Opportunity Information: Apply for AC 01 30 26

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Competition is a discretionary grant opportunity from AmeriCorps that funds community-based projects designed to engage adults age 55 and older in meaningful volunteer service through the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program. The overall purpose is to strengthen communities and expand civic engagement by connecting experienced older adults with local organizations and initiatives that address pressing community needs. RSVP projects are meant to mobilize volunteers in ways that produce measurable benefits for residents and communities, while also reinforcing service as an ongoing part of community life.

This competition is open nationwide across all U.S. states and territories, meaning applicants from anywhere in the country can compete for funding under the same announcement. The program is broad in scope and supports volunteer service activities across many public-need areas, including community development, consumer protection, disaster prevention and relief, education, employment and workforce training, the environment, food and nutrition, health, housing, income security, social services, and other community priorities. In practical terms, this allows applicants to propose RSVP volunteer assignments that fit local conditions, such as supporting students and schools, helping older adults remain independent, improving access to nutrition or health supports, strengthening disaster readiness and response capacity, or assisting nonprofits and public agencies in delivering critical services.

A wide range of organizations and government entities are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status; nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); private institutions of higher education; and other eligible entities identified by the agency. A key limitation noted in the announcement is that, for the private institutions of higher education category, only nonprofit institutions of higher education are eligible. The opportunity also references State Service Commissions and/or states and U.S. territories, reflecting the broader AmeriCorps structure in which these entities often play roles in administering or coordinating national service resources within their jurisdictions.

The funding instrument is a grant, and the program is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) number 94.002. The opportunity is identified by Funding Opportunity Number AC 01 30 26. While the source data provided does not list an award ceiling, expected number of awards, or a stated maximum funding amount, the announcement functions as a formal invitation for communities to submit competitive proposals to operate RSVP projects that recruit, place, and support volunteers age 55+ in service roles aligned with documented community needs and outcomes.

Key dates included in the listing show the opportunity was created on January 30, 2026, with an original application closing date of March 26, 2026. Applicants interested in competing would need to prepare and submit their materials by that deadline, ensuring their proposed RSVP project clearly explains the community needs to be addressed, the volunteer roles and service activities to be carried out, the partner organizations that will host or benefit from volunteers, and how the project will track results consistent with AmeriCorps Seniors expectations for effective volunteer engagement and community impact.

  • The AmeriCorps in the community development, consumer protection, disaster prevention and relief, education, employment, labor and training, environment, food and nutrition, health, housing, income security and social services, other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Competition" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 94.002.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2026-01-30.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-03-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
Apply for AC 01 30 26

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the FY 2026 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Competition?

The FY 2026 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Competition is a discretionary grant opportunity from AmeriCorps to support community-based RSVP projects. These projects are designed to engage adults age 55 and older in meaningful volunteer service through the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program.

What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?

The overall purpose is to strengthen communities and expand civic engagement by connecting experienced older adults with local organizations and initiatives that address pressing community needs. RSVP projects are intended to mobilize volunteers in ways that produce measurable benefits for residents and communities, while reinforcing service as an ongoing part of community life.

What kind of activities or service areas can RSVP projects support?

The opportunity supports volunteer service activities across many public-need areas, including:

  • Community development
  • Consumer protection
  • Disaster prevention and relief
  • Education
  • Employment and workforce training
  • The environment
  • Food and nutrition
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Income security
  • Social services
  • Other community priorities

Can applicants tailor volunteer assignments to local needs?

Yes. The program is broad in scope, allowing applicants to propose RSVP volunteer assignments that fit local conditions and priorities, as long as they address documented community needs and are designed to produce measurable benefits.

Who are the volunteers served by RSVP projects funded under this competition?

RSVP projects funded under this opportunity are designed to engage adults age 55 and older as volunteers.

Is this competition open nationwide?

Yes. The competition is open nationwide across all U.S. states and territories, meaning applicants from anywhere in the country can compete for funding under the same announcement.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include:

  • State governments
  • County governments
  • City or township governments
  • Special district governments
  • Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
  • Other tribal organizations
  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education)
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Other eligible entities identified by the agency

Are all private institutions of higher education eligible?

No. A key limitation is that, within the private institutions of higher education category, only nonprofit institutions of higher education are eligible.

Are nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status eligible?

Yes, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible, as long as they are not institutions of higher education.

What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?

The funding instrument is a grant.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?

The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 94.002.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is AC 01 30 26.

Does the provided information include an award ceiling or maximum funding amount?

No. Based on the information provided, an award ceiling, expected number of awards, and a maximum funding amount are not listed.

When was this opportunity created?

The listing shows the opportunity was created on January 30, 2026.

What is the application closing date?

The original application closing date shown is March 26, 2026.

What should an applicant be prepared to describe in the application?

Based on the information provided, applicants should be prepared to explain:

  • The community needs to be addressed
  • The volunteer roles and service activities to be carried out
  • The partner organizations that will host or benefit from volunteers
  • How the project will track results consistent with AmeriCorps Seniors expectations for effective volunteer engagement and community impact

What does it mean that this is a competitive (discretionary) grant opportunity?

This is described as a discretionary grant opportunity and a competitive proposal process, meaning communities submit proposals to compete for funding under the announcement.

What kinds of outcomes are RSVP projects expected to produce?

The opportunity emphasizes producing measurable benefits for residents and communities, and tracking results consistent with AmeriCorps Seniors expectations for effective volunteer engagement and community impact.

How do State Service Commissions or states and territories relate to this opportunity?

The opportunity references State Service Commissions and/or states and U.S. territories as part of the broader AmeriCorps structure in which these entities often play roles in administering or coordinating national service resources within their jurisdictions.

What are examples of volunteer assignments that could fit within this opportunity?

The information provided gives practical examples such as supporting students and schools, helping older adults remain independent, improving access to nutrition or health supports, strengthening disaster readiness and response capacity, or assisting nonprofits and public agencies in delivering critical services.

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