Iowa AmeriCorps State 2021-2022

Announcement: Volunteer Iowa is pleased to announce the availability of federal funding in the form of AmeriCorps State program grants.  AmeriCorps is a National Service program that helps meet community needs through the efforts of AmeriCorps members. The AmeriCorps State program offers different types of funding to meet the needs of various host agencies and communities.

Program and service opportunity efforts will address the following priorities, drawn from Iowa's State Service Plan:

• Programs that are part of or utilize a comprehensive community strategy.
• Programs or strategies that engage underrepresented populations and those that provide a high return on investment.
• Programs in geographic areas that are underserved or have the highest need.
• Programs that address disparities in rural communities or with minorities.
• New service opportunities to develop community capital in the following areas:
  • State legislative & national service focus areas
  • Governor’s priority areas such as Future Ready Iowa, supporting Iowa’s energy plan, childcare and enrichment, digital literacy and education
  • Programming to mitigate disproportionate outcomes for minority populations with regard to school discipline, foster care, juvenile justice, corrections, and similar systems.

Application Materials
Applicants for this funding will need to reference the complete application materials to be posted here as both attachments and links, including the Volunteer Iowa Pre-Application Instructions, the Volunteer Iowa Request for Applications (RFA) and appendices, the Volunteer Iowa Final Application Instructions, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Mandatory Supplemental Guidance (“Guidance”), and the CNCS Performance Measure Instructions.  Because certain application materials are dependent on information/documents released by CNCS, this page will be updated with that information as it is made available.  Applications will be accepted only from organizations seeking funding to operate a program wholly within the state of Iowa (multi-state applicants apply directly to the Corporation for National and Community Service). Multi-state AmeriCorps National Direct applicants that intend to place members in Iowa must consult with Volunteer Iowa regarding these intended placements using the process and link provided in the RFA.

Key Dates & Deadlines
Deadlines for submission of the required Pre-Application and Final Application are listed below. Please note that several other listed dates (marked with *) are anticipated dates only and may be updated here throughout the grant application and review period.  Interested applicants should sign up for the mailing list to be informed of changes to this timeline.

From RFA:

• Funding Opportunity Announcement & Pre-Application Instructions Published: 8/18/2020
• RFA & Final Application Instructions Release Date: 9/29/2020*
• REQUIRED Pre-Application Deadlines: 9/15/2020 (for Returning programs); 10/6/2020, 1/19/2021, or 3/16/2021 (for New programs)
• Final (including Continuation) Application Deadlines: 11/10/2020 (for Competitive applicants); 3/2/2021 or 4/6/2021 (for Formula applicants, Volunteer Iowa will assign which final deadline following review of the Pre-Application)
  • 21AC233808- eGrants NOFA for cost reimbursement formula applicants
  • 21ES233807- eGrants NOFA for fixed-amount formula applicants
• Volunteer Iowa Grant Review Committee Meeting: 5/11/2021 (appearance by Formula applicants and Competitive applicants not yet notified of their funding status)
• Funding Announcement: 5/2021* (for Competitive programs and Formula programs)
• Program Start Date: 8/1/2021, 9/1/2021, or 1/1/2022 (applicant chooses from these start dates)

Additional Dates:

• Competitive Continuation Applicant Clarification with AmeriCorps: 2/5/2021-2/19/2021
• Competitive New & Recompete Applicant Clarification with AmeriCorps: 3/31/2021-4/13/2021
• Competitive Applicant Resolution with AmeriCorps: mid-end May 2021

Disclosure: Publication of this Funding Opportunity Announcement does not obligate Volunteer Iowa or the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to award any specific number of grants or to obligate any particular amount of funding. The actual level and timing of grant funding will be subject to the availability of annual federal appropriations.

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Volunteer Iowa Technical Assistance Sessions:

• Review of Application Materials and Timeline: 10/5/2020 @ 11:00am
  • Recording link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypQvAOGAvn8&feature=youtu.be 
• Final Application Review for Competitive Applicants: 10/27/2020 @ 9:00am
  • Recording link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx7QgS5kNmU&feature=youtu.be 

• From Host Site to Sponsor- Tips for Expanding your Role with AmeriCorps: 12/2/2020 @ 9:00am
  • Link to presentation slides:  https://iowa1.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/ICVS/EfHKB52_GX5HlVAmOrzaOPEBbuqcHP-pyQdNBB1IfXTiEw?e=hIDxlM 

• ​​​​​​Final Application Review for Formula Applicants: 2/2/2021 @ 11:00am

  • Recording link: https://youtu.be/ydPvQUUWuag
  • Link to presentation slides: https://iowa1.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/ICVS/EZo6J2CrsQRDkWhN0Ksit3ABXwa6onHNffdcTz7TdOcx7w?e=cZ51Ca 
  •  
• Final Application Workshop for Formula Applicants: 2/16/2021 from 12:00pm-2:00pm

  • Recording link: https://youtu.be/R6zXYwGDKVE

  • Link to presentation slides: https://iowa1.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/ICVS/Eb5NIcUWD99Gn6nBuWcTZHYB3dX2zNMTFGD5bZ5ExjOqOA?e=srgH7t 

CNCS/AmeriCorps Technical Assistance Sessions: visit the CNCS Notice of Funding Opportunity page for a full list of CNCS TA webinars

• Best Practices in Developing Performance Measures: Pre-Recorded Webinar: https://youtu.be/nnci_TuPHEE
• Best Practices in Demonstrating Evidence: Pre-Recorded Webinar: https://youtu.be/SHn-CFvThaM
• Best Practices in Budget Development: Webinar Resources: Recording of 11/18/20 Presentation , Sample Budget
• Best Practices in Writing an Evaluation Plan: Pre-Recorded Webinar: https://youtu.be/jnsX9unZi50 
  Pre-Recorded Webinar Resources: Best Practices in Writing an Evaluation Plan Handout, PowerPoint
• Best Practices in Evaluation Reporting: Pre-Recorded Webinar: https://youtu.be/Kz7mbkW_Spg
  Pre-Recorded Webinar Resources: PowerPoint