ServMO announces recipients of 2025-2026 AmeriCorps Grants

ServMO has announced the recipients of thirteen 2025-2026 AmeriCorps Grants. As the organization responsible for overseeing AmeriCorps programs in Missouri, grants awarded by ServMO will strengthen communities and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.

"DED's ServMO Team is helping Missourians prosper through its partnership with AmeriCorps," said Michelle Hataway, Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. "Programs funded by AmeriCorps grants are positively transforming lives and Missouri communities. We're grateful to AmeriCorps, Missouri volunteers, and the organizations that partner with us to build a brighter future for our state."

AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible Missouri AmeriCorps programs dedicated to improving Missouri communities through evidence-based interventions within the following priority areas: education; healthy futures; military and veterans; disaster relief; environmental stewardship, and economic opportunity.

"AmeriCorps programs are deploying Missourians as AmeriCorps members to tackle community challenges through service," said Brittany Crabtree, Executive Director of ServMO. "Along the way, those members will gain critical skills and experiences that will benefit them throughout their lives."

2025-2026 AmeriCorps Operational Grants Recipients:

AmeriCorps: Poplar Bluff's Promise (Butler County)

Providing tutoring services for elementary, middle, and junior high school students.

AmeriCorps St. Louis (St. Louis City; Statewide)

Providing disaster services, environmental stewardship service interventions, and supporting members in obtaining industry-level trainings and credentials to support future careers in emergency management and conservation.

CAPA Cares, previously the Child Abuse Prevention Association (Jackson, Cass, Clay, and Platte Counties)

Providing access to preventative mental health services in the form of therapeutic counseling, case-management and community education in the Kansas City metro area.

City Year - Kansas City (Jackson County)

Providing full-day education services to students in eight public schools in Kansas City.

Emmanuel Family & Child Development Center (Jackson County)

Enhancing school readiness by providing specialized educational support, trauma-informed counseling, and occupational and speech therapy services in central Kansas City.

Kansas City Public Library (Jackson County)

Bridging social cohesion and social connection activities such as community outreach, branch programming, and one-on-one engagement and referral.

Missouri College Advising Corps (Boone, Butler, Cass, Clay, Dallas, Dent, Franklin, Jackson, Phelps, St. Louis City, St. Louis County and Washington Counties)

Providing college and career readiness services to students in 45 partner high schools within 30 school districts across Missouri.

Missouri State Public Defender - AmeriCorps Holistic Advocate Program (Atchison, Nodaway, Worth, Gentry, Holt, Andrew, Cass, Johnson, Bates, Henry, St. Clair, Benton counties, Vernon, Cedar, Barton, Dade, Carthage, Jasper, Newton, McDonald, Lawrence, Stone, Barry, Lafayette, Saline, Pettis, Cooper, Carroll, Caldwell, Livingston, Dekalb, Daviess, Harrison, Mercer, Grundy, Putnam, Sullivan, Clark, Lewis, Shelby, Marion, Monroe, Ralls, Wright, Douglas, Ozark, Pemiscot, New Madrid, Franklin, Osage, Gasconade, Buchanan, Audrain, Callaway, Montgomery, Iron, Madison, Reynolds, Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Washington, Wayne, Camden, Laclede, Morgan, Howell, Oregon, Shannon, St. Charles, Warren, Webster, Hickory, Dallas, Polk, Cape Girardeau, Scott, Perry, Bollinger, Mississippi, Stoddard, Dunklin, Cole, Moniteau, and Miller Counties)

Providing mitigation advocacy and connecting clients to community resources that address the underlying factors leading to their involvement with the criminal legal system.

Mission: St. Louis - Beyond School Program (St. Louis City)

Strengthening partnerships with student families and community partners by directly serving youth through academic mentoring services.

Teach for America (Jackson County)

Increasing academic achievement in low-income and under resourced schools in Kansas City through teacher recruitment and by leveraging volunteers in support of 1-1 and small group instruction.

United Way of Southeast Missouri (Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Scott, and Perry County)

Helping families secure affordable and reliable childcare, connect them to wraparound services to support self-sufficiency and expand childcare resources, enabling parents to enter or remain in the workforce and ultimately secure or retain stable employment and sustainable income.

University of Missouri-Kansas City: Lift As You Climb (Jackson County)

Increasing persistence and academic completion for students at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, Missouri.

Waynesville R-6 School District - Waynesville AmeriCorps Program (Pulaski County)

Increasing the academic achievement of students by providing support through tutoring and mentoring programs, K-8 afterschool programming, and supplemental food assistance to reduce food insecurity.

About ServMO

The Missouri Community Service Commission, a bipartisan commission appointed by the Governor and administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, is now doing business as ServMO. Its mission is to strengthen Missouri communities through volunteerism and service. ServMO invests more than $10 million into Missouri communities annually.

For more information on ServMO, visit serv.mo.gov.

About AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all background to serve their country, address the nation's most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. AmeriCorps members can serve in six key areas of their community - disaster services, education, economic opportunity, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, and veteran and military families.

For more information on AmeriCorps, visit americorps.gov.

About the Missouri Department of Economic Development

The Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) works to create an environment that encourages economic growth by supporting Missouri's businesses and diverse industries, strengthening our communities, developing a talented and skilled workforce, and maintaining a high quality of life. As one team built around the customer and driven by data, DED aspires to be the best economic development department in the Midwest. Through its various initiatives, DED is helping create opportunities for Missourians to prosper.

For the latest updates on DED's current or future programs and initiatives, visit DED's website.