AmeriCorps Grants

Competitions open at this time:

Maine Rural State AmeriCorps: RFA 202508124 Maine Rural State Americorps Grants_Final.pdf

Volunteer Maine, the Commission for Community Service, is seeking proposals for AmeriCorps programs under Maine Rural State AmeriCorps grant competition. A grant award covers three years of operation. Organizations that implement Rural AmeriCorps programs, design service activities that annually require between 3,400 and 8,500 hours of service by a team of AmeriCorps members serving full-time (37 hours/week).

Applicants must implement an evidence-based program model that addresses a critical local need. Congress directed AmeriCorps to focus efforts on six categories of issues. Within those categories, states can set priorities for grant investments based on the needs of their state.

Volunteer Maine will accept proposals that fit within any of the Focus Areas described on page 6 but it will award additional points to applications aligned with Volunteer Maine’s funding priorities.

These priority areas are:

• Public Health – including domestic violence, abuse or neglect, substance use, emergency preparedness/response, adverse childhood experiences, and mental health;
• Workforce development – combining service with skill development or certifications that lead to post-service employment • Housing – affordable and safe housing; home energy conservation, weatherization, or repair including programs that perform the modifications, teach homeowners DIY skills, or help residents connect with programs that offer financial assistance to accomplish the projects and,
• Environmental/community resilience, adaptation, and sustainability including emergency preparedness.

In addition, Volunteer Maine will give preference points to applications

• From organizations with a physical presence in, and intending to serve, counties classified as 6, 7, or 8 on the USDA rural-urban continuum code. Those counties are Franklin, Hancock, Oxford, Somerset, Waldo, Aroostook, Knox, Washington, Lincoln, and Piscataquis.

Eligible applicants are public or non-profit agencies, higher education institutions, and regional organizations that will operate an AmeriCorps program solely within Maine. Typical awards range from $54,000 to $135,000. A copy of this RFA, as well as the Question & Answer Summary and all amendments related to this RFA, can be obtained through the link below and at the following website: https://www.maine.gov/dafs/bbm/procurementservices/vendors/grants

All communication regarding this RFA must be made through the RFA Coordinator: Jamie McFaul at service.commission@maine.gov 

There will be a virtual information session on 09/16/2025 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm to answer questions about this AmeriCorps competition. Registration is required. Use this link: https://mainestate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3TKTQIpDRoWzGcSgmcch eg 

All questions must be received by the RFA Coordinator identified above by: Date: October 1, 2025, no later than 11:59 p.m., local time 

Proposals must be submitted electronically as directed in the RFA. Both the proposal sections using the federal eGrants system and additional documents emailed to the Division of Procurement Services (Proposals@maine.gov) must be received no later than 11:59 p.m., local time on October 15, 2025. Proposals received after the 11:59 p.m. deadline will be rejected without exception.

Maine Climate Corps Grants

There are no active requests for applications at this time. 

For information, contact the Climate Corps Coordinator at 207-624-7792.

Direct Grants from AmeriCorps

There are currently no direct grants we are promoting at this time