Implementing the Faith-Based and Community Initiative
for the AmeriCorps Service Programs

Below are three scenarios that describe how this initiative might work within the context of your program design. Each scenario contains a description, the strategy development, and clear outputs/results.

Scenario I. Demonstrating Compliance with the FBCI:
Applicant Applying for the First Time and
Demonstrating New Recruiting Partnerships

Description
We are a community-based organization providing afterschool programs for inner-city neighborhoods. The tutors currently in the program are local university students, as well as volunteers from the community. Our AmeriCorps application proposes recruiting the current tutors to be AmeriCorps members. In addition, we have partnered with a local faith-based organization in order to expand the program into more community sites. Our three-year plan includes expanding the involvement of other faith-based organizations and recruiting more AmeriCorps members from these local faith-based community organizations.

Implementing the Strategy

Where are we? We currently partner with four schools and annually serve 400 children using 20 tutors from schools and local communities. We are proposing that the existing 20 tutors become AmeriCorps members. Our three-year plan includes engaging the local faith-based community to provide additional program sites as well as seeking to recruit more AmeriCorps members from these faith-based organizations.

Who is doing something similar? In the surrounding communities, there are potentially three local congregations with whom we can partner with to expand the program. Also, the State Commission and perhaps the Chamber of Commerce can provide a list of local community organizations that have done or are doing something similar. Perhaps there is an organization that was not awarded a grant and we can partner together?

How do I make a plan for this? After we looked at who we could partner with, we determined that it made sense to partner with two local faith-based organizations. We decided to reach out to these organizations in a variety of ways, mainly by arranging face-to-face meetings.

How do I engage new organizations? As a result of this process, we have entered into a formal arrangement with one local congregation to provide facilities for afterschool programs as well as expanded our volunteer recruitment. As a result, we will be able to offer services to an additional 150 students and have 20 AmeriCorps tutors engaged in service learning.

How do I maintain these relationships? We have established a formal Memo of Understanding that includes a communication plan, assigns clear roles and responsibilities, outlines prohibited activities, and provides a framework for implementation.

Clear Outcomes
This example demonstrates how an organization can find local partners previously unidentified, particularly faith-based organizations. The applicant would demonstrate its current situation and articulate how the new partnerships will impact its new and improved program by increasing the number of partners, volunteers, and the number served involved in its expanded program.

Scenario II. Demonstrating Compliance with the FBCI:
New Faith-Based Applicant

Description
We are an interfaith organization representing 15 congregations, mosques, and synagogues in a major metropolitan area. The advantage of this coalition is the synergy across organizations allowing for improved services to those most needy in our communities. Collectively, we provide services for improving literacy and public health, as well as providing effective welfare-to-work programs. We have been a recipient of state-level grants and have infrastructure and capacity to manage the grant. We are applying for a grant for 15 AmeriCorps members to support our efforts in reaching those most in need in our communities.

Implementing the Strategy
To date, we have effectively coordinated volunteers and managed our services across these 15 faith-based organizations. With recent demand, our capacity has been stretched and we are in a position of turning away those who need our help. An AmeriCorps grant will provide for us the resources needed to provide services for 50 percent more people in our community, as well as improve our volunteer management programs. We have previously been a host site for three AmeriCorps members and have been responsible for the supervision and reporting requirements to the intermediary organization.

Clear Outcomes
Demonstrating capacity as well as outlining the specific needs and services, plans for member development, and specific steps to strengthen this community will help strengthen the application.

Scenario III. Demonstrating Compliance with the FBCI:
New Faith-based Applicant
Applying for a Planning Grant

Description
We are a faith-based organization serving 200 needy elderly residents in our community. The specific state where we reside offers planning grants. We are applying to AmeriCorps for a planning grant allowing us to plan, develop, and prepare an overall program to strategically meet the increasing demand for our services.

Implementing the Strategy
To date, we have effectively coordinated volunteers and managed our services. Eventually, we would like to submit an application to become an AmeriCorps grantee, but we do not have the infrastructure needed to manage this program. An AmeriCorps planning grant will provide us the resources and time needed to comprehensively plan to better meet the needs in our community. To help with this, we have established a relationship with a former AmeriCorps grantee that is willing to provide technical assistance during the duration of this planning grant.

Clear Outcomes
As a result of this organization’s seeking a “mentorship” relationship with a former grantee, this faith-based organization will have the assistance it needs to plan for applying for an AmeriCorps grant in the future.

Scenario IV. Demonstrating Compliance with the FBCI:
Applicant Demonstrating Growth in Host Sites

Description
We are a grantee seeking a continuation grant. We have 25 AmeriCorps members currently engaged in an effort to revitalize and maintain a low-income neighborhood. We provide services to over 300 tenants.

Implementing the Strategy
Currently, we are engaged in providing training for tenants, organizing community groups, and recruiting tenant organizations for four low-income housing units in a downtown area. In connection with Homeland Security initiatives, our goal is to expand our program to provide organizational support, training opportunities, and hands-on help for preparing these and other neighborhood facilities for disaster relief.

We have reached out to local faith-based organizations, law enforcement officials, and local businesses. As a result, two local faith-based organizations are prepared to participate in these efforts, as well as local police and fire departments.

Clear Outcomes
As a result of combining initiatives in a local area, this organization is able to demonstrate growth in the involvement of community organizations (secular and faith-based), as well as place the existing number of members in new geographic areas within the community.

Scenario V: Demonstrating Compliance with the FBCI:
Applicant Demonstrating Becoming an Intermediary
and Engaging New Subgrantees

Description
We are a National Direct grantee whose aim is to provide a variety of services around welfare-to-work programs in the tri-state area. This year, we will demonstrate growth by serving as an intermediary to engage new, small community organizations (secular or faith-based) to receive AmeriCorps members to support their programs.

Implementing the Strategy
After a search in the tri-state area, we determined that four community organizations have similar goals related to welfare-to-work and have agreed to accept AmeriCorps members into their programs. Due to their size and capacity limitations, we will be responsible for the administrative tasks associated with managing the AmeriCorps grant.

These organizations meet the criteria for community organizations and together will increase the number of members from 225 to 300 (33 percent), expanding the reach to those in need from 3000 to 3,500 (or 17 percent). We have established a formal agreement with these new organizations in order to preserve our mission and objectives.

Clear Outcomes
As a result of reaching out to these four new organizations and acting as an intermediary, this program is able to demonstrate an increase in the number of subgrantees.

FACES Toolkit for AmeriCorps Applicants
Overview | Step-by-Step Process | Examples | Reference and Resources