d) of OMB Circular A-133, to do the following with regard to its
subrecipients: (1) identify the Federal award and funding source; (2) advise sub-
recipients of all requirements imposed on them; (3) monitor sub-recipient activities and
compliance; (4) ensure sub-recipients have A-133 audits when required; (5) issue
decisions and ensure follow-up on audit findings in a timely manner; (6) where
necessary, adjust its own records and financial statements based on audits; and (7) require
sub-recipients to permit access by the pass-through entity and auditors to records and
financial statements, as necessary, for the pass-through entity to comply with A-133.
4. Consultant Services. Payments for consultant services under this grant will not exceed
$540.00 per day (exclusive of any indirect expenses, travel, supplies and so on) unless
procured consistent with 45 CFR 2543.44.
C. THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
The Corporation's Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducts and supervises independent and
objective audits, evaluations, and investigations of Corporation programs and operations. Based
on the results of these audits, reviews, and investigations, the OIG recommends policies to
promote economy and efficiency and to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in the
Corporation's programs and operations.
The OIG conducts and supervises audits of Corporation grantees, as well as legislatively
mandated audits and reviews. The legislatively mandated audits include the annual financial
statement audit, and fulfilling the requirements of the Government Information Security Reform
Act and its successor, the Federal Information Security Management Act. A risk-based
approach, along with input received from Corporation management, is used to select grantees
and grants for audit. The OIG hires audit firms to conduct some of its audits. The OIG audit
staff is available to discuss its audit function, and can be reached at (202) 606-9390.
The OIG is available to offer assistance to AmeriCorps grantees that become aware of suspected
criminal activity in connection with the AmeriCorps program. Grantees should immediately
contact OIG when they first suspect that a criminal violation has occurred. The OIG
investigative staff is available to provide guidance and ensure that the appropriate law
enforcement agency is notified, if required. The OIG may be reached by email at
hotline@cnsoig.gov or by telephone at (800) 452-8210.
D. PROGRAM INCOME
1. General. Income, including fees for service earned as a direct result of the grant-funded
program activities during the award period, must be retained by the Grantee and used to
finance the grant's non-Corporation share.
2. Excess Program Income. Program income earned in excess of the amount needed to
finance the grantee share must follow the appropriate requirements of 45 CFR §2541.250,
17
2 CFR 225, 2 CFR 215, or 2 CFR 220 and be deducted from total claimed costs. Grantees
that earn excess income must specify the amount of the excess in the comment box on the
Financial Report.
3. Fees for Service. When using assistance under this Grant, the Grantee may not enter into
a contract for or accept fees for service performed by members when:
a. The service benefits afor-profit entity,
b. The service falls within the other prohibited activities set forth in these Grant
Provisions, or
c. The service violates the non-displacement Provisions of the Act set forth in these
Grant Provisions.
E. SAFETY
The grantee must institute safeguards as necessary and appropriate to ensure the safety of
members. Membersmay not participate in projects that pose undue safety risks.
F. NON-DISCRIMINATION PUBLIC NOTICE AND RECORDS COMPLIANCE
Public Notice of Nondiscrimination. The grantee must notify members, community
beneficiaries, applicants, program staff, and the public, including those with impaired
vision or hearing, that it operates its program or activity subject to the nondiscrimination
requirements of the applicable statutes. The notice must summarize the requirements,
note the availability of compliance information from the grantee and the Corporation, and
briefly explain procedures for filing discrimination complaints with the Corporation.
Sample language is:
It is against the law for organizations that receive federal financial assistance from the
Corporation for National and Community Service to discriminate on the basis of race,
color, national origin, disability, sex, age, political affiliation, or, in most cases, religion.
It is also unlawful to retaliate against any person who, or organization that, files a
complaint about such discrimination. In addition to filing a complaint with local and state
agencies that are responsible for resolving discrimination complaints, you may bring a
complaint to the attention of the Corporation for National and Community Service. If you
believe that you or others have been discriminated against, or if you want more
information, contact:
(Name, address, phone number -both voice and TTY, and preferably toll free -FAX
number and e-mail address of the grantee) or
Office of Civil Right and Inclusiveness
Corporation for National.and Community Service
1201 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20525
(202) 606-7503 (voice); (202) 565-2799 (TTY)
(202) 565-3465 (FAX); eo@cns.gov (e-mail)
18
The grantee must include information on civil rights requirements, complaint procedures
and the rights of beneficiaries in member contracts, handbooks, manuals, pamphlets, and
post in prominent locations, as appropriate. The grantee must also notify the public in
recruitment material and application forms that it operates its program or activity subject
to the nondiscrimination requirements. Sample language, in bold print, is "This program
is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex,
political affiliation, or, in most instances, religion." Where a significant portion of the
population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than
English, the grantee shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type
ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.
2. Records and Compliance Information. The grantee must keep records and make
available to the Corporation timely, complete and accurate compliance information to
allow the Corporation to determine if the grantee is complying with the civil rights
statutes and implementing regulations. Where a grantee extends federal financial
assistance to sub-grantees, the sub-grantees must make available compliance information
to the grantee so it can carry out its civil rights obligations.
3. Obligation to Cooperate. The grantee must cooperate with the Corporation so that the
Corporation can ensure compliance with the civil rights statutes and implementing
regulations. The grantee shall permit access by the Corporation during normal business
hours to its books, records, accounts, staff, members, facilities, and other sources of
information as may be needed to determine compliance.
G. GRANT PRODUCTS
1. Sharing Grant Products. To the extent practical, the grantee agrees to make products
produced under the grant available at the cost of reproduction to others in the field.
2. Acknowledgment of Support. Publications created by members or grant-funded staff
must be consistent with the purposes of the grant. The AmeriCorps logo may be included
on such documents. The grantee is responsible for assuring that the following
acknowledgment and disclaimer appears in any external report or publication of material
based upon work supported by this grant.
"This material is based upon work supported by the Corporation for National and
Community Service under AmeriCorps Grant No. .Opinions or points of view
expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the
official position of, or a position that is endorsed by, the Corporation or the AmeriCorps
program."
H. SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF GRANT
Regulations related to the Corporation's authority to suspend or terminate this grant are
contained in 45 CFR§2540.400. In addition, a Grantee may suspend or terminate assistance to
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one of its sub-grantees, provided that such action affords the sub-grantee, at a minimum, the
notice and hearing rights described in 45 CFR§2540.400.
I. FIXED AMOUNT AWARD (Education Award Programs Only)
EAP awards are for fixed amounts. The fixed federal assistance amount of the grant is based on
the approved and awarded number of full time equivalent members (MSYs) specified in the
award.
The final award amount that the grantee may retain is dependent upon the grantee's notifying the
Corporation's National Service Trust of the members that it has selected (subject to the number
of members allotted to the grantee as specified in the award). All such members must carry out
activities to achieve the specific project objectives as approved by the Corporation. At closeout,
the Corporation will calculate the final amount of the grant based on Trust documentation. The
Corporation will recover any amounts drawn down by the grantee in excess of the final grant
amount allowed based on member selection documentation in the Trust.
J. TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
This grant is subject to requirements of Section 106(g) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act
of 2000, as amended (22 U.S.C. 7104).
a. Provisions applicable to a recipient that is a private entity.
1. You as the grantee, your employees, subgrantees under this grant, and subgrantee's
employees may not:
i. Engage in severe forms of trafficking in persons during the period of time that
the grant is in effect;
ii. Procure a commercial sex act during the period of time that the grant is in
effect; or
iii. Use forced labor in the performance of the grant or subgrants under the grant.
2. We as the Federal awarding agency may unilaterally terminate this grant, without
penalty, if you or a subgrantee that is a private entity -
i. Is determined to have violated a prohibition in paragraph a. l of this grant term;
or
ii. Has an employee who is determined by the agency official authorized to
terminate the grant to have violated a prohibition in paragraph a.l of this grant
term through conduct that is either:
A. Associated with performance under this grant; or
B. Imputed to you or the subgrantee using the standards and due process for
imputing the conduct of an individual to an organization that are provided in 2
CFR Part 180, "OMB guidelines to Agencies on Government-wide
Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement)," as implemented by our
agency at 2 CFR part 2200.
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b. Provisions applicable to a grantee other than a private entity. We as the Federal awarding
agency may unilaterally terminate this grant, without penalty, if a subgrantee that is a
private entity -
1. Is determined to have violated an applicable prohibition of paragraph a.l of this grant
term; or
2. Has an employee who is determined by the agency official authorized to terminate the
grant to have violated an applicable prohibition in paragraph a.l of this grant term
through conduct that is -
i. Associated with performance under this grant; or
ii. Imputed to the subgrantee using the standards and due process for imputing
conduct of an individual to an organization that are provided in 2 CFR part 180,
"OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension
(Nonprocurement)," as implemented by our agency at 2 CFR part 2200.
Provisions applicable to any grantee.
1. You must inform us immediately of any information you receive from any source
alleging a violation of a prohibition in paragraph a.l of this grant term.
2. Our right to terminate unilaterally that is described in paragraph a.2 or b of this section:
i. Implements section 106(g) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
(TVPA), as amended (22 U.S.C. 7104(g)), and
ii. Is in addition to all other remedies for noncompliance that are available to us
under this grant.
3. You must include the requirements of paragraph a.l of this grant term in any subgrant
you make to a private entity.
d. Definitions. For purposes of this grant term:
1. "Employee" means either:
i. An individual employed by you or a subgrantee who is engaged in the
performance of the project or program under this grant; or
ii. Another person engaged in the performance of the project or program under this
grant and not compensated by you including, but not limited to, a volunteer or
individual whose service are contributed by a third part as an in-kind
contribution toward cost sharing or matching requirements.
2. "Forced labor" means labor obtained by any of the following methods: the recruitment,
harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services,
through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary
servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.
3. "Private entity":
i. Means any entity other than a State, local government, Indian tribe, or foreign
public entity, as those terms are defined in 2 CFR 175.25.
ii. Includes:
A. A nonprofit organization, including any nonprofit institution of higher
education, hospital, or tribal organization other than one included in the
definition of Indian tribe at 2 CFR 175.25(b).
B. Afor-profit organization.
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4. "Severe forms of trafficking in persons," "commercial sex act," and "coercion" have
the meanings given at section 103 of the TVPA, as amended (22 U.S.C. 7102).
22
Corporation or
NATIONAL &
COMMUNITY
SERVICE
Grant Program Civil Rights and Non-Harassment Policy
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has zero tolerance for the hazassment of any
individual or group of individuals for any reason. CNCS is committed to treating all persons with dignity
and respect. CNCS prohibits all forms of discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, gender,
sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, marital or parental status, or military
service. All programs administered by, or receiving Federal financial assistance from CNCS, must 6e free
from all forms of harassment. Whether in CNCS offices or campuses, in other service-related settings such
as training sessions or service sites, or at service-related social events, such harassment is unacceptable.
Any such harassment, if found, will result in immediate corrective action, up to and including romoval or
termination of any CNCS employee or volunteer. Recipients of Federal financial assistance, be they
individuals, organi~$tions, programs and/or projects arc also subject to this zero tolerance policy. Where a
violation is found, and subject to regulatory procedures, appropriate corrective action will be taken, up to
and including termination of Federal financial assistance from &ji Federal sources.
Slurs and other verbal or physical conduct relating to an individual's gender, race, ethnicity, religion,
sexual orientation or any other basis constitute harassment when it has the purpose or effect of interfering
with service performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive service environment.
Harassment includes, but is not limited to: explicit or implicit demands for sexual favors; pressure for
dates; deliberate touching, leaning over, or cornering; offensive teasing, jokes, remarks, or questions;
letters, phone calls, or distribution or display of offensive materials; offensive looks or gestures; gender,
racial, ethnic, or religious baiting; physical assaults or other threatening behavior, or demeaning, debasing
or abusive comments or actions that intimidate.
CNCS does not tolerate harassment from anyone including persons of the same or different races, sexes,
religions, or ethnic origins; or from a CNCS employee or supervisor; a project, or site employee or
supervisor; anon-employee (e.g., client); a co-worker or service member.
1 expect supervisors and managers of CNCS programs and projects, when made aware of alleged
harassment by employees, service participants, or other individuals, to immediately take swift and
appropriate. CNCS will not tolerate retaliation against a person who raises harassment concerns in good
faith. Any CNCS employee who violates this policy will be subject to discipline, up to and including
termination, and any grantee that permits harassment in violation of this policy will be subject to a finding
of noncompliance and administrative procedures that may result in termination of federal financial
assistance from CNCS and all other federal agencies.
Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against in violation of civil rights laws,
regulations, or this policy, or in retaliation for opposition to discrimination or participation in
discrimination complaint proceedings (e.g., as a complainant or witness) in any CNCS program or project,
may raise his or her concerns with our Office of Civil Rights and Inclusiveness (OCRI). Discrimination
claims not brought to the attention of OCRI within 45 days of their occurrence may not be accepted in a
formal complaint of discrimination. No one can be required to use a program, project or sponsor dispute
resolution procedure before contacting OCRI, and if another procedure is used, it does not affect the 45-day
time limit. OCRI may be reached at (202) 606-7503 (voice), (202) 606-3472 (TTY), eons cns.gov. or
through www.nationalservice.gov.
r
10I31R007
Date David Eisner, Chief Executive Officer
1201 New York Avenue N.W. * Washington. DC 20525
202-606-5000 * ww~wnationalscrvicc.org
Senior Corps • AmeriCorps ,t Learn and Serve America The frtsiaauk Gtr to service
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