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Anti-Fraud Advisory

Vol. 6 April 2025

 

Thumbnail of the front cover of Anti Fraud Advisory, volume 6

Grant Costs - What You Should Know

Grant fraud and prevention is one of AmeriCorps’ top management challenges. In order to help reduce fraud, waste, and abuse, grantees must ensure that costs charged to AmeriCorps awards are allowable. Costs are allowable only if they are allocable, reasonable, necessary, and in compliance with the terms and conditions of the grant and Federal regulations, and are adequately documented.

Read on learn more about how you can protect your program.

 

 

 

 

Additional Resources

These additional resources may help you to avoid unallowable costs in your grant. 

Vol. 5 January 2025

 

Thumbnail of the front cover of Anti Fraud Advisory, volume 5

What are Prohibited or Unallowable Activities?

Prohibited and unallowable activities are certain activities that AmeriCorps staff, members, and volunteers may not engage in while charging time to AmeriCorps programs, accumulating service or training hours, or otherwise performing activities supported by AmeriCorps or its programs.

Read on learn more about how you can protect your program.

 

 

 

 

Additional Resources

These additional resources may help you to avoid prohibited and unallowable activities. 

Vol. 4 September 2024

 

Anti-Fraud Advisory Vol. 4

Why are Terms and Conditions Important? 

Terms and conditions tell grantees, andTerms and conditions tell grantees, and

Terms and conditions tell grantees, and subgrantees, what they can and can't do with Federal funds and set forth key requirements that grantees and subgrantees must follow in operating their AmeriCorps programs. Failure to follow terms and conditions can result in unallowable costs, audit findings, investigations, civil litigation, and/or criminal prosecution. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vol. 3 May 2024

 

Anti-Fraud Advisory Vol. 3

What is Match?

Match funding serves a crucial role in addressing both national and local challenges. It is a vital means through which communities actively participate in the essential work undertaken by these projects, reinforcing the collaborative spirit essential for meaningful progress.

Read on to protect your program against match related cost disallowance.

 

 

 

 

Additional Resources

These additional resources may help you to avoid match related fraud. 

LITMOS: Key Concepts of Financial Grants Management

Vol. 2 March 2024

 

Anti-Fraud Advisory Volume 2

What is Timekeeping Fraud

Timekeeping fraud occurs when agency employees, contractors, grantee staff, or AmeriCorps members and volunteers are dishonest about their time. This includes 1) Intentionally charging time to an AmeriCorps grant that is knowingly false or incorrect, 2) Showing a reckless disregard for timekeeping laws, rules, and regulations, (e.g., turning a
blind eye), or 3) Staff modifying volunteer(s) time records without any basis or authorization.

Did You Know?

Did you know that 30% of all OIG investigation cases opened since 2019 have been related to allegations of false or problematic timekeeping, many resulting from preventable situations?
Read on to find out how you can protect your program and your community.

Additional Resources

These additional resources may help you to avoid timekeeping fraud.

AmeriCorps Uniform Monitoring Package:

  • UMP 01.09
  • UMP 11.01.06
  • UMP 11.02.04

AmeriCorps State and National Member Timesheet Outline

LITMOS: AmeriCorps Seniors Grantee Essentials TTA Call: October 2022 “Project Policies”

AmeriCorps Seniors Sample Timesheet

LITMOS: Timekeeping Training for AmeriCorps Grantees Volunteer Activity Reporting

Vol. 1 November 2023

 

Anti-Fraud Advisory Volume 1

Combatting Fraud as a Strategic Priority

AmeriCorps’ March 2022 Strategic Plan identified “strengthen agency and program integrity by protecting AmeriCorps resources from fraud and mismanagement” as a sub-objective to Strategic Goal 4: Effectively Steward Federal Resources. To communicate the importance of combatting fraud as a strategic priority, programs using AmeriCorps funds should message how fraud negatively impacts communities served and takes resources away from those in need; reinforce through training that fraud includes falsifying timesheets and other records; and provide recipients with steps to take if they suspect fraud, including contacting the Office of Inspector General.

 

Additional Resources

AmeriCorps Strategic Plan

International Fraud Awareness Week November 12-18, 2023

Occupational Fraud 22: A Report to the Nations, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)