Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Competition
🏛 AmeriCorps
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 18, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for state service commissions, state agencies, U.S. territories, and non-profit institutions of higher education seeking to establish or expand AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP programs.
Applicants must be able to sponsor volunteers ages 55 and older. Programs engage seniors in addressing local community needs through structured service opportunities.
Geographic scope includes all U.S. states and territories. There is no restriction by location, making this a national competition.
Non-profit higher education institutions are eligible; for-profit institutions are not.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
AmeriCorps improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities and those serving. AmeriCorps helps make service a cornerstone of our national culture. This funding announcement is an opportunity for communities to apply for funding to engage adults ages 55 and older in tackling the community’s most pressing needs through the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program. This is an open competition across all states and territories.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public University
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative/Program Description
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational capacity documentation
- Letters of support from community partners
- Cost-share/matching funds documentation
- Logic model or program evaluation plan
Program contact
- 👤 Rebecca Curtis Grantor
- 📧 RSVPCompetition@americorps.gov
- 📞 202-815-4986
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 94.002 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$2,700,000
-
$2,211,004
-
$1,696,550
-
$1,557,514
-
La Works CA$1,309,057
-
$1,270,000
-
$1,269,304
-
$1,255,651
-
$1,154,662
-
$1,127,500
Top States by Funding
- KY 10 awards $7.6M
- CA 9 awards $6.2M
- OH 7 awards $5.8M
- IA 4 awards $5.4M
- IL 8 awards $5.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 94.002). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $50,180,032 | |
| 2025 | $50,034,483 | |
| 2026 est. | $52,271,027 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
State Service Commissions, state agencies, U.S. territories, and non-profit colleges/universities can apply. You must have the capacity to place and support volunteers ages 55+.
What geographic areas are eligible?
All U.S. states and territories can compete. This is a national open competition with no geographic restrictions.
What activities does this funding support?
Funding supports volunteer service programs for seniors ages 55 and older addressing community needs. Programs typically focus on tutoring, mentoring, disaster relief, nutrition, and community development.
Is cost-sharing required?
Yes, this grant requires cost-sharing or matching funds. The specific match percentage should be confirmed in the full application materials.
When is the deadline?
The FY 2027 competition deadline is October 20, 2026. Check AmeriCorps.gov for exact submission dates and any rolling deadlines.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your organization's track record managing volunteer programs and community partnerships. Strong prior experience strengthens competitiveness.
- Detail how seniors will address specific, measurable community needs. Connect volunteer activities directly to local priorities.
- Demonstrate diverse funding sources for the required cost-share. Relying on a single source weakens your match commitment.
- Show buy-in from community partners who will host and support senior volunteers. Letters of commitment are often expected.
- Plan realistic volunteer recruitment and retention strategies. Address how you'll attract and keep seniors engaged throughout the service year.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak cost-share documentation. Applicants fail to show concrete commitments from partners or overstate in-kind contributions.
Vague volunteer placement plans. Applications lack specific details about where seniors will serve and what measurable outcomes they'll achieve.
Poor community needs assessment. Proposals don't clearly connect volunteer activities to documented local priorities or demonstrate community support.
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