Sample Language for AmeriCorps Grant Applications

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Long Form Option #1 (More Formal Tone):
• Long-Form Option #2 (More Direct Tone)
• Short Form Option #1 (More Formal):
• Short Form Option #2 (More Direct):

Long Form Option #1 (More Formal Tone):

A One-Stop-Shop to Maximize Program Success & Compliance

To maximize the impact of our AmeriCorps program, we seek funding for the Impact Suite platform, a purpose-built AmeriCorps compliance and performance management system used by 300+ programs.  By significantly reducing the administrative burden on our staff, the one-stop-shop Impact Suite will allow us to dedicate more time to member support, program quality, and mission fulfillment.

Justification by Module:

Member Files: Ensuring Compliance & Reducing Administrative Overload

Managing AmeriCorps member enrollment and HR compliance manually is time-consuming and increases the risk of errors. The Member Files module ensures full compliance by centralizing all member documentation, enabling secure e-signatures, and providing automated alerts for missing information and information that needs to be updated.  It also allows for remote audits without any member PII leaving the platform.  With streamlined digital records, staff can spend more time supporting members rather than chasing paperwork.

Host Site Files: Strengthening Partnerships Through Compliance

Proper host site documentation is critical for program oversight and compliance. The Host Site Files module simplifies this process by allowing electronic signing and storage of MOUs and key information. By ensuring timely and complete documentation, this tool frees staff to focus on strengthening partnerships and improving member experiences.

Staff Files: Supporting Supervisors While Ensuring HR Compliance

Site supervisors play a key role in AmeriCorps member development. However, tracking their HR requirements and certifications can be cumbersome. The Staff Files module ensures all HR documentation, agreements, and compliance records are securely managed, reducing administrative tasks and further ensuring staff time can be spent on program quality and growth, not admin.

Member Timesheets: The Most Advanced, Compliance-Driven Solution

Timesheet compliance is one of the most common audit risks for AmeriCorps programs. The Member Timesheets module is the only system with a mobile app, built-in on-track status tracking, and screen-reader accessibility. It automatically alerts members and staff to missing or incomplete timesheets, eliminating hours of manual tracking and significantly reducing the risk of compliance findings.  When needed, auditors can remotely access sheets, reducing audit time and cost.

Staff Timesheets: Simple Grant Tracking

The Impact Suite offers a simple way to track time supervisors and program staff spend on the grant, further reducing administrative burdens so we can focus on program quality and growth.

Custom Reporting: Real-Time Impact Measurement & Performance Tracking

Demonstrating program success requires robust impact measurement. The Custom Reporting module will allow us to easily generate real-time performance reports, track impact, and evaluate trends without any custom code and without needing advanced data expertise.  When needed, America Learns staff provides no-cost consulting around how to align reports with performance measure requirements, ensuring that we are collecting the right information and preventing us from having to hire additional people to help with this key work.  By automating these insights, staff can spend less time compiling data and more time using information to refine program effectiveness.

Client, Volunteer, and Project Tracking: A CRM for Everything We Need

On top of member, staff, and host site files, the Impact Suite also allows us to manage all client, volunteer, and project records, and even allows us to communicate with individuals we’re serving.  The Impact Suite also has special tools that allow new members serving longstanding clients/volunteers/projects to pick up where the last member left off, providing for far deeper continuity of programming than we’ve ever had.

Learning Community: Personalized, Scalable Member Support

The Learning Community module automatically captures best practices from members and staff, and then recommends those resources to members based on each person’s current goals and challenges. This just-in-time support model will allow our small staff to build our program’s institutional memory while providing high-quality, individualized learning experiences at scale to strengthen member development.  It’s like having a personal coach for each member.

Communications: Keeping Everyone Aligned & Accountable

Ensuring effective communication between members, supervisors, and staff is essential. The Communications module offers unlimited email and text messaging, with automatic documentation for compliance. This feature ensures all stakeholders remain informed, aligned, and engaged—without adding extra administrative work.

License Fee & Conclusion

The annual license fee is $____, drawn from the following line item(s): _________

By investing in the proven Impact Suite platform, our program will dramatically increase efficiency, reduce compliance risks, and allow our staff to focus on what matters most—supporting AmeriCorps members, driving meaningful community impact, and helping us tell powerful stories to continue diversifying funding so that we become less and less reliant on AmeriCorps funding.

Long-Form Option #2 (More Direct Tone)

Less Paperwork. More Impact.

We’re investing in the Impact Suite platform because it’s built for one thing: making our AmeriCorps program more effective—without drowning in administrative and compliance tasks.

Instead of chasing paperwork, fixing timesheet errors, and scrambling for reports, our team will have a one-stop system that keeps us audit-ready while freeing up time to focus on what really matters—our members, our mission, and our impact.

Every Module, Built to Maximize Each Awarded Dollar:

• Member & Staff Files: Enrollment, HR compliance, and audits—handled automatically. No more missing paperwork, no more hours of staff time spent preparing for audits when that time can be better spent focused on programming.
  
  
• Host Site Files: Keep MOUs, agreements, and key documents in one place, strengthening partnerships and accountability.
  
  
• Timesheets (Member & Staff): The most advanced AmeriCorps timesheet system out there—mobile-friendly, compliance-driven, and effortless for members and staff.
  
  
• Custom Reporting: Real-time insights without needing a data expert. We’ll track our impact instantly, ensuring we measure what matters.
  
  
• Client, Volunteer & Project Tracking: A full CRM that helps us manage relationships, maintain program continuity, and deepen long-term impact.
  
  
• Learning Community: Personalized support for every member, at scale. It’s like giving each member their own coach, without adding work for staff.
  
  
• Communications: Unlimited email & text messaging with built-in documentation, ensuring everyone stays informed and aligned.

The Bottom Line

The annual cost is $____, allocated from _________.  But this isn’t just a line item—it’s an investment in efficiency, compliance, and impact, provided by a company that has served AmeriCorps programs since 2004.

Short Form Option #1 (More Formal):

To maximize our AmeriCorps program’s impact, we seek funding for the Impact Suite, a proven compliance and performance management platform used by 300+ programs. By reducing administrative burdens, the Impact Suite allows staff to focus on member support, program quality, and mission fulfillment.

The Member Files module ensures compliance by centralizing documentation, enabling secure e-signatures, and allowing remote audits without exposing member PII. Host Site Files and Staff Files simplify compliance management, ensuring timely documentation while freeing staff for higher-value work.

Member Timesheets is the only system with a mobile app, on-track status tracking, and screen-reader accessibility, reducing audit risks and hours of staff time each week that would go towards tracking and communicating hours. Staff Timesheets further streamlines grant tracking.

Custom Reporting Tools automate impact and performance measurement, while the Learning Community provides just-in-time support, capturing and sharing best practices.

Communications keeps all stakeholders informed with unlimited, compliance-documented messaging. Investing in the Impact Suite will increase efficiency, ensure compliance, and allow us to focus on mission-driven work while strengthening long-term sustainability.

The annual license fee is $____, drawn from the following line item(s): _________

Short Form Option #2 (More Direct):

We’re investing in the Impact Suite because it does what every great tool should: it clears the clutter so we can focus on what matters—our AmeriCorps members and the people they serve. Instead of getting buried in compliance tasks and paperwork, our team will have a system that automates member files, host site agreements, staff records, timesheets, and impact reporting, keeping us audit-ready and focused on outcomes without the hassle.

More importantly, Impact Suite empowers our members. They’ll track progress effortlessly, get real-time feedback, and receive personalized support through the Learning Community, which connects them with the right resources at the right time. It’s like giving every member their own coach.

Seamless communication, built-in compliance, and data-driven insights—all in one place. The cost? [$X], split between #Line item 1# and #Line item 2#. The result? More time, better support, and greater impact.