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AmeriCorps State and National (ASN) Program improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteerism. The primary objective for AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers is to serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities and those serving. AmeriCorps helps make service a cornerstone of our national culture. The planning grant period is August 1, 2024, through August 31, 2025. Per statute, the planning grant award may not last more than 365 days and cannot be extended for any reason.

45 CFR Part 2522

20 ILCS 505

77 Ill. Adm. Code 2250

Planning grants are not used to support AmeriCorps members. If planning grantees opt to apply for a full operational AmeriCorps grant, those are awarded to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions/practices to strengthen communities. 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 successful completion of their service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from the National Service Trust that members can use to pay for higher education and training program expenses or apply to qualified student loans.

Yes

The project period will be co-determined by the applicant and Serve Illinois based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the applicants’ familiarity with AmeriCorps organizational capacity (largely determined through the application process, outlined below), and proposed timeline. Per statute, the planning grant award may not last more than 365 days and cannot be extended for any reason.

ALL;

This funding opportunity is open to new applicants new to AmeriCorps funding. The following non-Federal entities (all of which are defined in 2 CFR 200.1) are eligible to apply: Indian Tribes Institutions of higher education Local governments Public health departments Nonprofit organizations State service commissions States and US Territories Applicants must have a valid System Award Management (SAM) registration and Unique Entity Identifier to receive an award. Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps encourages new organizations that have not received prior funding from AmeriCorps to apply.

N/A

Project Grants

Human Services

N/A

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.

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

N/A

All planning grants have a 24% match requirement. However, approved applicants are able to request a match waiver which are reviewed by AmeriCorps agency staff.

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

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

See https://serve.illinois.gov/

FY 2025 : $2,500,000