Americorps

There are as many reasons to serve as there are people who serve. Volunteering is not just an altruistic act. It’s an opportunity to advance in all areas of your life. Here are a few of the things you can gain when you give your time and yourself:

• Connect with your community;
• Conserve funds for charities, nonprofits and faith-based and other community organizations by contributing your time;
• Share your skills and gain new ones;
• Develop self-esteem and self-confidence;
• Meet new people from all walks of life;
• Enhance your résumé and make important networking contacts;
• Promote a worthwhile activity;
• Feel needed and valued;
• Experience something new;
• Serve your country.

Perhaps the first and biggest benefit people get from volunteering is the satisfaction of incorporating service into their lives and making a difference in their community and country. The intangible benefits alone—such as pride, satisfaction and accomplishment—are worthwhile reasons to serve. But there are other benefits as well.

During their term of service, full-time members receive a modest living allowance, also known as stipend.

In addition to the living allowance, all members who complete a term of service receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. The amount of a full-time Segal AmeriCorps Education Award is equivalent to the maximum value of the Pell Grant for the fiscal year in which the term of national service is approved. The amount of the Pell Grant can change each year. Therefore, the amount of a full-time award can change. Once an individual earns an award, the dollar amount of that award will not change. The education award can be used to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans. Further, members with qualifying student loans are eligible for student loan deferment during their term of service.

Childcare and healthcare benefits are available to full-time AmeriCorps members who qualify.

An AmeriCorps member must:

• be at least 17 years of age at the commencement of service; or under special cirucumstances be an out-of-school youth 16 years of age at the commencement of service.
• have a high school diploma or GED or agree to obtain prior to using the education award; or under special circumstances obtain a waiver.
• be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the U.S.
• satisfy the National Service Criminal History Check eligibility criteria.

If selected, AmeriCorps members must provide proof of age and citizenship, including government issued photo identification. AmeriCorps positions are contingent on satisfactory results of such criminal history checks.

Apply online here. For a step by step walk through on how to apply, check out this video:

When AmeriCorps grant funding is available, Serve Washington administers a Request for Grant Application (RFGA) process to solicit applications from eligible organizations interested in hosting an AmeriCorps team. Specific Information about the number of members an eligible applicant can request will be outlined in the RFGA instructions only. Information on grant opportunities is located on the Funding Opportunities page. To ensure that your organization receives notification of future grants opportunities, you can subscribe to receive e-mail notification when opportunities become available.

If you are interested in hosting one or more AmeriCorps members, you may contact an AmeriCorps program in your area or a statewide intermediary to determine if a partnership may be feasible. Many intermediaries conduct an annual application process and may require a financial cost-share. Refer to Find an AmeriCorps program for a listing of programs in your county.