1. Getting Things Done for Virginia!
Virginia Office on Volunteerism and Community Services

2. Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
CNCS provides:
opportunities for Americans to engage in their communities (CNCS in 1993; Serve America Act 2009)
five million Americans the opportunity to serve with nearly 70,000 organizations
critical resources and leadership to support proven programs at the local level. $1.1 billion budget

3. CNCS Mission and Goals Mission:
To improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering

4. CNCS Focus Areas: Education Economic Opportunity
Veterans, active military, and military families
Disaster Services
Healthy futures
Environmental Stewardship

5. CNCS Programs

6. AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects more than 85,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs including:
Fighting illiteracy
Improving health services
Cleaning parks and streams
Managing or operating after-school programs
Helping communities respond to disasters

7. AmeriCorps State in VA
Located within the Virginia Department of Social Services, Office on Volunteerism and Community Services
The Governor’s Advisory Board
Currently funding 12 programs across the Commonwealth (~$3.7 million)
Approximately 500 members serving statewide in

8. AmeriCorps Community Benefits
Members become role models
Develop engaged citizens:
Knowledgeable of problems
More likely to choose public
service careers
Get measurable results
Prepared workforce
Employers of National Service

9. AmeriCorps Member Benefits
Valuable training and
experience
Develop an ethic of service
A modest living allowance
Education Award tied to
maximum Pell Grant
Health insurance and childcare
benefits for full-time service

10. Host Organization Benefits
Low cost solution to getting things done and serving more people
Recruitment of additional community volunteers
Enhances visibility/reputation
Attracts and retains civically-
minded people
Connects to the National Service Network

11. Eligible Applicant Organizations
Public or private non-profit organizations including:
community organizations
faith-based organizations
institutes of higher education
state agencies
government entities within the state (e.g., cities, counties)
***Partnerships or consortiums of the above

12. Virginia’s Guiding Principles
High impact, rigorously documented outcomes
Clear benefits to community / client beneficiaries
Service in high need regions and challenged communities
Fewer and bigger programs; collaborations with strong partners (intermediaries) with common outcomes
Grant periods of 1 – 3 years

13. Structure for Program Success
What is the need in the community? (Problem)
What are the resources to apply to the need? (Inputs)
What do you want to do about it? (Activities)
How will you count the raw data? (Outputs)
What will be the short-term, medium-term, and long-term achievements? (Outcomes)

14. The Big Question: What’s the Cost?
Money
24% required match for first 3 years
Example:
$179,184 CNCS request (12 MSY x $14,932): 76%
56,585 Match (cash and in kind): 24%
$235,769 TOTAL PROJECT COST

15. What Else Will This Cost?
Talent
Professional grant management expertise
National service experience
HR and Financial Management expertise
Coordination and Cooperation
Who leads?
How are the relationships managed?
Time
Clear commitment of time
May need additional staff

16. The OTHER BIG Question: What is the Value?
COMMUNITY
IMPACT
Community – Mission Accomplished!
Grantee – Greater Capacity!
Members – Personal Satisfaction and Skills Gained!

17. Positioning for Success
Make the program a community asset
Program must meet documented community needs
Use a real evidenced-based program design with real performance measurement
Be prepared to support the national service movement

18. For More Information Virginia’s AmeriCorps:
Corporation for National & Community Service: