Funding Opportunities

AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations proposing to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions 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 to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans.

Serve Washington (Serve WA) administers a Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) process to solicit applications from eligible organizations. To receive notice of grant opportunities, join the grant e-mail list. Notice of funding opportunities are sent in the fall of each year and occasionally in the spring.

There are two opportunities for applicants to be funded through AmeriCorps. Approximately one-third of AmeriCorps funds are granted by the Corporation for National and Community Service via competitive grants, and two-thirds of grant funding goes to Governor-appointed state service commissions, which award formula grants in their states. Both of these application processes originate with Serve WA. Regardless of the type of funding an applicant receives, the state commission is responsible for fiscal and programmatic monitoring.

AmeriCorps grants generally provide funding for a three-year grant period, assuming demonstrated success toward achieving program and fiscal compliance and the completion of an annual continuation request.

The minimum number of members an eligible applicant can request will be outlined in the RFGA instructions only. Typically, Serve WA AmeriCorps programs are required to host an AmeriCorps team.

If you are interested in hosting just one or a few AmeriCorps members, you may wish to contact an AmeriCorps program in your area or a statewide intermediary such as Washington Service Corps to determine whether a partnership is feasible. Refer to the AmeriCorps Program Directory for a listing of programs in your county.

You could contact the AmeriCorps program closest to your location to see if all or some of their members would be available for a short-term service project. Another resource might be the AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) program. AmeriCorps NCCC, one of AmeriCorps’ core programs, is a full-time, 10–11-month, service opportunity that covers lodging and travel expenses, allowing young adults to serve on a team and make an impact in communities across the country while gaining valuable leadership skills. See current NCCC deployment reports.

The funding is based on how many Member Service Years (MSYs) requested regardless of the type of grant you apply under – either fixed amount grant or cost reimbursement grant. In Federal Fiscal Year 2026, the limit is $25,000 per MSY for both types of grants. For example, if you request 20 MSYs (full-time members), your maximum grant will equal $500,000 ($25,000 x 20 MSYs). Member support costs, including a minimum living allowance of $20,400 for full-time members, take up most of the federal funding available. Programs must provide a substantial cash and/or in-kind match to operate a successful program. Federal AmeriCorps grants are not intended to fully fund program operations.

Notice of funding opportunities are sent in the fall of each year and occasionally in the spring.

To be notified, join our grant email distribution list.

AmeriCorps funding comes to Washington through two separate funding streams: formula and competitive funds from AmeriCorps the federal agency (formerly known as Corporation for National and Community Service).

Well-managed organizations with strong organizational competencies tend to be most successful in administering complex grants like AmeriCorps.

To help you determine whether your organization is poised to successfully administer an AmeriCorps grant, we recommend that you complete the AmeriCorps Readiness Assessment. Please note, a satisfactory score does not guarantee AmeriCorps funding through Serve WA or AmeriCorps the federal agency.

For help determine which resources apply to your organization, we recommend this Navigating National Service Resources Flow Chart.

If you are a National Direct planning to apply to Serve Washington or are applying directly to AmeriCorps the federal agency for a special grant opportunity and plan to operate under the Commission, this document may be valuable in understanding Washington state standards.  The document is also beneficial for general interested parties.

• Serve Washington AmeriCorps Program Supplemental Information

Competitive is a national award process, where AmeriCorps issues a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) once annually. Programs may apply as National Directs (directly to AmeriCorps) or may apply through their local commission (Serve WA). While local commissions assist with application writing and technical assistance, along with submitting all applications to AmeriCorps, they don’t make final award decisions. Competitive programs are typically for larger program designs with more than 30 AmeriCorps members.

Formula is a commission-based award process. AmeriCorps annually issues a formula allocation to a state commission, and the commission (Serve WA) is responsible for making final award decisions through the Grant Review Committee (typically from our Commissioners). Serve WA also provides feedback and training and technical assistance (like competitive) up until the RFGA is released. Formula programs are typically designed for smaller, local AmeriCorps programs with 10-30 AmeriCorps members.

Both competitive and formula award AmeriCorps programs for funding for that Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) and for the following Program Year (PY). The program year typically begins in late summer/early fall and runs until the following summer. The award period is typically for 12 months, and there are some programs that operate their program year December–January.

Both competitive and formula programs can operate simultaneously in a commission’s subgrantee portfolio.