This document provides information about the Bonner AmeriCorps program. It discusses what AmeriCorps is, the benefits of joining Bonner AmeriCorps, education awards for different term lengths, how financial assistance can help cover education costs, steps for implementing an AmeriCorps program including evaluating placements, enrolling eligible students, required member reporting, tracking enrollment status, conducting orientations, exiting members, and resources for training. The goal of Bonner AmeriCorps is to provide national service opportunities through direct community service while earning education awards to offset education costs.

1. The Bonner Program:
Bonner AmeriCorps
“Access to Education,
Opportunity to Serve”
A program of:
The Corella & Bertram Bonner Foundation
10 Mercer Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 924-6663 • (609) 683-4626 fax
For more information, please visit our website at www.bonner.org

2. What is
AmeriCorps?

3. Bonner AmeriCorps:
What is AmeriCorps?
• National service program that
provides Education Awards
• Federally-funded, locally
implemented
• Managed by the Corporation for
National and Community
Service
www.bonner.org 3

4. Why Bonner
AmeriCorps?

5. Bonner Profile:
John DeCirce
www.bonner.org 5

6. Bonner AmeriCorps:
Education Awards
1-Year 1-Year 2-Year
Term Half-time
Minimum Quarter
Hours 300 450 900
Ed 25%
$1,132.00 $1,415.00 $2,675.00
Award
www.bonner.org

7. Bonner AmeriCorps:
Financial Assistance
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
27%
$0
4 Year Total
Ed Award ($5,350)
Typical Education Loans ($20,000)
www.bonner.org

8. Worksheet —
Part 1
How can your program
integrate AmeriCorps?

9. Implementation

10. Bonner AmeriCorps:
Step 1: Evaluate Placements
What makes an AmeriCorps-eligible placement?
✓ Direct service
✓ Benefits the local community
✓ Does not include activities prohibited by
AmeriCorps regulations
www.bonner.org 10

11. Bonner AmeriCorps:
Step 1: Evaluate Placements
What makes a Bonner-eligible service
position ineligible for AmeriCorps?
✓ Influences legislation (vs. providing education for
the public)
✓ Focuses on international service
✓ Benefits campus community instead of local
community
✓ Indirect service (placement is primarily fundraising
or administrative or clerical)
✓ Religious or evangelical component
www.bonner.org 11

12. Bonner AmeriCorps:
Step 2 — Offer to Eligible Students
What makes a Student eligible to join?
✓ An AmeriCorps Member must be a U.S. Citizen or
Legal Permanent Resident
‣ Documentation is required
✓ Other considerations:
‣ Does the student have a strong interest in
serving at an AmeriCorps-eligible site?
‣ Does the student want to go abroad soon?
Eligible Placement + Eligible Person = AmeriCorps
www.bonner.org 12

13. Bonner AmeriCorps:
Step 3 — Enroll Members
• Every prospective member
✓ Fills out an Bonner AmeriCorps
Enrollment Workbook
✓ Provides eligibility documentation
✓ Passes a background check
completed by Foundation staff
✓ Must have an account on BWBRS
• Treat Enrollment
Workbook like a binding
legal contract
✓ Complete in pen (no wite-out)
✓ Signature date governs start date
www.bonner.org 13

14. Bonner AmeriCorps:
Step 4 — Member Reporting
• AmeriCorps Members
complete same forms
required of Bonners:
✓ CLAs
✓ Hours Log Reports
✓ Service Accomplishments
• Via hard copy or
electronically, Campus
Staff submits for each
active Member:
✓ Monthly Hours Logs
www.bonner.org 14

15. Bonner AmeriCorps:
Approving Hour Logs (electronic option)
Campus Staff
checks these
boxes!
www.bonner.org 15

16. Bonner AmeriCorps:
Tracking Enrollment Status
www.bonner.org 16

17. Bonner AmeriCorps:
Step 5 — Member Orientation
• Members must attend a
Bonner AmeriCorps
Orientation.
• Orientation can
occur while student
is completing an
Enrollment
Workbook.
www.bonner.org 17

18. Bonner AmeriCorps:
Step 6 — Exit Members
After Member completes
hours, Campus Staff...
✓ reviews submitted hours
and hours logged on BWBRS to
confirm required number of Complete
hours has been completed Page 1
✓ resolves open cases Only
✓ submits Exit Form to Bonner
Foundation within 15 days of
Member’s last day of service
✓ completes Evaluation(s) in
BWBRS
www.bonner.org 18

19. Where Do I Find Resources?
www.bonner.org 19

20. Training Videos & Screencasts:
Member Management
www.bonner.org

21. Worksheet —
Part 2
Discuss calendar and roles for
AmeriCorps management