R&E Newsletter #2: Celebrating Serving Seniors!

Hot off the Press: Senior Corps Week

Senior Corps photo

To celebrate Senior Corps Week, check out our newly released research!

The first report, which focuses on the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, looked at program reach and service terms and found, among other things, that on average a Senior Corps volunteer stayed engaged for eight years. The second report focuses on the Senior Companion Program and found that both clients and caregivers reported high rates of program satisfaction and a sense of self-efficacy, and that the majority of clients were low-income (83% making less than $20,000 annually).    

Since its founding in 1971, Senior Corps has a history of using evidence for improvement. This research is an important addition to the Senior Corps evidence base, which includes studies like The Health Benefits of Volunteering and evaluations of program models like Experience Corps. As Baby Boomers retire in increasing numbers it’s important to serve and keep Seniors engaged in service!

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Evaluation Resources: Budgeting for an Evaluation

As part of the CNCS Knowledge Network, the Office of Research and Evaluation has designed resources and evaluation courses to assist grantees and CNCS staff as they move through each stage of the evaluation process.

One of our most popular courses is Budgeting for an Evaluation, check it out!

program training

Budgeting for an EvaluationThe course discusses the key components of an evaluation budget and approaches for creating an evaluation budget.

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Recording of Presentation


Expanding Our Understanding of Civic Engagement

Recently, CNCS Research Competition Grantees, Tufts University and California State University San Marcos were prominently featured on NPR and KPBS, respectively.

Tufts University is using their CNCS grant to examine whether participation in civic engagement activities, such as membership in AmeriCorps State and National programs, can improve job prospects for young people.

California State University San Marcos is using their CNCS grant to study civic engagement, national service, and volunteering behavior among Latinos and Latinas in San Diego. 

These are just two examples of the amazing work being done by our seven current research grantees to better understand civic behavior in America. Although the Research Grants Opportunity has closed, you can learn more here.

MAY 2016


Learn about the new AmeriCorps Member Exit Survey


Share This With Your Colleagues: the Evidence Exchange

The Evidence Exchange is our digital research repository. The purpose of this repository is to provide our grantees, our partners and, most importantly, communities across America easy access to this information. 

Search the Evidence Exchange and you’ll find studies on:

Programs and interventions run by CNCS grantees

CNCS grant programs, including AmeriCorpsSenior Corps, the Volunteer Generation Fund and the Social Innovation Fund

Issues related to the Mission  and Focus Areas of CNCS