AmeriCorps Seniors Regulation Updates

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Corporation for National and Community Service (operating as AmeriCorps) is revising its regulations governing AmeriCorps Seniors programs. This rule removes barriers to service for individuals and increases flexibility for grantees to accomplish project goals and recruit volunteers. Specifically, this rule removes barriers for individuals to serve as AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in three ways: first, by modernizing what is considered income in the calculation that determines eligibility to receive a stipend; second, by allowing volunteers to continue to receive a stipend when their sponsor places them on administrative leave due to extenuating circumstances that prevent service; and third, by allowing grantees to supplement stipends. This rule reduces burden for AmeriCorps Seniors grantees in two ways: first, it establishes a single 10 percent match value regardless of grant year. Second, this rule allows grantees to choose to pay more than (but not less than) the AmeriCorps-established stipend rates, using non-AmeriCorps funds for the amount that exceeds the AmeriCorps-established rate. These changes will improve grantees' ability to recruit volunteers and allow grantees to devote to program operations resources that would otherwise be devoted to meet increasingly high match requirements. The rule also updates nomenclature to reflect that the Corporation for National and Community Service operates as AmeriCorps and that "Senior Corps" is now known as "AmeriCorps Seniors."