Illinois Department of Human Services

AmeriCorps State and National (ASN) Program improves lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through national service and volunteerism. Through AmeriCorps grants, organizations engage in meeting community and national challenges through service and volunteer action. The AmeriCorps grant engages AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions/practices to strengthen local communities. AmeriCorps program focus on the delivery of direct and/or capacity building services and Programs recruit, train and manage AmeriCorps members to deliver services. An AmeriCorps member is an individual who engages in community service through an approved national service position. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. Upon the members' successful completion of service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans.

45 CFR Part 2522

20 ILCS 505

77 Ill. Adm. Code 2250

The mission of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)—through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund, and the Volunteer Generation Fund—has helped to engage millions of Americans in meeting community and national challenges through service and volunteer action. AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations proposing to engage AmeriCorps members in well-designed interventions to strengthen communities. Through all of its programs, CNCS seeks to expand economic opportunity—helping Americans acquire the skills, education, and training they need for productive employment. By helping more Americans graduate, pursue higher education, and find work, national service can provide immediate and long-term benefits by expanding individual opportunity, building family stability, and creating more sustainable, resilient communities.

Yes

1. The Provider will conduct National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC) requirements as outlined in the NSCHC Manual. 2. Recruit and retain the allocated number and type of slots (e.g., full-time, half-time) of AmeriCorps members. 3. Provide services with the designated population(s) in the service area that work towards meeting the specified outcomes and outputs that align with primary services, addressing the focus area(s), and, if applicable, engaging volunteers in accordance with the approved program plan. 4. Adhere to the performance measures and evaluation in the approved program plan as required by Illinois AmeriCorps. 5. Supervise and train members throughout their service term as outlined in the approved program plan. 6. Provide all members with AmeriCorps uniforms, service gear, personal protective equipment and all other service materials required to accomplish the member's service hours. 7. Participate in Illinois AmeriCorps scheduled meetings and trainings (including Program Director's meetings, IDHS offered trainings, AmeriCorps national/regional offerings and regional trainings). 8. Certify member enrollment in the My AmeriCorps Portal for all members within eight calendar days of the AmeriCorps members' starting a term of service. 9. Host or co-host two national service days. All sites will host/co-host an event on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The Provider will also host/co-host a second event and it is at the discretion of the Provider to select one of the following options: Global Youth Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, 9/11 Remembrance Day, or Veterans Day. 10. Host a National Service Opening Day event/activity at the program site no later than six weeks from the start date of the program. 11. Host or co-host an AmeriCorps member recognition event/activity during AmeriCorps week. 12. The Provider must notify the Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Volunteerism and Community Service at Cory.Blissett@Illinois.gov and the Serve Illinois Executive Director at Andres.Fernandez@Illinois.gov of any of the following incidents involving AmeriCorps members within 24 business hours of the incident: 1) serious threat or violence to self or others, 2) death, 3) suicide/suicide attempt, 4) violence between AmeriCorps members and staff or participants that results in injury and 5) any allegation of abuse or neglect reported to the State's Central Registry (DCFS) or local law enforcement agency.

Nonprofit Organizations;

New applicants are not eligible to apply for Full Cost Fixed Amount grants.

N/A

Project Grants

Human Services

N/A

Current grantees should determine if they are a continuation applicant or a recompete applicant. GATA Registration and Prequalification Eligible applicant entities must be registered and prequalified through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal. Additionally, any sub- recipient must also be registered and prequalified through GATA upon application.

Electronic Application Submission in eGrants Applicants must submit applications electronically via eGrants, AmeriCorps' web- based application system. AmeriCorps recommends that applicants create an eGrants account and begin the application at least three weeks before the deadline. Applicants should draft the application as a Word document, then copy and paste the text into the appropriate eGrants field no later than 10 days before the deadline. The applicant's authorized representative must be the person who submits the application. The authorized representative must use their own eGrants account to sign and submit the application. A copy of the governing body's authorization for this official representative to sign must be on file in the applicant's office. Applicants should contact the AmeriCorps Hotline at (800) 942-2677 or via eGrants Questions if they have a problem when they create an account, prepare, or submit the application. AmeriCorps Hotline hours are posted. Be prepared to provide the application ID, organization's name, and the name of the Notice to which the organization is applying. If the issue cannot be resolved by the deadline, applicants must continue working with the AmeriCorps Hotline to submit via eGrants. Submission of Additional Documents All documents must be submitted to AmeriCorps by the Prime Applicants (State Service Commissions or National Directs). AmeriCorps Documents All applicants must submit to IDHS/Serve Illinois: Evaluation briefs, reports, studies. Uniform Grant Application for State Grant Assistance Grantee Conflict of Interest Disclosure Additional documents must be emailed to DHS.ServeIllinois.NOFO@illinois.gov with the following subject line: "Legal Applicant Name" - "Application ID Number." Labor union concurrence (if applicable) All applicants regardless of funding level are required to submit an Applicant Operational and Financial Management Survey (OFMS) found here: Manage your grant | AmeriCorps. Please submit the OFMS as a Word document. Forms submitted as a PDF, or any other document format may not be accepted. Recompete applicants who have previously received three or more years of funding for the same project being proposed must submit an Evaluation plan. Please use the evaluation plan template available on the FY 2023 AmeriCorps State and National Grants | AmeriCorps Evaluation plans are not scored and will not be reviewed until after funding decisions are made. Recompete applicants who have previously received six or more years of funding for the same project being proposed must submit an evaluation report. Please submit in Microsoft Word. The evaluation report should include a title page with the AmeriCorps grant number for the project that was evaluated, the name of the project, and the date of completion of the report. If any of this required information is missing, the applicant may not receive credit for meeting their evaluation requirements.

Program Staff will conduct an initial eligibility review to determine if an application meets the eligibility requirements published in this Notice and will advance to the next stage of the process.

Applicants selected for funding will receive a Notice of State Award (NOSA). The NOSA shall include: Grant award amount The terms and conditions of the award. Specific conditions, if any, assigned to the applicant based on the fiscal and administrative (ICQ), and merit-based review. Note: IDHS cannot issue an award until the successful applicant has an approved budget entered into CSA. The applicant shall receive the NOSA through the Grantee Portal. The NOSA must be signed by the grants officer (or equivalent). This signature effectively accepts the state award amount and all conditions set forth within the notice. This signed NOSA is the document authorizing IDHS to proceed with issuing an agreement. The Agency signed NOSA must be remitted to IDHS as instructed in the notice.

Specific deadlines are outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Varies

Appeals submission IDHS contact information: Name of Agency contact for appeals: Kristen Bethke Email of Agency contact for appeals: DHS.ServeIllinois.NOFO@illinois.gov

Continuation applicants must submit an application in order to be eligible to receive funding. Continuation applicants must follow the requirements for continuation application content as outlined in the Application Instructions. If an applicant is unsure if their organization is considered a continuation applicant, please email DHS.ServeIllinois.NOFO@illinois.gov for clarification.

N/A

All applicants will use grant funds according to the guidelines, conditions, and parameters set forth in this funding notice and in compliance with federal statutes, regulations and the terms and conditions of any applicable federal awards. Please refer to 2 CFR 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, PART 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles to determine the appropriateness of costs. Allowable costs: Allowable costs are those that are necessary and reasonable based on the activities contained in the Scope of Work, are justified in the Budget Narrative, and are allowable under Subpart E of 2 CFR 200. It is expected that administrative costs, both direct and indirect, will represent a small portion of the overall program budget. Any budget deemed to include inappropriate or excessive administrative costs will not be approved. Program budgets and narratives must detail how all proposed expenditures are necessary for program implementation. Unallowable costs: Please refer to 2 CFR 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, PART 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles to determine the appropriateness of costs. In addition, and specific to this grant, the following costs will be unallowable without specific prior written approval from IDHS: Entertainment costs, except where specific costs that might otherwise be considered entertainment have a programmatic purpose and are authorized in the approved budget (2 CFR 200.438) Capital expenditures for general purpose equipment, including any vehicle regardless of cost, buildings, and land (2 CFR 200.439) Capital expenditures for improvements to land, buildings, or equipment which materially increase their value or useful life (2 CFR 200.439) Food, and other goods or services for personal use of the grantee's employees, contractors, or consultants of the grantee unless authorized as per diem under the State of Illinois Governor's Travel Control Board (2 CFR 200.445). Deposits for items, services, or space Limitation of Use Limitation of Use of Award funds for Employee Compensation: With respect to any award over $250,000, recipients may not use federal funds to pay total cash compensation to any employee that exceeds 110% of the maximum annual salary payable to a member of the Federal Government's Senior Executive Service (SES) at an agency with a Certified SES Performance Appraisal System for that year. A salary table is available at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management website.

Recipients are required to submit a variety of reports that are due at specific times during the life cycle of an award. All reports must be accurate, complete, and submitted on time. Upon execution of the grant agreement, reporting shall be in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Uniform Grant Agreement and related Exhibits.

Subject to monitoring visits, desk reviews, AmeriCorps audits, and Fiscal Administrative Review (FAR) audits.

The Provider is required to maintain until December 31, 2031, adequate books, all financial records and supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to this Award. If any litigation, claim, or audit is started before the expiration of the retention period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims or audit exceptions involving the records have been resolved and final action taken. The Provider agrees to provide or make available all records related to this grant upon request.

N/A

N/A

Varies

Numerous

Any Regulations, Guidelines, or Literature necessary for program implementation will be provided by the DHS Program Office responsible for managing this program grant at no cost to the provider.

DHS.ServeIllinoisNOFO@illinois.gov

AmeriCorps State and National

https://serve.illinois.gov/

Formula Traditional, Competitive Fixed, Competitive Traditional, Public Health AmeriCorps

See https://serve.illinois.gov/

3/29/2023

FY 2023 : $643,200
FY 2024 : $135,000