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ASC, Commissions Receive Unprecedented Philanthropic Support to Advance AmeriCorps, Youth Service, and Volunteerism
Over the past six months, state service commissions and America's Service Commissions (ASC) as their national association have witnessed an unprecedented wave of philanthropic investment in our work to collectively advance national service and volunteering nationwide. In particular, we'd like to thank the following funders for stepping forward during this difficult year to invest heavily in our network of 52 state service commissions:
- Schultz Family Foundation: Issued the $1 million National Service Challenge to offer matching grants of $100,000 - $250,000 to state service commissions that partner with philanthropy to improve racial, ethnic, and income representation within AmeriCorps programs, and strengthen support for youth corps members before, during, and after their service. Applications were due July 30th.
- Mott Foundation: Awarded ASC with a $265,000 grant over the next two years to provide 11 commissions with subgrants of $20,000 each for Youth Service Program Development work, including: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, and Utah.
- Inspiring Service: Unveiled a new matching program to better support states with launching volunteer and AmeriCorps member recruitment websites in partnership with the Craig Young Family Foundation; pilots have already begun in Massachusetts, Michigan, and Nevada.
We look forward to continuing to partner with these visionary philanthropic organizations to make AmeriCorps and volunteerism the best, most accessible, and impactful they've ever been in 2021 and beyond. Thank you!
In service,
Kaira Esgate, CEO
America's Service Commissions
Public Policy Corner: National Service Legislation Gains Momentum in DC and in State Legislatures
There are so many exciting legislative advancements to share with regards to national service and volunteerism, it's hard to know where to start! The past year has seen the following bills and actions emerge across state and federal legislatures to further our work from a policy perspective:
State Service Legislation - Florida, Maine, Nebraska, Oregon, Wisconsin
ASC is thrilled to announce that five state legislatures have passed bills in recent sessions to make it easier for individuals to participate in national and community service programs:
- Florida: Volunteer Florida helped facilitate Governor Ron DeSantis signing into law CS/SB 1050: Disaster Volunteer Leave Act, allowing for state employees to request up to 120 administrative leave hours to serve with nonprofit organizations to provide disaster response and recovery services to an area that has been declared a disaster by the Governor.
- Maine: Volunteer Maine celebrated the unanimous passage of LD 1010/722, which creates the Maine Service Fellows program and will launch a study of the establishment of a Maine Climate Corps. The bill was signed into law by Governor Janet Mills on June 10 (pictured above).
- Nebraska: In April, the Nebraska legislature unanimously passed LB 197, groundbreaking state legislation providing in-state tuition eligibility to all AmeriCorps alumni no matter what state they served in. The legislation, sponsored by AmeriCorps alum Senator Tony Vargas with technical assistance from the ServeNebraska commission, will enhance AmeriCorps service benefits experience, increase college access and affordability, and draw more students to Nebraska universities.
- Oregon: Oregon Volunteers was thrilled to announce the passage of HB2433, a state tax bill that will also exempt the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from Oregon state tax effective for education awards earned beginning January 1, 2021.
- Wisconsin: Earlier in July, Governor Tony Evers exempted the AmeriCorps Segal Education Award from state income tax through his 2021-2023 Executive Budget to recognize and reward AmeriCorps members' contributions to Wisconsin through their service. "Exempting the Segal Education Award from state income tax will remove this unique tax burden from those that have served the people of Wisconsin and help make it possible for AmeriCorps members to more fully continue their education and expand their ability to serve our communities," said Governor Evers.
CORPS Act
With the CORPS Act now introduced in the both the House (H.R. 4100) and Senate (S.1165), our network of States for Service Coalition advocates and partners have been focusing our energy on gaining new co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle to show strong bipartisan support - with a particular emphasis on recruiting support from House Education and Labor Committee members (as they will be most helpful when budget reconciliation opportunities arise) and Senate Republicans (so we can reach a filibuster-proof majority). We used our most recent Virtual Hill Days to target these members specifically and will continue follow up with those offices over the August recess period. Conversations are ongoing among co-sponsors and key committees about the importance of incorporating key provisions of the CORPS Act in the upcoming budget reconciliation package.
CORPS Act Campaign: States for Service has also teamed up with Service Year Alliance and AmeriCorps Alums this summer to ask Congress to pass the CORPS Act in 2021 to make a significant investment in national service over the three-year COVID-19 economic recovery period.
Take action now:
We need your help - it takes less than 5 minutes using our link to send emails and tweets to both the House and Senate!
*Please use non-federal time to participate, and enter your home address and personal email.
Civilian Climate Corps (CCC)
Discussions are underway with House and Senate leadership and relevant committees around shaping the new, modern era Civilian Climate Corps (CCC). It appears likely that the federal AmeriCorp s agency could receive a significant portion of CCC funding through the budget reconciliation process. This is a huge step in ensuring that CCC funds go to support existing AmeriCorps program models and projects that address climate resiliency needs, rather than duplicating services.
Congressional CCC champions Representatives Joe Neguse, Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez, Judy Chu, Marcy Kaptur, Bobby Rush and Senators Ron Wyden, Chris Coons, and Ed Markey also led a Congressional Sign-on Letter with 80 House and Senate members signing on to support our shared core principles for how to implement the CCC in conjunction with national service.
Show your support for the new Civilian Climate Corps by posting on social media using the CCC media toolkit!
FY22 Budget Reconciliation
With agreement on a bipartisan infrastructure package, attention will quickly turn to the FY22 Budget process. To start, the Senate will pass a resolution which directs authorizing committees to develop legislation that would spend/raise a certain amount of money; this will then get sent to the House for passage. Once passed, House and Senate Committees will markup their portions of the bill, then be combined together to form a budget reconciliation package, which will then have to pass both the House and Senate again. This is the vehicle that would carry the CCC (and CORPS Act) provisions. This will likely be a multi-month process stretching into the fall (October/November 2021).
FY22 CNCS Appropriations
The House just wrapped up their consideration of the LHHS Appropriations bill which funds the AmeriCorps agency. We are pleased that AmeriCorps State/National would receive a $150 million increase over FY21, with increases also for State Commission Support Grants and the Volunteer Generation Fund. Also importantly, the bill would allow DACA recipients to receive education awards. The Senate Appropriations Committee is planning to start consideration of their appropriations bills in early September.
ASC and our States for Service Coalition look forward to working with the new Administration and Congress to further national service public policy goals, and invest heavily in commissions and programs at the local, state, and federal levels in the year to come!
1,600+ AmeriCorps and Nonprofit Leaders Gather for First Virtual National Service Training Conference
From May 4-7, on the heels of the American Rescue Plan awarding $1 billion in supplemental funding to the federal AmeriCorps agency for pandemic relief and recovery, ASC hosted the first ever Virtual National Service Training Conference to convene leaders from the AmeriCorps and volunteer engagement sectors to gear up for what promises to be a busy year ahead. Typically held as several regional events, this marked the first time the conference has been held virtually, due to COVID-19.
The 2021 National Service Training Virtual Conference brought together 1,674 nonprofit, AmeriCorps, and volunteer engagement professionals from 52 states and territories for four days of nationally renowned keynote speakers, peer networking, and in-depth training on topics ranging from program and grant management to leadership and equity and diversity. The theme of the conference was Take Action and Persevere, language from the AmeriCorps Pledge.
The conference included four keynote plenary sessions, six workshop tracks, 54 workshops, more than 70 presenters, and seven corporate sponsors, including Inspiring Service, America Learns, Do Good Be Good, Galaxy Digital, On3Learn, OnCorps Reports, and The SISGI Group. We also raised over $5,000 for Feeding America through our Virtual Service Project!
Shaping the Future in 2022
Mark your calendars for next year’s in-person regional conferences! Workshop submissions are forthcoming this fall.
- Milwaukee, WI: April 26-28, 2022
- Burlington, VT: May 17-19, 2022
- Albuquerque, NM: June 1-3, 2022
We’ll see you in 2022 -- until then, check out our Virtual Photo Booth Gallery and continue to Take Action and Persevere!
States for Service Coalition Holds First Virtual Hill Day
Thank you to the 50+ participants from 29 states who participated in our 2021 Virtual Hill Day meetings in June and July! Hosted by our privately-funded policy arm, the States for Service (S4S) Coalition, the event helped reach key Members of Congress to inform them of the impact of AmeriCorps and national service in their districts, their COVID relief and recovery efforts, and the importance of continued investment in AmeriCorps, Volunteer Generation Fund, and state service commissions. Despite being virtual, meetings were productive, positive, and included record participation from Commissioners and Board members from across the United States!
ASC Joins Partnership for American Democracy as a Founding Partner
 This summer marked the launch of an important new initiative that comes at a pivotal moment in American history – the Partnership for American Democracy (PFAD). The Partnership's mission is to serve as the collaborative nerve center to attract and direct greater attention, energy, and resources to efforts to renew and strengthen our democracy. ASC is proud to serve as a Founding Partner as well as a Co-Chair for Pillar #2 - the National Service/Volunteer Engagement Pillar.
Interested? Consider signing on as a coalition partner.
ASC Welcomes New Staff
On behalf of all of us at America's Service Commissions, we are pleased to welcome two new staff members to the ASC staff team:
Chad Driscoll joins ASC as the new Manager, Training & Technical Assistance. Chad brings a wide range of national service experience that includes state service commission program support, training, and disaster services. Before joining ASC, he was the Senior National Service Program Officer at Volunteer Iowa for nearly 10 years as well as a former AmeriCorps Program Director and AmeriCorps alum. Chad resides in Iowa with his wife Emily, and children Max and Natalie with the family dog Finnegan.
Naejla Walton joins us as the new Manager of Operations. Prior to joining ASC, Naejla served as Operations Manager for Indiana’s state service commission, Serve Indiana, for seven years. Naejla resides in Indianapolis with her son Elliot and dog Milhouse and is an active volunteer in her community.
Please help us welcome Chad and Naejla!
Enrollment Closing Soon - AmeriCorps Member Assistance Program (MAP)
As a reminder, enrollment is closing soon for our 2021-2022 AmeriCorps Member Assistance Program (MAP)! All participating programs (new and re-enrolling) must complete the enrollment form by the following deadlines:
- Sept. 1, 2021 Start Date: Enroll by August 21
The AmeriCorps Member Assistance Program (MAP) is designed to support AmeriCorps State programs in providing accessible and quality 24/7 mental health and other support services to AmeriCorps members and employees of their organizations. ASC offers a Basic and Premium Package for as little as $5/member plus an annual ASC membership.
All services are private, confidential, and free to AmeriCorps members/program employees and their household members. Enroll now.
Questions? Contact us.
ASC Receives Grant to Expand Youth Service in 11 States
ASC is pleased to announce the selection of 11 state service commissions that have received grants of $20,000 for 15 months to support their capacity in expanding youth service in their respective states. This funding is made possible by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation through a two-year $265,000 grant to America's Service Commissions.
ASC will facilitate monthly learning calls for the participating commissions, conduct a national landscape of promising program models and initiatives, and identify strategies to sustain youth service at the state level. At the conclusion of the project, ASC will identify lessons learned from the participating state service commissions to share with the broader state service commission network.
Congratulations to the following 11 state service commissions who will be working to expand and improve youth service:
- EngageAR
- Massachusetts Service Alliance
- Michigan Community Service Commission
- Serve Colorado
- Serve Connecticut
- ServeMinnesota
- ServeOhio
- VolunteerNC
- Volunteer Iowa
- UServeUtah
- Volunteer Maine
Each selected commission will be assessing the current youth service landscape and exploring opportunities to expand the quality and/or quantity of youth service opportunities in their respective states, with a focus on middle-school and high school youth that are less likely to be engaged in service.
“We are grateful to the Mott Foundation for their support to help expand youth service opportunities at the state level,” said Kaira Esgate, CEO of ASC. “State service commissions are uniquely positioned to expand youth service opportunities at the state and local level. We know young people benefit from meaningful service opportunities and we believe having early exposure to service is critical to establishing lifelong volunteers and engaged citizens.”
Thank you to the Mott Foundation for their strong and continued investment in the national service network!
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In This Issue...
- Key Dates and Deadlines
- ASC, Commissions Receive Unprecedented Philanthropic Support to Expand National and Youth Service
- Public Policy Corner: National Service Legislation Gains Momentum in DC and State Legislatures
- 1,600+ AmeriCorps and Nonprofit Leaders Gather for First Virtual National Service Training Conference
- New Toolkit - Expanding Service Years in States and Local Communities
- ASC Welcomes New Staff
- States for Service Coalition Hosts First Virtual Hill Day
- ASC Named Co-Chair of Partnership for American Democracy
- 20th Anniversary of 9/11 Day - Become a Partner
- ICYMI: New Publication Shines Light on AmeriCorps COVID Response and Recovery Efforts
- Enrollment Closing Soon - AmeriCorps Member Assistance Program (MAP)
- ASC JEDI Guiding Statement and Plan
- 2021 TTA Directory
- Special Opportunity - New Politics Leadership Academy
- Become a National Service Advocate
- ASC Receives Grant to Expand Youth Service in 11 States
- Service Job Board
Key Dates and Deadlines
August 6: Nomination deadline for the 2021 Excellence in AmeriCorps Awards (5:00pm EST)
August 13: Deadline to sponsor and submit ad artwork for the ASC Innovation & Leadership Awards
September 11: 9/11 National Day of Service - 20th Anniversary
September 13: ASC Annual Membership Assembly - Virtual Meeting (Commissions only)
September 14: ASC Innovation & Leadership Awards - Virtual
September 20-24: AmeriCorps State/National Symposium - Virtual - registration forthcoming
October 12-15: ASC AmeriCorps Program & Fiscal Boot Camps (Austin, TX) - opt-in states only
October 27-29: ASC Federal Grants Management Training (Washington, DC) - opt-in states only
New Publication: Expanding Service Years in States and Local Communities
Hot off the press! ASC, Service Year Alliance, and AmeriCorps partnered up to release an updated version of our state/local policy publication, Expanding Service Years in States and Local Communities.
First published in 2017, now updated for 2021, this exciting report showcases real-world examples of how Governors, state legislators, and other state/local leaders are leveraging, incentivizing, and maximizing AmeriCorps and national service in their states to meet critical community needs while also attracting and retaining talent. Examples are featured from a wide variety of states, including: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and more!
View/download your copy of the report on Issuu.com.
And don't miss our recent blog article in the National League of Cities' blog Cities Speak!
New Federal AmeriCorps Appointees Nominated
On July 30, President Biden announced the nomination of three additional individuals to the AmeriCorps agency Board of Directors. This brings the number of nominations to the Board to eight.
Back in June, the White House also announced the nomination of Michael D. Smith as CEO of the AmeriCorps agency. Smith is a former staff member of the AmeriCorps agency during the Obama administration and led the My Brother's Keeper initiative. He is also the former Director of the Social Innovation Fund (SIF). The next step in the CEO appointment process is Senate confirmation.
ASC JEDI Guiding Statement & Plan
In 2020, ASC created a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Plan to complement our three-year strategic plan. Our new JEDI Work Group of commissions has been meeting monthly to provide accountability to us in meeting our JEDI goals and input into our related priorities and activities.
Making National Service More Accessible
In early 2021, ASC also solicited input from our network on ways the federal AmeriCorps agency and policymakers can make national service more accessible, equitable, and inclusive. The result is a detailed set of recommendations we sent to the federal AmeriCorps in early 2021.
Read our JEDI plan and national service recommendations.
Join the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 - Become a Partner!
The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance (9/11 Day), is a chance to help others in tribute to those killed and injured on September 11, 2001, first responders, and the countless others who serve to defend the nation’s freedom at home and around the globe.
This year marks the 20th Anniversary of that tragic day in 2001. Join AmeriCorps and state service commissions and programs across the country on 9/11 Day to serve others in a remarkable showing of unity, honor, and compassion.
Sign up to become a 9/11 Day 20th Anniversary Partner.
Service Job Board
Looking for new job opportunities in the service sector? Check out the ASC Service Job Board, including recent listings such as the following:
Program Specialist, NonProfit Strong, OneStar (Austin, TX)
Controller, OneStar (Austin, TX)
AmeriCorps Health Navigator Manager, AccessHealth (Houston, TX)
Operations Associate, The Literacy Lab (Washington, DC)
Leading Men Fellowship Program Manager, The Literacy Lab (Washington, DC)
K-3 Coaching Specialist, The Literacy Lab (Springfield, MA)
AmeriCorps Program Manager, Volunteer Florida (Tallahassee, FL)
AmeriCorps Program Officer (2 Openings), Massachusetts Service Alliance (Boston, MA)
Grants & Fiscal Compliance Associate, Massachusetts Service Alliance (Boston, MA)
AmeriCorps Assistant, Volunteer West Virginia (Charleston, WV)
Grants Coordinator/Program Officer, Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism (Atlanta, GA)
Program Co-Directors , TerraCorps (Massachusetts and Connecticut)
Director, Statewide Corporate and Foundation Relations, Teach for America-Florida (Jacksonville/Miami-Dade)
Director, Donor Relations and Partnerships, Teach for America-Florida (Jacksonville/Miami-Dade)
Manager, Development,Teach for America-Florida (Jacksonville/Miami-Dade)
Communications Coordinator, Serve Washington (Olympia, WA)
Program Manager, AmeriCorps St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
Development Manager, AmeriCorps St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
Chief Program Officer / Various Positions, Lead for America (Remote/Varies)
Various Positions, Reading & Math, Inc. (Reading & Math Corps) (Multiple Locations)
Various Positions, Reading Partners (Multiple Locations)
Various Positions, SBP USA (Nationwide)
Various Positions, Montana Conservation Corps (MT - various locations)
Crew Leaders, Arizona & New Mexico Conservation Corps
Search job openings at AmeriCorps (formerly the Corporation for National & Community Service)
2021 TTA Directory
Looking for help with training or other important aspects of your work? Check out the 2021 ASC Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Directory!
This directory is a resource provided free of charge to connect state service commissions, national service, and volunteer programs nationwide to high-quality trainers and consultants who are peer-recommended, knowledgeable of our field, or who have expertise relevant to the following audiences:
- AmeriCorps State, National, and Tribal Programs
- AmeriCorps VISTA Programs
- AmeriCorps Seniors Programs
- AmeriCorps Members
- State Service Commissions
- Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) Programs
View/download the TTA directory.
ICYMI: New Publication Shines Light on AmeriCorps COVID Response and Recovery Efforts On the one year anniversary of the first COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, ASC released a new publication, Innovative State Service COVID-19 Response Programs, showcasing outstanding examples of how state-based AmeriCorps and Volunteer Generation Fund programs have been adapting and responding to community needs during COVID-19.
The publication features 79 innovative programs from 50 states and territories, and represents a glimpse into the impressive work of national service programs this past year and the extraordinary efforts of AmeriCorps and volunteer programs to aid those most in need in hyper-local ways.
The publication came on the heels of President Biden signing the American Rescue Plan Act into law, which included an historic $1 billion investment to expand AmeriCorps and national service programs over the next three years to aid in pandemic response and recovery.
View or download Innovative State Service COVID-19 Response Programs to learn more.
Special Opportunity - New Politics Leadership Academy
 Interested in giving back through public service in new ways? Our friends at the New Politics Leadership Academy (NPLA) will be opening applications for their Answering the Call and Staffing School educational programs starting on August 4th. Programming is designed for national service alumni and/or military veterans who are considering entering the political arena. Throughout the program, participants will consider if they feel called to political service by reflecting on their core values and who they are as leaders. In an effort to make this experience as equitable as possible, there is no fee for participating in this program. Express your interest today by visiting the New Politics website.
Become a National Service Advocate - Join the Coalition
Three and a half years ago, we launched the privately-funded States for Service (S4S) Coalition -- ASC's public policy arm -- to ensure we had the ability to advocate effectively and compliantly on your behalf.
Our goal? To protect and expand national and community service at the federal, state, and local levels and to promote flexibility and innovation in state/federal policies to allow state service commissions and their programs to do their work better.
We are a diverse coalition of state commissions, national service programs, consultants and professionals, and AmeriCorps alumni who believe in the power of service to get things done.
But we need you. We cannot sustain States for Service without your organization's membership and financial support.
Will you take 5 minutes to join the S4S coalition now?
Save the Date!
Please join us on the evening of September 14th to celebrate the 2021 ASC Innovation & Leadership Virtual Awards.
Registration coming in August.
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