IN THIS EDITIONAmeriCorps Update | September 15, 2020
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Important Deadlines & Events |
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Public Allies DEI Webinar Session 1: Understanding and using foundational principles of equity, inclusion and social justice. 2-3:30 PM CT. Register
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OneStar Webinar Series: Managing Multiple Operating Sites. 2-2:45 PM CT. Register
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Final PER and End of Year AFR due for programs with a budget end date of August 31, 2020, including COVID-19 Planning Grants. Access the form
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OneStar Webinar Series: Disability Inclusion. 1-2 PM CT. Register
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Updates from the Field Call. 1-2 PM CT. Register
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Disaster Basics Training for AmeriCorps members. 11 AM-12 PM CT. Enter the password americorps to join the training. Register
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OneStar closed in observance of Veterans Day.
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New AmeriCorps Staff Orientation. Hosted virtually online. Registration pending.
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| AmeriCorps Texas 2021-2022 Notice of Funding Opportunity
OneStar is releasing our Notice of Funding Opportunity for AmeriCorps Texas 2021-2022 grants this week. The Notice and all accompanying documents and resources will be posted on our Apply for Funding page on our website.
OneStar will be reaching out to all recompeting programs (those currently in Year 3 of their grant) to share training and discuss plans for recompete applications. OneStar will also reach out to all competitive continuation programs to provide instruction on the continuation application process. Due dates for the Notice of Intent and Application for competitive and formula are outlined below.
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Notice of Intent to Apply Form Due
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Recompete/New Application Due in eGrants
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Continuation Application Due in eGrants
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| Disaster Basics Training for AmeriCorps Members
OneStar requires that all AmeriCorps Texas programs equip their members with basic disaster training. OneStar Outreach Officer, Taylor Wolter, will be hosting a one-hour virtual training for members and program staff on Thursday, October 22, from 11 AM-12 PM CT to train on basic disaster information and what types of activities members may be asked to support in times of disaster.
Use the password americorps to join the webinar.
Attendance on this webinar will fulfill the disaster training requirement as outlined in the OneStar Terms and Conditions. This webinar will be recorded and shared so those that cannot join live may listed afterward.
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| OneStar Webinar Series Continued
We are continuing the OneStar Webinar Series with more sharing of best practices from programs in the AmeriCorps Texas portfolio. Webinars will be recorded if you cannot attend. Please join us for the following webinars:
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Meg Krueger from American YouthWorks will share strategies and systems the program uses for managing multiple operating sites including best practices for cultivating relationships with those sites and how that framework has informed their virtual member management practices.
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Debbie Kizer and Rick Hernandez from Imagine Art will share how their program practices disability inclusion in all aspects of their work including having robust and inclusive policies and procedures, inclusion in member recruitment and management, and creating an inclusive environment for staff, members, and beneficiaries.
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| Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Resource Corner
OneStar is furthering its commitment to being more intentional with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work by sharing out a few resources in each AmeriCorps Update to help further our community’s learning and growth around how to create change in Texas.
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Talking About Pronouns
This resource from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation shares how an organization can create opportunities to ask for (or offer) pronouns.
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Session 1: Understanding and using foundational principles of equity, inclusion and social justice. | September 23, 2 PM CT
Session 2: Analyzing patterns in our individual work practices and using critical consciousness to build an AmeriCorps that works in the interest of everyone. | October 28, 2 PM CT
Session 3: Using collaborative approaches to strengthen the impact of AmeriCorps in local communities. | November 23, 2 PM CT
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| Request for Proposals: National Civilian Community Corps
AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) deploys teams of young adults to serve full-time on long-term direct service projects (6-13 weeks) that help strengthen local communities. Consider how your nonprofit or agency can benefit from the time and skills of these dedicated AmeriCorps members and apply now to host a team!
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| Report: Impact of COVID-19 on Texas Nonprofit Organizations
We are excited to share our new report highlighting the impact of COVID-19 on Texas nonprofits. In partnership with United Ways of Texas, we recently administered a statewide survey to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting 501(c)(3) organizations in Texas and the communities they serve. The Impact of COVID-19 on Texas Nonprofit Organizations includes the results of surveys of Texas nonprofits done across the state, highlights key themes regarding the impact of COVID-19 Texas nonprofits, and offers opportunities to strengthen the nonprofit sector—a key economic driver in our state.
Key Findings from the Statewide Survey:
- The majority of Texas nonprofits are providing direct support to those most impacted by the pandemic and are stepping up to do more. Over 70% of nonprofits have changed their operations or services so that they can more directly support the COVID-19 response.
- Nonprofits throughout the state have been severely affected by the pandemic; even those not directly responding to COVID-19 (e.g. arts and cultural organizations) are facing financial difficulties. 70% of survey respondents said that their budgets had been impacted or will likely be impacted by COVID-19’s strain on the economy. Additionally, 82% of nonprofits have canceled or plan to cancel revenue-generating programs or events, which will affect their financial prospects.
- The COVID-19 pandemic is crippling the sector’s ability to sustain an important workforce and provide critical services that all Texans depend on. Over 24% of respondents have reduced employee hours or instituted furloughs or lay-offs, and 19% have instituted a hiring freeze.
- Texas nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve need flexible financial resources right now.
In addition to survey results, the report provides ways that policymakers, philanthropy, and business leaders can ensure Texas nonprofits have the capacity, resources, and flexibility to best serve their communities now and well beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
To learn more about how you can join us in supporting the impact sector and resources for Texas nonprofits responding to COVID-19, go to txnonprofits.org.
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| RESOURCES & TRAINING
Grantee Resource Library + eNewsletter ArchiveLooking for helpful forms and templates? Miss a recent AmeriCorps Update eNewsletter? Make sure to check out OneStar’s online Grantee Resource Library on our website. You can now also find AmeriCorps Update eNewsletters from the past year archived here.
If someone at your organization needs to be added to the AmeriCorps Update distribution list and is not receiving them, you can now directly request to be added to OneStar's AmeriCorps Updates list by registering here.
2020-2021 Grantee Monthly Call Schedule
Recordings of previous Updates From the Field calls can be found here.
Recordings of previous Fiscal Update calls can be found here.
AmeriCorps Texas Grantee Portal
For technical assistance and instructions, please visit our AmeriCorps Texas Grantee Portal Support Hub, which we will continuously update as new functionalities are added. Please contact your Program or Grants Officer if you have further questions or concerns.
You must be an authorized user to access the Grantee Portal. A current authorized user on your grant can add additional users. If you need assistance, please contact Kailee Selzer, kailee@onestarfoundation.org.
Updating Program Contact Information If during the year, you have any changes, additions, or deletions to your program’s contacts, please update your Authorized Representative through the Authorized Rep Update button on your grant record in the AmeriCorps Texas Grantee Portal. As a reminder, OneStar requires the following roles to be designated and corresponding contact information to be on file:
- Legal Authorized Signatory
- Primary Program Contact
- Primary Fiscal Contact
- Secondary Contacts (Primary or Fiscal) – as applicable
- Pre-Award Contact or Grant Manager - as applicable
Please note that it is a grantee requirement to update this form within 10 working days of a change in your program’s key personnel assigned to your AmeriCorps project.
Reasonable Accomodation Request FormThe Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) may have funds available to help cover the costs of providing reasonable accommodations to AmeriCorps members. CNCS promotes inclusive service environments, where disability is valued as a part of the range of diversity that exists in the human condition, and persons with disabilities are welcomed and given every opportunity for full inclusion and participation in national service.
For additional questions about reasonable accommodations and/or reasonable accommodation reimbursement requests, please contact Betty Jo Schafer at bettyjo@onestarfoundation.org.
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