2023 Planning Grants Process
AmeriCorps Maryland
The Governor’s Office of Service and Volunteerism (GOSV) provides funding to support the development and operations of programs that engage individuals in direct service to address critical needs across Maryland.
Build your human capital—people power—with an AmeriCorps program that expands the reach and impact of your organization in Maryland.
AmeriCorps is a national service program designed to improve lives and foster civic engagement utilizing AmeriCorps Members in full- or part-time terms of service. Members commit their time to address critical community needs like increasing academic achievement, mentoring youth, fighting poverty, sustaining national parks, preparing for disasters, and more.
Fall 2023 AmeriCorps Planning Grants
The Governor’s Office of Service and Volunteerism is proud to announce a funding opportunity for organizations interested in planning a new AmeriCorps program.
This Notice is for AmeriCorps Maryland Planning Grants.
Successful applicants will work with the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism from October 2023 – August 2024 to develop a new AmeriCorps program. Eligible organizations can apply for planning grants of up to $100,000 with the ability to expand up to $240,000 for those organizations that have projects that closely align with the Governors’ strategic priorities: climate, education, public health, and public safety.
A planning grant will not be used to support AmeriCorps members.
Purpose of an AmeriCorps Planning Grant
The purpose of an AmeriCorps planning grant is to provide funding that allows an organization to devote the time and staff needed to develop a plan for a viable AmeriCorps program.
2023-2024 Planning Grants are only available to legal applicant organizations that want to propose and plan for a new program model or have not previously administered AmeriCorps programming.
Is This A Good Fit For You?
- My organization has identified a community need that requires new resources to address.
- We want to use people power (at least 5 AmeriCorps members) to meet this need.
- We have some ideas about how to do this new project but need time and help to plan and figure out how best to use AmeriCorps members.
- We have the staff capacity to dedicate at least one person at 70% of their time to planning this program model.
If the statements above apply to you, this could be a great opportunity for your organization.
How To Apply
Stage 1: will consist of an initial submission of required elements (narrative, budget, and additional documents) as outlined in this and the following section via email to joy.mcginnis@maryland.gov
- Fall 2023 | AmeriCorps Planning Grant – Notice of Funding Opportunity
- Fall 2023 | AmeriCorps Planning Grant – Narrative Template
- Fall 2023 | AmeriCorps Planning Grant – Budget Narrative Worksheet
- Fall 2023 | AmeriCorps Planning Grant – Financial Management Survey
- Organizational Chart (The Organizational Chart that is submitted must show where the AmeriCorps program would be within the Organization)
- Current federally approved indirect cost rate agreement, if used to claim administrative/indirect costs.
Stage 2: will require applicants to submit final, approved documents and additional elements in eGrants, AmeriCorps’ online application system. However, this stage will only occur if applicants are selected for this funding opportunity through the first review stage.
Do not submit other items not requested in this Notice. The Maryland Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism will not review or return them.
Applicants are required to submit additional documents by the application submission deadline. Additional Documents must be emailed to joy.mcginnis@maryland.gov. See Additional Documents.
Do not submit other items not requested in this Notice. The Maryland Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism will not review or return them.
Important Dates
- Planning Grant Stage 1 Application Deadline: August 15, 2023 Planning Grant applications (narrative, budget, and additional documents) must be emailed to joy.mcginnis@maryland.gov by 10:59 PM eastern on August 15, 2023. Late applications in whole or in part will not be accepted.
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Application Clarifications: August 31, 2023 Grant Clarifications sent to applicants for any required adjustments, with a 1 week turnaround timeframe (September 8, 2023).
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Notification of Selection: September 11, 2023 Successful applicants will be notified no later than September 11, 2023.
- Planning Grant “Stage Two” Application Deadline: September 15, 2023 Selected planning grant applications must be submitted in eGrants no later than 10:59 PM eastern on September 15, 2023. Late applications in whole or in part will not be accepted.
- Budget Period Start Date: October 15, 2023 Start date for Planning Grant activities.
Training and Technical Assistance (TTA)
Maryland Governor’s Office of Service and Volunteerism Resources
- Planning Grant Information Session | Webinar | [Recording] [Slides]
- MD GOSV | Frequently Miscategorized Budget Items
- MD GOSV | Creating an eGrants Account
- MD State | Per diem and mileage reimbursement rates
- MD GOSV | Planning Grant Narrative Guidance
- Fall 2023 AmeriCorps Planning Grant – Performance Measures Worksheet
- Fall 2023 | AmeriCorps Planning Grant – Logic Model Template
AmeriCorps Resources
- AmeriCorps | Performance Measure Curriculum
- AmeriCorps | National Service Criminal History Check Resources
- AmeriCorps | How to Develop a Logic Model
- AmeriCorps | Best Practices in Budget Development
- AmeriCorps | Best Practices for Performance Measurement
Federal Funder Information
AmeriCorps is the federal funding agency that administers all of the AmeriCorps programs. More information about AmeriCorps is available at https://americorps.gov.
AmeriCorps Resources
Questions?
For more information please email Joy.McGinnis@maryland.gov
All emails will be returned within a reasonable amount of time. Applicants are encouraged to submit their questions well in advance of the deadline as the GOSV is not obligated to respond to questions that are received 48 hours prior to the due date.
