U.S. Government Initiatives

Corporation for National Service
This site links to all the organizations under the CNS umbrella: AmeriCorps, Learn & Serve America, the Senior Corps, America Reads, and National Service Scholarships. Numerous service resources, such as notices of funding opportunities, internships available, networking guides, clearinghouses, and documents are highlighted as well.

USA Freedom Corps
The USA Freedom Corps includes three major programs: A new Citizen Corps to engage citizens directly in improving homeland security through the creation of a Medical Reserve Corps, a Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program and a Terrorist Information and Prevention System (TIPS) -- as well as a doubling of the Neighborhood Watch program, and a tripling of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program; an improved and enhanced AmeriCorps and Senior Corps; and a strengthened Peace Corps.

National Service-Learning Clearinghouse
This clearinghouse maintained by Learn & Serve America, collects and disseminates information for the service-learning field. Among the resources available are searchable databases of Contacts, Events, a ListServ, Literature and Program Information; downloadable bibliographies, monographs, newsletters and videos; publications for purchase; and extensive service learning links.

Nonprofit Gateway
Links to information on government grants, budgets, volunteer opportunities and agency partnerships.

Peace Corps
Early on in his Administration President John F. Kennedy issued a call to service to Americans -- a call that led to the authorization of the Peace Corps on September 22, 1961. The men and women who serve as Peace Corps volunteers reflect the rich diversity of the United States, but they share a common spirit of service, dedication, and idealism. They serve in their host countries for two years. Currently, more than 7,000 Peace Corps volunteers are serving in 77 countries, working to bring clean water to communities, teach children, help start new small businesses, and stop the spread of AIDS. Since 1961, more than 155,000 Americans have joined the Peace Corps, serving in 134 nations.

Presidents' Summit for America's Future (Archival Site)
On April 27-29, 1997, in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, President Clinton and former President Bush convened the first Presidents' Summit for America's Future. The Summit's goal, like that of AmeriCorps, was to "mobilize America's citizen power into a united effort to solve our common problems -- especially those that threaten our young people." Participants included leaders from prominent corporations and service organizations as well as every living former President. Look here for transcripts of speeches and FAQ about the Summit. For follow-up information, see America's Promise: The Alliance for Youth.

Reaching Out to the World: Volunteering to Create a Global Neighborhood
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, in partnership with USA TODAY, has designed a project to celebrate and give national prominence to the contributions to international education that have been made by Americans and U.S. permanent residents throughout the United States -- individuals who freely and voluntarily give of their time, talent, and effort on behalf of visitors from other nations and newly arrived residents of the United States.