CaliforniaVolunteers August 2008

1. 2009 AmeriCorps RFA Outreach CaliforniaVolunteers August 2008

2. Circe Olander Director, AmeriCorps Kara Jenkins Manager, Grants and Field Outreach Presenters

3. Presentation Objectives • Review guidelines outlined in the 2009 AmeriCorps RFA; • Provide an overview of packaging and submitting an application for funding; and, • Provide a forum for questions.

4. Presentation Outline • Overview of CV and National Service • General Grant Information • Program Design • Grant Terms and Requirements • Selection Process and Timeline • Packaging Your Application

5. Assumptions • Attendees have reviewed the RFA; • Attendees brought a hard copy to follow along; • Attendees have some familiarity with AmeriCorps; and, • There are areas that need clarification.

6. Mission: To increase the number and impact of Californians engaged in service and volunteering. CaliforniaVolunteers

7. State service commission established in 1994 by Executive Order to administer AmeriCorps funding within California; CaliforniaVolunteers is led by Secretary Karen Baker, the nation’s first state cabinet-level Secretary of Service and Volunteering; Supported by a bipartisan 25-member commission appointed by the Governor; and, Maria Shriver, the First Lady of California, serves as the honorary chair of the commission.

8. People of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger First Lady Maria Shriver, Honorary Chair Staff Organization Chart 2008 Secretary of Service And Volunteering Karen Baker CaliforniaVolunteers Commission Chair: Jeff Hoffman Vice Chair: Helen Torres Special Assistant Alice Rodriguez Executive Fellow TBD Receptionist Katie DiGirolamo Chief of Staff Kaira Esgate Director, AmeriCorps Programs Circe Olander Director, Finance & Administration Sarah Mangum Director, Disaster Volunteering & Preparedness Sharron Leaon Assistant Director, External Affairs Marta Bortner Assistant Director, Volunteer Action Nancy Olson Assistant Director, Disaster Volunteering & Preparedness Mike Staley Assistant Director, AmeriCorps Programs Bernadette Dawson Specialist, Operations & Training (PT) Jerry Colivas Specialist, Emergency & Community Preparedness Carolyn Moussa Specialist, Training & Technical Assistance TBD Specialist, AmeriCorps (PT) Eddie Aguero Specialist, Grants & Field Ops. Kara Jenkins Manager, Disaster Communications Jairo Moncada Manager, CVMN TBD Specialist, Volunteer & Donations Management TBD Specialist, Disaster Volunteer Programs TBD AmeriCorps Associate Rachel Hughes Program Associate Melissa Ziebron Program Associate Ia Moua Program Associate Gilbert Rangel Program Associate Becky Mutua Comm. Associate Matt Schmidt DVP Associate TBD Emergency Planning Associate Tiffani Harter Bus. Service Associate Jennifer Rudolph Grant Man. Associate PT Pam Freeman Grant Man. Associate Jesse Delis Policy Associate Lupe Castillo VISTA Leader Leo Graves Special Projects Associate Cindy Thomas CVMN Associate Kamara Aguiar Student Assistant Oscar Mejia

9. National Service

11. Four Issue Areas • Education • Health and Other Human Needs • Public Safety • Environment

12. AmeriCorps Overview

13. AmeriCorps

14. CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AmeriCorps National Service Network AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps Administered by Corporation for National and Community Service staff at each campus AmeriCorps VISTA AmeriCorps  State / National State Office of the Corporation for National and Community Service 5 Campuses Sacramento, CA Denver, CO Charleston, SC Washington DC Perry Point, MD State Service Commissions National Direct Parent Organizations Indian Tribes and US Territories National Demonstration Projects Education Award Sub-Grantees (Programs) AmeriCorps Sub-Grantees (Programs) Local VISTA Projects AmeriCorps Project Sites AmeriCorps Project Sites AmeriCorps VISTA Leaders AmeriCorps Members

15. AmeriCorps $$$$$ National Direct Formula based on population State Funding Your State $$$ Competitive $40 million Formula Based on Population Approximately $9.5 million

16. 52 programs Approximately $26 million in federal funding Support 4,000+ service opportunities Issue areas: Education: 42 percent Health & Other Human Needs: 41 percent Environment: 7 percent Public Safety: 10 percent 2008-2009 AmeriCorps Portfolio

17. Tutoring Home visiting Supporting afterschool programming Watershed restoration and education Intensive mentoring and other interventions Volunteer recruitment and management For examples, please see page 19 of the RFA AmeriCorps Activities

18. Specifically AmeriCorps strives to: Get things done; Strengthen communities; Encourage responsibility; and, Expand opportunity. AmeriCorps

19. I Am AmeriCorps • Living Allowance • Health Insurance • Student Loan Deferment/Forbearance • Education Award • Child Care (if eligible)

20. General Grant Information

21. Grants range from $160,342 to $1.3 million; Available competitive funding - $40 million; Available formula funding - $3.5 million; Actual available funding dependent on final congressional appropriations; and, Expect to have more applicants than available funds. Available Funds

22. Formation of a Partnership; Must have a minimum of three independent members, with at least one public and one private (non-profit or for-profit); and, These three members must maintain a significant role in the planning, operating, and sustainability of the program. Partnerships

23. Shared vision for community change Shared ownership and commitment Benefit to All Partners Mutual Support for Program Design Communication is Valued Characteristics

24. Defined as those in which none of the following have ever developed a funded operating grant proposal: Legal applicant; Primary partners; or, Individuals, such as consultants, grantwriters, or previous AmeriCorps program, Commission, or Corporation staff members. New applicants will receive 10 percent addition to final score. New Applicants

25. Recompeting Programs – current programs entering the final year of their grant period Experienced Applicants – have previously operated an AmeriCorps program, but propose a new one Previously Funded Programs – applicants that have operated the same AmeriCorps program in the last 5 program years Other Applicants

26. New and Experienced applicants may apply for up to $425,000 in formula funds; Previously Funded and Recompeting AmeriCorps programs may apply for up to $850,000 in formula funds; and, Applicants exceeding these limits must apply for competitive funding. Grant Size Limits

27. Applicants must request no fewer than 20 member service years (MSYs); Exceptions will be reviewed based on justification provided by applicants in program narrative; and, CV may not approve exceptions below 10 MSYs. Minimum Program Size

28. Operating Grants – funding to support all program operating costs. Education Award – funding in the form of a small administrative grant ($600 per MSY), where programs use their own or other resources for the member’s living allowance and other program costs. See page 16 of the RFA Grant Types

29. Corporation Focus Areas for 2006-2010 Volunteer Recruitment and Support Ensuring a Brighter Future for Youth Engaging Students in Communities Engaging Baby Boomers in Service Helping communities recover from and prepare for disasters *In 2009, the Corporation will also give special consideration to programs designed to engage veterans as service recipients or providers Corporation Funding Priorities

30. Program Design

31. Program Design Categories • Needs and Service Activities - direct service activities that address the identified need • Member Development - member training activities • Strengthening Communities – volunteer recruitment and support, as well as infrastructure development.

32. Activities Chart

33. Issue Area Focus Know your area of expertise Focus on partnership strengths Do not address multiple issue areas unless they are complementary Members per Placement Site CV requirement Place members in teams of two or more Strong member supervision Other Key Elements

34. Needs/Service Activities

35. Document compelling community need valued by community Provide statistics relevant to the need your program proposes to address Provide local data that matches the area to be served Identify “high need” target population Community Involvement Identifying needs and activities Gap in services – why AmeriCorps? See page 21 of the RFA Needs and Service Activities

36. Member activity and roles Program structure Measurable outputs and outcomes Best practices and research models *Federal requirements for tutoring programs (see page 21, 22 of the RFA) Service Activities

37. Program Calendar August July June • When will service occur? • Where will service occur? • How often will members have contact with beneficiaries?

38. Member Development

39. Member Development • No more than 20 percent of service hours; • Must include training related to service activities; • Must include adequate member supervision. See page 27 of the RFA

40. Member Training Plans • Member Orientation • Initial Member Training • Site Specific Orientation • Ongoing Training • Training related to member service activities; • Volunteer recruitment and support training; • Ethic of Service/Civic Responsibility training; and, • Life After AmeriCorps.

41. Map out the service hours for the 12-month program period; Identify appropriate service terms; Account for “down time;” Selection process; and, Training calendar. Planning for Your Members

42. Member Conversion Chart

43. Program responsibility to verify: Must be at least 17 years of age; U.S. Citizen or lawful permanent resident alien; and, High school diploma or its equivalent. Criminal Background Checks See page 30 of the RFA Member Eligibility

44. Member Recruitment Responsibility of the program Must identify as an AmeriCorps position Must list on national recruitment website Diversity Reasonable Accommodations Selection Process Partners and Host sites Member Recruitment and Selection

45. Member Living Allowances

46. Calculated as part of budget: Health Insurance NOT Calculated as part of budget: Child Care Education Awards Student Loan Deferment and Forbearance Other Member Benefits

47. AmeriCorps Pledge/Swearing-in Encouraged following the completion of Member Orientation and Initial Member Training Service Gear May purchase standard Service Gear package Recognition/Graduation Ceremonies Provide ongoing recognition to members Graduation ceremonies following completion of term of service AmeriCorps Identity

48. Member Supervision Programs must provide adequate supervision from qualified supervisors Members may not supervise one another Member Performance Reviews All members must receive an end-of-term evaluation Grievance Procedures Member Refill Policy Programs may not enroll members until they have a fully executed contract with CV Member Management

49. Attempting to influence legislation; Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes; Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing; Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements; Engaging in partisan political activities/influencing elections to public office; Continued… Prohibited Member Activities

50. Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services or religious proselytization; Organized fund raising; Direct benefit to: for-profit business, political organization,labor union an organization engaged in religious activities unless Grant funds are not used to support religious activities Prohibited Member Activities