Budget Requests 29% Increase for Corporation for National and Community Service

The Corporation for National and Community Service could get close to $1.15-billion under President Obama’s 2010 budget.

That is 29 percent more than is now being spent, and about $200-million more than President Obama had proposed earlier this year. The increase reflects a spending boost authorized by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act signed last month by President Obama.

The corporation is an umbrella agency that works with charities, religious groups, schools, civic groups, and other types of nonprofit organizations to provide volunteering opportunities for Americans.

Under the new budget, $220.9-million would support 500,000 Senior Corps volunteers programs such as the RSVP program, Foster Grandparents, and Senior Companions.

The new budget requests also expand the AmeriCorps program. The President is requesting that $692.3-million be directed toward four AmeriCorps programs, according to a corporation news release.

Of the four, $372.5-million would support AmeriCorps State and National Grants, $195.6-million would go to AmeriCorps National Service Trust, AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America would get $97.9-million, and AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps would get $26.3-million.

In addition, the newly created Social Innovation Fund would get $50-million. The fund was created to support nonprofit groups that are taking a new and creative approach.

The Volunteer Generation Fund, which makes grants to help states and nonprofit groups recruit volunteers and manage volunteer programs efficiently, would get $10-million.