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In 2003, the Corporation for National and Community Service implemented performance measures to help strengthen the accountability and performance of organizations receiving funds under the national service laws. The main purpose of this initiate is to strengthen AmeriCorps programs and foster continuous improvements.

Challenges

• Increased reporting and accountability for performance outcomes places additional burdens on organizations with less experience with the administrative requirements for grantees such as new community organizations (secular and faith-based).
• Lack of grantee and Commission experience with writing and tracking appropriate performance outcomes.
• Concerns about monitoring the ability of FBOs to separate religious activities from service delivery involving AmeriCorps members, and similarly the ability of small CBOs to understand and avoid prohibited
  activities.

Benefits

• Provides key information to establish the value of AmeriCorps contributions and the effectiveness of services being delivered by grantees.
• Builds support for sustaining successful programs with effective outcomes.
• Serves as a learning tool for program improvement.
• Effective monitoring strategies provide clarity and a higher comfort level about expectations and the ability to meet them for Commissions, grantees, and AmeriCorps placement sites.

Strategies

1. Carefully review the 2004 AmeriCorps Guidance and the Project STAR Performance Measurement Toolkit and develop a performance outcome tool. (See Performance Measurement Toolkit).
2. Reach out to local resources such as colleges and universities to identify potential training and technical assistance for grantees on developing performance outcomes.
3. Intermediaries should develop clear memos of understanding (MOUs) with FBOs and CBOs that spell out the prohibited activities, in particular those related to the separation of religious activities from AmeriCorps member service delivery and other prohibited activities such as lobbying and political activity.

Outputs

• Strategy for assisting grantees to comply with performance outcome requirement determined.

TOOLS

Title: Performance Measurement Toolkit
Tool Type: Reference
Purpose: This is a comprehensive guide to understanding the Corporation’s initiatives to strengthening national service programs and foster continues improvements.
Location: Performance Measurement Toolkit

Title: CAPT Center Resource on Getting to Outcomes
Tool Type: Capacity Support
Purpose: Manual that helps organizations achieve outcomes and demonstrate results.
Location: Tip1-01.pdf