State Service Commissions to Receive $5.4 Million in Volunteer Generation Fund Grants

Federal funds will be matched by local dollars to build volunteer infrastructure in 23 states

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For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 23 – Twenty-three states will benefit from a $5.4 million investment in volunteer management capacity, thanks to the George H. W. Bush Volunteer Generation Fund.

The Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) is a federal grant program administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) established under the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009.

The goals of Volunteer Generation Fund as described in the Serve America Act legislation are to:

• Assist nonprofit, faith based, and other civic organizations by expanding and improving the capacity of such organizations to utilize such volunteers;
• Spur innovation in volunteer recruitment and management practices, with the goal of increasing the number of volunteers; and
• Enable the people of the U.S. to effect change by participating in active volunteer and citizen service.

In 2013, President Obama named the Volunteer Generation Fund in honor of President George H. W. Bush during a special ceremony awarding the 41st President with the 5,000th Daily Points of Light Award.

This year, VGF grants have been awarded to 23 states through governor-appointed state service commissions, totaling more than $5.4 million - the highest level of VGF funding in history. Although the funding is federal, it must be matched by local dollars.

“It’s wonderful to see the Volunteer Generation Fund nearly double this year from its original size and scope,” said Rachel Bruns, Deputy Director of America’s Service Commissions, who helps facilitate a national learning community of states administering VGF grants. “With this level of VGF support, commissions across the country will be able to do even more to address major challenges through volunteerism. From working on the front lines of the opioid crisis, to addressing mental health, school drop-out rates, disconnected youth, lack of nonprofit infrastructure, and communities devastated by disaster, volunteers will be at the center of solving these problems in their own states.”

Congratulations to the following state service commissions for being awarded a VGF grant in 2018-2019:

Learn more about each state’s proposed VGF activities.

More information on CNCS and its programs AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Volunteer Generation Fund.

Contact:

Emily Steinberg, Director of External Affairs

America’s Service Commissions

[email protected]

(202) 813-0807

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About America’s Service Commissions

America’s Service Commissions (ASC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing and promoting the 52 state service commissions across the United States and territories with the mission to lead and elevate the state service network. State service commissions are governor-appointed public agencies or nonprofit organizations made up of more than 1,000 commissioners, private citizens leading the nation’s service movement and administering 80 percent of the federal AmeriCorps funds to address pressing community needs.

America's Service Commissions | 455 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Suite 153 | Washington, DC 20001 (202) 813-0807