Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund

The Volunteer Generation Fund Competition is administered by AmeriCorps, a federal agency dedicated to improving lives, strengthening communities, and fostering civic engagement through service and volunteerism. Established under the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) is designed to expand the nation’s volunteer infrastructure by supporting organizations that recruit, manage, and retain volunteers to address pressing community needs. Through this funding opportunity, AmeriCorps seeks to invest in state-level systems that can increase volunteer engagement and strengthen community-based service delivery nationwide. The primary purpose of this grant program is to build the capacity of organizations to effectively generate and manage volunteers. Funding supports strategies that enhance recruitment, training, and retention of volunteers, particularly in areas of high community need such as poverty-impacted populations. The program emphasizes skill-based volunteering and encourages initiatives that align volunteers with meaningful roles that address critical social challenges. Applicants may either directly implement activities or distribute subgrants to community-based entities such as nonprofits, schools, higher education institutions, and faith-based organizations. Allowable activities include recruiting and supporting volunteers, providing technical assistance to local organizations, and strengthening volunteer infrastructure systems. Programs must align with state service plans and incorporate best practices in volunteer engagement, including structured training, ongoing supervision, and effective matching of volunteer skills to organizational needs. While indirect costs are permitted, they are capped at five percent of award funds, and all expenditures must comply with federal cost principles. Pre-award costs may be allowed only with prior written approval from AmeriCorps. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is limited to state service commissions, which are responsible for administering national service programs at the state level. Applicants must maintain active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) and possess a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Organizations must also meet federal compliance requirements, including having no outstanding federal tax liabilities or violations of federal criminal statutes. Cost sharing is mandatory, with matching requirements increasing over time, beginning at 20 percent in the first year and rising to 50 percent in later years. Applications must be submitted electronically through the AmeriCorps eGrants system by May 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Required components include the SF-424 form, executive summary, program design narrative, organizational capability description, cost-effectiveness and budget adequacy section, and performance measures. Applicants must also submit an Operational and Financial Management Survey. The application is subject to an eight-page limit for core narrative sections, excluding budget and supplemental materials. Applications are evaluated based on three primary criteria: program design (50 percent), organizational capability (35 percent), and cost-effectiveness and budget adequacy (15 percent). Reviewers assess the clarity of program goals, the expected impact on volunteer generation, and the applicant’s capacity to manage federal funds. Additional considerations include alignment with AmeriCorps priorities, such as serving underserved communities and increasing volunteer engagement among targeted populations. The anticipated timeline includes application submission in May 2026, notification of award decisions in July 2026, and issuance of awards in August 2026. Grants are expected to have a three-year period of performance, with funding awarded annually based on appropriations and satisfactory performance. AmeriCorps provides technical assistance resources and maintains open communication channels via email and hotline support to assist applicants throughout the process.

Align program design clearly with volunteer generation outcomes; demonstrate measurable impact; ensure strong organizational controls and compliance systems