Service Year Alliance shared the following statement today in response to the launch of Service United and the Service United Fund at the National Governor’s Association (NGA) Summer Meeting.

AUGUST 1, 2026 (Washington, DC) - The launch of Service United and the Service United Fund at the National Governor’s Association (NGA) Summer Meeting is a bold leap forward for service that will accelerate the work already underway to strengthen and grow service years in states across the country. 

“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 advances 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.”

The Center for State Service Innovation celebrates the launch of Service United and the Service United Fund.

AUGUST 1, 2026 (Oklahoma City) - 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.

• The Service United Fund will provide philanthropic support for states to plan, build, or expand service strategies across three pillars.

• 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.

• 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.

New Politics Academy and Service Year Alliance are working together to bring more service year alums into public office. The new partnership will see the two service-focused organizations working collaboratively to share resources and opportunities available through each organization to service year alums in their networks. The partnership is rooted in a shared belief that an expanded pathway from national service to public service will better enable service year alums to represent and lead their communities.

“Service years prepare alums to lead, connect across lines of difference, and address complex challenges with determination, empathy, and resolve,” said Kristen Bennett, CEO of Service Year Alliance. “As the home for Service Year Alums, this partnership means we can more readily equip alums to step into their next chapter of service. By working with New Politics Academy, alums in our network will have more opportunities to continue their journey as servant leaders.”

JULY 23, 2026 (Washington, DC) - For more than a decade, Service Year Alliance and America’s Service Commissions (ASC), the national membership association representing and promoting the 52 governor-led state and territorial service commissions across the United States, have worked side-by-side to expand pathways to service years and strengthen the national service ecosystem. We congratulate John Kelly on his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of ASC and look forward to this next chapter of partnership and impact.

John brings over 25 years of experience in public service, nonprofit leadership, and community engagement, including as a member of the Service Year Alliance Board of Directors. As Executive Director of Serve Colorado, he has led the launch of innovative initiatives including the Youth Mental Health Corps, Colorado Climate Corps, and the COVID Containment Response Corps. He has also been an essential partner to the Center for State Service Innovation, exploring creative opportunities to secure new funding for service in the state.

We look forward to partnering with John and the entire ASC team to strengthen state service leadership, expand opportunities for Americans to serve, and demonstrate the lasting impact of service on communities and those who serve.

The 51 AmeriCorps alums and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers hail from 32 states, plus Washington, DC, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and will use the power of storytelling to champion the future of service years.

APRIL 30, 2026 (Washington, DC) - Service Year Alliance announced today the newest cohort of Alums Amplified, a service year alums initiative harnessing the power of storytelling to champion the future of service years. The 2026 cohort includes 51 AmeriCorps alums and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers from 32 states, plus Washington, DC, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Their post-service year journeys highlight the transformational impact of service at a time when more and more young people are looking for reliable, meaningful pathways to success.

“Service years are one of the most powerful ways to bring people together around shared purpose,” said Maureen Eccleston, Chief Impact Officer with Service Year Alliance. “The new cohort of Alums Amplified reflects the strength of that shared commitment, with voices from across the nation coming together to elevate service as a launchpad to professional opportunity, community engagement, and civic leadership.”

December 15, 2025 - This year brought unprecedented disruption to service years, but our community rose to meet the moment. Together, we helped restore service years and keep opportunities alive for thousands of Americans, while also advancing key initiatives central to our work at Service Year Alliance—from launching a new center for state innovation and elevating alum voices to completing new research and strengthening service-to-career pathways.

California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New York Selected for Inaugural Cohort to Strengthen & Expand Service Year Opportunities in States

WASHINGTON, DC (November 3, 2025) - Service Year Alliance today announced California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New York have been selected as the first cohort of states to receive support from the Center for State Service Innovation. Launched in September 2025 by Service Year Alliance with philanthropic backing from Carnegie Corporation of New York and Einhorn Collaborative, the Center for State Service Innovation works with state leaders nationwide to unlock non-federal resources to further strengthen and expand state-based service year programs. 

The four states in this inaugural cohort represent diverse approaches to addressing critical state needs through service years while providing young people with meaningful opportunities to help their communities and develop career-ready skills.

"The most exciting innovation in national service right now is happening at the state level," said Kristen Bennett, CEO of Service Year Alliance. "California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New York are proving that states can be both nimble and bold when it comes to expanding service opportunities. We're thrilled to partner with leaders in this inaugural cohort who share our vision for a future where service years become a common opportunity and expectation for all young Americans.”

AmeriCorps Alums Bahga Ahmed, Kelly Lee, and Daniel Nieves will join a nationwide network of Segal Fellows, hosted by The Eli J. & Phyllis S. Segal Citizen Leadership Program at Brandeis University.

WASHINGTON, DC (October 14, 2025) - Service Year Alliance today announced, in partnership with the Eli J. & Phyllis N. Segal Citizen Leadership Program, the winners of the 2025 AmeriCorps Alums Segal Leadership Award: Bahga Ahmed, Kelly Lee, and Daniel Nieves. Their selection inducts them into lifelong membership as Segal Fellows. The Segal Program, hosted by The Institute for Economic and Racial Equity at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, inspires and activates generations of civic and community leaders across sectors, issue areas, and lived experiences, including alumni of national service programs. Their lifelong Fellows are citizens of the world who uplift equitable systems and create a more just world through connection and action.

“Bahga, Kelly, and Daniel are deeply deserving of this recognition and embody the spirit of service that Eli and Phyllis Segal championed as lifelong citizen leaders,” shared Kristen Bennett, CEO of Service Year Alliance. “As AmeriCorps alums, each of the awardees brings lived experience, leadership, and a deep commitment to service that strengthens the communities they serve. Service Year Alliance is honored to celebrate their impact and proud to present this fellowship to each of them.”

Service Year Alliance today released the following statement from CEO Kristen Bennett on the government shutdown and its impact on the agencies, people, and volunteers in national service.

Service Year Alliance is monitoring the fallout of the government shutdown, including the impacts on AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, the federal agencies most responsible for the implementation of service years.

Each federal agency is required to develop a contingency plan in the case of a government shutdown. AmeriCorps released their plan late yesterday. While AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers remain in service, more than 70% of agency staff will go on furlough. This temporary cut to agency staff follows a loss of roughly 85% of AmeriCorps’ workforce earlier this year, some of whom just recently returned to duty in recent weeks. More than 50% of Peace Corps staff will be furloughed as well, while remaining staff support the continuity of operations to ensure the health, safety, and security of currently-serving volunteers around the world.

Backed by funding from Carnegie Corporation of New York and Einhorn Collaborative, the Center for State Service Innovation will create new opportunities for young people to serve.

WASHINGTON, DC (September 16, 2025) - Service Year Alliance announced today the launch of the Center for State Service Innovation, a new initiative to strengthen and expand state-based service year programs. Launched with philanthropic support from Carnegie Corporation of New York and Einhorn Collaborative, the Center will work with local leaders to unlock new funding for service years within their states by providing technical assistance, public policy support, capacity building, and cross-state collaboration.

“As an antidote to increasing polarization, state service programs can be one of the solutions, said, Geri Mannion, Managing Director, Strengthening U.S. Democracy Program, Carnegie Corporation of New York. “We are proud to support Service Year Alliance in the creation of the Center for State Service Innovation, and work toward a future where states can leverage service years to bring young people together from across their state and their differences to work together and realize their full potential.”

A service year is a paid opportunity for people to develop real-world skills while contributing to the communities they serve. More than 60,000 young people complete a service year each year. The vast majority of service years are administered at the federal level through AmeriCorps, which over the past decade has enabled more than 1.3 million Americans to address community needs while developing workforce ready skills.