Corporation Announces Funding Opportunity
For Service Projects on Martin Luther King Holiday
Washington, DC—The Corporation for National and
Community Service announced today that it is making available
approximately $600,000 in grant funding to organizations that
commemorate the 2005 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday with volunteer
service projects.
Service was at the heart of Dr. King's philosophy. "Everybody can be
great because everybody can serve," he once said, and he urged
Americans to take action to improve the lives of others. In
recognition of that spirit, Congress in 1994 passed the King Holiday
and Service Act, which directed the Corporation to support local
efforts to make the King Holiday a day of service. Since then,
millions of Americans have paid homage to Dr. King by serving in
projects ranging from stocking food pantries to planting community
gardens to training tutors for inner-city schools.
In the past, the Corporation has made grants directly to dozens of
local organizations to support King Day service projects. This year,
however, the Corporation has changed its approach and will make from
two to five large grants of at least $100,000 to intermediary
organizations for sub-granting locally. Successful applicants will be
organizations or collaborations of organizations that have the ability
to reach potential sub-grantees within a state or throughout a
multi-state area.
“There is no better way to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and remember
his legacy than through service,” said David Eisner, CEO of the
Corporation. “We anticipate that this new approach to distributing
funds will allow more people than ever before to engage in service
activities, helping to truly transform the King Holiday into a day on,
rather than a day off.”
Eligible applicants include faith-based and secular community
organizations, volunteer centers, Indian tribal organizations, state
commissions on service, community foundations, and state and local
government agencies. The grants require a match of at least 70 percent
of the cost of the project, which can include cash and in-kind
contributions. Organizations that receive funding must sponsor a
minimum of 10 events and must expend at least 20 percent of award
funds through sub-grants to other organizations or agencies. Grants
are subject to availability of funding.
Organizations seeking sub-grants to support local projects must apply
to one of the successful applicants. To be referred by the Corporation
to the successful applicants, organizations are asked to send an email
requesting funding to the Corporation at
MLKday@cns.gov. Prospective
sub-grantees should include the name of their organization, contact
information, type of project for which they would like to receive
funding, amount of funding requesting, and resources that they have
identified to meet the 70 percent match requirement.
Information on the grant opportunity, application instructions, and
the complete Notice of Funding Opportunity are available at
www.mlkday.org. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on October 12,
2004.
The Corporation for National and Community Service provides
opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their
communities and country through three programs: Senior Corps,
AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. Together with the USA Freedom
Corps, the Corporation is working to build a culture of citizenship,
service, and responsibility in America. For more information, visit
www.nationalservice.org.
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