AmeriCorps State and National

The Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism, known as Georgia Serves, has released its AmeriCorps Notice of Funding Opportunity to support national service programs that strengthen communities across the state of Georgia. Administered through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and funded by AmeriCorps, this grant initiative aims to engage AmeriCorps members in meaningful service addressing critical local needs. The program is part of the federal AmeriCorps State and National initiative and provides Formula Grant funding to eligible organizations that propose evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support projects that contribute to improved lives and civic engagement through volunteering. Georgia Serves prioritizes organizations with strong community impact that align with one or more of the AmeriCorps focus areas: Capacity Building, Disaster Services, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Futures, and Veterans and Military Families. Special consideration is given to faith-based entities, rural and tribal communities, youth behavioral health programs, veteran and military family support, crime prevention, outdoor conservation, and workforce development initiatives. Eligible applicants include Indian Tribes, higher education institutions, local governments, school districts, nonprofit and faith-based organizations within Georgia. Applicants must use AmeriCorps members to deliver interventions with measurable outputs and outcomes. Georgia Serves requires all funded programs to include two Georgia-specific performance measures: each member must recruit at least five volunteers per Member Service Year (MSY), and at least 75% of members must complete first aid and CPR training in the first quarter of the program year. Applicants must apply through the AmeriCorps eGrants online system and submit their full application by February 27, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. EST. Additional required documents must be submitted via email to [email protected] by the same deadline. Required documents vary by applicant type but commonly include financial statements, audits, memoranda of understanding (if applicable), immigration affidavits, and evidence documentation. New applicants must also submit a labor union concurrence (if applicable) and an Operational and Financial Management Survey. The application must include several core elements: SF-424, narrative sections (Executive Summary, Program Design, Organizational Capability, Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy), a logic model, budget, and performance measures. Applications will be evaluated based on a structured review process with weighted criteria. Program Design accounts for 50% of the score, followed by Organizational Capability and Budget Adequacy at 25% each. The review includes assessment of evidence tiers, alignment with funding priorities, member experience, supervision structure, and cost-effectiveness. Applications deemed compliant will undergo additional risk and budget assessments. Final funding decisions will be made by Georgia Serves, with award notifications expected by early June 2026 and funds distributed by late August 2026. The grant period is three years, though funding is awarded one year at a time. Projects may not start before September 1, 2026. First-time grantees must provide a 24% match, which increases gradually to 30% by year ten. Awards vary by project size and structure, with a maximum cost per MSY of $25,000 for cost-reimbursement programs. Fixed Amount grants are not available to new applicants. AmeriCorps also enforces specific criminal history check and monitoring requirements for all members and grantees. Technical assistance for the application process is available via Georgia Serves, including weekly office hours and a recorded workshop session.

Prioritize alignment with AmeriCorps focus areas; ensure use of evidence-informed models; include required Georgia-specific performance measures; clearly label all documents.