And right now, that action is uncertain. AmeriCorps is at risk of losing federal support, and it’s important that we add our voice to the conversation.
For more than 30 years, this federal program has connected volunteers with nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations to serve in areas like education, public safety, health, and more. The program serves more than 200,000 people each year. AmeriCorps fuels Breakthrough’s ability to deliver transformational summers for Teaching Fellows and the students they serve across the country.
What We Saw This Summer
This summer, we implemented a new AmeriCorps partnership across six Breakthrough affiliates (Greater Boston, Louisville, Denver, Sacramento, San Juan Capistrano, and Minneapolis), channeling nearly $1 million into stipends for 170 AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows. This allowed Fellows to earn more than in previous years (in some cases nearly doubling the stipend), which allowed affiliates to reallocate funding to deepen programming and serve more students. These dollars weren’t theoretical. They showed up in real classrooms and communities – and were locally matched. All AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows at Breakthrough sites who completed 300 hours also received an education award of $1,500 that helps them continue their own studies after completing their service.
Across the network, every AmeriCorps site brought something responsive and innovative. In Greater Boston, Teaching Fellows hosted a community book club that strengthened their relationship with students through the power of story. Across all six sites, Atkinson saw something unmistakable: “AmeriCorps is a perfect fit for Breakthrough. The investment is dual focused: communities receiving service and individuals providing it. Federal dollars supporting local solutions. That’s Breakthrough.”
But this partnership isn’t the first one between AmeriCorps and Breakthrough. In fact, 80% of Breakthrough Teaching Fellows are supported by AmeriCorps programs in some way, either at the national or state level.
What’s At Stake
The U.S. House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Service Subcommittee has moved forward an FY 26 bill that would cut AmeriCorps funding by more than 50%. For Breakthrough, losing AmeriCorps funding would mean fewer Fellows, lower stipends, and diminished impact across the communities we serve. The value of this program is concrete: it is Teaching Fellow stipends, summer programming, transformational classrooms, and young people’s futures.
Use this tool from Voices for National Service to contact Congress.
Protecting AmeriCorps means investing in students, aspiring educators, and the future of our communities.
