AmeriCorps Climate Corps (Illinois) Grant

AmeriCorps Climate Corps (Illinois) Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Illinois Department of Human Services: Division of Family & Community Services
Last Updated: April 15, 2025

Summary

The AmeriCorps Climate Corps in Illinois provides funding for organizations with at least three years of experience in climate or disaster services. This initiative aims to deploy AmeriCorps members for community outreach to address climate change challenges. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, universities, and municipalities. The program focuses on building local relationships to enhance resource access, preparedness, and resilience, ultimately improving community well-being through targeted climate action.

Overview

NOTE: This funding opportunity is open to applicants with a minimum of 3 years of experience working with environmental or climate issues or disaster services.Registration and prequalification are required annually. Applicants must be prequalified; therefore, applications from entities that have not been prequalified prior to the due date of this application, will NOT be reviewed and will NOT be considered for funding. About The Illinois Department of Human Services was created in 1997 to provide our state's residents with streamlined access to integrated services, especially those who are striving for economic independence, and others who face multiple challenges to self-sufficiency. AmeriCorps Climate Corps Program Description This funding opportunity is open to applicants with a minimum of 3 years of experience working with environmental or climate issues or disaster services. Any applicants selected for funding will be notified by Serve Illinois and a contract will be sent requiring a signature from the program designee. All AmeriCorps members must meet specific criteria for eligibility as shown on the link. Program Summary The mission of AmeriCorps is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic participation through service and volunteering. The Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service in partnership with the California Volunteer Fund and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is seeking to create new programs for the Climate Corps model. Serve Illinois believes there is great opportunity to support communities in Illinois by building relationships and growing areas in need of services. AmeriCorps Climate Corps programs would deploy AmeriCorps members to work on implementing a 'door-to-door' outreach strategy to connect and listen to the residents directly impacted by climate change. Climate Corps grantees will have an end product: assessment of the community and its climate challenges, an implementation plan with community buy-in, and goals and objectives to seek additional, multi-year funding among private and public funders to continue the work from the assessment. By assessing the needs of individuals on a community level, Climate Corps grantees would be able build trust and a plan with hyperlocal input to: build preparedness, create better access to resources, educate in the areas that the individual and/or community are requesting support, breakdown top-down assumptions and decisions, gain buy-in for more long-term plans to build resiliency, and provide assistance in connecting the individuals and community in addressing trauma and other stressed related disorders due to climate change in their regions. IDHS/Serve Illinois is seeking applicants with hyperlocal experience and knowledge across Illinois communities that are facing climate and environmental challenges. Applicants should have 3 years of experience in response to, or models in mitigation in addressing climate/environmental challenges or disaster services. The opportunity is open to nonprofits, universities, municipalities, and partnerships between latter. The following requirements and expectations for AmeriCorps members is essential to the implementation and success of the Climate Corps:Execute a detailed member outreach and recruitment plan, andEnsure that each AmeriCorps member completes the required number of hours of service to qualify for the education award. These requirements and expectations will also be included under the performance measures section.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.