The Corporation for National and Community Service: Overview of Programs and FY2011 Funding

Abigail B. Rudman
Information Research Specialist

Ann Lordeman
Specialist in Social Policy

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is an independent federal agency that administers the programs authorized by two statutes: the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (NCSA; P.L. 101-610), as amended, and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (DVSA; P.L. 93-113), as amended. NCSA and DVSA programs were amended and reauthorized through FY2014 by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (P.L. 111-13). The Serve America Act was signed by President Obama on April 21, 2009, and was effective on October 1, 2009. This report first provides an overview of each NCSA and DVSA program and then provides information on programmatic changes made by P.L. 111-13. The report also compares CNCS funding provided in the FY2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-117), the FY2011 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act (P.L. 112-10), and the President’s FY2012 Budget Request.

The NCSA is designed to meet unmet human, educational, environmental, and public safety needs, and to renew an ethic of civic responsibility by encouraging citizens to participate in national service programs. The major programs authorized by NCSA include Learn and Serve America, AmeriCorps State and National Grants, and the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). The NCSA also authorizes the National Service Trust, which funds educational awards for community service participants.

A central purpose of the DVSA, which authorizes the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program and the National Senior Volunteer Corps, is to foster and expand voluntary service in communities while helping the vulnerable, the disadvantaged, the elderly, and the poor. The National Senior Volunteer Corps includes three main programs: the Foster Grandparents Program, the Senior Companion Program, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).

Appropriations for the DVSA and the NCSA programs are made annually through the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (Labor-HHS-ED). Signed into law on April 15, 2011, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, FY2011 (P.L. 112-10), provided $1,075.6 million for CNCS, which includes a 0.2% mandatory across the board rescission. The FY2011 amount is approximately $340 million less than the FY2011 President’s request of $1,415.6 million and $74.1 million less than the FY2010 enacted amount of $1,149.7 million.

The FY2012 President’s request is $1,257.9 million, which is $182.3 million more than the FY2011 amount.


Date of Report: August 5, 2011
Number of Pages: 11
Order Number: RL33931
Price: $29.95

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