AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program (SCP) Replacement and Expansion Opportunity
Link
Additional Links
Notice of Funding Opportunity (Grants.gov)
Deadline
Application Deadline: Feb 1, 2024
Sponsor
AmeriCorps
Purpose
Engages adults age 55 and older to provide companionship and support to other adults in need of extra assistance to remain at home or in the community for as long as possible. AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program (SCP) volunteer service time usually takes place in the homes of their clients. AmeriCorps Seniors SCP volunteers can perform a range of volunteer activities including:
- Providing companionship to ease loneliness and social isolation
- Assisting with transportation and light chores
- Helping to serve as eyes and ears to professionals who can intervene in the case of medical or other deterioration on the part of the clients
- Giving support as informal caregivers
Priority funding areas include:
- Organizations serving underrepresented and
underserved communities and populations, including:
- Communities with concentrated poverty
- Rural communities
- Tribal communities
- Communities of color
- Immigrants and refugees
- People with disabilities
- LGBTQIA+ individuals
- Religious minorities
- Projects that raise public awareness about the challenges and needs of family caregivers and how older adult volunteers can help address these challenges
- Proposals that serve a geographic service area located in a priority state or territory
- Support for organizations serving people with arrest and conviction records and providing meaningful reentry opportunities
- Civic bridge-building projects and training in civic bridge-building for AmeriCorps volunteers designed to foster respect among diverse communities and reduce polarization
Amount of Funding
Award ceiling: $9,000 per volunteer per
year
Estimated total program funding:
$2,000,000
Applicants must provide matching funds for 10% of the project. Matching funds can be non-AmeriCorps cash and/or in-kind contributions.
Who Can Apply
Eligible applicants include the following non-federal entities:
- Indian tribes
- Institutions of higher education
- Local governments
- Nonprofit organizations
- State service commissions
- States and territories
- Tribal organizations controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by federally recognized Indian tribes
Applicants must propose to serve 1 or more geographic service areas. There is no maximum number of service areas that applicants may propose to serve, and all services areas must be included in a single application.
AmeriCorps Seniors seeks to build a diverse portfolio that meaningfully represents:
- Geographic diversity
- Rural communities
- Small and medium programs
- Faith-based organizations
- Program focus areas
- Other innovative community strategies
Geographic Coverage
Nationwide
What This Program Funds
Capacity Building • Operating Costs and Staffing
Application Process
Applicants must submit applications electronically through the eGrants web-based management system.
Application instructions, requirements, and other information about the online application process are available in the funding announcement.
Applicant frequently asked questions
2024 AmeriCorps Seniors SCP Replacement and Expansion Opportunity technical assistance webinars:
-
AmeriCorps Seniors in Action: Mobilizing a
Generation
November 29, 2023
2:00 p.m. Eastern -
Identifying Funding Priority Areas in Your
Community
December 6, 2023
2:00 p.m. Eastern -
Tour of the Notice of Funding Opportunity: Selection
Criteria Review
December 13, 2023
3:30 p.m. Eastern -
National Performance Measures and Work
Plans
January 10, 2024
3:30 p.m. Eastern -
Senior Companion Program Office Hours: Budget
Q&A
January 17, 2024
1:30 p.m. Eastern -
Senior Companion Program Office Hours: General and
Performance Measurement Q&A
January 18, 2024
3:30 p.m. Eastern
Contact
For program or application
questions:
FGPSCPReplacement@cns.gov
Live
chat
Rural Awards
Past awards communities received in fiscal year 2022 can be found on the program website.
Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota received funding to support AmeriCorps Seniors service volunteers in counties across North Dakota, including rural and tribal areas.
Topics This Program Addresses
Elderly People • Health and Wellness • Social Services