Since 1990 Learn and Serve America has furthered America’s tradition of civic participation and volunteerism by making grants to integrate community service with curricula through service-learning. Learn and Serve America grantmaking fosters collaboration among schools, faith-based and other community organizations, and institutions of higher education to meet immediate community needs and strengthen the capacity of communities to address long-term needs.

Learn and Serve America grants are used to create new programs or replicate existing programs, as well as to provide training and professional development to educators and volunteers. Service-learning programs allow schools, community groups and colleges to combine community service activities with educational, civic, or leadership objectives. All Learn and Serve America programs work to support education, the environment, public safety, and other human needs.

The largest source of funding for service-learning, Learn and Serve America funds, per statute, a wide variety of education and nonprofit organizations that provide opportunities for youth to serve while they learn.

Major grant competitions are held every three years. Guidance will be available for Learn and Serve America’s 2006 grant competition in the Fall of 2005. Applicants selected in this competition will begin their program in the Summer and Fall of 2006. Historically, about half of all competitive grants are made to new organizations each cycle. Learn more.

Please select from the following Learn and Serve America program types for more information.

• School-Based Programs r
• Community-Based Programs
• Indian Tribes and U.S. Territories
• Higher Education

In addition, Learn and Serve America administers the Presidential Freedom Scholarships. This scholarship promotes student service and civic engagement among high school students.

• Presidential Freedom Scholarships

Universities Rebuilding America Partnership (URAP)

Response by the American people to the devastation caused by the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast region has been unprecedented. In particular, our nation’s colleges and universities responded by offering displaced students and faculty a place on their campuses, often waiving fees and requirements. Student organizations held fundraisers and assembled books, supplies, clothing, and other necessities and, in some cases, delivered them personally to people who were suffering. In areas housing Katrina evacuees, college students volunteered in shelters, schools, and community centers. Now students are helping the Gulf Coast recovery by organizing teams to aid in the long-term process of rebuilding.

On November 1, 2005, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson and Corporation for National and Community Service CEO David Eisner, launched the Universities Rebuilding America Partnership (URAP) at Louisiana State University. The new program will offer resources and support to engage college and university students, faculty and staff in helping rebuild the Gulf Coast region.

• Click here for more information