AmeriCorps works with governor-appointed state commissions, nonprofits, faith-based groups, schools, and other organizations to provide opportunities for Americans of all ages to serve their communities.

AmeriCorps provides people-power. Funds provided through AmeriCorps Mississippi support a team of members who provide direct service to build or improve communities and services provided and generate volunteers to support their efforts. If there are needs in your community and/or organization in the priority areas (below) that you believe can be addressed by the involvement of people serving together, then this program may be for you. Grant funds can considerably enhance current programs, but cannot duplicate or displace current employees.

In the FY 2021 AmeriCorps competition, AmeriCorps seeks to prioritize the investment of national service resources in:

• Efforts to help local communities respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants may propose programming to aid communities in their efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, including outcomes of COVID-19 on student subgroups described in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
• Educational opportunity and economic mobility for communities experiencing persistent unemployment or underemployment, and students experiencing homelessness or those in foster care.
• Programs that prioritize civic engagement and social cohesion.
• Evidence-based interventions on the AmeriCorps Evidence Exchange that are assessed as having Moderate or Strong evidence. Please note that many of these interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in improving outcomes for individuals living in underserved communities and that the agency has committed resources to supporting grantees seeking to replicate and evaluate these interventions in similar communities.
• Veterans and Military Families, Caregivers, and Survivors – a program model that improves quality of life of veterans and improves well-being of military families, caregivers, and survivors. 
• Rural intermediaries – organizations that demonstrate measurable impact and primarily
• serve rural communities with limited resources and organizational infrastructure.  
• Environmental stewardship and climate change including renewable energy and energy
• Faith-based organizations.
• Economic Mobility Corps

Public or private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and other community organizations; institutions of higher education; government entities within states or territories (e.g., cities, counties); labor organizations; partnerships and consortia; and Indian Tribes are encouraged to apply.

AmeriCorps encourages organizations that have never received funding from AmeriCorps to apply for the grants described in this Notice.

This grant is made for one program year. Additional funding for the remainder of the three-year cycle (if any) is contingent upon numerous factors, including, but not limited to, satisfactory performance, demonstrated capacity to manage the grant, compliance with grant requirements, agency priorities, and the availability of appropriated funds.

Programs must be large enough to achieve a demonstrable impact on the community served. Thus, while the actual size of each program may vary depending on the size of the community and/or organization it operates in, the design of the program, and other factors, applicants are encouraged to apply for a minimum of ten (10) AmeriCorps members.

There is an overall grantee match requirement of 24% for the first 3-year funding period. This match can be cash and/or in-kind. Overall grantee share of total program costs increases gradually to 50% by the tenth year of funding. Other federal funds used as match for this program must be tracked and reported.

Partner contributions to AmeriCorps programs depend on the structure of individual partnerships and programs. In some cases, placement sites do contribute cash to the program; in other cases, placement sites might contribute in-kind services, supplies, trainers, facilities, evaluation expertise, or other services and equipment. Each partnership is unique to a given location and program.

• Recruiting, selecting, placing, training, and supervising AmeriCorps members.
• Designating a full-time coordinator to manage the program.
• Submitting progress reports reflecting progress towards meeting performance measurements, monthly expenditure reports, and financial status reports.
• Participating in training and technical assistance sessions for program directors and staff.
• Participating in statewide AmeriCorps member events and activities.

• You have numerous options, some of which include the following: You can find an agency to apply for and manage the funds (as a fiscal agent) that would then place the members at host service sites throughout a community, county, region or statewide; you can search our online program directory of existing AmeriCorps programs (found at www.volunteermississippi.org/) which will provide you with names and contact information for programs in your area, or you can contact the AmeriCorps Regional Office, which manages AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) and AmeriCorps Seniors programs. For more information on AmeriCorps*VISTA and Senior Service Corps contact Yen Le at yle@cns.gov.