Through this Request for Applications (RFA), NYC Service is seeking proposals from nonprofit organizations and City agencies for the 2011-2012 program year of the NYC Civic Corps.
Launched in April 2009 by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, NYC Service is leading the nation in answering President Obama's call to service. NYC Service aims to achieve three goals: helping more New Yorkers connect to service opportunities more easily, targeting volunteers to address the city’s greatest challenges, and promoting service as a core part of what it means to be a citizen of the greatest city in the world. To learn more visit nyc.gov/service or call 311.
The NYC Civic Corps, an AmeriCorps program run by NYC Service, unites a diverse group of professionals to assist organizations and City agencies in increasing their organizational capacity to engage volunteers and building sustainable volunteer initiatives.
NYC Service dispatches 150 NYC Civic Corps members to serve full-time with partnering organizations. Civic Corps members build and support an organization’s capacity to engage and manage volunteers.
NYC Civic Corps members have attained a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and encompass a diversity of skills and backgrounds. Past corps members have ranged in age from 22 to 65, representing an assortment of work experience and achievement, with advanced degrees in business, law, social work, architecture, and more. NYC Civic Corps matches corps members to host organizations based on the need of the organization – as described in the application – and the interests of the Civic Corps member.
To apply, organizations must meet the following criteria:
- Be a nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3), public education institution or government agency.
- Comply with the requirements under New York State law to register and file annually with the office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, unless the organization can establish a valid basis for exemption.
- Serve residents within New York City
- Administer programs that benefit the community as a whole. This criterion is particularly applicable to organizations with private, religious, or fraternal affiliations.
- Comply with the provisions of all Local, State and Federal laws governing employment and disabilities discrimination
- Be willing and able to be reimbursed for NYC Civic Corps stipend provisions to a minimum of 2 active Civic Corps members as per the Reimbursement Plan (see next page).
If awarded an NYC Civic Corps team, organizations must:
- Designate a NYC Civic Corps supervisor within your organization to direct and coordinate the corps members' project(s) and act as liaison to NYC Service. Supervisors must be available to attend trainings as scheduled.
- Provide onsite orientation and training to familiarize NYC Civic Corps members with mission, structure and operations.
- Provide NYC Civic Corps team with an adequate work space in a safe environment, including consistent and continuous access to computer, internet, and phone.
- Comply with requirements for tracking metrics and regular reporting on organization’s and NYC Civic Corps program towards goals and outcomes.
- Submit a signed Memorandum of Understanding.
Application Release Date: March 8, 2011
Application Close Date: April 8, 2011