Each year Volunteer Iowa grants and administers around $8 million of AmeriCorps State funding in Iowa through a competitive grant process. Programs may be awarded funding at the national level (through competitive funding) or state level (through formula funding).
Overview
- Volunteer Iowa posts its Requests for Applications for AmeriCorps State on this webpage.
- The Iowa application materials will be based on the AmeriCorps State and National notices of funding opportunity and application instructions, but organizations that wish to operate an AmeriCorps State program solely within Iowa must follow the Volunteer Iowa application process.
Contact Volunteer Iowa at americorps@volunteeriowa.org with questions about the AmeriCorps State application process.
2026-2027 Iowa AmeriCorps State Funding Opportunity
The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (Volunteer Iowa) has released a Request for Applications for Iowa AmeriCorps State programs to operate in 2026-2027.
2026-2027 Program Year Funding Announcement
Due dates for the application process depend on the type of applicant and funding requested:
Volunteer Iowa application deadlines for materials submitted in eGrants and IowaGrants:
- Competitive Continuation applicants: February 18, 2026
- Competitive New and Recompete applicants: March 4, 2026
- Formula-only applicants: March 11, 2026
- Due to the condensed grantmaking timeline at the national level for 2026-2027, Volunteer Iowa will not be accepting formula-only applications from organizations that have not operated an AmeriCorps program in the last 5 years. At this time, Volunteer Iowa will not be accepting applications for planning grants.
2026-2027 Volunteer Iowa Request for Applications (RFA)
- Request for Applications (RFA)
- The public link to all of the supporting documentation (RFA appendices and attachments) can be found on the first page of the RFA.
- If you have issues accessing the RFA and supporting documents, please contact AmeriCorps@volunteeriowa.org.
2026-2027 Training & Technical Assistance
Volunteer Iowa will be offering office hours for applicants to meet with staff to discuss written clarifications. Program staff and fiscal staff are invited to drop in at any time during the office hours to discuss Volunteer Iowa’s application clarifications.
Organizations interested in being updated regarding Volunteer Iowa’s AmeriCorps State grant competition should complete this form. Email updates will come from AmeriCorps@volunteeriowa.org. Email updates may include when the Request for Applications (RFA) is released, deadline reminders, updates to process/materials, special competition RFAs, etc.
National Direct Consultation
Volunteer Iowa participates in the AmeriCorps National Direct Consultation process coordinated by America’s Service Commissions (ASC). Any AmeriCorps National Direct program proposing to operate in Iowa is asked to complete the form found on ASC’s consultation page.