Save Service Years

Since our founding, Service Year Alliance has been on a mission to make service years a part of growing up in America. Yet, we now face the greatest challenge to national service in generations. Now is the time to raise your voice: for each other, the communities we serve, and for future generations of Americans who wish to “get things done."

What’s Happening?

AmeriCorps, the federal agency responsible for national service and volunteers, was forced to reduce its workforce and breadth of its service year programs. These actions, at the direction of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), include eliminating agency staff by an estimated 85%, demobilizing AmeriCorps NCCC, and terminating $400 million in grants. This loss of funding impacts nearly 33,000 corps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers at more than 1,000 nonprofit and civic organizations. As a result:

In North Carolina, communities still reeling from flooding caused by Hurricane Helene are left shorthanded as they seek to rebuild their homes and businesses months after the storms.

In East St. Louis, community members must now look elsewhere for a hot or healthy meal after a community center was forced to stop operating their food pantry and free meal service program.

In Sitka, Alaska, a town of 8,000 residents, students will lose their tutors and classroom support, and mental health organizations in the community will be left without a workforce for youth community outreach.

The time to act is now. If we stay on this path, then we’re likely to see any meaningful domestic effort in support of national service and volunteerism removed from the federal government for the first time in generations. That means:

Americans will have fewer ways to serve their country while building workforce ready skills and credentials.
Communities in every state will suffer without critical services that keep their neighbors healthy, supported, and safe.
Our country will lose a vital opportunity to bring people together across lines of difference in pursuit of a common cause.

AmeriCorps Stories of Service

Completing a service year is a life changing experience that changes perceptions, builds connections across divides, and strengthens our communities. The return-on-investment of AmeriCorps, however, is not just what’s accomplished while in service, but in the ways AmeriCorps shapes and prepares generations of citizens who are dedicated to making our people safe, smarter, and healthier.

More than 1.3 million Americans have completed a service year. Here are some of their stories.

Read Stories of Service

Share Your Story by Video

Add My Story (Recorded)

Share Your Story in Writing

Add My Story (Written)

Contact your Members of Congress

Make your voice heard and ensure that your elected officials understand how national service is tackling the challenges facing your community.

Contact Congress

Support Impacted Corps Members

Donate today to support AmeriCorps members in need of financial assistance to address housing, food, transportation, and/or health emergencies.

Donate Today

Elevate Your Voice

Explore other ways to get involved right away.

Join States for Service

States for Service is a network of state service commissions, AmeriCorps program staff, AmeriCorps alums, and other key champions for national service at the state and local levels. The National Service Advocacy Academy, offered through States for Service, is an online certificate program that provides participants with the tools they need to effectively and confidently interact with elected officials and their staff in support of national service priorities.

Learn More >

New Politics Leadership Academy

New Politics Leadership Academy is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization building a movement to revitalize American democracy by recruiting, supporting, and empowering servant leaders who put community and country over self.

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Write a Letter to the Editor

Letters to the Editor are one of the best channels available to bring awareness to national service. Service Year Alliance hosted a training and shared resources to help you get started.

Watch the Recording >

Access the LTE Resources >