VFPServ public-private partnership grant program goes live

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2008
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Office of Volunteers for Prosperity (VFP) in cooperation with the USA Freedom Corps at the White House, and Global Giving Foundation, launched the Volunteers for Prosperity Service Incentive Program or VFPServ. This is an innovative public-private partnership to help address the financial challenges facing a number of skilled Americans interested in short-term international voluntary service by providing matching grants ranging from $500 to $1000 to offset travel, insurance and local living costs.

Establishment of the program was first announced by Henrietta H. Fore, Administrator for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) at a White House ceremony marking International Volunteer Day on December 5, 2007. USAID is the host federal agency of the Volunteers for Prosperity, President Bush's initiative to promote greater international volunteer service by skilled American professionals.

The award process is competitive and a prospective volunteer who applies for a matching grant must have relevant professional experience and a need for financial assistance. The final decision to award a grant will depend on a successful applicant's ability to raise at least an equal amount of funds within his/her community. VFPServ will be managed by USAID's VFP Office.

VFPServ award monies will be disbursed to the volunteer's host organization - a VFP partner that is identified in advance by the volunteer and responsible for supervising the service assignment. USAID invested $100,000 to initiate the fund. Additional resources will be sought from U.S. corporations through their foundations and individual private donors. It is anticipated that the first awards will be made in early 2008.

VFPServ becomes the most recent activity of Volunteers for Prosperity, an initiative that was established by President George W. Bush in 2003 to encourage highly skilled American professionals to serve overseas as volunteers supporting the U.S. agenda for global health and prosperity. During the past year, the VFP Office worked with 250 U.S. based partner organizations to mobilize 34,000 skilled American volunteers in support of international development projects.

For more information, please visit www.volunteersforprosperity.gov. To learn more about VFPServ, please visit www.globalgiving.com/cb/vfpserv/.