National Service Agency Grants to Support 80,000 Senior
Volunteers
205 organizations receive Senior Corps grants through
competitive process
WASHINGTON, DC – The Corporation for National and
Community Service (CNCS) today announced more than $14 million in
funding to support organizations and nonprofits across the country.
The organizations will leverage the experience and talents of RSVP Senior Corps
volunteers in schools, conservation projects, disaster response, veterans’
services, and other priorities.
Nearly 80,000 new senior volunteers will have the
opportunity to serve through 205 organizations receiving awards in 35 states.
These funds were awarded as part of the first grant competition since 1971 for
RSVP, one of three Senior Corps programs administered by CNCS. Grantees
selected will address a wide range of community issues, from disaster response
and early childhood education to veterans and military families and
environmental stewardship.
A complete list of grants is available here.
“Today, more than ever, communities need the talents
and skills of all citizens to help solve our most pressing challenges,” said
Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. “Americans age 55 and over are a powerful resource
to help communities achieve real change. These new RSVP grants will provide the
bridge to connect seniors to meaningful service opportunities, so that they may
deliver the enormous social and economic benefits we know are good for our
nation.”
Established in 1971, RSVP engages Americans age 55
and older in volunteer opportunities across the country, allowing citizens to be
a part of the solution to community challenges. RSVP volunteers provide support
to veterans and their families, help seniors to live independently in their
homes, mentor at-risk youth, and provide critical support to communities
recovering from disasters. While serving, RSVP volunteers also improve their own
lives, by staying active and civically engaged.
In 2012, 320,000 RSVP volunteers delivered more than
47 million hours of service in their communities. Through community and
faith-based organizations, RSVP volunteers served more than 563,000 veterans,
mentored more than 82,500 children, and provided independent living services to
more than nearly 742,000 elderly adults.
“Older Americans bring a lifetime of skills and
experience as parents, workers, and citizens that can be tapped to meet
challenges in our communities,” said Dr. Erwin Tan, Director of Senior Corps at
CNCS. “Given the many social needs facing our communities – and the growing
interest in service by 55+ American citizens – this is a moment of unprecedented
need and opportunity for our programs to take advantage of an extraordinary wave
of human capital that has the potential to transform our nation.”
As part of the agency’s focus on driving greater
innovation and impact, organizations receiving 2013 RSVP grants will report
their progress using the performance measures CNCS adopted as a result of the
bipartisan 2009 Serve America Act. CNCS has embraced competition and
performance measurement for the RSVP as a way to achieve greater impact in
communities and the nation and to encourage innovation through adoption of new
ideas and services.
The next Senior Corps funding opportunity will open
sometime mid-year. Americans who seek to volunteer with a Senior Corps program
can search for local opportunities in their area at seniorcorps.gov. | 
