Opportunity Information: Apply for CNCS 09 20 2018
The FY 2019 RSVP Competition is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to select sponsoring organizations to operate RSVP projects in multiple geographic service areas. RSVP, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, supports community-based volunteer activities primarily engaging older adults in service roles that address local needs. The core purpose of the competition is to identify capable sponsors that can manage and grow volunteer service in a way that produces measurable community results, strengthens local capacity, and provides meaningful benefits to the volunteers themselves through a structured service experience.
This opportunity is broadly focused on community impact across several public service domains. The funding activity categories listed for this competition include community development, disaster prevention and relief, education, employment and workforce-related activities, environmental work, food and nutrition, health, housing, and other related community priorities. In practice, that means a sponsored RSVP project could be designed to support a wide range of volunteer-driven interventions such as tutoring and mentoring students, assisting with disaster preparedness and recovery efforts, supporting hunger relief and nutrition programs, helping with community health and wellness initiatives, contributing to housing stability efforts, or providing other locally determined services that align with CNCS priorities and can demonstrate results.
Eligible applicants span a wide set of public and nonprofit institutions, reflecting RSVP's community-based structure. Applicants may include state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions). In other words, the program is open to many types of organizations that can credibly serve as the local sponsor, coordinate volunteers, partner with community service sites, and carry out the administrative and programmatic responsibilities required to run an RSVP project.
Key administrative details indicate that the award mechanism is a grant and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding. The opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number CNCS 09 20 2018, associated with CFDA (now commonly referred to under Assistance Listings) number 94.002. The opportunity was created on September 20, 2018, with an original closing date of November 7, 2018. The listed award ceiling is $729,000, and CNCS projected making about 211 awards, suggesting a nationwide effort to recompete and assign sponsorship across many service areas rather than a small number of large, centralized grants.
Overall, this competition is designed to ensure RSVP services are delivered by strong local sponsors that can mobilize volunteers effectively, match volunteer activities to real community needs, and document measurable outcomes. The emphasis on both community impact and volunteer benefit reflects RSVP's dual mission: solving local problems through service while also creating an engaging, meaningful volunteer experience that builds social connection, purpose, and community involvement.Apply for CNCS 09 20 2018
- The Corporation for National and Community Service in the community development, disaster prevention and relief, education, employment, labor and training, environment, food and nutrition, health, housing, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2019 RSVP Competition" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 94.002.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 20, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 07, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $729,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 211 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FY 2019 RSVP Competition (CNCS) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FY 2019 RSVP Competition?
The FY 2019 RSVP Competition is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to select sponsoring organizations to operate RSVP projects across multiple geographic service areas.
What does RSVP stand for, and what is it?
RSVP is the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. It supports community-based volunteer activities that primarily engage older adults in service roles addressing local needs.
What is the main purpose of this grant competition?
The purpose is to identify capable local sponsors that can manage and grow volunteer service in ways that produce measurable community results, strengthen local capacity, and provide meaningful benefits to the volunteers through a structured service experience.
Who is the federal agency offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).
What type of funding is this (grant vs. contract, discretionary vs. formula)?
The award mechanism is a grant, and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this competition?
The Funding Opportunity Number is CNCS 09 20 2018.
What is the CFDA (Assistance Listings) number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA (now commonly referenced as Assistance Listings) number is 94.002.
When was the opportunity created, and what was the closing date?
The opportunity was created on September 20, 2018, and the original closing date was November 7, 2018.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $729,000.
How many awards did CNCS expect to make?
CNCS projected making approximately 211 awards.
What does it mean that the competition covers multiple geographic service areas?
It means CNCS intended to select sponsors to operate RSVP projects in many different local areas, rather than funding a small number of centralized projects.
What kinds of community issues can an RSVP project address under this competition?
The competition is broadly focused on community impact and lists multiple service domains, including community development, disaster prevention and relief, education, employment and workforce-related activities, environmental work, food and nutrition, health, housing, and other related community priorities.
Can you give examples of activities an RSVP project might support?
Examples mentioned include tutoring and mentoring students, supporting disaster preparedness and recovery efforts, assisting hunger relief and nutrition programs, contributing to community health and wellness initiatives, supporting housing stability efforts, and other locally determined services that align with CNCS priorities and can demonstrate results.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions).
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status are eligible, excluding higher education institutions.
Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
Are tribal governments or tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are eligible applicants.
Are local governments eligible applicants?
Yes. State, county, and city or township governments are included among eligible applicants.
What is a "sponsoring organization" in the RSVP context?
A sponsoring organization is the local entity selected to operate an RSVP project, coordinate volunteers, partner with community service sites, and carry out the administrative and programmatic responsibilities required to run the project.
What does CNCS appear to be looking for in a sponsor?
Based on the description, CNCS is looking for sponsors that can mobilize volunteers effectively, match volunteer activities to real community needs, and document measurable outcomes, while also creating a meaningful and engaging volunteer experience.
What results or outcomes are emphasized in the opportunity description?
The description emphasizes measurable community results, strengthened local capacity, and meaningful benefits to volunteers through a structured service experience.
Does the program focus only on community outcomes, or also on volunteer experience?
Both. The opportunity highlights a dual mission: addressing local problems through service while also providing an engaging, meaningful volunteer experience that supports social connection, purpose, and community involvement.
Is this opportunity limited to a single service area like education or health?
No. The listed categories cover a wide range of public service domains, and projects may be designed around locally determined needs as long as they align with CNCS priorities and can demonstrate results.
What is the general role of older adults in RSVP projects?
RSVP projects primarily engage older adults in volunteer roles that address local community needs.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Community Development, Disaster Prevention and Relief, Education, Employment, Labor and Training, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Housing, Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other
Next opportunity: USAID Community HIV Activity in Zambezia
Previous opportunity: National Summer Transportation Institute
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for CNCS 09 20 2018
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (CNCS 09 20 2018) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| FY 2020 RSVP Competition Apply for CNCS 07 26 19 Funding Number: CNCS 07 26 19 Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service Category: Community Development, Disaster Prevention and Relief, Education, Employment, Labor and Training, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Housing, Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Funding Amount: $468,406 |
| FY 2021 RSVP Competition Apply for CNCS 07 01 20 Funding Number: CNCS 07 01 20 Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service Category: Community Development, Disaster Prevention and Relief, Education, Employment, Labor and Training, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Housing, Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Funding Amount: $518,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "CNCS 09 20 2018", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.