One Year Later, Notre Dame Mission Volunteers Receive AmeriCorps Funding Again

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2026
Cora Davis, NDMV Communications Director, serve@ndmv.org

One Year Later, Notre Dame Mission Volunteers Receive AmeriCorps Funding Again

Baltimore, MD - On July 2, 2026, Notre Dame Mission Volunteers (NDMV) received an email announcing that their AmeriCorps State and National application has been recommended for funding for the 2026–27 program year. This grant is a significant milestone for the organization. One they could not have reached without the commitment of their partners, staff, volunteers, board members, and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN).

The Sisters started NDMV in 1991, before AmeriCorps was established. The first volunteers were recruited by the SNDdeNs to support their ministries and live out the congregation's charism, particularly by advancing education and standing in solidarity with the poor. In 1995, the second Executive Director of NDMV, Sr. Katherine “Sissy” Corr, sought to expand the program's work. She, along with a few other leaders of faith-based programs, pursued AmeriCorps funding to support the living allowance, benefits, and continuing education for NDMV participants. 

Last year, for the first time in 30 years, NDMV did not receive the national AmeriCorps grant. After hearing the news, NDMV’s staff worked tirelessly to keep programming moving forward across the country on a smaller scale. They went from having nearly 300 volunteers to just under 30. Although the number of volunteers was significantly reduced, that did not deter their impact. NDMV's dedicated volunteers were still able to serve over 5,880 community members across six states. 

As they look ahead, they are ready to continue building on the new ground they have gained. With the news of their National grant award for the 2026-2027 service year, they are looking forward to expanding their impact with up to 150 volunteers across 11 states, allowing NDMV to support communities at a much higher capacity. NDMV also partners with California Volunteers, the California State AmeriCorps Commission, where they will place 25 volunteers.

NDMV will carry forward a great deal of learning from this past year. One of their deepest commitments going into 2026–27 is intentional accompaniment – ensuring that members are not simply placed at a service site and left to figure things out on their own but are instead genuinely supported throughout their service year. This objective will be structured through regular NDMV team meetings, two virtual retreats, and an in-person mid-year conference that brings volunteers together for deeper reflection in service, leadership, and community. They believe this investment in volunteers will ultimately strengthen the experience for their partnering sites as well.

This funding also brings meaningful benefits to NDMV volunteers and the organizations that host them. Chief among these are an increased living allowance and access to the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, which helps volunteers pay off their federal student loans or further their education. Both of these are additional resources that make national service more accessible and impactful for the people NDMV recruits and develops.

During the 2025-2026 service year, NDMV celebrated its 35th anniversary with the theme of “Love in Action.” NDMV honored its legacy by hosting 35th anniversary events, highlighting alumni stories from the past three and a half decades, and celebrating the NDMV community's dedication to keeping the mission alive. 

As they step into their 36th service year, they will don the theme of “Gather the Good” as a nod to the SNDdeN's charism of making known God's Goodness, as well as NDMV's legacy of gathering volunteers to accompany communities and share their goodness with others. With AmeriCorps funding, they will be able to expand their mission of developing leaders and focus on accompanying volunteers and those they serve.

For updates on the organization's progress, the 35th anniversary celebrations, and other ways to get involved, visit their website at ndmv.org and follow them on social media (@ndmv on Instagram, or Facebook and LinkedIn, @NotreDameMissionVolunteers). 

For other inquiries, contact Communications Director, Cora Davis, at serve@ndmv.org.