FY 2023 AmeriCorps Seniors Native Nations and Indigenous Elders Senior Demonstration Program | AC 12 09 22

Opportunity Information: Apply for AC 12 09 22

The FY 2023 AmeriCorps Seniors Native Nations and Indigenous Elders Senior Demonstration Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from AmeriCorps designed to expand and strengthen service programs in underserved Indigenous and Native communities. The central idea is to invest in locally driven projects that create meaningful roles for older adults, especially people age 55 and older, so they can use their time, skills, and lived experience to address community-identified needs. This is framed as a demonstration program, meaning the funding is aimed at supporting projects that can show what works, build capacity, and potentially inform broader approaches to senior volunteer engagement in Native Nations and Indigenous settings.

AmeriCorps positions this opportunity within its larger mission of improving lives, strengthening communities, and building civic engagement through service and volunteerism. While AmeriCorps includes multiple streams of national service, this particular notice sits under AmeriCorps Seniors, which focuses on volunteer service opportunities for older adults. Applicants are expected to clearly explain how their proposed project will recruit, support, and engage volunteers age 55+ in ways that produce tangible benefits for Indigenous and Native communities and align with one or more program priorities for Native Nations and Indigenous Elders. In practical terms, proposals should show a thoughtful plan for volunteer roles, community partnerships, and how service activities will meet real needs rather than offering volunteerism as an end in itself.

The funding notice indicates a broad range of eligible project focus areas, reflecting the varied needs that communities may prioritize. The activity categories tied to this opportunity include community development, disaster prevention and relief, education, employment and training, the environment, food and nutrition, health, income security, and social services. This wide scope gives applicants flexibility to design programs that fit local circumstances, such as elder support and wellness initiatives, intergenerational and cultural knowledge-sharing programs, food access and nutrition support, community resilience and emergency preparedness efforts, education and mentoring supports, or services that improve stability and access to resources. What matters most is demonstrating that the project is grounded in the community, targeted to underserved Indigenous and Native populations, and built around engaging older adult volunteers in meaningful service.

A variety of entities may apply, which makes it possible for both governmental and nonprofit organizations to lead projects as long as they meet eligibility requirements. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments, state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments, along with public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities. Nonprofits are also eligible, including organizations with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). This range is intended to accommodate the different ways services are organized and delivered in Native Nations and Indigenous communities, whether through tribal governments, community-based nonprofits, or local public agencies.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed as a grant (funding instrument type: Grant) under a discretionary funding category, with CFDA number 94.017. The funding opportunity number is AC 12 09 22, and the opportunity was created on December 9, 2022. The original closing date for applications was April 5, 2023. The notice does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the source details provided, so applicants would typically need to consult the full notice or related AmeriCorps guidance to understand funding ranges, match requirements (if any), performance expectations, reporting, and other compliance terms.

Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as an effort to resource community-centered service models that elevate Indigenous elders and older adults as leaders and contributors. It emphasizes designing projects where volunteers age 55+ play a direct role in addressing priority needs in Native Nations and Indigenous communities, with AmeriCorps Seniors funding used to build the structure, support, and partnerships needed to make that service effective and sustainable.

• The AmeriCorps in the community development, disaster prevention and relief, education, employment, labor and training, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2023 AmeriCorps Seniors Native Nations and Indigenous Elders Senior Demonstration Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 94.017.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-12-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-04-05. (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), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, 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.

Apply for AC 12 09 22

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