OpportunityTitle: 2014 Volunteer Generation Fund
CategoryExplanation: Recruiting, managing and supporting community volunteers in a wide range of service categories.
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: This competition is open to State Commissions on National and Community Service and alternative administrative entities as defined by Section 178(a) of the National and Community Service Act only.
Description: In 2009, Congress passed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (SAA), the most sweeping expansion of national service in a generation. The SAA created the Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) to develop and/or support community-based entities to recruit, manage, and support volunteers. This landmark law not only expands service opportunities, it focuses national service on key outcomes; builds the capacity of individuals, non-profits, and communities to succeed; and encourages innovative approaches to solving problems. Through VGF grants CNCS seeks to fund effective approaches that expand volunteering, strengthen the capacity of volunteer connector organizations to recruit and retain skill-based volunteers, and develop strategies to effectively use volunteers to solve problems. CNCS will carry out the intent of Congress and maximize the impact of the investment by funding programs that can demonstrate community impact and solve community problems through service and volunteering. VGF grants will be used to develop and/or support community-based entities to recruit, manage, and support volunteers. CNCS seeks to fund effective approaches that expand volunteering, strengthen the capacity of volunteer connector organizations to recruit and retain skill-based volunteers, and develop strategies to use volunteers effectively to solve problems. Specifically, the VGF grants will support efforts that expand the capacity of volunteer connector organizations to recruit, manage, support and retain individuals to serve in high quality volunteer assignments. In order to measure performance, programs funded through the VGF will establish outputs to measure the number of both new and retained volunteers managed and supported by grant funds awards and the types and amounts of activities carried out by volunteers. Additionally, VGF grants will support efforts to build the management capacity and effectiveness of volunteer connector organizations, especially in the critical area of volunteer retention. The FY 2014 VGF Team will be hosting two technical assistance conference calls for potential grant applicants. Calls will be conducted in a standard formal that includes a brief overview and a question and answer session. All calls will be recorded. Replay information for each call will be posted following the call. TTA Call 1: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 1:00 pm ET Phone and passcode will be available soon. TTA Call 2: Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 1:00 pm ET. Phone and passcode will be available soon.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Direct email for this competition
GrantorContactText: AmeriCorps State/National &lt;br/&gt;202-606-3227 &lt;br/&gt;
CloseDateExplanation: The application is due no later than Tuesday, July 8, 2014 by 5:00 pm Eastern Time. Applications must arrive at CNCS by the deadline in order to be considered. Applications received after the deadline will be determined non-compliant and therefore not eligible for review and consideration. CNCS reserves the right to extend the submission deadline and will post any extended deadline in eGrants on its websites: www.nationalservice.gov.