Serve Washington receives $21.3 million in federal grants to support 1,490 AmeriCorps members statewide

From the Governor's Office:

August 25, 2022

Gov. Jay Inslee announced today that Serve Washington, the state’s commission on national and community service, has been awarded $21.3 million in federal AmeriCorps funding that will help place 1,490 AmeriCorps members statewide.

AmeriCorps is the national community service program where AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve directly with nonprofit organizations to tackle the nation’s most pressing challenges. Over the course of their service, AmeriCorps members serve in program focus areas related to economic opportunity, healthy futures, environmental stewardship, disaster services, education and the needs of veterans and military families.

“AmeriCorps members are a force multiplier when it comes to helping communities thrive,” Inslee said. “Their resourcefulness, creativity and unwavering dedication to service has helped community organizations meet critical needs of the most vulnerable Washingtonians. I’m proud we have these AmeriCorps members to help our communities thrive though results-driven service and make Washington state an even greater place to live.”

In addition to federal allocations, AmeriCorps programs in Washington leverage an additional $28.2 million in local matching funds. AmeriCorps is based on public-private partnerships. That means AmeriCorps grantees need to raise significant outside resources, which includes support at the local level, to operate their programs.

AmeriCorps programs continue to be an important partner to address critical needs and systemic inequities in Washington that have been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Serve Washington Executive Director Amber Martin-Jahn said many AmeriCorps programs pivoted their focus the last two years to address issues around food and housing insecurity, student learning loss and mental health among young people.

“AmeriCorps members stepped in to serve their communities in many ways and faced these critical needs head on,” Martin-Jahn said. “As powerful as that is, I am reminded daily of the double bottom line AmeriCorps offers through its investment, development and support of the AmeriCorps members themselves. We are honored our AmeriCorps programs will continue to partner with philanthropies, nonprofits and state agencies to meet these challenges.”

Over the next year, 1,490 AmeriCorps members will earn up to a combined $9 million in education awards. Members will receive approximately $6,495 each through an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award after they complete 1,700 hours of service to pay for college or pay off student loans.

Read the full press release and a list of all organizations that received grant funding here.