OneStar: Strategies to Achieve Social Impact

AmeriCorps Texas Grants 2009-2012

AmeriCorps 09-12 Grant  I  AmeriCorps Resources  I  FAQs

What Is AmeriCorps?

AmeriCorps awards member positions and program operating funds to organizations to further the goals of AmeriCorps and to provide service to address local unmet needs.  Grants support organizations that use volunteer service as a strategy for addressing national and community needs, while fostering an ethic of civic responsibility.  AmeriCorps provides thousands of Americans of all ages and backgrounds with intensive full- and part-time opportunities to serve their communities and build the capacity of grassroots organizations to meet local needs. AmeriCorps joins a long tradition of programs that encourage and reward service programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Montgomery GI Bill and the Peace Corps. In return for their service - AmeriCorps participants - known as members, receive a modest living allowance and an education award that can be used towards existing college loans or to pay continuing education costs. AmeriCorps programs recruit, select, train and manage their own AmeriCorps members, design and operate their program and are responsible for providing funds and other resources to match the federal funds they receive through their AmeriCorps grant. 

In the short time since AmeriCorps' inception in 1994, its members have achieved impressive results. Nationwide, over 400,000 individuals are alumni of the program, and now take their place as the next generation of community leaders, educators, health professionals, and the like. More than 70,000 AmeriCorps members are currently serving in communities throughout the country.

Goals of AmeriCorps include:

  • Getting Things Done. AmeriCorps helps communities meet needs.
  • Strengthening Communities. AmeriCorps builds the capacity of community organizations and other institutions to more effectively engage community volunteers to improve our communities.
  • Encouraging Responsibility. Through service and civic education, AmeriCorps members become agents of community solutions and develop an ethic of lifelong service.
  • Expanding Opportunity. AmeriCorps helps those who help America. Members develop professional skills, gain invaluable experience and receive education awards for successful completion of their service.

AmeriCorps Overview

OneStar Foundation is proud to administer AmeriCorps*Texas. Through AmeriCorps*Texas, OneStar administers grants with which nonprofits, public agencies and faith-based and community organizations can engage AmeriCorps members in their communities in order to:

  • Meet critical needs through service and volunteerism
  • Strengthen the capacity of local communities,
  • And engage Texans in a lifetime of service and civic leadership.

In the last 12 years:

  • Over 400 awards were granted to AmeriCorps*Texas programs totaling over $125 million.
  • Twelve million hours of service were dedicated by 17,000 members serving communities across Texas.
  • These members earned over $30 million in education awards to use for college tuition or to payoff college loans.

The organizations that receive grants are responsible for recruiting, selecting and supervising AmeriCorps members to serve in their programs.

Am I Ready?

AmeriCorps has been described as "a mission, not a program." Organizations must be extremely committed to service and willing to dedicate staff towards program administration. AmeriCorps challenges its members to stretch themselves and grow as human beings, and also challenges its sponsoring organizations to move beyond status quo and find new ways of effectively serving their communities. In designing an effective AmeriCorps program it is imperative that an organization understand the mission, goals, and regulations of the program.

Successful applicants will demonstrate sound programmatic and fiscal oversight, have well-defined staff and board roles, effective plans and systems for organizational assessment and be able to provide or secure effective technical assistance.  Additionally, successful applicants should demonstrate a sound record of organizational accomplishments, including the ability to recruit and support diverse volunteers and that the organization demonstrates leadership in the community.

Applicants must have the organizational capability to effectively manage federal grants and establish and operate successful programs. Organizations should demonstrate the ability to provide the proper management structure to comply with all applicable federal laws, regulations and OMB circulars and maintain systems required to administer the program. While an organization may have had federal awards in the past, AmeriCorps has some specific infrastructure requirements that many federal grants may not require.  As a result, grant management for this federal grant is quite comprehensive.

Resources, Webinars, and Useful Links

Here are some helpful resources for you to use in designing your program and writing your application.

Related Downloads

Title Category Topics Type Created
09-12 Webinar # 5 Are you a Ready Organization?
Power point presentation used during 09-12 webinar # 5 - are you a ready organization?
 Application Resource AmeriCorps 09-12 RFP pdf August 28, 2008
09-12 Webinar # 4 Fiscal & Budgetary Knowledge (updated 09.12.08)
Power point presentation used during 09-12 Webinar # 4 - Fiscal and Budgetary Knowledge - updated 09.12.08
 Application Resource AmeriCorps 09-12 RFP pdf September 15, 2008
09-12 Webinar # 3 Logic Model and Social Impact
Power Point presentation used during 09-12 Webinar # 3 - Logic Model and Social Impact
 Application Resource AmeriCorps 09-12 RFP pdf August 28, 2008
09-12 Webinar # 2 High Quality Program Design
Power Point presentation used during 09-12 Webinar # 2 - High Quality Program Design
 Application Resource AmeriCorps 09-12 RFP pdf August 28, 2008
09-12 Webinar # 1 Overview of AmeriCorps and OneStar
Power Point presentation used during the 09-12 Webinar # 1 - Overview of AmeriCorps and OneStar
 Application Resource AmeriCorps 09-12 RFP pdf August 28, 2008
09-12 Webinar # 5 Recording
09-12 Webinar # 5 Are you a ready organization? webinar recording
 Application Resource wav August 28, 2008
09-12 Webinar # 4 Recording
09-12 Webinar # 4 Fiscal and Budget Knowledge webinar recording
 Application Resource wav August 28, 2008
09-12 Webinar # 3 Recording
09-12 Webinar # 3 Logic Model and Social Impact webinar recording
 Application Resource wav August 28, 2008
09-12 Webinar # 2 Recording
09-12 Webinar # 2 High Quality Program Design recording of webinar
 Application Resource wav August 28, 2008
09-12 Webinar # 1 Recording
099-12 RFP Webinar # 1 AmeriCorps and OneStar Overview recording of webinar
 Application Resource wav August 28, 2008
Texas Toolkit
AmeriCorps Program Design Toolkit
 Application Resource AmeriCorps 09-12 RFP pdf August 28, 2008