February 26, 2009
President's Budget Outline Includes Proposed Gain for National Service
By Suzanne Perry
President Obama today proposed a spending increase for AmeriCorps and other national-service programs, as well as the creation of a “social innovation fund,” as part of his 2010 budget priorities.
The president, making good on a campaign pledge to free up money to get more people involved in solving the country’s problems, proposed that the budget for the Corporation for National and Community Service jump to $1.13-billion in 2010.
That is up $261-million from the projected 2009 budget — and on top of $200-million that was just allocated to the agency in the economic-stimulus package.
The new social innovation fund would be set up within the corporation to help nonprofit groups test “promising new approaches to major challenges,” attract private and foundation money, and expand “research-proven programs,” according to a document that outlines his 2010 budget plans.
The document also says the administration wants to:
- “Set AmeriCorps on a path to expand from its current 75,000 funded slots to 250,000” and increase the amount of the education grants earned by AmeriCorps members.
- Expand and improve Senior Corps programs, which use volunteers age 55 and older, to “tap the idealism and experience of this ‘Baby Boomer’ generation.”
- Give more money to Learn and Serve America, a program that gives grants to schools, colleges and universities, and nonprofit groups for projects to combine classroom lessons with community service.
- Allocate money to strengthen the management systems of the national-service agency.
The administration will present more detailed budget proposals in the spring.
Congress, meanwhile, is considering several pieces of legislation expand national-service programs that would accomplish the goals set out in the administration’s priorities today.
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