National Service Agency Announces AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities for Indian Tribes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) today announced that Indian Tribes now have the opportunity to apply for funding that would position them to identify ways that AmeriCorps members could help them tackle the unique challenges facing Native American communities.

The AmeriCorps planning grants provide up to $75,000 for a one-year period to provide support to an Indian Tribe for the development of an AmeriCorps program that will engage AmeriCorps members in order to address pressing community problems. Planning grant recipients are expected to be better prepared to compete for an AmeriCorps program grant in the following grant cycle.

“The planning grant helped us focus specifically on short term and long term goals which also lead to the development of our final application,” said Melissa Powless Chacon, an program AmeriCorps coordinator for the San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians. “For example, we were able to gather information from within the tribe and schools,research a proven intervention of our choice, and prepare our existing infrastructures. Ultimately, we were able to design a program for AmeriCorps members to serve in our tribal community and one that we were confident in managing.”

The AmeriCorps State and National performance measures reflect a broader set of agency-wide Priority Measures that will be central to the way CNCS assesses its performances and impact going forward.

“AmeriCorps members are an indispensable resource for nonprofits and the individuals they serve,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. “Tribal leaders have the opportunity to build on programs that are working in their communities. AmeriCorps members can be important partners in creating jobs, addressing health-care needs, or helping veterans adjust to life after the military.”

The AmeriCorps program engages more than 70,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through 15,000 national and local organizations. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.

“The agency has a longstanding commitment to working with tribal nations on a government-to-government basis,” said Ron Lessard, Strategic Advisor for Native American Affairs at CNCS. “We want to ensure that the tribal nations are heard, their concerns are amplified and that our programs are responsive to their needs.”

Applications are due on May 30, 2013. More information may found on the CNCS website: http://go.usa.gov/TCGT

Potential applicants are encouraged to utilize the tribal-specific technical assistance made available by CNCS, including FAQ and a schedule of the agency's upcoming assistance calls. More information on technical assistance, as well as contact information for questions specific to the Native American community, can be found at http://go.usa.gov/TCGT

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund programs, and leads President's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov