[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 218 (Friday, November 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57852-57853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28864]
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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Availability of Funds for Grants To Support the Martin Luther
King, Jr. Service Day Initiative
AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the King Holiday and Service Act of 1994, which
amended the National and Community Service Act of 1990, the Corporation
for National and Community Service (the Corporation) seeks to mobilize
more Americans to participate in service opportunities in conjunction
with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday. Specifically, the
Corporation is authorized to pay for the Federal share of the cost of
planning and carrying out such service opportunities. 42 U.S.C.
Sec. 12653(s). Accordingly, the Corporation announces the availability
of up to $200,000 for individual grants up to $5,000 to support service
projects under this Martin Luther King, Jr., Service Day initiative.
Service opportunities to be considered for this program ``shall
consist of activities reflecting the life and teachings of Martin
Luther King, Jr., such as cooperation and understanding among racial
and ethnic groups, nonviolent conflict resolution, equal economic and
educational opportunities, and social justice.'' 42 U.S.C.
Sec. 12653(s)(1).
Eligible service activities include, but are not limited to:
community-wide servathons that bring a broad cross-section together,
including schools or school districts that seek to involve all students
and teachers; service-learning projects that link student service in
schools, universities, and community-based organizations; faith-based
service collaborations that bring together communities of faith and
secular human service programs (subject to the limitations listed
below); a day of service plan that is designed to produce a sustained
service commitment or intense efforts to solve a narrowly defined
community problem with a burst of one-day energy (i.e., renovate all
public school libraries, restock all food pantries or blood banks, find
a coat for every child that needs one, set a ``zero tolerance for
violence'' for an area or a period of time, etc.).
Grants under this program constitute federal assistance and
therefore may not be used primarily to inhibit or advance religion in a
material way.
Grant funding will be available on a one-time, non-renewable basis.
Grants provided for this program, together with all other Federal funds
used to plan or carry out the service opportunity, may not exceed 30
percent of the cost of planning and carrying out the service
opportunity. In determining the non-federal share of the costs of the
program supported by the grant, the Corporation will consider in-kind
contributions (including facilities, equipment, and services) made to
plan and carry out the service opportunity.
DATES: The deadline for submission of applications is December 2, 1996.
Applications, one signed and three copies, must be received no later
than 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on that date. Facsimile copies
will not be accepted. The Corporation anticipates making decisions on
applications no later than December 10, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Applications may be obtained from, and must be submitted to:
MLK Day of Service, The Corporation for National Service, North Central
Service Center, 77 West Jackson Blvd., Suite 442, Chicago, IL 60604-
3511. Applications may not be submitted by facsimile.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Lubertozzi at (312) 353-7705.
This notice may be requested in an alternative format for the visually
impaired by calling (202) 606-5000, ext. 260. The Corporation's T.D.D.
number is (202) 565-2799.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Corporation is a federal government corporation that engages
Americans of all ages and backgrounds in community-based service. This
service addresses the nation's education, public safety, environmental,
or other human needs to achieve direct and demonstrable results. In
doing so, the Corporation fosters civic responsibility, strengthens the
ties that bind us together as a people, and provides educational
opportunities for those who make a substantial commitment to service.
The Corporation supports a range of national service programs including
AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, and the National Senior Service
Corps.
Pursuant to the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as
amended, the Corporation may make grants to share the cost of planning
and carrying out service opportunities in conjunction with the Federal
legal holiday honoring the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. The
Corporation intends that these grants will: (1) Get necessary things
done in communities, (2) strengthen the communities engaged in the
service activity, and (3) reflect the life and teachings of Martin
Luther King, Jr.
By ``getting things done,'' initiatives will help communities meet
education, public safety, environmental, or human needs through direct
and demonstrable service. Accordingly, the Corporation expects an
initiative sponsor to identify an unmet need that is important to the
community and design a project that produces a demonstrable impact on
that community need.
By strengthening communities through sustained service, projects
should be collaborations that bring people together in pursuit of a
common objective that is of value to the community. Initiatives should
engage a full range of local partners in the communities served.
Service projects should be designed, implemented, and evaluated with
these partners, including national service programs (AmeriCorps, Learn
and Serve America, National Senior Service Corps), community-based
agencies, local and state King Holiday Commissions, schools and school
districts, volunteer organizations, communities of faith, businesses
and foundations, state and local governments, labor organizations, and
colleges and universities.
By ``reflecting the life and teaching of Martin Luther King'',
initiatives should demonstrate his proposition that ``Everybody can be
great because everybody can serve,'' through the types of service
activities listed above.
Eligible Applicants
By law, any entity otherwise eligible for assistance under the
national service laws shall be eligible to receive a grant under this
announcement. The applicable laws include the National and Community
Service Act of 1990, as amended, and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act
of 1972, as amended. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited
to: nonprofit organizations (excluding those prohibited under the
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 from receiving federal grants, as
explained below), State Commissions, state and local governments,
Indian Tribes, U.S. territories, institutions of higher education,
state and local education agencies, educational institutions, private
organizations that intend to utilize volunteers in carrying out the
[[Page 57853]]
purposes of this program, and foundations.
The Corporation especially invites applications from organizations
with experience in, and commitment to, fostering service on Martin
Luther King, Jr. day, including applicable State Martin Luther King,
Jr. Commissions, local education agencies, faith-based partnerships,
and volunteer centers.
Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, an organization
described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26
U.S.C. 501(c)(4), which engages in lobbying activities, is not
eligible.
Overview of Application Requirements
The application shall be submitted in the required format, and
shall contain the following:
1. A narrative section describing:
a. The planned activities being conducted in conjunction with
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, as well as the partnerships in the local
community that are being engaged in support of the day and/or a
description of sustained service activities over a period of time;
b. The organization's background and capacity to carry out this
program;
c. The proposed staffing of the activity;
2. A budget in the prescribed format; and
3. Required certifications that the organization will comply with
all conditions attendant to the receipt of federal funding.
The narrative portion of the application may be no longer than 15
single-sided pages double-spaced in 12-point font.
Review of Applications and Selection Criteria
The applications will be reviewed initially to confirm that the
applicant is an eligible recipient and to ensure that the application
contains the information required. The Corporation will assess
applications based on their responsiveness to the objectives set forth
in this announcement based on the following criteria listed below (in
descending order of importance):
(1) Quality. The proposal must demonstrate the applicant's ability
to meet community needs through meaningful service activities,
establish strong community partnerships, and fulfill the goals of
Martin Luther King Jr's life and teaching;
(2) Organizational Capacity. The application must demonstrate the
organization's ability to carry out the activities described in the
proposal, including the use of high quality staff;
(3) Cost. The applicant must demonstrate how this grant will be
spent, including the sources and uses of matching support.
Dated: November 5, 1996.
Terry Russell,
Acting Executive Director, Corporation for National and Community
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-28864 Filed 11-7-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P
