America's Service Commissions Statement on Release of Remaining FY25 Congressionally Appropriated AmeriCorps Grant Funds

Yesterday the AmeriCorps agency (Corporation for National and Community Service) provided the following notification to grantees:

AmeriCorps will be moving forward with awarding Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, AmeriCorps State and National competitive grantees, and State Service Commissions Investment Funds that up to this point have been pending release of FY 2025 funds. VISTA sponsors will receive more information about end of year awards soon. 

ASC applauds the decision by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to release these FY25 Congressionally appropriated funds and for the AmeriCorps agency’s intention to obligate and award these funds to selected grantees expeditiously by September 30.

“The delay of more than $200 million in grant funds impacted more than 230 organizations including state service commissions in every state and territory and has resulted in the delay of critical community services and stalled the start of service for AmeriCorps members and volunteers,” says Kaira Esgate, CEO of America’s Service Commissions. “With the awarding of these funds, impacted AmeriCorps grantees are eager resume programming ranging from reading and math interventions, disaster response, low-income senior services, workforce and veteran initiatives, and many more locally delivered services.”

We extend appreciation to the hardworking federal staff at the AmeriCorps agency, the network of state service commission and AmeriCorps programs for their determination, the Attorney General Offices and Governor Offices that have advocated for the release of these funds, and everyone that reached out to their members of Congress related to this grant hold. 

We are especially thankful for the leadership of Senators Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) along with Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) for their outreach to OMB regarding the importance of these grant funds needing to being released.

We are grateful for the longstanding and continued bipartisan support of state service commissions and AmeriCorps programs including the recent support from the Senate  Appropriations Committee in approving their fiscal year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill. The spending package, which was supported by both Republicans and Democrats on the committee, provides near-level funding for the AmeriCorps agency and its programs.