The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) investigated an allegation that Teach for America (TFA) improperly exited an AmeriCorps member (member) for Compelling Personal Circumstances (CPCs) who allegedly provided a fictitious reason for a CPC exit in order to participate in a teacher strike and still earn her education award.

The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) investigated allegations that AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) members were paid as employees of the Mississippi Center for Re-Entry (MSCRE) while simultaneously receiving an AmeriCorps living allowance for service at the organization, and that MSCRE’s founder instructed VISTA members to not disclose their employment relationship to AmeriCorps.

The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) investigated an allegation that College Possible staff and an AmeriCorps member were lobbying at the state capitol in Olympia, WA. AmeriCorps OIG’s investigation substantiated the allegation, and confirmed that only one member was in attendance and the lobbying activity was limited to one day. AmeriCorps OIG referred the matter to AmeriCorps State and National (ASN) and recommended it disallow the member’s service hours and a staff member’s hours that had been charged as matching expenditures for the date of the lobbying activity.

The audit of AmeriCorps grants awarded to the Puerto Rico Commission for Volunteerism and Community Service (the Commission) and two of its subgrantees found that the Commission and subgrantees did not comply with Federal regulations and AmeriCorps grant terms and conditions resulting in $625,446 in questioned Federal and match costs, and education awards. Specifically, the Commission did not adequately document or appropriately report costs.

The audit of AmeriCorps grants awarded to YouthBuild USA found that AmeriCorps was aware of inconsistencies between Federal Statute and Federal Regulations concerning limitations on Federal share of member living allowance and member support costs beginning in 2009 and neither updated its Federal regulations nor effectively explained the inconsistencies to grantees. In addition, YouthBuild did not comply with Federal or AmeriCorps requirements, resulting in $3,604,355 of questioned Federal and match costs. The audit identified an additional $3,087,791 in funds put to better use.

The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) investigated allegations that a contractor submitted invoices under its Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with AmeriCorps that included unallowable and/or unsupported costs.

The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) investigated allegations that the former Executive Director (ED) of the Volunteer and Community Service Commission of Puerto Rico (Commission) attempted to use AmeriCorps funds to award a sole-source contract to a close friend, required prayers before AmeriCorps events, and requested subgrantees allow AmeriCorps members to perform service outside the scope of their grant.

The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) investigated an allegation that the President of the Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps (GLCCC) misused personal identifiable information provided by prospective AmeriCorps members at recruitment sessions to enroll them in AmeriCorps' Education Award Program, even though the members did not provide service. It was also alleged that these prospective members were enrolled in the MyAmeriCorps portal with the GLCCC President’s email address.

The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) investigated allegations that multiple AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program (SCP) volunteers submitted falsified timesheets during their service at Kansas City Shepherd’s Center (KCSC). The investigation substantiated that three SCP volunteers submitted falsified timesheets and received a combined total of $7,769.82 in Federal funds as a result. One of the volunteers, Manuel Benson Jr., pled guilty to one count of 18 U.S.C.

The Payment Integrity Information Act (PIIA) requires agencies to annually review and identify programs and activities that may be susceptible to significant improper payments, estimate the improper payment rates in agency programs, and report on their actions to reduce and recover those payments. We found that AmeriCorps implemented corrective actions that improved its compliance with PIIA reporting requirements relative to past years. For FY 2023, AmeriCorps met eight of ten PIIA compliance requirements. We made three findings relating to the two remaining requirements.