The Corporation for National and Community
Service: Overview of Programs and Funding
Updated May 17, 2021
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
RL33931

The CNCS: Overview of Programs and Funding

Summary
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is an independent federal agency
that administers the programs authorized by two statutes: the National and Community Service
Act of 1990 (NCSA; P.L. 101-610), as amended, and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973
(DVSA; P.L. 93-113), as amended. NCSA and DVSA programs were most recently reauthorized
by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (P.L. 111-13). The report describes programs
authorized by these laws and compares CNCS funding for FY2018, FY2019, FY2020, and
FY2021.
The NCSA is designed to meet unmet human, educational, environmental, and public safety
needs and to renew an ethic of civic responsibility by encouraging citizens to participate in
national service programs. The major programs authorized by NCSA include AmeriCorps State
and National Grants and the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). The NCSA also
authorizes the National Service Trust, which funds educational awards for community service
participants.
A central purpose of the DVSA, which authorizes the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)
program and the National Senior Volunteer Corps, is to foster and expand voluntary service in
communities while helping the vulnerable, the disadvantaged, the elderly, and the poor. The
DVSA also authorizes the National Senior Volunteer Corps, which includes three programs for
senior citizens: the Foster Grandparent Program, the Senior Companion Program, and the Retired
and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).
Appropriations for the DVSA and the NCSA programs are made annual y through the
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act (Labor-HHS-ED). CNCS programs are funded through FY2021 under the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260).The FY2021 appropriations amount for
CNCS is $1.121 bil ion, which is $17 mil ion more than the FY2020 amount of $1.104 bil ion.
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The CNCS: Overview of Programs and Funding

Background
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)1 was established by the National
and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-82). Operating as an independent federal
agency, the CNCS oversees al national and community service programs authorized by the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (NCSA)2 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act
of 1973 (DVSA).3
The NCSA and DVSA were last reauthorized by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
(P.L. 111-13).4 Although authorization of appropriations under the Serve America Act expired in
FY2014, NCSA and DVSA programs have continued to receive funding through the Departments
of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
(Labor-HHS-ED).
Most Recent Developments
CNCS programs are funded through the end of FY2021 under the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260). The final enacted appropriations law for FY2021 included $1.121
bil ion for CNCS. The overal FY2021 funding level for CNCS is approximately 2% above the
FY2020 level of $1.104 bil ion.
This report provides a summary of each NCSA and DVSA program and compares funding under
Labor-HHS-ED in
 the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 ( P.L. 115-141);
 the Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and
Education Appropriations Act, 2019 and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019
(P.L. 115-245);
 the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-94); and
 the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260).
Program-by-Program Overview and Funding
NCSA Programs and Funding
The purpose of the NCSA is to address unmet human, educational, environmental, and public
safety needs and to renew an ethic of civil responsibility and community spirit in the United
States by encouraging citizens to participate in national service programs. The NCSA was enacted
in 1990 as P.L. 101-610 and last reauthorized in 2011 by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America
Act (P.L. 111-13). NCSA programs include AmeriCorps State and National Grants, the National

1 T he Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) promulgated a regulation on October 15, 2020 t o
change its operating name to AmeriCorps. See 45 C.F.R. §2500.
2 National and Community Service Act of 1990 (NCSA), P.L. 101-610.
3 Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (DVSA), P.L. 93-113.
4 For more information, see CRS Report R40432, Reauthorization of the National and Community Service Act of 1990
and the Dom estic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (P.L. 111 -13), by Ann Lordeman.
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Service Trust, the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), and Learn and Serve America
(LSA). See Table A-1 for NCSA funding information.
AmeriCorps State and National Grants (Title I-C)5
Program Focus: Created in 1993, programs under AmeriCorps State and National Grants identify
and address critical community needs, including tutoring and mentoring disadvantaged youth,
managing or operating after-school programs, helping communities respond to disasters,
improving health services, building affordable housing, and cleaning parks and streams. Grants
include formula grants to states and territories, and competitive grants to states, territories, Indian
tribes, and national nonprofit organizations.
Volunteer Eligibility: Individuals aged 17 and older.
Amount of Volunteer Service: Full-time or part-time for a 9- to 12-month period.
Volunteer Benefits: Some full-time AmeriCorps members receive a living al owance, health
coverage, and child care for those who qualify.6 Participants in AmeriCorps may receive
educational awards for their service through the National Service Trust (see the following section
of this report). AmeriCorps members can also obtain loan forbearance (i.e., postponement) in the
repayment of their qualified student loans while participating in these programs and have the
interest on their accrued loans paid from the trust once they earn an educational award.
Administrative Entity: Each state and territory governor appoints members of a service
commission to manage, monitor, and administer annual grant applications for the state. CNCS
reviews the state commission formula package and makes the awards. For multistate or national
awards, grantees are selected competitively by the CNCS headquarters office.
National Service Trust Education Awards (Title I-D)
The National Service Trust, a special account in the U.S. Treasury, provides educational awards
for participants in AmeriCorps Grants, NCCC, and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). An
individual may not receive more than an amount equal to the aggregate value of two awards for
full-time service.7
The educational award for full-time service is equal to the maximum amount of a Pel Grant in
effect at the beginning of the federal fiscal year in which the Corporation approves the national
service position. AmeriCorps members serving full-time in programs funded in FY2021 are to
receive an education award of up to $6,345, the Pel Grant maximum in the year the positions
were approved. Prorated awards are also made for other terms of service, such as half-time (see
Table 1). AmeriCorps members aged 55 or older at the beginning of a term of service may
transfer the education award to a child, stepchild, grandchild, step-grandchild, or foster child.
AmeriCorps State and National participants can serve a maximum of four terms of service.8 Full-
time, half-time, reduced half-time, quarter time, and minimum time terms of service each count as
one term of service.

5 In statute, T itle I-C is titled “National Service T rust Program.”
6 For more information on AmeriCorps benefits eligibility, see 42 U.S.C. §12594.
7 42 U.S.C. §12602 (c).
8 Corporation for National and Community Service, Segal AmeriCorps Education Award,https://americorps.gov/
members-volunteers/segal-americorps-education-award.
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The CNCS: Overview of Programs and Funding

In addition to education awards, the National Service Trust provides interest payments on
qualified student loans to recipients of AmeriCorps Grants and participants in NCCC or VISTA
who have obtained forbearance (postponement of loan repayment).
Table 1. AmeriCorps Education Award Amounts
(for programs funded with FY2021 appropriations)
Minimum Number
Educational
Participation Type
of Hours
Award
Ful time
1,700
$6,345.00
Three-quarters time
1,200
$4,441.50
Half time
900
$3,172.50
Reduced half time
675
$2,417.14
Quarter time
450
$1,678.57
Minimum time and summer associate
300
$1,342.86
AmeriCorps Affiliate
100
$357.08
Source: CNCS, Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, Amount, Eligibility and Limitations,
https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/sega l-americorps-education-award/amount-eligibility-and
National Civilian Community Corps (Title I-E)
Program Focus: NCCC is a full-time residential program that focuses on short-term projects that
meet national and community needs related to disaster relief, infrastructure improvement,
environment and energy conservation, environmental stewardship, and urban and rural
development.
Volunteer Eligibility: Individuals aged 18 to 24. By statute (42 U.S.C.S. §12613(c)), the
Corporation is required to take steps to increase the percentage of program participants who are
disadvantaged to 50% of al participants.9
Amount of Volunteer Service: Participants can serve up to two years full time. Full-time service is
defined as 10 months each year.
Volunteer Benefits: NCCC participants may receive a living al owance, room and board, limited
medical benefits, and an educational award through the National Service Trust.
Administrative Entity: NCCC programs are administered by the CNCS.
Innovation, Demonstration, and Assistance Activities (I-H)
CNCS continues to have broad authority to fund a range of activities as authorized by Subtitle I-
H, Investment for Quality and Innovation. The Serve America Act established the following
programs.

9 Disadvantaged youth are defined at 42 U.S.C. §12511(b) as youth who are economically disadvantaged and one or
more of the following: out -of-school youth, in or aging out of foster care, have limited English proficiency, homeless or
have run away from home, at -risk to leave school without a diploma, juvenile offenders or at risk of delinquency,
individuals with a disability.
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Volunteer Generation Fund. The Volunteer Generation Fund awards competitive grants to state
commissions and nonprofit organizations to develop and support community-based entities that
recruit, manage, or support volunteers.
Innovation, Demonstration, and Call to Service. The corporation supports innovative initiatives
and demonstration programs, such as the Cal To Service, which would engage Americans in
community needs, such as the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service and the September
11th National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Learn and Serve America (Title I-B)10—Not Funded Since FY2010
Since 1990, NCSA has authorized community service programs benefitting students and
communities through “service-learning,” which integrates community service projects with
classroom learning. This program was last funded in FY2010 by the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-117).
DVSA Programs and Funding
The DVSA was enacted in 1973 as P.L. 93-113. Like the NCSA, it was last reauthorized in 2011
by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (P.L. 111-13). The purpose of DVSA is to foster
and expand voluntary citizen service throughout the nation. DVSA programs are designed to help
the poor, the disadvantaged, the vulnerable, and the elderly. Administered by the CNCS, DVSA
programs include VISTA and the National Senior Volunteer Corps. See Table A-1 for DVSA
funding information.
VISTA (Title I-A)
Program Focus: The VISTA program encourages Americans to participate in community service
in an effort to eliminate poverty.
Volunteer Eligibility: Individuals aged 18 and older.
Amount of Volunteer Service: VISTA members serve full time for up to five years.11
Volunteer Benefits: VISTA members may receive a living al owance, student-loan forbearance,
health coverage, relocation costs, training, and child care assistance. VISTA members who
complete a term of service have the option of receiving an educational award, which is equivalent
to the educational awards earned by AmeriCorps or NCCC members, or they may choose to
receive an end-of-service lump sum stipend of $1,803 instead.12 Like NCCC members, VISTA
members receive an educational award based on the Pel Grant.13 Full-time, half-time, reduced
half-time, quarter time, and minimum time terms of service each count as one term of service.
Administrative Entity: CNCS state offices.

10 In statute, T itle I-B is titled “School-Based and Community-Based Service-Learning Programs.”
11 VIST A Handbook, Chapter 12: End of Service, https://www.vistacampus.gov/chapter-12-end-service.
12 VIST A Handbook, Chapter 5: Financial Support, http://www.vistacampus.gov/chapter-5-financial-support-0
13 Corporation for National and Community Service, Segal AmeriCorps Education Award,
http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/segal-americorps-education-award.
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National Senior Service Corps (Title II)
The National Senior Service Corps consists of three programs, summarized below: the Retired
Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP), and the Senior
Companion Program (SCP).
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (Title II-A)
Program Focus: Volunteers in RSVP may play community service roles in education, health and
nutrition services, community and economic development, and other areas of human need.
Volunteer Eligibility: Individuals aged 55 and older.
Amount of Volunteer Service: Participants can contribute up to 40 hours each week.
Volunteer Benefits: The RSVP offers no direct benefits (e.g., stipends or educational awards),
with the exception of mileage reimbursement and insurance coverage during assignments.
Administrative Entity: CNCS state offices.
Foster Grandparent Program (Title II-B)
Program Focus: FGP participants support children with exceptional needs by providing aid and
services. FGP participants mentor children and teenagers, teach model parenting skil s, and help
care for premature infants and children with disabilities.
Volunteer Eligibility: Individuals must be aged 55 or older to participate in FGP and meet income
eligibility requirements to receive a stipend.
Amount of Volunteer Service: Volunteer schedules, which range from 15 to 40 hours each week,
average 20 hours per week.
Volunteer Benefits: Income eligible participants may receive a tax-free hourly stipend.
Participants may also receive mileage reimbursements and accident, liability, and automobile
insurance coverage during assignments.
Administrative Entity: CNCS state offices.
Senior Companion Program (Title II-C)
Program Focus: SCP gives older adults the opportunity to assist homebound elderly individuals
to remain in their own homes and to enable institutionalized elderly individuals to return to home
care settings.
Volunteer Eligibility: Individuals must be 55 or older to participate in SCP and meet income
eligibility requirements to receive a stipend.
Amount of Volunteer Service: Volunteer schedules, which range from 15 to 40 hours each week,
average 20 hours per week.
Volunteer Benefits: Participants may receive a stipend. Participants may also receive mileage
reimbursements and accident, liability, and automobile insurance coverage during assignments.
Administrative Entity: CNCS state offices.
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The CNCS: Overview of Programs and Funding

Appendix. CNCS Program Funding
Table A-1. Corporation for National and Community Service Funding
(in thousands)
Program (Authorizing
FY2018
FY2019
FY2020
FY2021
Legislation)
Appropriation
Appropriation
Appropriation
Appropriation
AmeriCorps State and National
$412,010
$425,010
$428,510
$455,096
Grants (NCSA Title I-C)
National Service Trust
$206,842
$206,842
$208,342
$185,000
(NCSA Title I-D)
National Civilian Community Corps
$32,000
$32,000
$32,500
$33,500
(NCSA Title I-E)
Innovation, Demonstration, and
Assistance Activities
$7,600
$7,600
$9,600
$9,600
(NCSA Title I-H)
—Innovation, Demonstration & Other
(non-add)
$2,200
$2,200
$3,200
$3,200
—Volunteer Generation Fund (non-
add)
$5,400
$5,400
$6,400
$6,400
State Commission Administrative
Grants
(NCSA Title I-C, §126(a); and Title
$17,538
$17,538
$17,538
$18,538
I-F, §178)
Evaluation (NCSA Title I-F, §179)
$4,000
$4,000
$4,000
$4,000
VISTA (DVSA Title I-A)
$92,364
$92,364
$93,364
$97,364
National Senior Service Corps
$202,117
$208,117
$221,017
$225,017
(DVSA Title II)
—Retired Senior Volunteer Program,
RSVP (non-add)
$48,903
$50,355
$51,355
$53,355
—Foster Grandparent Program (non-
add)
$107,702
$110,899
$118,799
$118,799
—Senior Companion Program (non-
$45,512
$46,863
$50,863
$52,863
add)
Inspector General
$5,750
$5,750
$5,750
$6,500
Salaries and Expenses
$83,737
$83,737
$83,737
$86,487
Total
$1,063,958
$1,082,958
$1,104,358
$1,121,102
Source: Compiled by the Congressional Research Service using data from current and past Budget Charts for
the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-
260).
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The CNCS: Overview of Programs and Funding

Author Information

Joselynn H. Fountain
Abigail R. Overbay
Analyst in Education Policy
Senior Research Librarian

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
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under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should n ot be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
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