Opportunity Information: Apply for CNCS 01 23 20
The FY 2020 Day of Service Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number CNCS 01 23 20) is a discretionary grant program offered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support large-scale volunteer and community service efforts tied to two nationally recognized service days: the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Organizations can apply to run activities for September 11th, for MLK Day, or for both, but they are limited to submitting no more than one application per day of service. In practical terms, an applicant could submit up to two applications total, but not multiple proposals for the same event day.
For the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance, the program is meant to increase participation in service projects that address real community needs while also honoring the lives lost on September 11, 2001 and recognizing those who responded or were inspired to serve in the years that followed. The emphasis is on mobilization and meaningful community impact, using service as the way to remember and pay tribute. Projects supported under this part of the competition are expected to connect remembrance with tangible action, engaging volunteers in work that strengthens communities.
For the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, the goal is to encourage Americans to observe the federal holiday not simply as a day off, but as a day on, centered on community service. The funding is aimed at mobilizing volunteers for MLK Day projects, encouraging participants to continue serving beyond the holiday as part of a longer-term commitment, and bringing people together across backgrounds to focus on helping others. The underlying theme is using service as a unifying activity that reflects Dr. Kings legacy and builds sustained civic engagement rather than one-time participation.
The opportunity is broadly open to public and nonprofit entities, including state, county, and city or township governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; other tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that category). The funding activity categories listed for the program are wide-ranging, signaling that supported service projects may address many types of local needs, including disaster prevention and relief, education, employment and workforce development, the environment, food and nutrition, health, housing, and other community priorities consistent with CNCS guidance.
Key administrative details include a creation date of January 23, 2020, and an original closing date of March 25, 2020. CNCS anticipated making about 15 awards under this competition. The listed award ceiling is shown as 0 in the source data, which typically indicates that a specific maximum award amount was not captured in that field and would need to be confirmed in the full notice or application instructions. Overall, the program is designed to help organizations plan, coordinate, and expand volunteer-driven service initiatives that are timed around September 11th and MLK Day, with a strong focus on mobilizing Americans, meeting community needs, and building enduring patterns of service.Apply for CNCS 01 23 20
- The Corporation for National and Community Service in the disaster prevention and relief, education, employment, labor and training, environment, food and nutrition, health, housing, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2020 Day of Service Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 94.012, 94.014.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 23, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 25, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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, Private institutions of higher education.
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FY 2020 Day of Service Grants (CNCS 01 23 20) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FY 2020 Day of Service Grants opportunity?
The FY 2020 Day of Service Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number CNCS 01 23 20) is a discretionary grant program offered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). It supports large-scale volunteer and community service efforts tied to nationally recognized service days.
Which service days does this funding support?
This opportunity supports activities connected to two nationally recognized service days: the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Can an organization apply for September 11th projects, MLK Day projects, or both?
Yes. Organizations can apply to run activities for September 11th, for MLK Day, or for both days.
How many applications can an organization submit?
Applicants are limited to submitting no more than one application per day of service. Practically, an organization could submit up to two applications total (one for September 11th and one for MLK Day), but it cannot submit multiple proposals for the same event day.
What is the purpose of the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance component?
The September 11th focus is intended to increase participation in service projects that address real community needs while honoring the lives lost on September 11, 2001 and recognizing those who responded or were inspired to serve in the years that followed. The emphasis is on mobilizing volunteers and achieving meaningful community impact through service as a form of remembrance and tribute.
What kinds of projects are expected for September 11th activities?
Projects supported under the September 11th portion are expected to connect remembrance with tangible action. In other words, they should engage volunteers in work that strengthens communities while reflecting the purpose of remembrance and pay tribute through service.
What is the purpose of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service component?
The MLK Day component is designed to encourage Americans to observe the federal holiday as a "day on" rather than a day off, centered on community service. It aims to mobilize volunteers for MLK Day projects, encourage participants to continue serving beyond the holiday, and bring people together across backgrounds to focus on helping others in a way that reflects Dr. King's legacy.
Does the MLK Day portion emphasize one-time projects or ongoing service?
Based on the opportunity description, MLK Day funding emphasizes sustained civic engagement rather than one-time participation, encouraging people to continue serving beyond the holiday.
Who is eligible to apply?
The opportunity is broadly open to public and nonprofit entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; other tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that 501(c)(3) category).
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible, with the noted exception that higher education institutions are excluded when applying under that 501(c)(3) category.
Are higher education institutions eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are both listed as eligible applicant types.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed among the eligible applicant types.
What kinds of community needs can supported projects address?
The program lists wide-ranging funding activity categories, signaling that supported service projects may address many types of local needs. Examples named in the opportunity include disaster prevention and relief, education, employment and workforce development, the environment, food and nutrition, health, housing, and other community priorities consistent with CNCS guidance.
How many awards did CNCS anticipate making?
CNCS anticipated making about 15 awards under this competition.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is shown as 0 in the source data. This typically indicates that a specific maximum award amount was not captured in that field and would need to be confirmed in the full notice or application instructions.
What are the key dates for this funding opportunity?
The creation date listed for the opportunity is January 23, 2020. The original closing date listed is March 25, 2020.
What is the overall goal of the program?
Overall, the program is designed to help organizations plan, coordinate, and expand volunteer-driven service initiatives timed around September 11th and MLK Day. It focuses on mobilizing Americans, meeting community needs, and building enduring patterns of service.
What does CNCS mean by "large-scale" service efforts in this context?
The opportunity description frames the program as supporting large-scale volunteer and community service efforts, with an emphasis on mobilization, coordination, and meaningful community impact. Specific size thresholds are not provided in the summary information given.
Can one organization submit multiple proposals for the same service day if they have different project ideas?
No. The opportunity specifies that an applicant is limited to no more than one application per day of service. That means multiple proposals for the same event day are not allowed, even if the project concepts differ.
Can one organization submit one application for September 11th and a separate one for MLK Day?
Yes. An applicant could submit up to two applications total: one focused on September 11th and one focused on MLK Day.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Disaster Prevention and Relief, Education, Employment, Labor and Training, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Housing, Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Act
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Previous opportunity: Inter-Community Activity
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