Each year Volunteer Iowa grants and administers around $8 million of AmeriCorps State funding in Iowa through a competitive grant process. Programs may be awarded funding at the national level (through competitive funding) or state level (through formula funding).
Overview
- Volunteer Iowa posts its Requests for Applications for AmeriCorps State on this webpage.
- The Iowa application materials are based on the AmeriCorps State and National notices of funding opportunity and application instructions, but organizations that wish to operate an AmeriCorps State program solely within Iowa must follow the Volunteer Iowa application process.
Contact Senior Policy & Development Officer Jamie Orozco Nagel at jamie.nagel@volunteeriowa.org or 515-348-6233 with questions about the AmeriCorps State application process.
2023-2024 Iowa AmeriCorps State Funding Opportunity
The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (Volunteer Iowa) is pleased to announce a Request for Applications for Iowa AmeriCorps State programs to operate in 2023-2024
- 2023-2024 Program Year Planning Grant Announcement
- The due dates for planning applicants are:
- Funding Opportunity Announcement, Request for Applications, & Application Instructions Published: 1/11/2023
- Pre-Application Deadline: 2/7/2023
- Final Planning Application Deadline: 3/28/2023
- Funding Announcement: 5/2023* (anticipated)
- Program Start Date: 7/31/2023
- The due dates for planning applicants are:
- 2023-2024 Program Year Funding Announcement
- AmeriCorps State grants may award two categories of resources to address community needs: member positions and funds to support AmeriCorps members during their service terms (for operational grants) or to support planning activities to prepare for starting a new AmeriCorps program (planning grants).
- Due dates for the application process depend on the type of applicant and funding requested:
| Item | Competitive & Public Health Key Dates | Formula Key Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Applications due to Volunteer Iowa | Current grantees: September 27, 2022 2022 Public Health applicants: October 4, 2022 | Current grantees: September 27, 2022 New applicants: January 10, 2023 |
| Final Applications & Supporting Documents due to Volunteer Iowa | Competitive & Public Health applicants: November 8, 2022 | Current grantees: February 28, 2023 New applicants: March 14, 2023 |
2023-2024 Application Materials, including Planning Grant Application Materials
- Request for Applications (RFA)
- RFA Appendices:
- Pre-Applications
- Review Criteria & Final Application Instructions
- Competitive Review Criteria & Final Application Instructions
- Public Health Review Criteria & Final Application Instructions
- Continuation Review Criteria & Final Application Instructions
- Formula Review Criteria & Final Application Instructions
- Review Criteria & Final Application Instructions - PLANNING GRANT APPLICANTS
- 2023 AmeriCorps State and National Mandatory Supplemental Information (PDF)
- 2023 AmeriCorps State and National Performance Measure Instructions (PDF)
- 2023 Public Health AmeriCorps Performance Measures Instructions (PDF)
Attachments:
- Alignment with Volunteer Iowa Priorities Form
- Applicant Operational and Financial Management Survey
- eGrants Indirect Cost Rate User Instructions
- AmeriCorps State and National Evaluation Plan Template
- Logic Model Template
- eGrants Performance Measure Module Instructions
- Detailed Budget Instructions for Cost Reimbursement
- Cost Reimbursement Budget Worksheet (updated 12.9.2022)
- Detailed Budget Instructions for Fixed Cost
- Fixed Cost Budget Worksheet
- Budget Checklist
- Volunteer Iowa Fee Calculation Guide
- Final Application Checklist
- Applicant Guide & FAQs (Updated 2.23.2023)
- Performance Measures Instructions for Planning Grant Applicants
- Detailed Budget Instructions for Planning Grants
- Planning Grant Budget Worksheet
2023-2024 Training & Technical Assistance
Volunteer Iowa - TA Materials for Formula Applicants
- Link to Formula Recording
- Live Q&A Session Registration Link: Feb. 23, 2023 at 1:00pm
Volunteer Iowa - TA Materials for Planning Grant Applicants
- Link to Planning Grant Recording
- Live Planning Grant Q&A Session Registration Link: March 8, 2023 at 12:00pm
AmeriCorps Agency - Best Practices in Developing Performance Measures
This presentation is an excellent resource for understanding not only what types of performance measures should be included in your application but how to correctly enter those performance measures into eGrants.
AmeriCorps Agency - Best Practices in Budget Development for Fiscal Year 2022 AmeriCorps State and National Applicants
These materials were created for 2022-2023 applicants but the basic guidance about how to develop a compliant budget is still applicable for this competition. The sample budget does not contain Iowa-specific requirements, such as commission fees.
- Recording of Best Practices in Budget Development
- Best Practices in Budget Development slide deck
- Sample ASN Budget
National Direct Consultation
Volunteer Iowa participates in the AmeriCorps National Direct Consultation process coordinated by America’s Service Commissions (ASC). Any AmeriCorps National Direct program proposing to operate in Iowa is asked to complete the form found on ASC’s consultation page.
