About the Commission

The Commission's mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering in the state of New York.

The New York State Commission on National and Community Service was established in 1994 by an Executive Order of the Governor. Commission members are appointed by the governor. They represent a diverse, bipartisan, and statewide network of interested citizens and supporters of service. Commission members each have a strong background in community service and leadership and provide a tremendous resource to the state service and volunteer communities.

The Commission administers programs funded by the National Community Service Trust Act of 1993, as amended by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009. The Commission receives annual federal funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service and makes grants to nonprofits, faith-based organizations, local governments, and educational institutions providing outcome-based services to address community-identified needs.

The Commission serves as the lead state entity responsible for networking volunteer resources and carrying out civic engagement initiatives as identified by the governor. The Commission collaborates with local, state and national volunteer agencies, government, and other public and private entities to achieve its mission.

Every three years, the Commission produces a service plan. The plan identifies and assesses the needs of the state, and outlines strategies and goals for addressing those needs through service and volunteerism. The plan is informed by input from stakeholders in the national and community service field, such as current AmeriCorps programs or other non-profit organizations. The Commission works closely with the Office of the Governor to finalize the plan. The most recent State Service Plan was approved and adopted on February 5, 2018.

New York State Service Plan for 2018-2020