Community Service Society Of New York

RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

THE COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY OF NEW YORK (CSS) IS AN INFORMED, INDEPENDENT, AND UNWAVERING VOICE FOR POSITIVE ACTION ON BEHALF OF MORE THAN 3 MILLION LOW-INCOME NEW YORKERS. CSS DRAWS ON 175 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE IN ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF ECONOMIC DISPARITY. OUR RICH LEGACY OF ACHIEVEMENT INCLUDES SERVING AS THE CATALYST BEHIND NEW YORK'S FIRST TENEMENT HOUSING LAWS; ESTABLISHING THE PROTOTYPE FOR THE NATIONAL FREE LUNCH PROGRAM AT SCHOOLS; DESIGNING THE CURRICULUM FOR WHAT WOULD BECOME COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK; OPENING THE CITY'S FIRST HOMELESS SHELTER FOR MEN; AND CREATING THE PROTOTYPE FOR WHAT BECAME THE NATIONAL RSVP. AN ESTIMATED 2,300 VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE. OF THIS NUMBER 835 WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME-BASED ASSIGNMENTS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF THIS PROJECT IS HEALTHY FUTURES. SOME OF THE SERVICE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: 1. NUTRITION/FOOD SUPPORT (THROUGH MEAL DELIVERY AND FOOD PANTRY/SOUP KITCHEN SUPPORT). 2. COMPANIONSHIP (TO HOMEBOUND SENIORS AND VETERANS). 3. COUNSELING (PUBLIC BENEFITS). 465 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL BE ENGAGED IN THESE SERVICE ACTIVITIES. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT, WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL HAVE ACHIEVED OUR ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR FOCUS AREAS AND WORK PLANS. THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES BASED ON THE SERVICE ACTIVITIES LISTED ABOVE ARE SUMMARIZED BELOW AND QUANTIFIED IN THE WORK PLANS. 1. OLDER ADULTS IN NEED OF NUTRITIOUS MEAL DELIVERY WILL FEEL MORE SOCIALLY CONNECTED DUE TO THE ACTIVITY OF RSVP VOLUNTEERS. NEW YORKERS EXPERIENCING HUNGER WILL REPORT AN INCREASED LEVEL OF FOOD SECURITY DUE TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY RSVP FOOD PANTRY AND SOUP KITCHEN VOLUNTEERS. 2. VULNERABLE OLDER ADULTS WILL FEEL LESS ISOLATED DUE TO THE COMPANIONSHIP THEY RECEIVE FROM RSVP VOLUNTEERS. HOMEBOUND VETERANS WILL FEEL AN INCREASED LEVEL OF SOCIAL SUPPORT BECAUSE OF RSVP VOLUNTEERS. 3. LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS WILL IMPROVE THEIR ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE DUE TO THE PUBLIC BENEFITS COUNSELING THEY RECEIVE FROM RSVP VOLUNTEERS. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $728,668 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $900,784, WHICH INCLUDES THE MATCH AND EXCESS OF THE NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES.

THIS AWARD FUNDS THE APPROVED 2022-23 RSVP PROGRAM. YOUR 2022-23 STATUTORY MATCH IS 30% AND YOUR BUDGETARY MATCH IS 55.4%.

ENGAGES PERSONS 55 AND OLDER IN VOLUNTEER SERVICE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

ENGAGES PERSONS 55 AND OLDER IN VOLUNTEER SERVICE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

THIS AWARD FUNDS THE APPROVED 2025-26 AMERICORPS SENIORS RSVP PROGRAM. YOUR 2025–26 STATUTORY MATCH REQUIREMENT IS 10% AND YOUR BUDGETED MATCH IS 49.93%. YOU ARE APPROVED FOR PREAWARD COSTS FROM 4/1/25 - 5/1/25.

CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT GRANT

FIE EARMARK GRANT AWARDS

FINANCIAL COACHING CORPS.

VISTA RECOVERY SUPPORT GRANTS

THIS IS USED BY SENIOR DEMONSTRATION SPONSORS FOR A NO-CORPORATION COST GRANT AWARD.

THE COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY OF NEW YORK (CSS) IS A 168-YEAR-OLD NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO FIGHTING POVERTY AND STRENGTHENING OUR CITY. THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, CSS HAS EMBRACED THE IDEA THAT POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS GROUNDED IN RESEARCH AND INFORMED BY REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES INSPIRE LEGISLATIVE REMEDIES THAT ASSIST POPULATIONS IN NEED. AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF PUBLIC POLICY SINCE 1843, WE HAVE HELD A LEAD ROLE IN SHAPING NEW YORK CITY'S COMMUNITY LIFE. OUR LEGACY INCLUDES ESTABLISHING THE PROTOTYPE FOR THE FREE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM, SERVING AS THE CATALYST BEHIND THE CITY'S FIRST TENEMENT HOUSING LAWS, AIDING VICTIMS OF THE TITANIC MARITIME DISASTER AND WORLD TRADE CENTER EMPLOYEES IMPACTED BY THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, CREATING THE NATION'S LARGEST SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, AND DEVELOPING THE CURRICULUM THAT SPAWNED THE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK. TODAY, WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT VISION THROUGH A UNIQUE HYBRID MODEL COMPRISED OF FIVE STREAMS OF ACTIVITY: 1) RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY UNDERLYING CAUSES AND STIMULI OF POVERTY; 2) ADVOCACY AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT; 3) DIRECT SERVICE TO INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS IN POOR COMMUNITIES; 4) VOLUNTEERISM TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY LIFE; AND 5) STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERSHIP. THROUGH THIS COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, CSS SPURS LASTING, SYSTEMIC CHANGE BY PROMOTING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT ADVANCE THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF THE WORKING POOR. A SNAPSHOT OF OUR RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDES: * CONDUCTING GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH ON BLACK MALE JOBLESSNESS, DISCONNECTED LATINO YOUTH, IMMIGRANT HOUSING ISSUES, AND NEW YORK'S FAILING GED SYSTEM; * PRODUCING THE UNHEARD THIRD, THE ONLY PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY OF ITS KIND, WHICH ANNUALLY TRACKS THE CONCERNS AND HARDSHIPS OF NEW YORK CITY'S LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS AS WELL AS THEIR VIEWS ON WHAT PROGRAMS AND POLICIES WOULD HELP THEM GET AHEAD; * CREATING AND LEADING A STATEWIDE COALITION OF MORE THAN 100 ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO WINNING AFFORDABLE, COMPREHENSIVE, AND HIGH QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS. CSS'S HIGHLY ACCLAIMED EXPERIENCE CORPS LITERACY PROGRAM HAS CHANGED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN AND OLDER ADULTS. EXPERIENCE CORPS BRINGS TOGETHER A CADRE OF ETHNICALLY AND RACIALLY DIVERSE OLDER ADULT RETIRED VOLUNTEERS, A NETWORK OF PUBLIC SCHOOL SITES, AND A METICULOUS, RESEARCH-BASED APPROACH TO HELP CHILDREN AT RISK FOR ACADEMIC FAILURE. WORKING IN TEAMS OF 10-15, EXPERIENCE CORPS VOLUNTEERS SERVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED AS LOW IN INCOME, BUT RICH IN OLDER ADULT VOLUNTEERS. CSS EXTENSIVELY TRAINS THESE VOLUNTEERS TO INTERVENE AND ASSIST STUDENTS IN BECOMING INDEPENDENT READERS BY GRADE 3--AN AGE GROUP THAT STUDIES SHOW IS A FUNDAMENTAL BUILDING BLOCK FOR A CHILD'S FUTURE SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND LIFE. EXPERIENCE CORPS' INTER GENERATIONAL MODEL PRODUCES TANGIBLE OUTCOMES AND INVALUABLE BENEFITS FOR VOLUNTEERS, STUDENTS, AND ENTIRE COMMUNITIES. AS LIFELONG RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH THEY SERVE, EXPERIENCE CORPS VOLUNTEERS HAVE A PERSONAL STAKE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT "THEIR" CHILDREN RECEIVE THE EXTRA HELP NEEDED TO STAY ON TRACK--FOR SCHOOL AND FOR LIFE. NOW IN ITS 19TH YEAR, EXPERIENCE CORPS OPERATES IN 10 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT HARLEM, QUEENS, AND THE BRONX, SERVING THOUSANDS OF LOW-PERFORMING ELEMENTARY STUDENTS EACH YEAR. INDEED, EXPERIENCE CORPS IS NO LONGER MERELY A PROMISING START-UP. WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS AND MATHEMATICA POLICY RESEARCH CONDUCTED A RECENT STUDY TITLED, EVALUATION OF EXPERIENCE CORPS: STUDENT READING OUTCOMES, WHICH DEMONSTRATES THE SUCCESS OF OUR UNIQUE MODEL AND REVEALS TANGIBLE PROGRAMMATIC OUTCOMES. SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF EXPERIENCE CORPS STUDENTS INCREASE THEIR LITERACY SKILLS BY AT LEAST ONE READING LEVEL AND 65% OF ALL STUDENTS HEIGHTEN THEIR LEVEL OF CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION WITH AN IMPROVED A

THE COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY OF NEW YORK (CSS) IS A 168-YEAR-OLD NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO FIGHTING POVERTY AND STRENGTHENING OUR CITY. THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, CSS HAS EMBRACED THE IDEA THAT POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS GROUNDED IN RESEARCH AND INFORMED BY REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES INSPIRE LEGISLATIVE REMEDIES THAT ASSIST POPULATIONS IN NEED. AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF PUBLIC POLICY SINCE 1843, WE HAVE HELD A LEAD ROLE IN SHAPING NEW YORK CITY'S COMMUNITY LIFE. OUR LEGACY INCLUDES ESTABLISHING THE PROTOTYPE FOR THE FREE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM, SERVING AS THE CATALYST BEHIND THE CITY'S FIRST TENEMENT HOUSING LAWS, AIDING VICTIMS OF THE TITANIC MARITIME DISASTER AND WORLD TRADE CENTER EMPLOYEES IMPACTED BY THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, CREATING THE NATION'S LARGEST SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, AND DEVELOPING THE CURRICULUM THAT SPAWNED THE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK. TODAY, WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT VISION THROUGH A UNIQUE HYBRID MODEL COMPRISED OF FIVE STREAMS OF ACTIVITY: 1) RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY UNDERLYING CAUSES AND STIMULI OF POVERTY; 2) ADVOCACY AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT; 3) DIRECT SERVICE TO INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS IN POOR COMMUNITIES; 4) VOLUNTEERISM TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY LIFE; AND 5) STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERSHIP. THROUGH THIS COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, CSS SPURS LASTING, SYSTEMIC CHANGE BY PROMOTING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT ADVANCE THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF THE WORKING POOR. A SNAPSHOT OF OUR RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDES: * CONDUCTING GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH ON BLACK MALE JOBLESSNESS, DISCONNECTED LATINO YOUTH, IMMIGRANT HOUSING ISSUES, AND NEW YORK'S FAILING GED SYSTEM; * PRODUCING THE UNHEARD THIRD, THE ONLY PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY OF ITS KIND, WHICH ANNUALLY TRACKS THE CONCERNS AND HARDSHIPS OF NEW YORK CITY'S LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS AS WELL AS THEIR VIEWS ON WHAT PROGRAMS AND POLICIES WOULD HELP THEM GET AHEAD; * CREATING AND LEADING A STATEWIDE COALITION OF MORE THAN 100 ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO WINNING AFFORDABLE, COMPREHENSIVE, AND HIGH QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS. CSS'S HIGHLY ACCLAIMED EXPERIENCE CORPS LITERACY PROGRAM HAS CHANGED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN AND OLDER ADULTS. EXPERIENCE CORPS BRINGS TOGETHER A CADRE OF ETHNICALLY AND RACIALLY DIVERSE OLDER ADULT RETIRED VOLUNTEERS, A NETWORK OF PUBLIC SCHOOL SITES, AND A METICULOUS, RESEARCH-BASED APPROACH TO HELP CHILDREN AT RISK FOR ACADEMIC FAILURE. WORKING IN TEAMS OF 10-15, EXPERIENCE CORPS VOLUNTEERS SERVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED AS LOW IN INCOME, BUT RICH IN OLDER ADULT VOLUNTEERS. CSS EXTENSIVELY TRAINS THESE VOLUNTEERS TO INTERVENE AND ASSIST STUDENTS IN BECOMING INDEPENDENT READERS BY GRADE 3--AN AGE GROUP THAT STUDIES SHOW IS A FUNDAMENTAL BUILDING BLOCK FOR A CHILD'S FUTURE SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND LIFE. EXPERIENCE CORPS' INTERGENERATIONAL MODEL PRODUCES TANGIBLE OUTCOMES AND INVALUABLE BENEFITS FOR VOLUNTEERS, STUDENTS, AND ENTIRE COMMUNITIES. AS LIFELONG RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH THEY SERVE, EXPERIENCE CORPS VOLUNTEERS HAVE A PERSONAL STAKE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT "THEIR" CHILDREN RECEIVE THE EXTRA HELP NEEDED TO STAY ON TRACK--FOR SCHOOL AND FOR LIFE. NOW IN ITS 17TH YEAR, EXPERIENCE CORPS OPERATES IN 10 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT HARLEM, QUEENS, AND THE BRONX, SERVING THOUSANDS OF LOW-PERFORMING ELEMENTARY STUDENTS EACH YEAR. INDEED, EXPERIENCE CORPS IS NO LONGER MERELY A PROMISING START-UP. WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS AND MATHEMATICA POLICY RESEARCH CONDUCTED A RECENT STUDY TITLED, EVALUATION OF EXPERIENCE CORPS: STUDENT READING OUTCOMES, WHICH DEMONSTRATES THE SUCCESS OF OUR UNIQUE MODEL AND REVEALS TANGIBLE PROGRAMMATIC OUTCOMES. SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF EXPERIENCE CORPS STUDENTS INCREASE THEIR LITERACY SKILLS BY AT LEAST ONE READING LEVEL AND 65% OF ALL STUDENTS HEIGHTEN THEIR LEVEL OF CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION WITH AN IMPROVED ATTITUDE T

THE COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY OF NEW YORK (CSS) IS A 168-YEAR-OLD NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO FIGHTING POVERTY AND STRENGTHENING OUR CITY. THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, CSS HAS EMBRACED THE IDEA THAT POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS GROUNDED IN RESEARCH AND INFORMED BY REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES INSPIRE LEGISLATIVE REMEDIES THAT ASSIST POPULATIONS IN NEED. AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF PUBLIC POLICY SINCE 1843, WE HAVE HELD A LEAD ROLE IN SHAPING NEW YORK CITY'S COMMUNITY LIFE. OUR LEGACY INCLUDES ESTABLISHING THE PROTOTYPE FOR THE FREE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM, SERVING AS THE CATALYST BEHIND THE CITY'S FIRST TENEMENT HOUSING LAWS, AIDING VICTIMS OF THE TITANIC MARITIME DISASTER AND WORLD TRADE CENTER EMPLOYEES IMPACTED BY THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, CREATING THE NATION'S LARGEST SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, AND DEVELOPING THE CURRICULUM THAT SPAWNED THE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK. TODAY, WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT VISION THROUGH A UNIQUE HYBRID MODEL COMPRISED OF FIVE STREAMS OF ACTIVITY: 1) RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY UNDERLYING CAUSES AND STIMULI OF POVERTY; 2) ADVOCACY AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT; 3) DIRECT SERVICE TO INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS IN POOR COMMUNITIES; 4) VOLUNTEERISM TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY LIFE; AND 5) STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERSHIP. THROUGH THIS COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, CSS SPURS LASTING, SYSTEMIC CHANGE BY PROMOTING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT ADVANCE THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF THE WORKING POOR. A SNAPSHOT OF OUR RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDES: * CONDUCTING GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH ON BLACK MALE JOBLESSNESS, DISCONNECTED LATINO YOUTH, IMMIGRANT HOUSING ISSUES, AND NEW YORK'S FAILING GED SYSTEM; * PRODUCING THE UNHEARD THIRD, THE ONLY PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY OF ITS KIND, WHICH ANNUALLY TRACKS THE CONCERNS AND HARDSHIPS OF NEW YORK CITY'S LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS AS WELL AS THEIR VIEWS ON WHAT PROGRAMS AND POLICIES WOULD HELP THEM GET AHEAD; * CREATING AND LEADING A STATEWIDE COALITION OF MORE THAN 100 ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO WINNING AFFORDABLE, COMPREHENSIVE, AND HIGH QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS. CSS'S HIGHLY ACCLAIMED EXPERIENCE CORPS LITERACY PROGRAM HAS CHANGED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN AND OLDER ADULTS. EXPERIENCE CORPS BRINGS TOGETHER A CADRE OF ETHNICALLY AND RACIALLY DIVERSE OLDER ADULT RETIRED VOLUNTEERS, A NETWORK OF PUBLIC SCHOOL SITES, AND A METICULOUS, RESEARCH-BASED APPROACH TO HELP CHILDREN AT RISK FOR ACADEMIC FAILURE. WORKING IN TEAMS OF 10-15, EXPERIENCE CORPS VOLUNTEERS SERVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED AS LOW IN INCOME, BUT RICH IN OLDER ADULT VOLUNTEERS. CSS EXTENSIVELY TRAINS THESE VOLUNTEERS TO INTERVENE AND ASSIST STUDENTS IN BECOMING INDEPENDENT READERS BY GRADE 3--AN AGE GROUP THAT STUDIES SHOW IS A FUNDAMENTAL BUILDING BLOCK FOR A CHILD'S FUTURE SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND LIFE. EXPERIENCE CORPS' INTERGENERATIONAL MODEL PRODUCES TANGIBLE OUTCOMES AND INVALUABLE BENEFITS FOR VOLUNTEERS, STUDENTS, AND ENTIRE COMMUNITIES. AS LIFELONG RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH THEY SERVE, EXPERIENCE CORPS VOLUNTEERS HAVE A PERSONAL STAKE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT "THEIR" CHILDREN RECEIVE THE EXTRA HELP NEEDED TO STAY ON TRACK--FOR SCHOOL AND FOR LIFE. NOW IN ITS 16TH YEAR, EXPERIENCE CORPS OPERATES IN 10 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT HARLEM, QUEENS, AND THE BRONX, SERVING THOUSANDS OF LOW-PERFORMING ELEMENTARY STUDENTS EACH YEAR. INDEED, EXPERIENCE CORPS IS NO LONGER MERELY A PROMISING START-UP. WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS AND MATHEMATICA POLICY RESEARCH CONDUCTED A RECENT STUDY TITLED, EVALUATION OF EXPERIENCE CORPS: STUDENT READING OUTCOMES, WHICH DEMONSTRATES THE SUCCESS OF OUR UNIQUE MODEL AND REVEALS TANGIBLE PROGRAMMATIC OUTCOMES. SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF EXPERIENCE CORPS STUDENTS INCREASE THEIR LITERACY SKILLS BY AT LEAST ONE READING LEVEL AND 65% OF ALL STUDENTS HEIGHTEN THEIR LEVEL OF CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION WI