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: AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. Working with national and community nonoprofits, faith-based groups, schools, and local agencies, the Corporation engages more than two million Americans each year in meeting critical needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other areas.

AmeriCorps Programs

• AmeriCorps State – AmeriCorps State works with Governor-appointed State Service Commissions to provide grants to public and nonprofit organizations that sponsor service programs around the country, including hundreds of faith-based and community organizations, higher education institutions, and public agencies. Grants assist these groups in recruiting, training and placing AmeriCorps members to meet critical community needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment.
• AmeriCorps National - AmeriCorps National provides grants directly to national public and nonprofit organizations that sponsor service programs, Indian tribes, and consortia formed across two or more states. Grants assist these groups in recruiting, training and placing AmeriCorps members to meet critical community needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment.
• AmeriCorps*Vista - AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 40 years. Public, private, and faith-based nonprofit organizations—as well as local, state and federal organizations—can benefit greatly from linking up with AmeriCorps VISTA. Applications for members are handled by Corporation State Offices.
• AmeriCorps NCCC- AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is a full-time, team-based residential program for men and women age 18–24. Members live on one of four regional campuses, located in Colorado, Maryland, California, and Iowa. The mission of AmeriCorps NCCC is to strengthen communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based service. Members serve communities in every state, but live and train at a regional campus. Sponsoring organizations request the assistance of teams by submitting an application to the regional campus that covers that organization’s state.

Senior Corps Programs

Through grants and other resources—including the energy and efforts of citizens age 55 and over—Senior Corps helps meet the needs and challenges of America’s communities. Grants administered through Senior Corps provide funding for three special programs:

• Foster Grandparents connects volunteers age 60 and over with children and young people with exceptional needs.
• The Senior Companion Program brings together volunteers age 60 and over with adults in their community who have difficulty with the simple tasks of day-to-day living.
• RSVP offers "one stop shopping" for all volunteers 55 and over who want to find challenging, rewarding, and significant service opportunities in their local communities.

Learn and Serve America

Learn and Serve America provides support to schools, higher education institutions and community-based organizations, which engage students, their teachers, and others in service-learning

A Comparison of AmeriCorps State and AmeriCorps VISTA

AmeriCorps*State is a national service program with a focus on getting things done to strengthen communities, encourage responsibility, and expand opportunities. Members engage in direct service with individuals. In Vermont, the AmeriCorps*State programs are overseen by The Vermont Commission on National and Community Service (VT CNCS). The Commission was established in 1993, by then Governor Howard Dean. The Governor appoints up to 25 individuals to serve 3-year terms as members of the Commission, which promotes, supports, and recognizes volunteerism and community service throughout Vermont. The Commission has three full-time and one part-time staff members. The staff manages, plans and executes training and recognition events, and administers AmeriCorps*State grants, and monitors the AmeriCorps*State programs.

AmeriCorps*VISTA is a national service program that places members at community-based and faith-based organizations and state and local governmental agencies to address issues related to poverty. Members develop and mobilize resources that build the capacity of organizations to help ensure sustainability of vital programs. Focus is on capacity building (e.g., developing cash and volunteer resources, developing operational systems, creating programs) and NOT on direct service to individuals. In Vermont, VISTA programming is overseen by The Corporation for National and Community Service’s New Hampshire office, (603) 225-1459, Shireen Tilley, Director, vt@cns.gov