By
October 26, 2009

The Rockefeller Foundation and the newly formed Cities of Service Coalition announced October 20 the opening of the application period for the first-ever “Cities of Service Leadership Grants.” Funded exclusively by the Rockefeller Foundation, the grants will be awarded to ten cities, on a competitive basis, whose mayors have committed to increase the amount and impact of service in their communities.

Each recipient city will receive $200,000 over a two-year period for the specific purpose of hiring a Chief Service Officer, an individual who will lead local efforts on behalf of their city’s mayor to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to increase volunteerism.

The announcement comes just five weeks after 17 mayors from around the nation convened in New York City to form the Cities of Service Coalition and six months after Congress passed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which will result in the greatest federal investment in service and volunteerism in 75 years.

“Cities around the country today face increased need with fewer resources – and many mayors see great potential in tapping the willingness of Americans to help their neighbors as an important strategy to get through these difficult days,” said New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who appointed the nation’s first municipal Chief Service Officer in June 2009. “The generosity of the Rockefeller Foundation will enable ten cities to dramatically accelerate their local efforts to increase the amount and impact of service.”

To be considered for the two-year Cities of Service Leadership Grant, a city’s mayor must be a member of the Cities of Service Coalition and have signed and agreed to implement the Coalition’s Declaration of Service. Mayors interested in joining the Cities of Service Coalition should visit the websitewww.citiesofservice.org for registration.

In addition, all applicant cities must have at least 100,000 residents according to the 2000 census and be home to at least one community college or a four-year public or private university.

The application can be found at www.citiesofservice.org and must be received no later than December 15. The awards will be announced by Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.