AmeriCorps Competitive Traditional Grant

AmeriCorps Competitive Traditional Grant is sponsored by Illinois Department of Human Services. Engages members in community service initiatives, offering a living allowance and education award; open to new and existing applicants in Illinois.

IDHS: AmeriCorps Competitive Traditional (Illinois) Notice of Funding Opportunity (25-444-80-2808) --> Anyone, 6 months or older, is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Find your nearest vaccination location at vaccines. gov .

--> View up to date information on Illinois' (COVID-19) vaccine plan and vaccination eligibility from the State of Illinois Coronavirus Response Site View up to date information on how Illinois is handling the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) from the State of Illinois Coronavirus Response Site View up-to-date information for IDHS staff and providers on the IDHS Coronavirus Page Illinois Department of Human Services JB Pritzker, Governor · Dulce M.

Quintero, Secretary IDHS Grants Administration Family & Community Services Grants - FY 2024 Community and Positive Youth Development Grants AmeriCorps Competitive Traditional (Illinois) Notice of Funding Opportunity (25-444-80-2808) Illinois Department of Human Services Family and Community Services/Bureau of Volunteerism and Community Service DHS. ServeIllinois. NOFO@Illinois.

gov This award will be made as a grant.

Selected Applications will be submitted to AmeriCorps for final determination of award Funding Opportunity Title AmeriCorps Competitive Traditional (Illinois) Funding Opportunity Number Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Number Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Popular Name AmeriCorps Competitive Traditional Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) Federal funds-The AmeriCorps Agency Estimated Total Program Funding Anticipated Number of Awards Will vary by scope of service Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement Cost sharing (match) IS required Restrictions on Indirect Costs Indirect Cost Rate must be approved See Section d.

6 Funding Restrictions Technical Assistance Session Date/Time: 11/14/23 3:00pm NOFO/Application Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Submit questions to: DHS. ServeIllinois. NOFO@Illinois.

gov Due date for submitting questions: 11/28/2023 This funding opportunity is open to new, recompete, and continuation applicants. Any applicants selected for funding will be notified by Serve Illinois and a contract will be sent requiring a signature from the program designee. AmeriCorps State and National (ASN) Program 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.

An AmeriCorps member is an individual who engages in community service through an approved national service position. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. Upon successful completion of their service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans.

AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations, proposing to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence- informed interventions/practices to strengthen communities. (Refer to Section C. 1 Eligible Applicants .)

AmeriCorps grants are administered in Illinois by a state commission, Serve Illinois, under the purview of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Important: Current grantees who have an AmeriCorps Competitive Traditional Award through IDHS/Serve Illinois under CSFA #444-80-2808 must determine if they are in a continuation year or in a recompete year.

All new, recompete and continuation applicant organizations must apply to the Serve Illinois Commission for AmeriCorps funding by: Completing the instructions included in this NOFO, and Submitting their application via eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based application system . Submitting the Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance and the Grantee Conflict of Interest Disclosure to DHS. ServeIllinois.

NOFO@Illinois. gov Continuation applicants should refer to Section F. 5 Continuation Funding Information and Requirements for additional instructions.

Recompete and new applicants will be selected for submission to AmeriCorps for funding consideration through the Merit-Based-Review process administered by Serve Illinois, under the purview of Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). The merit-based review is described in Section E. 2.

Review and Selection Process . AmeriCorps will make final award determinations. To maximize its impact, Serve Illinois has identified nine priority areas.

Areas of priority for Serve Illinois are listed and described below in alphabetical order. Some of these areas are the same as the priority areas for the AmeriCorps Agency. The priority areas that are the same are indicated by an asterisk (*).

The AmeriCorps Agency Focus Areas are listed on the AmeriCorps website at Disaster Services (disaster response) * Serve Illinois supports the goal of increased and improved disaster services for individuals and communities to prepare and adapt to disasters in our state. This includes climate change events.

We provide support for activities that increase preparedness for disasters, improve readiness to respond to disasters, support recovery efforts from disasters, and/or assist in the implementation of pre-disaster mitigation and adaptation measures. Serve Illinois works to support communities and individuals in planning for disasters - specifically engaging disadvantaged communities in the planning process.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion For all of programs and initiatives under the purview of the Serve Illinois Commission to have a demonstrated commitment to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas of program administration and operation. This includes demonstrated effort to recruit participants reflecting the diversity of our state and serve marginalized populations.

Environmental Stewardship* Serve Illinois supports responsible stewardship of the environment, while preparing communities for challenging climate and environmental circumstances and helping Americans respond to and recover from disruptive events: programs and organizations that conserve natural habitats; protect clean air and water; maintain public lands; support wildland fire mitigation and sustainable forest management; cultivate individual and community resilience; and provide reforestation services after floods or fires, such as nature based solutions.

Intergenerational initiatives* Serve Illinois is committed to sponsoring/supporting activities that ensure multi-generational community engagement. There is enormous potential for engaging diverse age groups in mutually beneficial experiences that foster social connectedness and address critical societal needs.

Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles or Healthy Futures Serve Illinois supports partners, programs and initiatives that address the opioid crisis; increase seniors' ability to remain in their own homes with the same or improved quality of life for as long as possible; and/or increase physical activity and improve nutrition with the purpose of reducing obesity.

Serve Illinois is committed to providing support to initiatives that work to improve the quality of life for our residents including but not limited to homelife, economic opportunity, community recreation, food access, community safety.

Serve Illinois supports strategic implementation of services, opportunities and supports resulting in positively addressing the social determinants of health, specifically for those residing in marginalized communities.

Veterans and Military Families* Serve Illinois supports organizations, programs and initiatives working to improve the quality of life of veterans and improve military family well-being; increase the number of veterans, wounded warriors, military service members, and their caregivers, families, and survivors.

Violence Prevention, Intervention & Interruption Serve Illinois supports effective local interventions and preventative measures to address any form of violence that challenge Illinois communities. This includes programs and initiatives that focus on peace building strategies.

Also, Serve Illinois works to support partners and initiatives designed to reduce involvement in the juvenile justice system or young adults in the justice system. Youth Development and Education* Required Services and Programming The Provider will provide the services and agrees to act in compliance with all state and federal statutes and administrative rules applicable to the provision of services pursuant to this Agreement.

The grant application, submitted by the Provider, relates to this Agreement must be implemented as outlined below. The Provider will comply with applicable Terms and Conditions for AmeriCorps State and National Grants and General Grant and Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions. The Provider will comply with member recruitment and selection requirements as outlined in AmeriCorps' regulations at 45 CFR §§ 2522.

210 and Part 2540, subpart B. The Provider will ensure that each member has sufficient opportunity to complete the required number of hours of service to qualify for the education award. The Provider will adhere to all requirements outlined in the AmeriCorps' Program Director's Manual.

Conduct National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC) requirements as outlined in the NSCHC Manual. Recruit and retain the allocated number and type of slots (e.g., full-time, half-time) of AmeriCorps members.

Provide services with the designated population(s) in the service area that work towards meeting the specified outcomes and outputs that align with primary services, addressing the focus area(s), and, if applicable, engaging volunteers in accordance with the approved program plan. Adhere to the performance measures and evaluation in the approved program plan as required by Illinois AmeriCorps.

Supervise and train members throughout their service term as outlined in the approved program plan. Provide all members with AmeriCorps uniforms, service gear, personal protective equipment and all other service materials required to accomplish the member's service hours.

Participate in Illinois AmeriCorps scheduled meetings and trainings (including Program Director's meetings, AmeriCorps national/regional offerings and regional trainings). Certify member enrollment in My AmeriCorps Portal for all members within eight calendar days of the AmeriCorps members' starting a term of service. Host or co-host two national service days.

All sites will host/co-host an event for the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday. The Provider will also host/co-host a second event and it is at the discretion of the Provider to select from one of the following options: Global Youth Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, 9/11 Remembrance Day or Veteran's Day. Host a National Service Opening Day event/activity at the program site no later than six weeks from the start date of the program.

Host or co-host an AmeriCorps member recognition event/activity during AmeriCorps week. Programs are to be designed to operate for no more than 12 months . National Performance Measures .

AmeriCorps expects applicants to use National Performance Measures as part of a comprehensive performance measurement strategy. The strategy relies on both performance and evaluation data, allowing a Provider to adapt and make tactical and strategic adjustments to achieve their goals. All applications must include at least one aligned performance measure (output and outcome) that corresponds to the proposed primary intervention.

This may be a National Performance Measure or an applicant-determined measure. For more information, please refer to the AmeriCorps State and National Performance Measures Instructions 2024. (pdf) State Performance Measures .

At the end of each quarter, successful applicants will submit a periodic performance report (PPR). At the end of the year, successful applicants will submit a cumulative report. In addition to service data and activities, the PPRs will also include the following performance measures: Execute approved overall program plan designed to serve the target population and achieve identified program goals.

Execute a detailed member outreach and recruitment plan. Ensure that each AmeriCorps member completes the required number of hours of service to qualify for the education award. Ensure provider participation in Illinois AmeriCorps meetings.

Ensure provider participation in Illinois AmeriCorps sanctioned activities and trainings. Ensure AmeriCorps member participation in Illinois AmeriCorps sanctioned activities and trainings. Ensure timely exit of all AmeriCorps members.

Complete all required reports and program closeout by agreed deadlines. National performance standards must be consistent with chosen performance measure. See AmeriCorps State and National Performance Measures Instructions 2024.

(pdf) State performance standards Execution of Illinois AmeriCorps-approved program plan designed to serve the target population and achieve identified program goals by the date in the approved timeline. 50% of approved member slots are recruited and enrolled within 30 days of the program start date. 85% of enrolled AmeriCorps members qualify for the education award by program end.

80% provider attendance rate for participation in Illinois AmeriCorps meetings. 80% provider attendance rate for participation in Illinois AmeriCorps sanctioned activities and training. 80% participation rate of currently enrolled members (on the date of the activity/training) in Illinois AmeriCorps sanctioned and required activities/trainings.

100% of enrolled members are exited from the eGrants system within 30 days of the end of their term of service. 100% accurate completion of all required reports and program closeout by the agreed deadline. Statutory Authority: Awards under this Notice are authorized by the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (pdf) , as amended, ( 42 U.S.C.

§12501 et seq.) Award and Funding Information This is a both a competitive funding opportunity and a continuation opportunity. Applicant organizations must apply to the Serve Illinois Commission by completing the instructions included in this NOFO and submitting their application in the federal eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based application system.

The Serve Illinois AmeriCorps Program Manager will email current grantees from the DHS. ServeIllinois. NOFO@illinois.

gov email address which will indicate if the grantee is in a continuation or recompete year. Continuation applicants are not guaranteed an award for subsequent years; awards depend upon availability of future appropriations and satisfactory performance. Please refer to Section F.

5. Continuation Funding Information and Requirements for additional instructions. Recompete and new applicants will be selected for submission to AmeriCorps for funding consideration through the Merit-Based-Review process administered by Serve Illinois, through the IDHS/Serve Illinois AmeriCorps will make final award determinations.

The release of this NOFO does not obligate IDHS/Serve Illinois to make an award. Estimated Available Funds: AmeriCorps expects a highly competitive AmeriCorps grant competition. AmeriCorps reserves the right to prioritize providing funding to existing awards over making new awards.

The actual level of funding is subject to the availability of annual appropriations. Award amounts will vary as determined by the scope of the projects and will be based on approved budgets. Maximum amounts will be based on proposed number of Member Service Years (MSY) multiplied by $25,000 per MSY.

(Refer to Section C. 7. Maximum Cost per Member Service Year for more details.)

Grant awards will be issued based on the State Fiscal Year and will be subject to the 2 CFR 200 continuation application process (when applicable), GATA Compliance, and subject to sufficient State/Federal appropriation. New applicants and applicants designated as "recompete applicants" by AmeriCorps will have their applications scored using the same scoring matrix outlined in this NOFO.

Applicants will be required to submit a twelve month budget into the federal eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based application system . Once an applicant has been chosen for funding , the applicant will be directed by IDHS/Serve Illinois program staff to enter a prorated budget in the Community Service Agreement(CSA) tracking system for the State FY25 portion of the project period ending June 30, 2025.

Applicants should not enter a proposal budget into the Illinois CSA system until instructed to do so. Proposed budgets in CSA must be sufficiently detailed and justified to be approved by IDHS/Serve Illinois. Successful applicants will NOT receive a grant agreement until after their budget has been entered and approved through the CSA Tracking System.

Subject to appropriation, the FY25 grant period will begin no sooner than the grant start date and will continue through 6/30/2025. IDHS/Serve Illinois reserves the right to issue up to two renewal (continuation) awards to successful applicants consistent with AmeriCorps policies. Continuation awards for subsequent years are not guaranteed; they depend upon availability of appropriations and satisfactory performance.

Applicants may propose a program start date that aligns with their program design. Programs are to be designed to operate for no more than 12 months and must end no later than August 31, 2025. Programs may NOT enroll AmeriCorps members before the date AmeriCorps issues the grant award to IDHS/Serve Illinois (anticipated to be July 26, 2024), therefore program start dates should not be before August 1, 2024.

AmeriCorps Members may not begin service without a signed Member Service Agreement and prior to the beginning of the Member enrollment period as designated in the grant award. A program may not certify any hours a member performs prior to the applicant becoming a member in eGrants and the beginning of the member enrollment period. There is a matching requirement for this grant.

Refer to Section C. 5 Cost Sharing or Match Requirements for more information. Indirect costs are allowed.

The applicant organization must choose one of three methods to calculate indirect costs: CNCS-Fixed Percentage rate, a Federal negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA), or a De Minimis Rate. Regardless of the option chosen, the CNCS share of administrative costs is limited to 5% of the total CNCS funds expended under this grant. Refer to Section C.

7. Indirect Cost Requirements & Restrictions for more information. AmeriCorps Operating Grants: AmeriCorps may award a Cost Reimbursement grant to any successful applicant.

Type of Slots in the National Service Trust** Budget Submission Required Availability of Funds linked to enrollment and retention of awarded MSYs Financial Reporting Requirements Available to new Applicants FT, TQT, HT, RHT, QT, MT, AT *Member Service Year (MSY): One Member Service Year (MSY) is equivalent to a full-time AmeriCorps position (at least 1,700 service hours.)

**FT = Full Time, TQT = Three Quarter Time, HT= Half Time, RHT = Reduced Half Time, QT = Quarter Time, MT = Minimum Time, AT = Abbreviated Time Sub-recipient Agreement(s) and budgets must be pre-approved and on file with IDHS/Serve Illinois. Sub-recipients are subject to all provisions of this Agreement. The successful applicant organization shall retain sole responsibility for the performance of the sub-recipient.

All funding is subject to sufficient appropriations. Eligibility Information and Grant Funding Requirements The following non-Federal entities (all of which are defined in 2 CFR 200.

1 ) are eligible to apply: Institutions of higher education Local governments, including school districts State of Illinois agencies, departments, and commissions Applicants must have a valid System Award Management (SAM) registration and Unique Entity Identifier to receive an award. Refer to Section D5 System for Award Management (SAM) and Unique Entity Identifier ) for more information.

Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps encourages new organizations that have not received prior funding from AmeriCorps to apply. See Mandatory Requirements of Applicant for additional requirements. Applicant organizations must apply to the IDHS/Serve Illinois by completing the instructions included in this NOFO and submitting their application in the federal eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based application system .

Through the Illinois Department of Human Services, Serve Illinois will administer the Merit Based Review and selection process. GATA Registration and Prequalification Eligible applicant entities must be registered and prequalified through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal, available here: Illinois GATA Grantee Portal Registration and prequalification are required annually.

Additionally, any sub-recipient must also be registered and prequalified through GATA upon application. The following information is required to complete registration in the Grantee Portal: Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The UEI is a 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned to an entity by the federal System for Award Management (SAM).

For additional information refer to Section D5 System for Award Management (SAM) and Unique Entity Identifier . Entity's Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) Illinois Secretary of State File ID (required for non-profits, for-profits, and limited liability corporations.)

Entity primary email address Entity primary phone number Entity fiscal year-end date Once an entity is registered in the Grantee Portal, the system will automatically determine (within 24 hours) if an entity is prequalified to apply for an award. During prequalification, verifications are performed, including a check of federal Debarred and Suspended status on the Illinois Stop Payment List and good standing with the Secretary of State.

An automated email notification is sent to the entity alerting them of "qualified" status or providing information about how to remediate a negative verification (e.g., not in good standing with the Secretary of State). A federal Debarred and Suspended status cannot be remediated. For assistance navigating government application prequalification procedure, refer to IDHS: Pre-Qualification Instructions and Resources (state.

il. us) Applicants must be prequalified; therefore, applications from entities that have not been prequalified prior to the due date of this application, will NOT be reviewed and will NOT be considered for funding .

If an applicant is selected for funding by AmeriCorps, the applicant must complete the following prior to receiving an award from IDHS/Serve Illinois: Internal Controls Questionnaire (ICQ) The pre-award process includes a financial and administrative risk assessment utilizing an Internal Controls Questionnaire (ICQ).

IDHS may NOT issue a Notice of Award or a Grant Agreement to any applicant that does not have a submitted and approved FY 25 ICQ. While these are NOT required prior to submitting the application, they are required prior to IDHS/Serve Illinois issuing an award. The ICQ is available in the Illinois GATA Grantee Portal .

Applicants that have not completed an FY25 ICQ at the time of application will be contacted by IDHS/Serve Illinois to complete this pre-award requirement. These grantee pre-award requirements are mandated by Federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA). Grantees must complete these requirements prior to receiving a grant award from the State of Illinois.

Registration and Budget in CSA NOTE: Applicants will be required to submit a twelve month budget into the federal eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based application system . DO NOT enter your budget into the Illinois CSA system until instructed to do so. The CSA Tracking System is where IDHS/Serve Illinois expects applicant entities to enter their GATA Budget information.

It is also where IDHS staff will review and act on the proposed budget. Successful applicants: Once an applicant has been chosen for funding, the applicant will be directed by IDHS/Serve Illinois program staff to enter a prorated budget in the CSA for the State FY25 portion of the project period ending June 30, 2025. DO NOT enter your budget into the Illinois CSA system until instructed to do so.

Applicants must be registered in the CSA Tracking System to enable the applicant to submit a signed budget in CSA. For instructions on registering in CSA, refer to Instructions on registering in CSA. The successful applicant entity's proposed budget must be entered into the CSA system within the timeframe to be specified by IDHS/Serve Illinois.

The completed budget must be electronically signed and submitted in the CSA system. To do this, the following is required: at a minimum, the applicant organization's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or equivalent, or the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or equivalent must be registered in the CSA system to electronically sign the required budget documents prior to submission.

Refer to Process for Adding GATA Budget Signoff Authority Successful applicants will NOT be issued an award without a fully approved budget in the CSA System. It may take several days to complete the registration process. Crowe Activity Review System (CARS) (Refer to Section C.

7. Funding Restrictions for more information on indirect costs.) Successful applicants will be required to make an indirect cost rate selection in the Crowe Activity Review System (CARS.)

CARS will allow your organization to document your already established federally approved indirect cost rate or elect to charge the De Minimis rate (10%) of modified total direct costs (MTDC) or select that no reimbursement of indirect costs will be requested. Submission requirements are located on page 2 of the Uniform Budget Template as well as 2 CFR 200 Appendices IV, V & VII.

Organizations which have not previously made an indirect cost rate election must submit an election (and indirect cost rate proposal, if necessary) immediately and no later than 3 months after receiving an award notification or invitation to the CARS system.

Organizations that have previously established an indirect cost rate election must submit a new indirect cost rate election immediately and no later than 6 months after the close of their organization's fiscal year. Every organization must make an indirect cost rate election in CARS even if the organization is choosing De Minimis Rate or "no rate".

Organizations that do not make an election or submission inside the CARS system within the required timeframes will not be allowed to claim indirect cost reimbursement. Mandatory Requirements of Applicant/Application The Mandatory Requirements are essential items that must be met by the applicant. If any Mandatory Requirement is not met, the responding applicant's entire proposal will not be considered.

If all responding applicants fail to meet a particular mandatory requirement, that mandatory requirement may, at the sole discretion of the State, be removed from the Mandatory Requirements so the evaluation process may continue. However, this does not obligate IDHS/Serve Illinois to make an award to any applicant that fails to meet all mandatory requirements.

AmeriCorps Mandatory (Threshold) Requirements: Applications should reflect that they meet the following threshold requirements for the grant type for which they are applying. Professional Corps applicants and/or applicants determined to be a Professional Corps by the agency, AmeriCorps, must demonstrate that the community in which it will place AmeriCorps members serving as professionals has an inadequate number of said professionals.

If the proposed service activities require specialized member qualifications and/or training (for example, tutoring programs: 45 CFR 2522. 910-. 940), the applicant must describe how the program will meet these requirements.

All applicants must propose program designs that are either evidence-based or evidence-informed. Applicants assessed as lower than the Preliminary evidence tier (i.e., Pre-Preliminary) must provide adequate responses to the Evidence Quality review criteria in order to be considered for funding. (Refer to Section E.

1 Selection Criteria ) Other Eligibility requirement Under Section 132A(b) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990(pdf) , as amended organizations that have violated a Federal criminal statute may not receive assistance described in this Notice.

Applications that propose to engage in activities that are prohibited under AmeriCorps' statutes, regulations, or the terms and conditions of its awards are not eligible to receive AmeriCorps funding.

If AmeriCorps is aware that any corporation has any unpaid federal tax liability for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed; and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability; that corporation is not eligible for an award under this Notice.

However, this exclusion will not apply to a corporation that a federal agency has considered for suspension or debarment and determined that suspension or debarment is not necessary to protect the interests of the federal government. Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, an organization described in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, IRC 501 (c)(4) Organizations (irs.

gov)(pdf) that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to apply for AmeriCorps funding. Cost Sharing or Match Requirements Applicants are required to match funds based on the chart below. The applicant's match can be non-AmeriCorps cash and/or in-kind contributions.

Applicants must indicate whether the match is proposed or secured. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to meet the match requirement at the time of application submission. (Refer to Section C.

7. Funding Restrictions for more information.) A first-time successful applicant is required to match at 24 percent for the first three-year funding period.

Starting with year four, the match requirement gradually increases every year to 50 percent by year ten, according to the minimum overall share chart found in 45 CFR 2521. 60 and below. Grantee Share Requirements U.S.C.

Title 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE (govinfo. gov) requires grantees that use other Federal Funds as matching funds for an AmeriCorps grant to report those amounts and sources to AmeriCorps on a Federal Financial Report. Grantees must track and be prepared to report on that match separately each year and at closeout.

Please use the Match Waiver information for AmeriCorps State and National Grantees located on the Manage Your Grant | AmeriCorps webpage. Programs applying through State Service Commissions must submit requests for alternative match to the Commission, who will submit it to AmeriCorps on their behalf. Commissions and National Directs will submit requests via the Alternative Match Request form located on the AmeriCorps.

gov Manage Your Grant webpage. Under certain circumstances, applicants may qualify to meet alternative matching requirements that increase over the years to 35 percent instead of 50 percent as specified in 45 CFR 2521. 60(b).

To qualify, applicants must demonstrate that the proposed program is either located in a rural county or in a severely economically distressed community as defined in the Application Instructions. Applicants who plan to request an alternative match schedule should submit a request at the time the application is submitted.

Programs applying through State Service Commissions must submit requests for alternative match to the Commission, who will submit it to AmeriCorps on their behalf. Commissions and National Directs will submit requests via the Alternative Match Request form located on the Manage Your Grant | AmeriCorps webpage. Grant Fund Use Requirements (Refer also to Section C.

7 Funding Restrictions ) All applicants will use grant funds according to the guidelines, conditions, and parameters set forth in this funding notice and in compliance with federal statutes, regulations and the terms and conditions of any applicable federal awards.

Please refer to 2 CFR 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, PART 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles to determine the appropriateness of costs. Allowable costs are those that are necessary and reasonable based on the activities contained in the Scope of Work, are justified in the Budget Narrative, and are allowable under Subpart E of 2 CFR 200.

It is expected that administrative costs, both direct and indirect, will represent a small portion of the overall program budget. Any budget deemed to include inappropriate or excessive administrative costs will not be approved. Program budgets and narratives must detail how all proposed expenditures are necessary for program implementation.

Please refer to 2 CFR 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, PART 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles to determine the appropriateness of costs.

In addition, and specific to this grant, the following costs will be unallowable without specific prior written approval from IDHS/Serve Illinois: Entertainment costs, except where specific costs that might otherwise be considered entertainment have a programmatic purpose and are authorized in the approved budget (2 CFR 200.

438) Capital expenditures for general purpose equipment, including any vehicle regardless of cost, buildings, and land (2 CFR 200. 439) Capital expenditures for improvements to land, buildings, or equipment which materially increase their value or useful life (2 CFR 200.

439) Food, and other goods or services for personal use of the grantee's employees, contractors, or consultants of the grantee unless authorized as per diem under the State of Illinois Governor's Travel Control Board (2 CFR 200. 445). Deposits for items, services, or space Limitation of Use of Award funds for Employee Compensation: With respect to any award over $250,000, recipients may not use federal funds to pay total cash