Key Differences among the AmeriCorps Programs
Category AmeriCorps VISTA
Projects
Member term of Full-time only: 365 days
service
Member stipend/ Administered by the
living allowance Corporation for National
payments and Community Service
(unless VISTA project
has a Program Grant)
Member support Covered by the
costs (stipend and Corporation (unless the
benefits) VISTA project is a Cost-
share)
Member Training Corporation provides a
Pre-service Orientation to
all new VISTA members
Member Service Capacity Building
activities, incidental direct
service only
Member No limit on % of time
Fundraising spent raising funds for the
organization
Segal AmeriCorps Members choose a Segal
Education award AmeriCorps education
and end of term award of $4725 OR a
options $1200 cash stipend, paid
upon successful
completion of service.
Operational Projects contribute 100%
support costs of the operating costs in
cash or in-kind; some
training and support
money may be available
Reporting Program reports required
Requirements quarterly in first year,
often reduced to semi-
annual thereafter;
financial reports required
only for programs
receiving grants
Application Begins with a Concept
Submission Paper submitted to the
process Corporation State Office.
Results Member service must lift
AmeriCorps State AmeriCorps National
Programs
Full-time, Half-time,
Reduced Half-time,
Quarter-Time, Minimum-
Time
Administered by the
Grantee
Required for full-time
members and optional for
others. Programs can us
Corporation grant funds
or match funding to cover
member support costs.
Grantee is responsible for
training members
Direct service and
capacity building activities
cannot allot more than
10% of their time to
fundraising for the
AmeriCorps program
Members receive a Segal
AmeriCorps Education
award appropriate for the
term of service
completed. There is NO
choice of a cash option.
New programs must
contribute a minimum of
24% of the total program
costs in cash or in-kind.
Overall grantee share of
total budget increases
gradually to 50% overall
share by the tenth year of
funding and any year
thereafter.
Set by the State
Commission, programs
Begins with Commission
issuing a Request for
Proposals and applicants
applying directly to the
State Commission
Determined by State and
Programs
Full-time, Half-time,
Reduced Half-time,
Quarter-Time, Minimum-
Time
Administered by the
Grantee
Required for full-time
members and optional for
others. Programs can us
Corporation grant funds
or match funding to cover
member support costs.
Grantee is responsible for
training members
Direct service and
capacity building activities
cannot allot more than
10% of their time to
fundraising for the
AmeriCorps program
Members receive a Segal
AmeriCorps Education
award appropriate for the
term of service
completed. There is NO
choice of a cash option.
New programs must
contribute a minimum of
24% of the total program
costs in cash or in-kind.
Overall grantee share of
total budget increases
gradually to 50% overall
share by the tenth year of
funding and any year
thereafter.
Programs submit annual
progress reports due the
first Monday in December
and semi-annual
Financial Status reports
directly to the Corporation
Begins with submission of
an application directly to
the Corporation
Determined by CNCS
Requirements people out of poverty and CNCS priorities as well priorities as well as
be sustainable; program as program identified program identified
must address one or performance measures performance measures
more CNCS strategic
initiatives
Application No set deadline; contact One annual deadline for Specific annual deadline
Deadline your CNCS State Office each grant competition. for Planning Grant
Check with State applicants and a separate
Commissions for specific annual deadline for all
deadlines. other grant competitions.