Community Service Resources

• AmeriCorps*State and National
• AmeriCorps*VISTA
• AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps)
• Foster Grandparents
• RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program)
• Senior Companion Program
• Learn and Serve America
• AmeriCorps Membership

The Corporation for National and Community Service connects Americans of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to give back to their communities and their nation through voluntary service. More than 2 million Americans serve their fellow citizens each year in thousands of nonprofits across the nation through the Corporation's three main programs: AmeriCorps (which includes AmeriCorps*State and National, AmeriCorps*NCCC, and AmeriCorps*VISTA); Senior Corps (which includes Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, and RSVP); and Learn and Serve America. In partnership with nonprofit groups, faith-based organizations, schools, and other public agencies, participants in the Corporation's programs mentor at-risk children, help the homeless, provide for the hungry, and assist those returning home from prison or moving from welfare-to-work. They also recruit and manage volunteers and otherwise help to build the strength and effectiveness of nonprofit organizations.

AmeriCorps*State and National
Corporation for National and Community Service

AmeriCorps provides grants to governor-appointed state commissions and local and national nonprofit organizations, including many faith-based groups, to help those organizations meet critical needs in education, public safety, public health, homeland security, and the environment. Most AmeriCorps members serve with one of the thousands of small, local nonprofit groups that are effectively meeting community needs every day. Through its regular State and National program, AmeriCorps members also serve with local affiliates of well-known national groups such as the American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Clubs, Teach for America, and City Year, and also with faith-based groups such as the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, the Christian Appalachian Project, ACCESS of Dearborn, Michigan, Lutheran Volunteer Corps, and Holy Cross Associates. Organizations that receive an AmeriCorps grant recruit and select their own members, often right from their local community. Two other AmeriCorps programs offer more specialized service opportunities and are described below: AmeriCorps*NCCC, and AmeriCorps*VISTA.

Approximately $174,000,000 is appropriated for 2003, and the President requested $313,000,000 for the program for FY 2004. Sponsoring partners must provide 33 percent of the program operating costs and 15 percent of the member living allowance.

Contact: Go to www.americorps.org or contact your state commission. A list can be found at the Corporation's web site at: http://www.nationalservice.org/about/family/commissions_pick.html.

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AmeriCorps*VISTA
Corporation for National and Community Service

AmeriCorps*VISTA should be of especial interest to faith-based organizations. The focus of AmeriCorps*VISTA is on helping low-income Americans and communities become self-sufficient. Members serve full time for a year in nonprofit organizations and public agencies throughout the country. In fiscal year 2001, approximately 6,000 AmeriCorps*VISTA members served in 1,200 local programs. More than half of the organizations with which VISTA members serve have 10 or fewer employees and budgets under $500,000. Ten percent of all VISTA members serve in faith-based community organizations.

Approximately $94,000,000 is appropriated for FY 2003, and the President requested $94,000,000 for the program for FY 2004. Most funds are distributed through the Corporation for National and Community Service state offices, which place members with local groups. The Corporation provides payroll, insurance, relocation, and training for members and supervisors.

Contact: The Corporation's state offices are the primary point of contact for organizations interested in sponsoring an AmeriCorps*VISTA member; a list of state offices can be found at the Corporation's web site at: http://www.nationalservice.org/about/family/state_offices.html.

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AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps)
Corporation for National and Community Service

AmeriCorps*NCCC is a full-time residential program for men and women between the ages of 18 and 24. AmeriCorps*NCCC combines the best practices of civilian service with the best aspects of military service, including leadership and team building. In fiscal year 2001, more than 1,000 AmeriCorps*NCCC members served at five campuses across the country.

AmeriCorps*NCCC members work in teams of 10 to 15 members. Priority is given to projects in public safety, public health, homeland security, and disaster prevention and relief. Members have responded to every major disaster since 1994, including the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Members also preserve parks and streams, build homes, and tutor youth. Projects usually last from six to eight weeks. In approximately 70 percent of projects, teams live away from the campus in the community where they are serving. Project sponsors include nonprofits, park agencies, and faith-based groups. National partners include the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and the U.S. Forest Service.

AmeriCorps*NCCC's budget for FY 2003 is $25,000,000 to support 1,220 members, and the President requested $27,000,000 for the program for FY 2004. Local sponsors share the costs associated with providing lodging and food for members serving on projects.

Contact: To learn how your faith-based organization can sponsor a short-term project in your local community, go to www.americorps.org.

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Foster Grandparents
Corporation for National and Community Service

The Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) is part of Senior Corps, a network of national service programs that provide older Americans the opportunity to put their life experiences to work for local communities. Foster Grandparents serve as mentors, tutors, and caregivers for at-risk children and youth with special needs through a variety of community organizations, including schools, hospitals, drug treatment facilities, correctional institutions, and Head Start and day-care centers. In fiscal year 2001 more than 30,000 Foster Grandparents tended to the needs of 275,000 young children and teenagers.

Local nonprofit organizations and public agencies receive grants to sponsor and operate local Foster Grandparent projects. Organizations that address the needs of abused and neglected children, troubled teens, young mothers, premature infants, and children with physical disabilities work with the local Foster Grandparent program to place and coordinate the services of the Foster Grandparent volunteers. These local partners are called volunteer stations. Volunteer stations include children's services agencies, child and youth-oriented charities, and faith-based institutions.

Approximately $111,000,000 is appropriated for FY 2003, and the President requested $107,000,000 for the program for FY 2004.

Contact: The best way to access the Corporation is to become a station at the local level. To learn more, contact your local state office. A list of state offices can be found at the Corporation's web site at: http://www.nationalservice.org/about/family/state_offices.html. A list of programs can be found on individual state profiles at: http://www.nationalservice.org/stateprofiles/index.html

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RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program)
Corporation for National and Community Service

RSVP is part of Senior Corps, a network of national service programs that provides older Americans the opportunity to apply their life experience to meeting community needs. RSVP volunteers serve in a diverse range of nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and faith-based groups. Among other activities, they mentor at-risk youth, organize neighborhood watch programs, test drinking water for contaminants, teach English to immigrants, and lend their business skills to community groups that provide critical social services. In fiscal year 2001, approximately 480,000 volunteers served an average of four hours a week at an estimated 65,000 local organizations.

Approximately $59,000,000 is appropriated for FY 2003, and the President requested $59,000,000 for the program for FY 2004.

Contact: The best way to access the Corporation is to become a station at the local level. To learn more, contact your local state office. A list of state offices can be found at the Corporation's web site at: http://www.nationalservice.org/about/family/state_offices.html. A list of programs can be found on individual state profiles at: http://www.nationalservice.org/stateprofiles/index.html

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Senior Companion Program
Corporation for National and Community Service

The Senior Companion Program is part of Senior Corps, a network of national service programs that provides older Americans with the opportunity to apply their life experiences to meeting community needs. Senior Companions serve one-on-one with the frail elderly and other homebound persons who have difficulty completing everyday tasks. They assist with grocery shopping, bill paying, and transportation to medical appointments, and they alert doctors and family members to potential problems. Senior Companions also provide short periods of relief to primary caregivers. Because of the program, thousands of citizens are able to live with dignity in their own homes. In fiscal year 2001, 15,500 Senior Companions tended to the needs of more than 61,000 adult clients.

Approximately $46,000,000 is appropriated for 2003, and the President requested $47,000,000 for the program for FY 2004.

Contact: The best way to access the Corporation is to become a station at the local level. To learn more, contact your local state office. A list of state offices can be found at the Corporation's web site at: http://www.nationalservice.org/about/family/state_offices.html. A list of programs can be found in individual state profiles at: http://www.nationalservice.org/stateprofiles/index.html

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Learn and Serve America
Corporation for National and Community Service

Learn and Serve America gives grants to schools, colleges and universities, and community organizations to support programs that tie academic learning to service. This approach to education, called service-learning, helps address community needs while developing students' academic skills and the habits of responsible citizenship. In fiscal year 2001, LSA supported 2,500 service-learning programs that engaged approximately 1.5 million students nationwide.

State service commissions or multi-state nonprofits may apply for competitive funds to distribute to local community organizations to support after-school service-learning programs. These programs engage youth ages 5 to 17 in service activities that enhance learning and develop skills but are not necessarily part of a school curriculum.

Learn and Serve America's enacted budget for fiscal year 2002 is $43,000,000.

Contact: (202) 606-5000, ext.117, or visit www.learnandserve.org.

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AmeriCorps Membership
Corporation for National and Community Service

In addition to the opportunity for faith-based organizations to compete for Corporation support, individuals also have an opportunity to benefit from AmeriCorps membership. Faith-based programs may want to encourage local community members to seek the benefits of joining AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps members serve their fellow citizens each year in thousands of nonprofits across the nation. Members mentor at-risk children, help the homeless, provide for the hungry, and assist those returning home from prison or moving from welfare-to-work. Members receive a modest living stipend and important career skills development that can help a member find employment after their term of service. Perhaps most importantly, AmeriCorps members receive an education award of up to $4,725 that can be used to pay college tuition or pay back qualified student loans.

Contact: Go to www.americorps.org or call toll-free 1-800-942-2677 or TTY 1-800-833-3722. At the AmeriCorps website, you will find information on specific AmeriCorps service opportunities, and for many programs you can apply on-line.

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