This section contains information about the Commission's grant-making and contracting activities. At times, there also may be information about funding opportunities offered by our partners or other Maine agencies. When the Commission does not have an active Request for Proposal or Notice of Funds Available, the corresponding section of this page will be empty.
Mini-grants for Youth-led Global Youth Service Day Projects
Submission Deadline: March 31, 2023
Projects to Occur: April 26-28, 2023
Application Details and Instructions: Download HERE (Word Doc)
Volunteer Maine, the state service commission, is inviting applications for mini-grants of up to $1,000 to support youth-led planning, development, and implementation of community service projects.
Global Youth Service Day is the largest youth service and civic action event in the world and the only one that celebrates ability of all youth ages 5-25 to help our communities thrive by working together for the common good.. Service projects may take place any time between April 26 and April 28.
“Youth-led” means individuals 18 or younger take the lead in all aspects of the initiative (research, decision-making, design, implementation). Advisors over 18 years old are resources and process facilitators.
Eligible applicants are organizations with youth programs or youth constituents, 18 years old or younger, that are Maine public or private nonprofits, state/county/local units of government, higher ed institutions, faith-based organizations, Indigenous communities, and local schools.
Regardless of the type of youth group, the legal applicant must have an employer identification number (EIN) or taxpayer identification number (TIN) and, if selected, accept responsibility for signing the grant agreement, accounting for grant funds, and submitting a report on the outcomes of the project. Awards will not be made to individuals.
Maine AmeriCorps
Three grant competitions are now underway. Each is described below and posted on the State of Maine Procurement Services grant page for Requests for Applications (RFAs).
RFA # 202303048 Maine AmeriCorps Planning Grants
Submit Deadline: April 13, 2023
Information Session: March 29, 2023 at 10am. Register HERE.
RFA Download: Document Link
FULL ANNOUNCEMENT
Volunteer Maine, the Commission for Community Service, is seeking proposals for AmeriCorps Planning grants that address community issues in one of these categories:
- Public Health – including domestic violence, abuse or neglect, substance use, emergency preparedness/response, adverse childhood experiences, and mental health;
- Workforce development – combining service with skill development or certifications that lead to post-service employment
- Housing – affordable and safe housing; home energy conservation, weatherization, or repair including programs that perform the modifications, teach homeowners DIY skills, or help residents connect with programs that offer financial assistance to accomplish the projects
- Climate action compatible with Maine Won’t Wait (the state climate action plan) and Maine Climate Corps; and,
- Environmental/community resilience, adaptation, and sustainability including emergency preparedness.
Applicants must commit to designing an evidence-based AmeriCorps service program that would be submitted to an operating grant competition within a year.
Eligible applicants are public or non-profit agencies, higher education institutions, and regional organizations that intend to operate an AmeriCorps program solely within Maine. Typical awards are $60,000.
A copy of the RFA, as well as the Question & Answer Summary and all amendments related to this RFA, can be obtained on this page and at the following website: https://www.maine.gov/dafs/bbm/procurementservices/vendors/grants. There will be a virtual information session on March 29, 2023 at 10am to answer questions about AmeriCorps and the planning grant application. Registration is required. Use this link: https://tinyurl.com/5y8bnd95. The session will be recorded and posted with this grant announcement on the Division of Procurement Services grant page.
Proposals must be submitted electronically as directed in the RFP. Both the proposal sections using the federal eGrants system and additional documents emailed to the Division of Procurement Services (Proposals@maine.gov) must be received no later than 11:59 p.m., local time on April 13, 2023. Proposals received after the 11:59 p.m. deadline will be rejected without exception.
RFA 202303044 Maine AmeriCorps Standard Grants
Submit Deadline: April 13, 2023
Information Session: March 30, 2023 at 9am. Register HERE.
RFA Download: Document Link
FULL ANNOUNCEMENT
Volunteer Maine, the Commission for Community Service, is seeking proposals for AmeriCorps programs under Maine AmeriCorps Standard Formula grant competition. Programs must have sufficient service work to account for at least 10,800 hours of service by AmeriCorps members in each of three years.
Applicants must implement an evidence-based program model that addresses one of these community issues:
- Public Health – including domestic violence, abuse or neglect, substance use, emergency preparedness/response, adverse childhood experiences, and mental health;
- Workforce development – combining service with skill development or certifications that lead to post-service employment
- Housing – affordable and safe housing; home energy conservation, weatherization, or repair including programs that perform the modifications, teach homeowners DIY skills, or help residents connect with programs that offer financial assistance to accomplish the projects
- Climate action compatible with Maine Won’t Wait (the state climate action plan) and Maine Climate Corps; and,
- Environmental/community resilience, adaptation, and sustainability including emergency preparedness.
Eligible applicants are public or non-profit agencies, higher education institutions, and regional organizations that will operate an AmeriCorps program solely within Maine. Typical awards for range from $196,000 to $280,000.
A copy of this RFA, as well as the Question & Answer Summary and all amendments related to this RFA, can be obtained on this page and at the following website: https://www.maine.gov/dafs/bbm/procurementservices/vendors/grants.
There will be a virtual information session on March 30, 2023 at 9am to answer questions about this AmeriCorps competition. Registration is required. Use this link: https://tinyurl.com/muswcehk. The session will be recorded and posted with this grant announcement on the Division of Procurement Services grant page.
Proposals must be submitted electronically as directed in the RFP. Both the proposal sections using the federal eGrants system and additional documents emailed to the Division of Procurement Services (Proposals@maine.gov) must be received no later than 11:59 p.m., local time on April 13, 2023. Proposals received after the 11:59 p.m. deadline will be rejected without exception.
RFA# 202303050 Maine Rural State AmeriCorps Grants
Submit Deadline: April 13, 2023
Information Session: March 29, 2023 at 1 pm. Register HERE.
RFA Download: Document Link
FULL ANNOUNCEMENT
Volunteer Maine, the Commission for Community Service, is seeking proposals for AmeriCorps programs under Maine AmeriCorps Rural State AmeriCorps grant competition. Programs must be designed to enroll between two and five full-time AmeriCorps members in each year of the grant’s 3 years. Each AmeriCorps member service plan must require full-time service (40 hours/week) and all must serve within the applicant organization.
Applicants must implement an evidence-based program model that addresses one of these community issues:
- Public Health – including domestic violence, abuse or neglect, substance use, emergency preparedness/response, adverse childhood experiences, and mental health;
- Workforce development – combining service with skill development or certifications that lead to post-service employment
- Housing – affordable and safe housing; home energy conservation, weatherization, or repair including programs that perform the modifications, teach homeowners DIY skills, or help residents connect with programs that offer financial assistance to accomplish the projects
- Climate action compatible with Maine Won’t Wait (the state climate action plan) and Maine Climate Corps; and,
- Environmental/community resilience, adaptation, and sustainability including emergency preparedness.
Eligible applicants are public or non-profit agencies, higher education institutions, and regional organizations that will operate an AmeriCorps program solely within Maine. Typical awards for range from $56,000 to $140,000.
A copy of this RFA, as well as the Question & Answer Summary and all amendments related to this RFA, can be obtained on this page and at the following website: https://www.maine.gov/dafs/bbm/procurementservices/vendors/grants.
There will be a virtual information session on March 29, 2023 at 1pm to answer questions about this AmeriCorps competition. Registration is required. Use this link: https://tinyurl.com/56whhzx7. The session will be recorded and posted with this grant announcement on the Division of Procurement Services grant page.
Proposals must be submitted electronically as directed in the RFP. Both the proposal sections using the federal eGrants system and additional documents emailed to the Division of Procurement Services (Proposals@maine.gov) must be received no later than 11:59 p.m., local time on April 13, 2023. Proposals received after the 11:59 p.m. deadline will be rejected without exception.
Maine Climate Corps
There is no active competition at this time.
Maine Volunteer Generation Fund Initiative
There is no active competition at this time.
Direct Grants from AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps NCCC North Central Region 2022-2023 Request for Applications
Who Can Receive a Team?
Nonprofit and faith-based organizations, government entities (federal, state and local), public schools and universities, and Native American Tribal Councils.
What Can Teams Do?
- NCCC teams work on a variety of projects, each lasting up to the length of the round. Service areas include:
- Disaster Mitigation, Response & Recovery
- Urban and Rural Development
- Environmental Stewardship
- Energy Conservation
- Infrastructure Improvement
PLEASE NOTE: Due dates vary
For more information, use the following link to access a brochure -- view brochure.
For specific information on the application process, use the link to access an info sheet -- view application info.
Federal contact for next steps:
Alana Svensen Hults, Assistant Program Director
202-409-6797
asvensen@cns.gov
AmeriCorps Seniors
To find an AmeriCorps Seniors service opportunity near you, visit the AmeriCorps Seniors Pathfinder. Access more info on the AmeriCorps federal website here.