AmeriCorps Competitive Traditional (Illinois) Technical Assistance, Appendices, Questions & Answers (25-444-80-2808)

Technical Assistance Session:

This technical assistance session will provide participants with an overview of the 25-444-80-2808-01 AmeriCorps Competitive Traditional (Illinois) Notice of Funding Opportunity and information on how providers can apply for FY25.

AmeriCorps Competitive Traditional (Illinois) Notice of Funding Opportunity Appendices:

Questions and Answers: 

November 8, 2023

  1. Question: For both programs, the NOFO states the following: "Subject to appropriation, the FY25 grant period will begin no sooner than the grant start date and will continue through 6/30/2025." However, the NOFOs also state that program start date must be no earlier than 8/1/2024 and the end date must be no later than 8/31/25. Just to confirm, should programs end no later than 6/30/25 or 8/31/25?
    Answer:     The program is given a total of 12 months to complete the program. The program will work with Serve Illinois to determine their desired program start date and must operate the program for 12 months. Programs can start on 08/01, 09/01, etc. Reference to ending 06/30/2025 or 08/31/2025 has been removed.
  2. Question: For emailed application documents, the NOFOs state that the subject line must be formatted as follows: " 'Legal Applicant Name' - 'Application ID Number.' However, the program page states that the subject line must include the "Last 4 digits of CSFA #2808-01" and the "Provider Organization Name." Just to confirm, which is the correct format for the subject line?
    Answer:     Please use "Legal Applicant Name - Application ID Number". Reference to "Last 4 digits of CSFA #2801-01" and the "Provider Organization Name" have been removed.
  3. Question: On the Serve Illinois website the NOFO application window is listed as 10/31/23 - 12/01/23. When will returning grantees be able to access the application on eGrants?
    Answer:     The application is due in eGrants by December 1, 2023. The application is currently open in eGrants for applicants to begin submitting required application materials.

November 10, 2023:

  1. Question: We see that the NOFOs posted with a December 1 deadline are only for Competitive Traditional and Competitive Fixed Grants. Does this mean that the Formula Traditional NOFO will be due at a later date? If so, when can we expect that information to be shared out?
    Answer:     Yes, the December 1 deadline is only for Competitive Traditional and Competitive Fixed grants. The Formula Traditional and Formula Fixed NOFO should be posted by early next year.
  2. Question: I have a question about the AmeriCorps State and National Competitive NOFO. It looks like there may be a discrepancy between the table in the NOFO and the description of each narrative component that is described below it. For example, the table says 8 percentage points are allocated to grant compliance and compatibility but there is no description of this section in the outline. Likewise, the Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility appears in the narrative but not in the table. Can you help clarify whether the table or the narrative accurately reflects how the applications will be scored?
    Answer:     Correct, scoring for the organizational capability section is 25 points total. Organizational background and staffing is 15, member supervision is 6, and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility is 4, totaling 25. The table in the NOFO has been updated.
  3. Question: When you say we need to run 12-month programs, do you mean that we have just 12 months to use the grant money and that all of our members must serve and be exited within those 12 months? Or is the main restriction that we have just 12 months to use the grant money? Are we still able to have members (from this 2023-24 program year) serve through December 31, 2024, as long as we don't use grant funds to pay for any grant or member expenses past the 12-month grant period?
    Answer:     Yes, the money allotted is for a 12-month period and all members must serve and be exited within the 12 months. If the awarded money is not used by the program, it will need to be de-obligated back to AmeriCorps. No, the members must be exited at the end of the 12 months of the contract.  AmeriCorps Competitive Fixed.

November 14, 2023: 

  1. Question: Are we still allowed to apply for funding if our program meets a funding priority that is included on the AmeriCorps national website, but not listed in the Serve Illinois funding priorities?
    Answer:     Yes, you can still apply for funding even if the funding priority is not listed in the Serve Illinois funding priorities.
  2. Question: After reviewing the applicant requirements for the Competitive Fixed NOFO, is it allowed to partner with local AmeriCorps members, or if we are required to recruit from other locations outside of our community? If the answer is yes, is there a difference between Vista and State members?
    Answer:     It is required for programs to develop a member recruitment plan which can include members in or outside of your community. Yes, the AmeriCorps Vista program is separate from AmeriCorps State and National.

November 15, 2023

  1. Question: To whom should we submit our evaluation report that is requested in D. Application and Submission Information-4. Other Submission Requirements? Should it be submitted with our application or submitted in advance of our application?
    Answer:     The evaluation report is part of the evidence base section of the NOFO and should be submitted with the application.
  2. Question: Do you want us to enter our budget into CSA, too, or wait until the grant has been awarded?
    Answer:     Your budget should not be entered into CSA until you are instructed to do so.