Serve DC: AmeriCorps FAQs
DC Home Mayor DC Guide Residents Business Visitors DC Government Kids

Serve DC

SERVE DC HOME
SERVE DC HOME
ABOUT SERVE DC
VOLUNTEER
VOLUNTEER
  OPPORTUNITIES

PROGRAMS
SERVICES
INFORMATION
INFORMATION
ONLINE SERVICE
  REQUESTS

ONLINE SERVICE
  REQUESTS

About Serve DC
How to Reach Us
Ask the Director
News Room
Employment Opps
Site Map
Program Development
  & Training

Volunteer in DC
MLK Day of Service
AmeriCorps
DC Citizen Corps
Learn and Serve
volunteer.
Agency Calendar
Disability Inclusion
  Initiative

Grant Funding
Partnerships
Photo Gallery
Commissioners
Director's Letter
Mission
Serve DC Staff

AmeriCorps
 
Frequently Asked Questions
 
What is AmeriCorps*State and Competitive?
AmeriCorps members are sponsored by state, and local nonprofit organizations. In order to meet the specific needs of the communities they serve, local AmeriCorps sponsors recruit and train AmeriCorps members themselves. The DC Commission on National and Community Service oversees AmeriCorps*State and competitive funds in the District of Columbia.
 
 
What do AmeriCorps Members Do?
AmeriCorps members' service addresses community needs in one of five areas: education, public safety, human services, environment and Homeland Security. Here are some of the types of service AmeriCorps members perform:
  • tutor and teach elementary school students
  • assist crime victims or start neighborhood crime watches
  • turn vacant lots into neighborhood parks
  • provide assistance and companionship to homebound elderly or individuals with disabilities
  • restore rivers
  • respond to natural disasters with emergency relief for victims
  • Who Can Be an AmeriCorps Member?
  • AmeriCorps members are U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents of the U.S. and at least 17 years of age.
 
How Do AmeriCorps Members Afford to Do Full-Time Service for a Year?
AmeriCorps members receive a modest living allowance, health coverage, and child care for those who qualify. After successfully completing a year of service, they receive an education award of $4,725. This award can be used to pay off student loans or finance college, graduate school or vocational training. In addition to these benefits, AmeriCorps members learn new skills, acquire qualities of leadership, and gain a sense of satisfaction from taking on responsibilities that directly affect peoples' lives.
 
 
What Are Post-Service Education Awards?
After completing one year of full-time service (from 10 to 12 months), AmeriCorps members receive an education voucher worth $4,725. The voucher can be used to cover future costs of college or vocational school and to pay back student loans.
 
 
What are other National Service Opportunities?
There are other programs that make up AmeriCorps, such as AmeriCorps*VISTA and AmeriCorps*NCCC.  AmeriCorps*NCCC members live on one of five regional campuses, one of which is located in Washington, DC. To learn more about the projects in the Capital Region, click on AmeriCorps*NCCC Capital Region Project Sheet*.
 
* This document is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF) and a PDF reader is required for viewing. Download a PDF reader or learn more about PDFs.