Part I—Additional Corporation Activities To Support National Service
§12653. Additional Corporation activities to support national service
(a) Methods of conducting activities
The Corporation may carry out this section directly (except as provided in subsection (g)) or through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements with other entities.
(b) Innovation and quality improvement
The Corporation may undertake activities to address emergent needs through summer programs and other activities, and to support service-learning programs and national service programs, including—
(1) programs, including programs for rural youth, under division B or C;
(2) employer-based retiree programs;
(3) intergenerational programs;
(4) programs involving individuals with disabilities as participants providing service; and
(5) programs sponsored by Governors.
(c) Conferences and materials
The Corporation may organize and hold conferences, and prepare and publish materials, to disseminate information and promote the sharing of information among programs for the purpose of improving the quality of programs and projects.
(d) Research
The Corporation may support research on national service, including service-learning.
(e) Youth leadership
The Corporation may support activities to enhance the ability of youth and young adults to play leadership roles in national service.
(f) National program identity
The Corporation may support the development and dissemination of materials, including training materials, and arrange for uniforms and insignia, designed to promote unity and shared features among programs that receive assistance under the national service laws.
(g) Global Youth Service Day
(1) Designation
April 24, 2009, and April 23, 2010, are each designated as "Global Youth Service Days". The President is authorized and directed to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate youth-led community improvement and service-learning activities.
(2) Federal activities
In order to observe Global Youth Service Day at the Federal level, the Corporation and other Federal departments and agencies may organize and carry out appropriate youth-led community improvement and service-learning activities.
(3) Activities
The Corporation and other Federal departments and agencies may make grants to public or private nonprofit organizations with demonstrated ability to carry out appropriate activities, in order to support such activities on Global Youth Service Day.
(h) Assistance for Head Start
The Corporation may make grants to, and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with, public or nonprofit private agencies and organizations that receive grants or contracts under the Foster Grandparent Program (part B of title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 [
(i) Martin Luther King, Jr., Service Day
(1) Assistance
The Corporation may make grants to eligible entities described in paragraph (2) to pay for the Federal share of the cost of planning and carrying out service opportunities in conjunction with the Federal legal holiday honoring the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Such service opportunities shall consist of activities reflecting the life and teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr., such as cooperation and understanding among racial and ethnic groups, nonviolent conflict resolution, equal economic and educational opportunities, and social justice.
(2) Eligible entities
Any entity otherwise eligible for assistance under the national services laws shall be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection.
(3) Repealed. Pub. L. 105–354, §2(b), Nov. 3, 1998, 112 Stat. 3244
(4) Federal share
Grants provided under this subsection to an eligible entity to support the planning and carrying out of a service opportunity in conjunction with the Federal legal holiday honoring the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., together with all other Federal funds used to plan or carry out the service opportunity, may not exceed 30 percent of the cost of planning and carrying out the service opportunity.
(5) Calculation of entity contributions
In determining the non-Federal share of the costs of planning and carrying out a service opportunity supported by a grant under this subsection, the Corporation shall consider in-kind contributions (including facilities, equipment, and services) made to plan or carry out the service opportunity.
(j) Call to Service Campaign
Not later than 180 days after April 21, 2009, the Corporation shall conduct a nationwide "Call To Service" campaign, to encourage all people of the United States, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, or economic status, to engage in full- or part-time national service, long- or short-term public service in the nonprofit sector or government, or volunteering. In conducting the campaign, the Corporation may collaborate with other Federal agencies and entities, State Commissions, Governors, nonprofit and faith-based organizations, businesses, institutions of higher education, elementary schools, and secondary schools.
(k) September 11th Day of Service
(1) Federal activities
The Corporation may organize and carry out appropriate ceremonies and activities, which may include activities that are part of the broader Call to Service Campaign under subsection (j), in order to observe the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance at the Federal level.
(2) Activities
The Corporation may make grants and provide other support to community-based organizations to assist in planning and carrying out appropriate service, charity, and remembrance opportunities in conjunction with the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance.
(3) Consultation
The Corporation may consult with and make grants or provide other forms of support to nonprofit organizations with expertise in representing families of victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and other impacted constituencies, and in promoting the establishment of September 11 as an annually recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, referred to in subsec. (h), is
The Head Start Act, referred to in subsec. (h), is subchapter B (§§635–657) of
Prior Provisions
A prior section 12653,
Amendments
2009—
Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (g).
Subsec. (g)(1).
Subsec. (g)(2).
Subsec. (g)(3).
Subsecs. (j), (k).
1998—Subsec. (s)(3).
1994—Subsec. (q)(1).
Subsec. (s).
1993—Subsec. (r).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2009 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1993 Amendment
Amendment by section 405(p)(2) of
Effective Date
Section effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 123 of
Executive Documents
Executive Order No. 13560
Ex. Ord. No. 13560, Dec. 14, 2010, 75 F.R. 78875, which established the White House Council for Community Solutions, was superseded and revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13748, §5, Nov. 16, 2016, 81 F.R. 83621, set out as a note under
§12653a. Presidential awards for service
(a) Presidential awards
(1) In general
The President, acting through the Corporation, may make Presidential awards for service to individuals providing significant service, and to outstanding service programs.
(2) Individuals and programs
Notwithstanding
(A) an individual receiving an award under this subsection need not be a participant in a program authorized under this chapter; and
(B) a program receiving an award under this subsection need not be a program authorized under this chapter.
(3) Nature of award
In making an award under this section to an individual or program, the President, acting through the Corporation—
(A) is authorized to incur necessary expenses for the honorary recognition of the individual or program; and
(B) is not authorized to make a cash award to such individual or program.
(b) Information
The President, acting through the Corporation, shall ensure that information concerning individuals and programs receiving awards under this section is widely disseminated.
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), was in the original "this Act", meaning
Codification
Section was formerly classified to
Prior Provisions
A prior section 12653a,
Another prior section 12653a,
Amendments
2009—Subsec. (a)(2).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2009 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 123 of
§12653b. ServeAmerica Fellowships
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Area of national need
The term "area of national need" means an area involved in efforts to—
(A) improve education in schools for economically disadvantaged students;
(B) expand and improve access to health care;
(C) improve energy efficiency and conserve natural resources;
(D) improve economic opportunities for economically disadvantaged individuals; or
(E) improve disaster preparedness and response.
(2) Eligible fellowship recipient
The term "eligible fellowship recipient" means an individual who is selected by a State Commission under subsection (c) and, as a result of such selection, is eligible for a ServeAmerica Fellowship.
(3) Fellow
The term "fellow" means an eligible fellowship recipient who is awarded a ServeAmerica Fellowship and is designated a fellow under subsection (e)(2).
(4) Small service sponsor organization
The term "small service sponsor organization" means a service sponsor organization described in subsection (d)(1) that has not more than 10 full-time employees and 10 part-time employees.
(b) Grants
(1) In general
From the amounts appropriated under
(2) Allotment; administrative costs
(A) Allotment
The amount allotted to a State Commission for a fiscal year shall be equal to an amount that bears the same ratio to the amount appropriated under
(B) Reallotment
If a State Commission does not apply for an allotment under this subsection for any fiscal year, or if the State Commission's application is not approved, the Corporation shall reallot the amount of the State Commission's allotment to the remaining State Commissions in accordance with subparagraph (A).
(C) Administrative costs
Of the amount allotted to a State Commission under subparagraph (A), not more than 1.5 percent of such amount may be used for administrative costs.
(3) Number of positions
The Corporation shall—
(A) establish or increase the number of approved national service positions under this subsection during each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014;
(B) establish the number of approved positions at 500 for fiscal year 2010; and
(C) increase the number of the approved positions to—
(i) 750 for fiscal year 2011;
(ii) 1,000 for fiscal year 2012;
(iii) 1,250 for fiscal year 2013; and
(iv) 1,500 for fiscal year 2014.
(4) Uses of grant funds
(A) Required uses
A grant awarded under this subsection shall be used to enable fellows to carry out service projects in areas of national need.
(B) Permitted uses
A grant awarded under this subsection may be used for—
(i) oversight activities and mechanisms for the service sites of the fellows, as determined necessary by the State Commission or the Corporation, which may include site visits;
(ii) activities to augment the experience of fellows, including activities to engage the fellows in networking opportunities with other national service participants; and
(iii) recruitment or training activities for fellows.
(5) Applications
To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, a State Commission shall submit an application to the Corporation at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Corporation may require, including information on the criteria and procedures that the State Commission will use for overseeing ServeAmerica Fellowship placements for service projects, under subsection (e).
(c) Eligible fellowship recipients
(1) Application
(A) In general
An applicant desiring to become an eligible fellowship recipient shall submit an application to a State Commission that has elected to participate in the program authorized under this section, at such time and in such manner as the Commission may require, and containing the information described in subparagraph (B) and such additional information as the Commission may require. An applicant may submit such application to only 1 State Commission for a fiscal year.
(B) Contents
The Corporation shall specify information to be provided in an application submitted under this subsection, which—
(i) shall include—
(I) a description of the area of national need that the applicant intends to address in the service project;
(II) a description of the skills and experience the applicant has to address the area of national need;
(III) a description of the type of service the applicant plans to provide as a fellow; and
(IV) information identifying the local area within the State served by the Commission in which the applicant plans to serve for the service project; and
(ii) may include, if the applicant chooses, the size of the registered service sponsor organization with which the applicant hopes to serve.
(2) Selection
Each State Commission shall—
(A) select, from the applications received by the State Commission for a fiscal year, the number of eligible fellowship recipients that may be supported for that fiscal year based on the amount of the grant received by the State Commission under subsection (b); and
(B) make an effort to award one-third of the fellowships available to the State Commission for a fiscal year, based on the amount of the grant received under subsection (b), to applicants who propose to serve the fellowship with small service sponsor organizations registered under subsection (d).
(d) Service sponsor organizations
(1) In general
Each service sponsor organization shall—
(A) be a nonprofit organization;
(B) satisfy qualification criteria established by the Corporation or the State Commission, including standards relating to organizational capacity, financial management, and programmatic oversight;
(C) not be a recipient of other assistance, approved national service positions, or approved summer of service positions under the national service laws; and
(D) at the time of registration with a State Commission, enter into an agreement providing that the service sponsor organization shall—
(i) abide by all program requirements;
(ii) provide an amount described in subsection (e)(3)(b) 1 for each fellow serving with the organization through the ServeAmerica Fellowship;
(iii) be responsible for certifying whether each fellow serving with the organization successfully completed the ServeAmerica Fellowship, and record and certify in a manner specified by the Corporation the number of hours served by a fellow for purposes of determining the fellow's eligibility for benefits; and
(iv) provide timely access to records relating to the ServeAmerica Fellowship to the State Commission, the Corporation, and the Inspector General of the Corporation.
(2) Registration
(A) Requirement
No service sponsor organization may receive a fellow under this section until the organization registers with the State Commission.
(B) Clearinghouse
The State Commission shall maintain a list of registered service sponsor organizations on a public website.
(C) Revocation
If a State Commission determines that a service sponsor organization is in violation of any of the applicable provisions of this section—
(i) the State Commission shall revoke the registration of the organization;
(ii) the organization shall not be eligible to receive assistance, approved national service positions, or approved summer of service positions under this subchapter for not less than 5 years; and
(iii) the State Commission shall have the right to remove a fellow from the organization and relocate the fellow to another site.
(e) Fellows
(1) In general
To be eligible to participate in a service project as a fellow and receive a ServeAmerica Fellowship, an eligible fellowship recipient shall—
(A) within 3 months after being selected as an eligible fellowship recipient by a State Commission, select a registered service sponsor organization described in subsection (d)—
(i) with which the recipient is interested in serving under this section; and
(ii) that is located in the State served by the State Commission;
(B) enter into an agreement with the organization—
(i) that specifies the service the recipient will provide if the placement is approved; and
(ii) in which the recipient agrees to serve for 1 year on a full-time or part-time basis (as determined by the Corporation); and
(C) submit such agreement to the State Commission.
(2) Award
Upon receiving the eligible fellowship recipient's agreement under paragraph (1), the State Commission shall award a ServeAmerica Fellowship to the recipient and designate the recipient as a fellow.
(3) Fellowship amount
(A) In general
From amounts received under subsection (b), each State Commission shall award each of the State's fellows a ServeAmerica Fellowship amount that is equal to 50 percent of the amount of the average annual VISTA subsistence allowance.
(B) Amount from service sponsor organization
(i) In general
Except as provided in clause (ii) and subparagraph (E), the service sponsor organization shall award to the fellow serving such organization an amount that will ensure that the total award received by the fellow for service in the service project (consisting of such amount and the ServeAmerica Fellowship amount the fellow receives under subparagraph (A)) is equal to or greater than 70 percent of the average annual VISTA subsistence allowance.
(ii) Small service sponsor organizations
In the case of a small service sponsor organization, the small service sponsor organization may decrease the amount of the service sponsor organization award required under clause (i) to not less than an amount that will ensure that the total award received by the fellow for service in the service project (as calculated in clause (i)) is equal to or greater than 60 percent of the average annual VISTA subsistence allowance.
(C) Maximum living allowance
The total amount that may be provided to a fellow under this subparagraph shall not exceed 100 percent of the average annual VISTA subsistence allowance.
(D) Proration of amount
In the case of a fellow who is authorized to serve a part-time term of service under the agreement described in paragraph (1)(B)(ii), the amount provided to a fellow under this paragraph shall be prorated accordingly.
(E) Waiver
The Corporation may allow a State Commission to waive the amount required under subparagraph (B) from the service sponsor organization for a fellow serving the organization if—
(i) such requirement is inconsistent with the objectives of the ServeAmerica Fellowship program; and
(ii) the amount provided to the fellow under subparagraph (A) is sufficient to meet the necessary costs of living (including food, housing, and transportation) in the area in which the ServeAmerica Fellowship program is located.
(F) Definition
In this paragraph, the term "average annual VISTA subsistence allowance" means the total average annual subsistence allowance provided to VISTA volunteers under
(f) Compliance with ineligible service categories
Service under a ServeAmerica Fellowship shall comply with
(g) Reports
Each service sponsor organization that receives a fellow under this section shall, on a biweekly basis, report to the Corporation on the number of hours served and the services provided by that fellow. The Corporation shall establish a web portal for the organizations to use in reporting the information.
(h) Educational awards
A fellow who serves in a service project under this section shall be considered to have served in an approved national service position and, upon meeting the requirements of
(
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 12653b,
Another prior section 12653b,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of
1 So in original. Probably should be "(e)(3)(B)".
§12653c. Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships
(a) Silver Scholarship Grant Program
(1) Establishment
The Corporation may award fixed-amount grants (in accordance with
(2) Term
Each program funded under this subsection shall be carried out over a period of 3 years (which may include 1 planning year), with a 1-year extension possible, if the program meets performance levels developed in accordance with
(3) Applications
To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, a community-based entity shall—
(A) submit to the Corporation an application at such time and in such manner as the Chief Executive Officer may reasonably require; and
(B) be a listed organization as described in subsection (b)(4).
(4) Collaboration encouraged
A community-based entity awarded a grant under this subsection is encouraged to collaborate with programs funded under title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 [
(5) Eligibility for fellowship
An individual is eligible to receive a Silver Scholarship if the community-based entity certifies to the Corporation that the individual has completed not less than 350 hours of service under this section in a 1-year period.
(6) Transfer to trust
The Corporation shall transfer an appropriate amount of funds to the National Service Trust to provide for the national service educational award for each silver scholar under this subsection.
(7) Support services
A community-based entity receiving a fixed-amount grant under this subsection may use a portion of the grant to provide transportation services to an eligible individual to allow such individual to participate in a service project.
(b) Encore Fellowships
(1) Establishment
The Corporation may award 1-year Encore Fellowships to enable individuals age 55 or older to—
(A) carry out service projects in areas of national need; and
(B) receive training and development in order to transition to full- or part-time public service in the nonprofit sector or government.
(2) Program
In carrying out the program, the Corporation shall—
(A) maintain a list of eligible organizations for which Encore Fellows may be placed to carry out service projects through the program and shall provide the list to all Fellowship recipients; and
(B) at the request of a Fellowship recipient—
(i) determine whether the requesting recipient is able to meet the service needs of a listed organization, or another organization that the recipient requests in accordance with paragraph (5)(B), for a service project; and
(ii) upon making a favorable determination under clause (i), award the recipient with an Encore Fellowship, and place the recipient with the organization as an Encore Fellow under paragraph (5)(C).
(3) Eligible recipients
(A) In general
An individual desiring to be selected as a Fellowship recipient shall—
(i) be an individual who—
(I) is age 55 or older as of the time the individual applies for the program; and
(II) is not engaged in, but who wishes to engage in, full- or part-time public service in the nonprofit sector or government; and
(ii) submit an application to the Corporation, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Corporation may require, including—
(I) a description of the area of national need that the applicant hopes to address through the service project;
(II) a description of the skills and experience the applicant has to address an area of national need; and
(III) information identifying the region of the United States in which the applicant wishes to serve.
(B) Selection basis
In determining which individuals to select as Fellowship recipients, the Corporation shall—
(i) select not more than 10 individuals from each State; and
(ii) give priority to individuals with skills and experience for which there is an ongoing high demand in the nonprofit sector and government.
(4) Listed organizations
To be listed under paragraph (2)(A), an organization shall—
(A) be a nonprofit organization; and
(B) submit an application to the Corporation at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Corporation may require, including—
(i) a description of—
(I) the services and activities the organization carries out generally;
(II) the area of national need that the organization seeks to address through a service project; and
(III) the services and activities the organization seeks to carry out through the proposed service project;
(ii) a description of the skills and experience that an eligible Encore Fellowship recipient needs to be placed with the organization as an Encore Fellow for the service project;
(iii) a description of the training and leadership development the organization shall provide an Encore Fellow placed with the organization to assist the Encore Fellow in obtaining a public service job in the nonprofit sector or government after the period of the Encore Fellowship; and
(iv) evidence of the organization's financial stability.
(5) Placement
(A) Request for placement with listed organizations
To be placed with a listed organization in accordance with paragraph (2)(B) for a service project, an eligible Encore Fellowship recipient shall submit an application for such placement to the Corporation at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Corporation may require.
(B) Request for placement with other organization
An eligible Encore Fellowship recipient may apply to the Corporation to serve the recipient's Encore Fellowship year with a nonprofit organization that is not a listed organization. Such application shall be submitted to the Corporation at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Corporation shall require, and shall include—
(i) an identification and description of—
(I) the organization;
(II) the area of national need the organization seeks to address; and
(III) the services or activities the organization carries out to address such area of national need;
(ii) a description of the services the eligible Encore Fellowship recipient shall provide for the organization as an Encore Fellow; and
(iii) a letter of support from the leader of the organization, including—
(I) a description of the organization's need for the eligible Encore Fellowship recipient's services;
(II) evidence that the organization is financially sound;
(III) an assurance that the organization will provide training and leadership development to the eligible Encore Fellowship recipient if placed with the organization as an Encore Fellow, to assist the Encore Fellow in obtaining a public service job in the nonprofit sector or government after the period of the Encore Fellowship; and
(IV) a description of the training and leadership development to be provided to the Encore Fellowship recipient if so placed.
(C) Placement and award of Fellowship
If the Corporation determines that the eligible Encore Fellowship recipient is able to meet the service needs (including skills and experience to address an area of national need) of the organization that the eligible fellowship recipient requests under subparagraph (A) or (B), the Corporation shall—
(i) approve the placement of the eligible Encore Fellowship recipient with the organization;
(ii) award the eligible Encore Fellowship recipient an Encore Fellowship for a period of 1 year and designate the eligible Encore Fellowship recipient as an Encore Fellow; and
(iii) in awarding the Encore Fellowship, make a payment, in the amount of $11,000, to the organization to enable the organization to provide living expenses to the Encore Fellow for the year in which the Encore Fellow agrees to serve.
(6) Matching funds
An organization that receives an Encore Fellow under this subsection shall agree to provide, for the living expenses of the Encore Fellow during the year of service, non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to not less than $1 for every $1 of Federal funds provided to the organization for the Encore Fellow through the Encore Fellowship.
(7) Training and assistance
Each organization that receives an Encore Fellow under this subsection shall provide training, leadership development, and assistance to the Encore Fellow, and conduct oversight of the service provided by the Encore Fellow.
(8) Leadership development
Each year, the Corporation shall convene current and former Encore Fellows to discuss the Encore Fellows' experiences related to service under this subsection and discuss strategies for increasing leadership and careers in public service in the nonprofit sector or government.
(c) Evaluations
The Corporation shall conduct an independent evaluation of the programs authorized under subsections (a) and (b) and widely disseminate the results, including recommendations for improvement, to the service community through multiple channels, including the Corporation's Resource Center or a clearinghouse of effective strategies.
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, referred to in subsec. (a)(4), is
Prior Provisions
A prior section 12653c,
Another prior section 12653c,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of
§12653d. Repealed. Pub. L. 111–13, title I, §1803(a)(3), Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1554
Section,
Prior sections 12653d to 12653g were renumbered by
Section 12653d,
Section 12653e,
Section 12653f,
Section 12653g,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of Repeal
Repeal effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of