The 2025 AmeriCorps State and National funding opportunity aims to prioritize programs that engage underserved and historically underrepresented communities, focusing on concentrated poverty areas, rural, tribal communities, and groups that include people of color, immigrants, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and those with arrest or conviction histories. Additionally, AmeriCorps emphasizes supporting behavioral health services for youth, addressing mental health and substance use recovery, and aiding members with lived experience in these areas to contribute to community health efforts, especially in relation to the opioid epidemic. Another priority includes projects that enhance the lives of veterans and military families by involving veterans and military families in service opportunities. AmeriCorps also prioritizes initiatives promoting environmental stewardship, resilience against climate change, and programs focused on civic bridgebuilding to address polarization and community division.

AmeriCorps also seeks projects that offer significant benefits to members, such as a living allowance above the minimum, transportation, housing, or food provisions, to enhance recruitment and retention. Programs that support workforce development pathways are prioritized, as are those that provide training and certification opportunities. Specific focus is given to programs working with second-chance youth and engaging them as members, as well as initiatives aimed at developing future public health leaders through service opportunities that address community health needs. AmeriCorps encourages applicants to refer to the Public Health AmeriCorps Priority criteria to understand eligibility for this focus area.

Applications that draw from existing evidence-based practices, especially those identified in AmeriCorps’ Evidence Exchange as having moderate or strong evidence, will receive priority consideration, as will faith-based organizations. Projects affiliated with the American Climate Corps (ACC) initiative are also encouraged if they provide skills training for climate resilience and clean energy jobs, involve verifiable environmental impacts, and meet AmeriCorps standards for member benefits.

Applications are due by January 23, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET, with awards anticipated in mid-April 2025. Organizations applying to operate within a single state must apply through their state’s Governor-appointed State Commission, which may have earlier deadlines and additional requirements. For applicants in South Dakota, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, applications should be submitted directly to AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps encourages early communication with State Commissions for applicants in states with established commissions to ensure compliance with any additional state-specific processes.

AmeriCorps provides a range of resources and instructions to aid applicants. Key resources include the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), supplemental information on public health priorities, performance measure instructions, and templates for evaluation plans. First-time and recompeting applicants are required to complete an Operational and Financial Management Survey (OFMS) as part of their application, submitted through the provided MS Forms link.

Technical assistance for the application process is available through webinars and live Q&A sessions hosted by AmeriCorps. Recordings of past sessions are available, covering essential topics such as performance measure development, budget management, and other best practices. For further questions, applicants are encouraged to contact AmeriCorps directly via the provided hotline or email.