Funding Opportunity Opens for Organizations Promoting Community Service
/The Connecticut Commission on Community Service, known as Serve Connecticut, provides funds and supports programs that encourage Connecticut residents to volunteer.
Serve Connecticut is also the conduit to share information about programs offered by AmeriCorps for Connecticut organizations and individuals.
This month, Serve Connecticut has announced that the AmeriCorps Connecticut 2023-2024 Formula funding competition is now open to applications from eligible entities seeking to leverage a national service strategy to address community challenges in the state of Connecticut.
Opportunities are available for planning grants and operational grants that address AmeriCorps focus areas such as Disaster Services, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Futures, and Veterans and Military Families.
Of particular interest to Serve Connecticut, according to the organization, are initiatives that address:
• youth engagement through service-learning
• apprenticeship/workforce development
• veterans/military family supports
• rural access to key safety net services
• climate and disaster response
• community bridge-building
Applications are due by March 10, 2023. Planning grant and operational grant opportunities are available. The process is open to nonprofits, higher education institutions, agencies, municipalities and tribes.
New applicants are required to participate in Serve Connecticut technical assistance activities as a pre-requisite to submitting an AmeriCorps Connecticut Formula funding application. Additional information is provided here.
AmeriCorps Connecticut Formula federal funding is awarded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to Serve Connecticut, which then subgrants these funds to successful applicants in its Connecticut-based Formula grant application process. This is an annual process that is open to all eligible applicants as funding availability allows, officials point out.
Serve Connecticut consists of a Governor-appointed Commission Board supported by staff, and is housed in the Connecticut Office of Higher Education. It is dedicated to supporting service and civic engagement to strengthen communities throughout Connecticut.
According to the Commission’s website, the Commission consists of 15 members who do not receive a salary, and “function as ‘liaisons of service’ within their sector and in their local communities to promote service opportunities and to encourage volunteerism by all.” Members include Janice Andersen (Chair), Robert DeCresenzo, William Dyson, Lily Egan, Dana Evora, Matthew Farley, Paul Formica, Tim Larson, Eli Sabin, Theresa Strong, Patricia Tarasovic and Crystal Whipple.
Additional information about the AmeriCorps Connecticut 2023-2024 Formula funding competition is available by contacting Serve Connecticut Director of Programs Kate Scheuritzel at kate.scheuritzel@ct.gov.
