The Corporation for National and Community Service: Overview of Programs and FY2012 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 report compares CNCS funding provided in the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (P.L. 112-10); the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (P.L. 112-74); and the President’s Budget Request for FY2013.

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 Grandparent 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). The Administration requests $1,062.6 million for the Corporation for National and Community Service for FY2013, an amount that is $13.8 million more (1.3%) than the FY2012-enacted appropriation of $1,048.9 million. The FY2012 amount is approximately $26.7 million less (2.5%) than the FY2011 enacted amount of $1,075.6 million.


Date of Report: April 3, 2012
Number of Pages: 11
Order Number: RL33931
Price: $29.95

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