Serve Washington, the Schultz Family Foundation, and the Ballmer Group have announced public-private investments totaling $2.98 million to assist AmeriCorps participants across Washington State.

The awards will build on innovations piloted through the WA COVID Response Corps, a program launched in 2020 to address critical needs triggered by the pandemic. The funding includes $1.9 million from AmeriCorps and the AmeriCorps Rescue Plan directed by Serve Washington to bolster programs in raising stipends for AmeriCorps members. In addition, the Schultz Family Foundation awarded $580,000 to subsidize host site fees and provide training and technical assistance to increase the number of diverse nonprofits participating in AmeriCorps, and the Ballmer Group allocated $500,000 to enhance service-to-career pipelines through career assessment tools, job-search coaching, and online courses.

“We are extremely grateful for the hardworking young people who helped millions of Washington families as AmeriCorps members over the past two years,” said Schultz Family Foundation president Tyra Mariani. “By combining federal and state government resources with private philanthropy, the WA COVID Response Corps provided valuable lessons for how we can make national service more accessible and diverse for young people and communities.”