NH Volunteer Engagement Program: Mini-Grants

The NH Volunteer Engagement Program offers mini-grants to eligible organizations aimed at enhancing volunteer capacity through training, technology, and program development. Funded by the American Rescue Plan, these grants support projects focused on affordable housing, mental health, and food security in New Hampshire. Organizations can apply for specific needs, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $4,000. Priority will be given to those serving underserved communities and demonstrating a clear need for capacity building.

NOTE: All applicants MUST register with the System for Award Management (SAM) at and maintain an active SAM registration until the application process is complete. SAM registration must be renewed annually.
Volunteer NH, thought the assistance of American Rescue Plan funds provided through the State of New Hampshire, are able to offer grants to eligible organizations looking to increase their capacity to recruit, utilize, manage, and retain volunteers.
These smaller grants are for a specific, one-time need and can be used for categories like volunteer training, purchasing of volunteer management technology, and volunteer program development.
Volunteer NH intends to offer multiple rounds of these grants per year. Some rounds may have additional eligiblity requirements for the type of organization that can apply or the focus of the project.
Eligible Projects
Eligible projects MUST support a volunteer program that addresses one of the following areas (as identified in the 2023–2025 NH State Service Plan):

• Affordable HousingMental HealthFood Security

The purpose of these grants is to increase the capacity of organizations to recruit, retain, and manage volunteers. As such, requested projects or purchases must directly support the volunteers and the volunteer program only. Additionally, as a capacity building grant, projects and purchases requested through this grant must be new.
Criteria
Funding decisions are made at the discretion of Volunteer NH and are based on the following criteria:
Availability of fundsEligibility of applicant organizationCompleteness of applicationAllowability of costs requested (based on guidance in this Notice)Alignment of application project to identified Volunteer NH priority area(s)

Eligibility

The following non-federal entities serving New Hampshire communities are eligible to apply:Institutions of higher education (2 C. F.R. §200.54)State or Local governments (2 C.F.R. §200.64)Nonprofit organizations (2 C.F.R. §200.70)Eligible Funding PurposesVolunteer Management Technology: Purchasing new software or other technology, including supplies, related to volunteer management. Subscription reimbursements are limited to one year only.Volunteer Recruitment Costs: Costs associated with recruiting volunteers, including developing, producing, and distributing outreach campaigns and materials. This could include developing video/radio ads, social media campaigns, print media, etc. Outreach must be solely for volunteer recruitment, not general program outreach.Volunteer Training(s): Costs associated with training volunteers (orientations, specific skills, leadership, etc.) including consultant and trainer fees, manual development, material printing, technology, space rental, etc.Volunteer Manager Training: Costs associated with providing additional professional development training or certifications for your Volunteer Manager. Costs could include registration/travel to a professional development conference, costs to obtain Volunteer Management classes and certifications, etc.)Volunteer Program Development/Improvement: Costs (including purchases & consultant fees) associated with performing a program evaluation, needs assessment, or piloting new strategies for utilizing volunteerism to address community needs.Funding requests must be for one specific purpose category. All projects must comply with federal requirements related to allowable and compliant activities.

Ineligibility

Projects that support the organization’s general needs will not be funded.Requests to fund a training the organization already hosts or to purchase additional time on volunteer management software that the organization already uses will not be funded.Costs that will not be considered for funding include:Staff timeVolunteer stipendsMileage reimbursement for volunteersPurchasing food and/or beveragesVolunteer recognition supplies and eventsTraining or subscriptions that your organization already pays forRegular program costs (purchasing supplies used to carry out the organization’s activities, etc.)Example of an allowed cost: purchasing marketing materials to recruit volunteers to sort donationsExample of an unallowed cost: purchasing storage bins to hold donationsAny costs that are not tied directly to volunteerismExample of an allowed cost: paying a consultant to create volunteer policies and proceduresExample of an unallowed cost: paying a consultant to create general policies and procedures for the organizationThough grants are non-AmeriCorps funded, as New Hampshire’s State Service Commission, Volunteer NH will not fund any projects that involve, or give the appearance of involvement in, Prohibited Activities, as outlined in the 45 CFR § 2520.65.