AmeriCorps Seniors is publishing this funding notice with the purpose of creating the AmeriCorps Seniors Workforce Development Senior Demonstration Program (herein referred to as WFD) to support projects focused on supporting older adults as they seek to secure employment in professional, skilled labor, or para-professional careers.
Donor Name: AmeriCorps
State: All States
County: All Counties
Territory: US Territories
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/01/2023
Size of the Grant: $5,000,000
Grant Duration: 3 year
Details:
AmeriCorps improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities and those serving. AmeriCorps helps make service a cornerstone of our national culture.
In addition, while AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve, there is the opportunity to build new skills, explore a variety of careers, and build strong networks to support employment goals after their service is complete. This combination of service, training, and follow-up mentoring together serve the basis of this exciting funding opportunity.
Older adult workers, those age 55 and older, may find it challenging to move to a new career of interest, or return to the workforce after being absent for a period of time. There are many reasons for this challenge – ranging from lack of support for older workers, to age discrimination, or the perception that older workers are not considered viable candidates for a position. Whatever the reason, there remain barriers to workers aged 55 and older securing and retaining employment.
AmeriCorps Seniors is partnering with Public Health AmeriCorps, which seeks to support projects that address the public health needs of local communities, advance health equity and create pathways to public health careers for older adults. Applicants that propose public health careers programming would apply via the Public Health Careers Track. All other career programming will apply via the non-public health careers track. Through WFD funding opportunities, applicants must demonstrate how they will engage adults ages 55 and older, using service opportunities, certification, training, and mentoring as the avenue that will lead to employment in skilled, professional, and/or para-professional career employment.
Funding Information
AmeriCorps anticipates approximately $5,000,000 available for FY 2023 AmeriCorps Seniors SDP Workforce Development awards. The actual level of funding is subject to the availability of annual appropriations. Applicants must propose a period of performance to start July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026. Successful applicants will be issued awards by late June 2023.
Funding Priorities
AmeriCorps’ priorities for this funding opportunity are:
- Support older adults in obtaining permanent employment in skilled labor, professional or paraprofessional careers (for the purpose of this NOFO, professional is defined as “engaged in a specified activity as one’s main paid occupation rather than as a pastime and requires a particular skillset in order to be successful.” Paraprofessional is defined as “specially trained or credentialed employment, in fields such as education, healthcare, engineering, law.”).
- Provide training and/or certification for employment, and supports such as mentorship, coaching, transportation, and other forms of support.
- Provide mentoring and/or coaching in regular increments, including during pre- and post- employment placement.
- Provide a competitive stipend to remove barriers for older adults’ service. If the program model does not include a stipend for beneficiaries, a full explanation must be provided, including how the program recruits, retains, supports volunteers, and a pattern of success.
Eligible Applicants
- Indian Tribes
- institutions of higher education
- local governments, including city or county health public health departments
- nonprofit organizations, including state-recognized tribal organizations
- state service commissions
- states and US Territories
For more information, visit AmeriCorps.
