FY 2020 Day of Service Grants | CNCS 01 23 20

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.

• 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.

Apply for CNCS 01 23 20

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