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Volunteer Tennessee, the governor appointed 25-member bi-partisan commission that encourages volunteerism and community service, announces its 2024 Notification of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Tennessee AmeriCorps programs, and it invites public and private nonprofit, governmental, and faith-based agencies from across the state to apply. The organization anticipates the availability of approximately $3.7 million in new and continuation grant funding for Tennessee AmeriCorps programs, pending federal congressional appropriations.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation's most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. It engages more than 2,000 organizations and 75,000 Americans each year to meet locally identified community needs in the areas of disaster services; economic opportunity; education; environmental stewardship; healthy futures; and veterans and military families.
Agencies interested in hosting an AmeriCorps program are invited to visit the Volunteer Tennessee website to download application materials. New and re-competing applicants must submit a Notice of Intent to apply to Volunteer Tennessee by December 15, 2023, by 3:00 p.m. CT, with applications due on February 13, 2024, by 3:00 p.m. CT.
Volunteer Tennessee will host virtual AmeriCorps grant information sessions from September 25 through October 13, 2023. Please visit the Volunteer Tennessee website for session information. Volunteer Tennessee staff will provide an overview of the grant competition and answer questions. To register for a virtual information session, please visit Volunteer Tennessee's website or contact Gordon Harless at 615-253-6313 or Gordon.Harless@tn.gov. Volunteer Tennessee strongly encourages all applicants (new and re-competing) to attend at least one information session in this extremely competitive year.
"AmeriCorps is a terrific way for organizations to benefit from eager, service-minded individuals - who in turn get education awards to help pay for college," said Jim Snell, Volunteer Tennessee executive director. "For almost 30 years, AmeriCorps members have cleaned up polluted urban streams, provided child abuse prevention services, taught children to read, and helped senior citizens live longer and healthier lives through preventative health education. AmeriCorps programs help local agencies maximize their capabilities to serve."
"By placing AmeriCorps members in communities across the state, they are able to reach our most at-risk and frail citizens," he continued.
Volunteer Tennessee currently funds 18 AmeriCorps programs across the state. Examples of these include:
Community Action Committee (Knoxville): Community Action Committee AmeriCorps members build capacity with over 40 community partners in East Tennessee. The members serve in several areas including environmental education, housing, urban agriculture, job training, and food insecurity,
BRIDGES USA, Inc. (Memphis): Bridge Builders Expansion AmeriCorps members address key needs facing Memphis area youth in grades 6-12 through experiential learning and the facilitation of the Bridge Builders curriculum that targets low academic performance and graduation rates, low rates of cultural competency, and low rates of opportunity for meaningful civic engagement.
Martha O'Bryan Center (Nashville): The Martha O'Bryan Center empowers children, youth, and adults in poverty to transform their lives through work, education, employment, and fellowship. THRIVE AmeriCorps members serve in one of five program areas: K-8 Youth Education, High School Education, Post-Secondary Success and Digital Inclusion, Adult Education, and Family Support. Members build relationships, tutor, teach, plan curriculum and enrichments, and perform community outreach and engagement.
Since the program's inception in 1994, more than 1.25 million AmeriCorps members have served the nation, which has provided more than 1.8 billion hours of service and earning nearly $4 billion in education awards to pay for college or pay back student loans. In Tennessee, more than 17,000 AmeriCorps members have served more than 33 million hours and earned more than $69 million in education awards.
