The VCU Center on Society and Health has been awarded a National Service and Civic Engagement Research grant of $150,000 from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that oversees AmeriCorps and the nation’s volunteer initiatives. Through this grant, CSH will contribute to a body of research dedicated to increasing and strengthening the nation’s understanding and knowledge of civic engagement in America.

“This project gives us the opportunity to contribute to knowledge about the processes and impact of volunteering by examining the characteristics of neighborhood-based and regional volunteers and volunteer efforts in Richmond’s East End community,” says principle investigator, Emily Zimmerman, PhD. She and her team aim to identify best practices for volunteering in economically disadvantaged communities in ways that build local capacity and leadership.

Including the Center, CNCS awarded 14 grants to higher education institutions across the country, totaling more than $1.3 million. These higher education institutions awarded will address gaps in knowledge, and provide new ideas for the volunteer and civic engagement infrastructure.

The grant announced today supports CNCS’s strong belief in the importance of scholarly research to identify effective strategies in the field and to highlight the impact associated with civic engagement, volunteering, and national service.