U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Goverment symbol

Official websites

Website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Lock symbol

Secure websites use HTTPS

A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content

About CNCS

The Corporation for National and Community Service engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in community-based service that addresses the Nation's educational, public safety, environmental, and other human needs to achieve direct and demonstrable results. In so doing, the Corporation fosters civic responsibility, strengthens the ties that bind us together as a people, and provides educational opportunity for those who make a substantial commitment to service.

The Corporation was established on October 1, 1993, by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 12651 et seq.). In addition to creating several new service programs, the Act consolidated the functions and activities of the former Commission on National and Community Service and the Federal agency ACTION
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 11/25/2020 - 11:13

Our Mission

To improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.

What We Do

CNCS offers individuals and organizations flexible ways to make an impact while focusing on six key areas.

Learn more

About CNCS

Our Impact

See the impact service, members and volunteers have in your state and across the country.

Find out more

We Are Uniting America through Service

We invite individuals to serve alongside each other for the betterment of every community.

Unite

We bridge divides by bringing people together: connecting individuals and organizations to help communities tackle their toughest challenges.

Fast Fact

200,000 members and volunteers in organizations dedicated to strengthening their community.

Strengthen

We provide resources and people power to organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities.

Fast Fact

We disperse more than $800 million in funding each year.

Impact

We enrich the lives of those we serve and those who serve.  

Fast Fact

84% of CNCS Seniors volunteers report improvements in health and wellbeing after just 1 year of service.

Lead

We are the only federal agency for community service and volunteerism. We empower an entire ecosystem committed to the betterment of communities across America.

Fast Fact

Each year, we partner with more than 2,000 organizations committed to helping communities nationwide.

CNCS Through the Years

For decades, we have worked to make service to others an indispensable part of the American experience. Through our nation’s most trying times, CNCS has come together to help those in need.

1964

The VISTA Program Is Created

The Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA) program to help communities combat poverty

1973

The RSVP, Foster Grandparents, and Senior Companions Programs Are Formed

The Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 authorizes the creation of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), as well as the Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions programs

1992

The NCCC Program Is Created

The National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program is designed to help communities recover from disaster and other critical needs

1993

CNCS Is Created

CNCS, then known as the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), is formed as the government agency for national and community service. CNCS incorporates the VISTA and NCCC programs. CNCS Seniors (then Senior Corps) is created and incorporates Foster Grandparents, RSVP, Senior Companions

1994

Congress Establishes MLK Day as a Day of Service

1994

The First Class of CNCS

20,000 individuals across the country join the first class of CNCS and take the pledge to "Get Things Done for America."

1996

The America Reads Initiative Is Launched to Address 3rd Grade Literacy

The Department of Education partners with CNCS to put trained college students in classrooms to address 3rd grade literacy.

2001

CNCS Volunteers Help New York Address the Devastation of 9/11

2005

CNCS Stands with New Orleans in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina

After Hurricane Katrina devastated a wide swath of communities along the Gulf Coast, CNCS programs begin a recovery response across the region that has continued for more than a decade. Over 40,000 national service participants served nearly 10 million hours and enrolled 650,000 volunteers in the 10 years following the disaster.

2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Adds 13,000 CNCS Members to the Program in Response to the Economic Downturn

2009

First September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance Held

Congress designates September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance and charges CNCS with helping to support this effort across the country.

2012

The FEMA Corps Program Is Launched to Strengthen the Nation’s Ability to Respond to Disasters

2013

Making a Commitment to STEM Education

In 2013, CNCS creates a STEM CNCS program to encourage thousands of students in science, technology, engineering, and math learning.

2016

CNCS Is 1M Members Strong

2017

Combatting the Opioid Crisis

To help address the nation’s growing opioid crisis, CNCS significantly increases its support of substance abuse prevention, education, and recovery programming by devoting $27.9 million to opioid-related grants and programming.

2019

25th Anniversary of CNCS

2020

CNCS Steps Up to Support Communities Impacted by COVID-19

2022

CNCS and CDC join forces to create Public Health CNCS

Connecting Individuals and Organizations to Help Communities Tackle Their Toughest Challenges.

CNCS sends people power and funding to communities across the country. Disaster response, opioid crisis, education – these are just a few of the causes where CNCS members and CNCS Seniors volunteers have stepped up to strengthen their community.

Serve

Do you want to make an impact in your community and your country? CNCS members and CNCS Seniors volunteers serve with organizations to strengthen communities across our nation.

Find out more

Partner

In need of resources? CNCS is here for you. Every year, we place more than $800 million in funding and more than 200,000 individuals with nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations.

Find out more
Back to main content