Title 42 › Chapter 129— NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE › Subchapter I— NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE STATE GRANT PROGRAM › Part I— Additional Corporation Activities To Support National Service › § 12653c
The agency can give fixed grants to local community groups to run a Silver Scholarship program for people age 55 or older. To earn a Silver Scholarship, a person must do at least 350 hours of service in one year on projects that meet national needs and then gets a $1,000 national service education award. Each grant program runs for 3 years (it can include 1 planning year) and can get one extra year if it meets performance goals. Community groups must apply and be an approved listed organization. The agency will move money to the National Service Trust for the awards, and grantees may use some grant money to help participants with transportation. The agency also offers 1-year Encore Fellowships for people age 55 or older to do service projects and get training to move into nonprofit or government work. The agency keeps and shares a list of eligible host nonprofits. Applicants must be 55 or older, not already in public service, and apply with information about the need they want to address, their skills, and where they want to serve. The agency will pick no more than 10 fellows per State and give priority to those with high-demand skills. Host nonprofits must apply to be listed and explain the project, needed skills, training they will give, and their finances. A fellow may also ask to serve at a nonlisted nonprofit if approved with extra paperwork and a support letter. If approved, the agency awards the fellow and pays $11,000 to the host to cover the fellow’s living expenses for the year. Hosts must match federal funds at least $1 for every $1 and must provide training, leadership development, and supervision. The agency will hold an annual meeting of current and former fellows and must fund an independent evaluation of both programs and share the results.
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The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
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Citation
42 U.S.C. § 12653c
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60