Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§12653c Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships
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
Summary
Creates two programs to get people age 55 or older into public service and training. The first is the Silver Scholarship Grant Program. The Corporation can give fixed grants to community groups so people 55+ who do at least 350 hours of service in one year on projects of national need get a $1,000 national service educational award. Each funded program runs about 3 years (it can include 1 planning year) and may get a one-year extension if it meets performance goals. Groups must apply to the Corporation and be a listed organization. Grantees can use part of the money for things like transportation. The Corporation must move money to the National Service Trust so each Silver Scholar’s $1,000 award is paid. The second is the Encore Fellowship program. The Corporation can award 1-year fellowships so people 55+ can do service projects and get training to move into nonprofit or government jobs. The Corporation keeps a list of eligible nonprofit hosts and will place Fellows on request. Applicants must be 55 or older, not currently in public service but wanting to move into it, and must apply with information about the need they will address, their skills, and where they want to serve. Selection is capped at 10 Fellows per State and gives priority to people with in-demand skills. If placed, the Corporation gives the host organization $11,000 to help cover the Fellow’s living expenses for the year. Hosts must match at least $1 of non-Federal money for every $1 of Federal funds, provide training and oversight, and help Fellows move toward public service jobs. The Corporation must meet each year with current and former Fellows to share experiences and career strategies. The Corporation must also run an independent evaluation of both programs and widely share the findings and recommendations. Definitions in short: Silver Scholar — a person 55+ who completes 350 hours in a year and earns a $1,000 award. Encore Fellow — a person 55+ in a 1-year placement whose host receives $11,000 for living expenses. Listed organization — a nonprofit that applied and met the Corporation’s requirements.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §12653c
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Silver Scholarship Grant Program
(1)Establishment
The Corporation may award fixed-amount grants (in accordance with section 12581(l) of this title) to community-based entities to carry out a Silver Scholarship Grant Program for individuals age 55 or older, in which such individuals complete not less than 350 hours of service in a year carrying out projects of national need and receive a Silver Scholarship in the form of a $1,000 national service educational award. Under such a program, the Corporation shall establish criteria for the types of the service required to be performed to receive such award.
(2)Term
Each program funded under this subsection shall be carried out over a period of 3 years (which may include 1 planning year), with a 1-year extension possible, if the program meets performance levels developed in accordance with section 12639(k) of this title and any other criteria determined by the Corporation.
(3)Applications
To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, a community-based entity shall—
(A)submit to the Corporation an application at such time and in such manner as the Chief Executive Officer may reasonably require; and
(B)be a listed organization as described in subsection (b)(4).
(4)Collaboration encouraged
A community-based entity awarded a grant under this subsection is encouraged to collaborate with programs funded under title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 [42 U.S.C. 5001 et seq.] in carrying out this program.
(5)Eligibility for fellowship
An individual is eligible to receive a Silver Scholarship if the community-based entity certifies to the Corporation that the individual has completed not less than 350 hours of service under this section in a 1-year period.
(6)Transfer to trust
The Corporation shall transfer an appropriate amount of funds to the National Service Trust to provide for the national service educational award for each silver scholar under this subsection.
(7)Support services
A community-based entity receiving a fixed-amount grant under this subsection may use a portion of the grant to provide transportation services to an eligible individual to allow such individual to participate in a service project.
(b)Encore Fellowships
(1)Establishment
The Corporation may award 1-year Encore Fellowships to enable individuals age 55 or older to—
(A)carry out service projects in areas of national need; and
(B)receive training and development in order to transition to full- or part-time public service in the nonprofit sector or government.
(2)Program
In carrying out the program, the Corporation shall—
(A)maintain a list of eligible organizations for which Encore Fellows may be placed to carry out service projects through the program and shall provide the list to all Fellowship recipients; and
(B)at the request of a Fellowship recipient—
(i)determine whether the requesting recipient is able to meet the service needs of a listed organization, or another organization that the recipient requests in accordance with paragraph (5)(B), for a service project; and
(ii)upon making a favorable determination under clause (i), award the recipient with an Encore Fellowship, and place the recipient with the organization as an Encore Fellow under paragraph (5)(C).
(3)Eligible recipients
(A)In general
An individual desiring to be selected as a Fellowship recipient shall—
(i)be an individual who—
(I)is age 55 or older as of the time the individual applies for the program; and
(II)is not engaged in, but who wishes to engage in, full- or part-time public service in the nonprofit sector or government; and
(ii)submit an application to the Corporation, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Corporation may require, including—
(I)a description of the area of national need that the applicant hopes to address through the service project;
(II)a description of the skills and experience the applicant has to address an area of national need; and
(III)information identifying the region of the United States in which the applicant wishes to serve.
(B)Selection basis
In determining which individuals to select as Fellowship recipients, the Corporation shall—
(i)select not more than 10 individuals from each State; and
(ii)give priority to individuals with skills and experience for which there is an ongoing high demand in the nonprofit sector and government.
(4)Listed organizations
To be listed under paragraph (2)(A), an organization shall—
(A)be a nonprofit organization; and
(B)submit an application to the Corporation at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Corporation may require, including—
(i)a description of—
(I)the services and activities the organization carries out generally;
(II)the area of national need that the organization seeks to address through a service project; and
(III)the services and activities the organization seeks to carry out through the proposed service project;
(ii)a description of the skills and experience that an eligible Encore Fellowship recipient needs to be placed with the organization as an Encore Fellow for the service project;
(iii)a description of the training and leadership development the organization shall provide an Encore Fellow placed with the organization to assist the Encore Fellow in obtaining a public service job in the nonprofit sector or government after the period of the Encore Fellowship; and
(iv)evidence of the organization’s financial stability.
(5)Placement
(A)Request for placement with listed organizations
To be placed with a listed organization in accordance with paragraph (2)(B) for a service project, an eligible Encore Fellowship recipient shall submit an application for such placement to the Corporation at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Corporation may require.
(B)Request for placement with other organization
An eligible Encore Fellowship recipient may apply to the Corporation to serve the recipient’s Encore Fellowship year with a nonprofit organization that is not a listed organization. Such application shall be submitted to the Corporation at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Corporation shall require, and shall include—
(i)an identification and description of—
(I)the organization;
(II)the area of national need the organization seeks to address; and
(III)the services or activities the organization carries out to address such area of national need;
(ii)a description of the services the eligible Encore Fellowship recipient shall provide for the organization as an Encore Fellow; and
(iii)a letter of support from the leader of the organization, including—
(I)a description of the organization’s need for the eligible Encore Fellowship recipient’s services;
(II)evidence that the organization is financially sound;
(III)an assurance that the organization will provide training and leadership development to the eligible Encore Fellowship recipient if placed with the organization as an Encore Fellow, to assist the Encore Fellow in obtaining a public service job in the nonprofit sector or government after the period of the Encore Fellowship; and
(IV)a description of the training and leadership development to be provided to the Encore Fellowship recipient if so placed.
(C)Placement and award of Fellowship
If the Corporation determines that the eligible Encore Fellowship recipient is able to meet the service needs (including skills and experience to address an area of national need) of the organization that the eligible fellowship recipient requests under subparagraph (A) or (B), the Corporation shall—
(i)approve the placement of the eligible Encore Fellowship recipient with the organization;
(ii)award the eligible Encore Fellowship recipient an Encore Fellowship for a period of 1 year and designate the eligible Encore Fellowship recipient as an Encore Fellow; and
(iii)in awarding the Encore Fellowship, make a payment, in the amount of $11,000, to the organization to enable the organization to provide living expenses to the Encore Fellow for the year in which the Encore Fellow agrees to serve.
(6)Matching funds
An organization that receives an Encore Fellow under this subsection shall agree to provide, for the living expenses of the Encore Fellow during the year of service, non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to not less than $1 for every $1 of Federal funds provided to the organization for the Encore Fellow through the Encore Fellowship.
(7)Training and assistance
Each organization that receives an Encore Fellow under this subsection shall provide training, leadership development, and assistance to the Encore Fellow, and conduct oversight of the service provided by the Encore Fellow.
(8)Leadership development
Each year, the Corporation shall convene current and former Encore Fellows to discuss the Encore Fellows’ experiences related to service under this subsection and discuss strategies for increasing leadership and careers in public service in the nonprofit sector or government.
(c)Evaluations
The Corporation shall conduct an independent evaluation of the programs authorized under subsections (a) and (b) and widely disseminate the results, including recommendations for improvement, to the service community through multiple channels, including the Corporation’s Resource Center or a clearinghouse of effective strategies.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, referred to in subsec. (a)(4), is Pub. L. 93–113, Oct. 1, 1973, 87 Stat. 394. Title II of the Act is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 5000 et seq.) of chapter 66 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 4950 of this title and Tables.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 12653c, Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 198C, as added Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 104(c), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 843; amended Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(f) [title VIII, § 405(d)(42)(B), (f)(33)(A)], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–337, 2681–428, 2681–434, which related to military installation conversion demonstration programs, was repealed by Pub. L. 111–13, title I, § 1803(a)(2), title VI, § 6101(a), Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1554, 1600, effective Oct. 1, 2009. Another prior section 12653c, Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 195C, as added Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title X, § 1092(a)(1), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2524, which related to summer national service program of Civilian Community Corps Demonstration Program, was renumbered section 154 of Pub. L. 101–610 by Pub. L. 103–82, § 104(b), and transferred to section 12614 of this title.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as an
Effective Date
of 2009 Amendment note under section 4950 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 12653c
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110