WASHINGTON, D.C.– Creative Artists Agency Foundation and AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteering and service, in collaboration with leading service organizations MENTOR, VolunteerMatch, schoolhouse.world, and the U.S. Department of Education, announced READY SET, a national tutor, mentor, and service recruitment campaign designed to address learning and relational loss among K-12 public school students in the U.S., particularly in historically marginalized communities.  

The web and social media campaign is designed to meet critical learning needs and create a volunteer pipeline for the academic year ahead and will run through September 2021. AmeriCorps, which engages hundreds of thousands of people each year in service in 40,000 communities nationwide, is actively recruiting national service members and volunteers to build a service safety net for children who need academic and social support. 

“AmeriCorps’ programs that teach, tutor, and mentor students in underserved communities are crucial to keeping students engaged, especially as hybrid schooling models continue across the country,” said Mal Coles, AmeriCorps Acting Chief Executive Officer. “Ready Set Serve is an opportunity for Americans to raise their hands to serve their communities. They can help mentor students to higher academic achievement, keep them on track to graduate, inspire creativity with STEM and robotics programs, or even design cost-effective solutions that support teachers and tutors.” 

“We have a critical opportunity to immediately address the gap between what students need now and what resources are available to them,” said CAA Foundation executive and former drop-out prevention nonprofit director Deborah Marcus. “READY SET is a call to action to be a part of a national student support network, galvanizing Americans to bring their hearts and minds to supporting children, many from low-income and historically marginalized communities, and nurturing their full academic, social and emotional well-being.”   

READY SET’s web and social-media-centered campaign will raise awareness of the current demand for volunteers, directing candidates to www.getreadyset.org, where potential volunteers can learn about relevant tutoring, mentoring and service opportunities. Depending on one’s interest, activation happens through VolunteerMatch’s global digital volunteering infrastructure; unifying champion of youth mentoring, MENTOR; the federal agency for national service and volunteering, AmeriCorps; or peer tutoring platform from Sal Khan, schoolhouse.world.   

READY SET information    

• READY SET Website: www.getreadyset.org  
• Campaign Hashtag: #GetReadySet  
• Instagram: @get_ready_set  
• Twitter: @get_readyset 

2020 changed our world: Lives and livelihoods lost. Devastating destruction and unimagined challenges faced.

Despite those obstacles, each day countless Americans answered the call to serve. They raised their hands. Stood up. Showed up. And volunteered to put their neighbors and complete strangers first. To help make America safer and healthier, more fair, and more just. 

AmeriCorps engages 270,000 Americans each year in sustained, results-driven service through our AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors programs. These dedicated citizens help communities impacted by COVID-19, ensure students stay on track to graduate, combat hunger and homelessness, respond to natural disasters, fight the opioid epidemic, help seniors live independently, support veterans and military families, and much more.

This AmeriCorps Week (March 7-13) join with us as we celebrate the impact of our programs and offer our thanks to each and every one for volunteering to serve others. Together, we can help the country recover and come back stronger.

We are AmeriCorps.

Notice:  10.22.2020

Please see the NEW funding opportunity that is available to all interested applicants.

Requirements of AmeriCorps State Grantees

• Applicants must be an eligible host agency (nonprofit, government agency, etc)
• Program design must propose to engage 5 -10 (MSY)
• Programs must address a demonstrated community need.  Federal and state level priority areas are established each year in the Request for Applications
• Applicants are required to demonstrate community support and the ability to provide cash and/or in-kind match for a percentage of the grant funds
• Programs must have a plan to engage community volunteers

Application Timeline

• Review the Request for Grant Proposals  (RFP) from the GA Commisison to determine if you are interested in applying. 

Protecting the health and safety of our AmeriCorps members, program staff, volunteers, and partners is our top priority. We are continuing to closely monitor the situation and follow the latest guidance from federal, state, and local health departments.CNCS is taking steps recommended by the Office of Personnel and Management and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

See the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and new, program-specific FAQs and resources that can be found at https://www.NationalService.gov/coronavirus.

As a reminder, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the best source for information on COVID-19 and what you can to do protect yourself and others.  Also, see the Georgia Department of Public Health for statewide information and events.

Governor Kemp issued a statewide shelter-in-place order directing all Georgians to remain in their homes except when conducting essential services, traveling to and from work when performing minimum basic operations, or working within “critical infrastructure”.  As the needs of Georgia residents increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we appreciate your willingness to help.  There are volunteer opportunities that meet the essential criteria in helping with the COVID-19 pandemic locally, we anticipate these opportunities will increase as needs are identified.  

We ask that you register as a volunteer and then respond to the needs listed in your local area. Together, we can help communities and individuals overcome challenges and meet the needs of those most vulnerable. We are also collecting ways you virtually volunteer. There are also many funding options for you to donate to.

Thank you for your willingness to serve during this difficult time.

The Georgia State Profile Reports from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) are now updated and available for your viewing. See Georgia's national service footprint and impact for 2019.