The Center for State Service Innovation celebrates the launch of Service United and the Service United Fund.
Service United was announced today at the National Governors Association (NGA) Summer Meeting as the championed initiative of new NGA Chair Maryland Governor Wes Moore. Building on the continued growth and impact of state service year models, the initiative elevates service as a governing priority for Governors in their state and pathway to economic opportunity.
The Center for State Service Innovation, launched with philanthropic support from Einhorn Collaborative and the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, is an initiative of Service Year Alliance and America’s Service Commissions to grow the number of paid, service year opportunities across America through state-based innovation and investment. The establishment of the Service United Fund will further accelerate this effort.
Realized through support from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation and the Schultz Family Foundation, the Fund is dedicated to helping states and territories make service a permanent, state-level strategy through grants of up to $1.5 million.
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The Service United Fund will provide philanthropic support for states to plan, build, or expand service strategies across three pillars.
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The application process starts with an Expression of Interest, which initiates a conversation with the Service United Fund team to collaboratively determine how the state or territory can best participate in this initiative.
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The deadline to submit the application for funding is midnight ET on October 23, 2026. States and territories selected for a Round 1 grant will be announced in early 2027.
“Today’s announcement of Service United from the National Governors Association reflects the growing commitment among Governors, Republican and Democrat, to deploy service as a governing strategy in their state,” said Kristen Bennett, CEO of Service Year Alliance. “With this investment, Governors are poised to lead a new era of service in their states, and advance our vision to make service part of growing up in America. We celebrate this transformative investment in service years at the state level, and look forward to continuing our work through the Center for State Service Innovation alongside Governors, commissions, and service leaders across the country.”
Read the full statement from Service Year Alliance on their website.
"The launch of Service United represents an important milestone for the service movement in America,” said John Kelly, incoming Chief Executive Officer at America’s Service Commissions. “Governor’s state service commissions are essential partners in expanding service opportunities and delivering results for communities. Combined with the philanthropic commitments announced through the Service United Fund, this effort has the potential to create new pathways to opportunity, strengthen our workforce, and foster a stronger culture of service across the nation."
Read the full statement from America’s Service Commissions on their website.
More details about the initiative and fund can be found at: https://serviceunitedfund.org
About the Center for State Service Innovation
The Center for State Service Innovation is an initiative from Service Year Alliance and America’s Service Commissions to grow the number of paid, service year opportunities across America through state-based innovation and investment. Established in 2025, the Center works collaboratively with governors, state service commissions, policymakers, and community partners to elevate service as a strategy to strengthen their workforce and address pressing public challenges.
