Applications open for Volunteer Generation Fund grant to help community organizations grow volunteer programs

Community organizations wanting to strengthen volunteer recruitment and retention programs are invited to apply for a Volunteer Generation Fund, VGF grant.

Indian Tribes, higher education institutions, local governments, non-profit organizations, school districts, individual K-12 schools, state service commissions, states and US Territories can apply. Applicants that receive funding can carry out their own activities supported under the award or use it to make subgrants to other volunteer connector organizations. Applications are due by 5 p.m. eastern time May 16.

The grant supports community-based volunteerism. VGF encourages grant applications include work plans that advance justice and equality in areas such as education, rural communities, access to food and healthcare, workforce development, elder justice, and living independently.

The grant is administered by AmeriCorps, but organizations don’t need to have any connection to an AmeriCorps program to apply.

Priorities will be given to programs and projects that:

• serve BIPOC, LGBTQI+, veterans and military family communities, people in in rural areas and people with disabilities
• launch, expand or improve high-impact tutoring, mentoring and other school-based or out-of-schooltime programs that support students’ academic success and their mental health and overall wellbeing in alignment with the National Partnership for Student Success.
• actively engage volunteers in removing structural racial inequities, advance racial equality, and increase opportunity to achieve sustainable change in communities
• engage in activities to counter the corrosive effects of hate-fueled violence on our democracy and public safety in line with the United We Stand Summit.

For more information and links to the notice of funding opportunity and application instructions, visit AmeriCorps.

Need help applying for the grant? Attend these webinars

AmeriCorps is hosting a technical assistance webinar at 3 p.m. eastern time April 4 for applicants to answer questions about the funding opportunity and eGrants.

Serve Washington will also be hosting a virtual meeting at 11 a.m. pacific time April 17 for organizations to speak with Washington service commissioners about their needs and ideas for applying for this funding. Serve Washington’s executive director, Amber Martin-Jahn will moderate a discussion about the funding opportunity, what projects in Washington the VGF grant has supported in the past and provide a space to share ideas related to the current opportunity for Washington communities and organizations.

Attendance at these sessions is not mandatory to apply for the grant. However, it gives organizations a chance to ask questions and learn about the technical aspects of the notice of funding opportunity.