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OFBCI > AmeriCorps > About AmeriCorps About AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps engages more than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other areas.

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which also oversees Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. Once a local entity is approved for funding, citizens are recruited to become AmeriCorps members.

AmeriCorps*State and National
More than three-quarters of AmeriCorps grant funding goes to Governor-appointed state service commissions, such as the Indiana Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives, which in turn award and monitor grants to nonprofit groups and agencies. The other quarter goes to national nonprofits that operate in more than one state. 

The organizations that receive grants are responsible for recruiting, selecting, and supervising AmeriCorps members. Indiana AmeriCorps*State grantees are listed at: http://www.in.gov/ofbci/2348.htm

Accessing AmeriCorps*State: To apply for an AmeriCorps*State grant, please review information on Funding at: http://www.in.gov/ofbci/2347.htm

Accessing AmeriCorps*National: To apply for an AmeriCorps*National grant, please review information on the Corporation for National and Community Service website at: http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/apply/national.asp   

AmeriCorps*VISTA
AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) VISTA is a professional and rigorous national volunteer service program which provides full-time volunteer members to agencies, institutions and organizations to create and expand initiatives that ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty. Members serve full-time for a year with nonprofit groups, public agencies, and faith-based organizations throughout the country. VISTA projects focus solely on building permanent capacity and infrastructure through the work of VISTA members. Founded in 1967 and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993, VISTA members have been providing extraordinary service for over 43 years. 

AmeriCorps*NCCC
AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is a 10-month, team-based, full-time residential program for men and women between the ages of 18 and 24. It combines the best practices of civilian service with the best aspects of military service, including leadership training and team building. Members serve in diverse teams of 10 to 14 individuals. Priority is given to homeland security and disaster relief projects. Teams are based at four campuses across the country and are assigned to projects in their respective regions. Approximately 1,200 members serve in AmeriCorps*NCCC each year.

Accessing AmeriCorps*NCCC Teams: The AmeriCorps*NCCC North Central Region Campus based in Vinton, Iowa accepts applications from nonprofit and public agencies to host an AmeriCorps*NCCC team (typically 10-12 members) for 6-8 weeks to assist with high-impact, but short-term projects. Although transportation and basic tools will be provided by the NCCC, project sponsors are required to provide materials, specialized tools, orientation, training and technical supervision. Further, the project sponsor must assist with arranging housing, food, and other logistics for the team during their deployment.
For further information and/or application materials, please contact JJ Trotta at (319) 472-9654. A project application is available at: http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/apply/nccc.asp

Learn and Serve
Learn and Serve America supports and encourages service-learning throughout the United States, and enables over one million students to make meaningful contributions to their community while building their academic and civic skills. By engaging our nation’s young people in service-learning, Learn and Serve America instills an ethic of lifelong community service. Learn and Serve provides grants to schools, colleges, and nonprofit groups to support efforts to engage more than 21,000 Indiana students in community service linked to academic achievement and the development of civic skills.

To learn more about Learn and Serve, please contact the Indiana Department of Education at http://www.doe.in.gov/opd/srvlrn/ or (317) 232-9153.

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, political affiliation, or, in most instances, religion.