Every year in Massachusetts, nearly 2,000 AmeriCorps members tackle our most pressing issues, from providing academic support in underresourced neighborhoods to protecting natural resources in at-risk ecosystems.
In the 2021-2022 service year, Massachusetts AmeriCorps members provided 1,591,568 hours of service, which is worth an estimated $47,667,462.
MSA is overseeing 31 State AmeriCorps programs for this program year. View a filterable database of the programs here!
As part of its commitment to an accessible and inclusive grant making process, The Massachusetts Service Alliance is looking for Community Grant Reviewers for its 2024 AmeriCorps grants process. Community Grant Reviewers play an important role in identifying and prioritizing critical community needs across the commonwealth. Their feedback also helps local organizations strengthen and focus their applications ahead of submission to a highly competitive federal selection process. This cycle, reviewers will evaluate either AmeriCorps Planning Grants or AmeriCorps Formula Grants.
Selected candidates will need to be available to review applications in late March and attend a live, virtual discussion session from 4:00-5:30 on either Monday April 1st OR Thursday April 4th.
Community Grant Reviewers will receive a $50 Amazon gift card on successful completion of the review process.
Interested applicants should review our Community Grant Reviewer Position Description and apply via our online application no later than Wednesday, March 6th.
MSA is excited to release a Request for Applications (RFA) for organizations seeking to host their own AmeriCorps program to address a wide range of community priorities starting in the 2025-2026 program year.
AmeriCorps State Grant
What is an AmeriCorps State grant? AmeriCorps is a federal program overseen by the AmeriCorps Agency. AmeriCorps State grants are awarded to eligible organizations to recruit, train, and manage AmeriCorps members who address unmet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, disaster preparedness, and other critical areas. Members may receive a living allowance during their term of service. Upon successful completion of their service, they also receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from the National Service Trust.
Program Size
Applicants should understand that AmeriCorps programs in Massachusetts are expected to engage a minimum of 10 full-time members (10 Member Service Years, or MSYs) or the equivalent number of part-time members. Program applications requesting fewer than 10 MSYs will not be reviewed. AmeriCorps programs should be large enough to make a significant difference in communities; therefore, MSA strongly encourages applicants to request a minimum of 15-20 MSYs regardless of whether members serve individually or in teams.
To Apply
Interested organizations should:
1) Download and thoroughly review MSA’s Massachusetts State AmeriCorps RFA posted below.
2) Submit an Intent to Apply by Friday, September 20th, 2024 (optional, but strongly encouraged).
3) Submit an online application by 2pm EST on Friday, October 4th, 2024.
Application Documents
Request for Proposals (RFA): This document contains all instructions for the application process.
FY25 AmeriCorps RFA
Additional Documents:
Narrative Template
Logic Model Template
Budget Worksheet
Performance Measures Template
Assurances, Certificates and Supplemental Certifications Form
Evaluation Plan Template
Technical Assistance
MSA will post additional opportunities and recordings below as they become available.
General Application TA: A recording of the General Application TA session can be viewed HERE Passcode: +062+gmu.
FY25 MSA TA Notes: This document includes notes from the session including tips for completing each section of the application Narrative and Logic Model.
RFA Review Checklist: This document is intended to help programs check whether their application Narrative and Logic Model meet criteria described in the RFA.
Evidence Base Deep Dive: Watch the recording HERE. Password: Sf%5*gyR
Budget Deep Dive: Watch the recording HERE.
Questions
Questions regarding this process may be submitted to ACQuestions@mass-service.org.
As part of its commitment to an accessible and inclusive grant making process, The Massachusetts Service Alliance is looking for Community Grant Reviewers for its 2024 AmeriCorps grants process. Community Grant Reviewers play an important role in identifying and prioritizing critical community needs across the commonwealth. Their feedback also helps local organizations strengthen and focus their applications ahead of submission to a highly competitive federal selection process. This cycle, reviewers will evaluate either AmeriCorps Planning Grants or AmeriCorps Formula Grants.
Selected candidates will need to be available to review applications in late March and attend a live, virtual discussion session from 4:00-5:30 on either Monday April 1st OR Thursday April 4th.
Community Grant Reviewers will receive a $50 Amazon gift card on successful completion of the review process.
Interested applicants should review our Community Grant Reviewer Position Description and apply via our online application no later than Wednesday, March 6th.
AmeriCorps is a federally-supported, national network of programs that engages nearly 75,000 Americans each year in service to meet critical needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other areas. In Massachusetts, there are 2,000 members serving at over 500 host sites each year, where they provide tutoring and mentoring services to children, help individuals and families with legal assistance, lead health education and job readiness workshops, maintain our natural resources and public lands, and much more.
In exchange for their service, AmeriCorps members earn a Segal Education Award of up to $6,895. Here in Massachusetts, most of our programs also provide members with a modest living allowance stipend, comprehensive health care, robust professional development, and more.
Here is a 2023 Zoom recording that covers what national service and its affiliated partners (like MSA!) are. (Password: %7%03CAP)
As the state commission on service and volunteerism, the Massachusetts Service Alliance administers funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service to AmeriCorps state programs in the Commonwealth. In addition, MSA monitors and evaluates the implementation of the Massachusetts AmeriCorps state programs.
Check out this page for individuals interested in becoming an AmeriCorps member!
Check out this page for organizations interested in becoming a partner with AmeriCorps in Massachusetts or hosting members!
Sign up for our alumni list here.
Additionally, feel free to check out AmeriCorps' Alums: Boston Chapter on Facebook, or sign up for their email list.
The Massachusetts Service Alliance is now accepting Concept Proposals for the 2024-25 AmeriCorps Competitive Grant year. Instructions for submitting a Concept Proposal are linked below along with an FAQ describing the grants process. Concept Proposals should be submitted using the link below by September 7th, 2023. Concept Papers are required from all organizations considering launching a NEW AmeriCorps program for the upcoming grant year. For more information, reach out to ACQuestions@mass-service.org. MSA will host a Technical Assistance session to explain the process and answer questions on August 21st at 2 PM. A link to register for the session can be found below.
Instructions:
Registration and Submission Links:
Submit Intent to Apply (Due August 24th)
Watch the TA Session (Password: #M$iH8JS)
We currently have 31 AmeriCorps programs in a variety of focus areas across Massachusetts. View our filterable database here.
