Request for Proposals

The Literacy Leadership Request for Proposals to host AmeriCorps members beginning fall 2025 is now available. Proposals for Digital Navigation Corps projects through Literacy Minnesota must be submitted through an online application by 11:59pm on September 1, 2025.

Link to RFP.

Contact

Jesse Chang (651-251-9069) for questions or to talk through project ideas.

The link to our application for 2025-26 Digital Navigation Corps Project Proposals is now available and due September 1, 2025.

What is AmeriCorps?
AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 200,000 AmeriCorps participants in intensive service roles and empowers millions more to serve as volunteers.

How do we define digital equity?
When we talk about digital equity, we come from a framework that digital equity involves three interrelated elements: equitable access to devices, equitable access to internet service, and equitable access to education and skills to make use of these tools.

Why digital equity?
Digital equity is a fundamental right. Without digital equity, people cannot fully participate in civic life or fully access education, employment or health care. The COVID-19 pandemic has only amplified ways that digital exclusion reinforces inequities, especially for populations marginalized because of race, language, poverty or disabilities, and given greater urgency to the need to bring collective solutions and voice to ensuring equitable access to digital skills and technology in the immediate term and as we move toward post-pandemic life.

From K-12 students lacking home access to the internet to participate in school to newly unemployed adults whose access is limited to a mobile device for completing online job applications, the United States is at a critical juncture. We know there are a range of common barriers that compromise digital equity, not limited to poverty, geography or educational attainment. Barriers are structural and systemic (e.g., availability of a broadband infrastructure) as well as personal, like a lack of digital literacy materials in languages other than English.

Digital Navigation projects will build the capacity of host sites to either help low-income individuals and communities improve digital literacy skills, connectivity and/or device access. The primary focus is digital literacy skills development and referrals for the purpose of preparing learners for employment. Secondary outcome areas are also allowed, such as healthy futures, school readiness and success, adult literacy, and civic or social opportunity.

What can a Digital Navigator do/not do?
AmeriCorps members serve full-time (about 40 hours per week) with their host sites, typically weekday business hours. They are encouraged to be available for evening and weekend project needs as able.

AmeriCorps members must request approval to hold another part-time job or attend school part-time while in service.

What are my responsibilities as a host site?
You provide the vision, project plan, day-to-day management of the project, on-site direct supervision of the Digital Navigator and a financial and in-kind match. You are also responsible for recruiting and selecting your AmeriCorps member, with support from our staff.

Your financial match commitment includes:

• Reimbursement to the Digital Navigator for service-related travel.
• Cost-share financial match to support the Digital Navigator and project (the 2025-26 cost-share rate is $9,000).

Literacy Minnesota provides training and technical assistance to you and the Digital Navigators at all stages of the project.

Are Digital Navigators paid? What do they receive for their service?
Benefits for all AmeriCorps members include:

• Modest living allowance, set to the poverty rate of the county in which they serve.

• The Segal Education Award ($7,395) for future tuition or eligible federal student loan payments.

• Service-related travel reimbursement.

• Federal student loan deferment/forbearance.

• Personal and medical leave.
• Childcare allowance (if eligible).
• Access to emergency funds (if eligible).

Literacy Minnesota additionally provides our Digital Navigtators:

• Monthly member training and networking.

• Access and support for Google Career Certificates.

• $750 per year in housing assistance funds.

• An Employee Assistance Program.

• Individualized technical assistance.

• For MN members, participation in the Transit Assistance Program (TAP) for subsidized rides on Twin Cities Metro Transit.

Host sites are encouraged to provide additional benefits to Digital Navigators to the degree they are able, such as housing assistance, cell phone reimbursement, grocery or gas cards, and/or emergency funds.