Fact Sheets
Through the programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service, Americans are investing their time, energy and talent in improving the lives of others and strengthening their communities. In the process, they are building a more engaged society and becoming leaders in civic life.
View Fact Sheets and Issue Briefs on our programs and initiatives:
Program Fact Sheets
Learn more about AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund, and other flagship CNCS programs.
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The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. As the nation's largest grant maker in support of service and volunteering, CNCS engages more than five million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to their communities each year through the Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, VISTA, NCCC, and Learn and Serve America programs…
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AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 men and women in intensive service each year at more than 15,000 locations including nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country.
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AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is a full-time, team-based residential service program for individuals ages 18-24. NCCC members are organized into 10-12 member teams and serve in local communities in all 50 states and U.S. territories. The mission of AmeriCorps NCCC is to strengthen communities and develop leaders through team-based national and community service.
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AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) taps the skills, talents, and passion of more than 8,000 Americans annually to support community efforts to overcome poverty.
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Senior Corps taps the skills, talents, and experience of more than 330,000 Americans age 55 and over to meet a wide range of community challenges through three programs — RSVP, the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Senior Companion Program.
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The Social Innovation Fund, an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service, transforms lives and communities by using limited federal investment as a catalyst to grow community-based nonprofits with evidence of strong results. Throughout the U.S., effective solutions to many of our major problems have been developed and are already achieving strong results. The Social Innovation Fund was founded on the fundamental idea that we can make enormous progress toward overcoming significant challenges by finding and growing the most promising of these solutions.
Special Initiative Fact Sheets
Get background information on the initiatives we lead including MLK Day, the President’s Community Service Honor Roll, and the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance.
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On April 21, 2009, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (SAA), the most sweeping expansion of national service in a generation. This landmark law is making America stronger by focusing service on key national issues; expanding opportunities to serve; building the capacity of individuals, nonprofits, and communities to succeed; and encouraging innovative approaches to solving problems.
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The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, signed by President Obama in April 2009, authorized the Corporation for National and Community Service and the National Conference on Citizenship to produce the Civic Health Assessment (known as Civic Life in America), an annual report detailing the many ways people get involved in communities across the country and work to make a difference.
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. devoted his life to equality, social justice, economic advancement, and opportunity for all. He challenged us to build a more perfect union and taught us that everyone has a role to play in making America what it ought to be.
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The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll recognizes higher education institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities.
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In 2006, a strategic plan was set in place for five years through 2010. The plan identified four priorities that the Corporation will focus on over that time period.
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The September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance is the culmination of an effort originally launched in 2002 by 9/11 family members and support groups who worked to establish the charitable service day as a forward-looking way to honor the sacrifice of those who were lost and those who united in response to the tragedy.
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AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 men and women in intensive service each year through more than 15,000 nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country.
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The President and First Lady launched United We Serve in partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service. United We Serve is a nationwide initiative, beginning this summer, to create a sustained, collaborative, and focused effort to meet community needs and make service a way of life for all Americans. The online home of United We Serve is Serve.gov. Fact Sheets and Issue Briefs
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The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) hosts the most comprehensive collection of information on volunteering in the U.S. at its Web site: www.VolunteeringInAmerica.gov. The site allows civic leaders, nonprofit organizations, and interested individuals to retrieve a wide range of information regarding trends and demographics in volunteering in their regions, states, and nearly 200 metro areas.
Fact Sheets and Issue Briefs
Delve into the details behind CNCS initiatives, our research, and the services our programs deliver.
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In the days and months that followed the May 22, 2011, tornado, more than 350 AmeriCorps members from seven states have come to Joplin, providing vital services and coordinating more than 75,000 volunteers who have been essential to the city’s recovery.
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A growing body of research shows an association between volunteering and mental and physical health benefits. In particular, older volunteers report lower mortality rates, lower rates of depression, fewer physical limitations, and higher levels of well-being.
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Both MENTOR and the Corporation for National and Community Service have released new studies that shed new light on mentors and the “mentoring gap”—the number of young people in need of a caring adult to help them succeed in life—as well as Americans’ attitudes, motivations and behaviors toward mentoring.
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Every year, communities across the nation suffer the effects of natural and man-made disasters that disrupt the lives of millions of Americans. Disasters can lead to human losses, social problems, economic harm, and environmental damage. The very nature of a disaster leaves individuals and families with broken or stressed support networks to assist with response and recovery.
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The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) recognizes the important role that faith-based and community organizations play in creating solutions for national problems. In tackling some of our nation's most intractable issues, these organizations improve individuals' lives and give hope to countless communities around our country.
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The Corporation for National and Community Service is a vital supply line to America's nonprofit community, providing grants, volunteers, training, and other resources to help meet pressing needs in education, housing, the environment, public safety, disaster relief, and other areas.
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At a time when America is challenged to improve education and ensure our national growth and prosperity, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is leading a citizen-driven effort to provide students across the country with the skills and experiences they need to succeed in the 21st century.
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The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) supports mentoring for children and youth from disadvantaged circumstances through several of our programs. We believe that caring and capable adults can make a critical difference in the lives of children and youth in need. Mentoring is a proven method to ensure students complete their education. Youth with a mentor more readily attend and engage in school and are therefore more likely to finish high school and continue their education.
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As Mayors and other city leaders work to meet increasing demands for social services, many are recognizing the critical role that citizen volunteers can play in meeting community needs. Research has shown that cities with high levels of volunteering and civic engagement have a higher quality of life–stronger local economies, less crime, more parental engagement in schools.
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At a time of fiscal restraint and mounting social challenges, the nation's Governors have recognized the critical role that citizen service can play in solving community problems. Every day, millions of citizens make a difference in their states by increasing high school graduation rates, rebuilding communities struck by natural disasters, helping seniors live independently, mentoring at-risk youth, and more.
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Service members make tremendous sacrifices and learn invaluable skills while protecting and serving our nation — they build a stronger America. Many veterans face challenges in translating those skills into meaningful community engagement, and too often, our industry leaders fail to make strong connections to one of America’s greatest assets.
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Everyday across America, citizens are finding solutions to local problems through national and community service. From increasing high school graduation rates and rebuilding communities struck by natural disasters to mentoring at-risk youth and helping veterans adjust to civilian life, these everyday heroes are strengthening their communities as they transform their own lives.
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Natural disasters affect millions of families every year, putting their homes and lives at risk. Their often unpredictable nature can leave communities off-guard and stress the support networks of families and first responders. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) believes disaster preparedness and response is critical to our national security, and that volunteers can support the work of first responders and speed recovery for those affected.
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Investing in Innovative Community Solutions The President and First Lady have called on our nation's foundations and philanthropists to partner with the Administration to invest in innovative, successful solutions that have the potential to grow and address the needs of more communities across the country.
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Through its various programs and initiatives, the Corporation for National and Community Service is a key source of support to help nonprofit and faith-based organizations recruit, train, manage, and use volunteers. The Corporation's five-year Strategic Plan identifies volunteer mobilization as one of its top priorities, and sets a national goal of 75 million adult volunteers in the United States by the year 2010.
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In its first three years, the Social Innovation Fund has awarded $137 million to 20 grantmaking intermediaries. These grantees have strong track records of identifying and growing high-performing nonprofit organizations and represent the diversity of the social sector.
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People with disabilities serve for the same reasons as anyone else: to give back to their communities, and to become more active and engaged. Many find that service offers real-life work experience, allowing opportunities to test career paths, sharpen skills, and define employment goals and interests. The individuals profiled here represent a small sampling of the many people with disabilities engaged in national and community service.
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What is Summer of Service? Summer of Service is a campaign to engage more young people, particularly those from disadvantaged circumstances, in service during the summer months. The campaign is sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service in collaboration with USA Freedom Corps. Summer of Service is supported by AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Learn and Serve America, AmeriCorps VISTA, the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), and hundreds of non-profit organizations nationally.
