2025 Commissioner Application Form (South Carolina Commission on National and Community Service)

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Page 1 of 2 - Pre-Application General Information

UWASC Americorps SC combined Logo
[Section 1] What is "The Commission" (SCCNCS)?
The South Carolina Commission on National and Community Service (SCCNCS) is South Carolina's state service commission. We are the Palmetto State's lead steward for AmeriCorps national service. We are South Carolina's lead champion for service and volunteer efforts at large. 

SCCNCS is:
  • A federal pass-through grant-maker (for AmeriCorps formula funds)
  • A champion for service - encouraging people of all ages and walks contributing a year of their lives in civic service to their home community. 
  • A champion for volunteerism - encouraging people of all ages and walks contributing to the betterment of their home community through volunteerism of all kinds. 
SCCNCS is involved in:
  • Approx. $5MM annually in federal pass-through grantmaking (ref.)
  • Directly administering the grant-funded efforts of approximately 350 AmeriCorps State national service participants.
  • Indirectly uplifting the efforts of 2000+ AmeriCorps national service participants in South Carolina (VISTA, AmeriCorps National, NCCC, AmeriCorps Seniors)
  • The co-governance of the VolunteerSC.org statewide volunteer platform (ref.)
  • The co-hosting of the annual South Carolina Governor's Volunteer awards (ref.)
SCCNCS is governed by:
  • Outlined in federal law through 42 U.S.C. 12638 (ref.)
  • Detailed in federal statute through 45 CFR 2550 (ref.)
  • Assigned to the custodianship of UWASC by SC Governor exec order 2007.24 (ref.)
OUR MISSION:

To improve South Carolina communities through volunteerism and national service programs.

OUR VISION:

To promote and increase:
  1. An ethic of service and volunteerism in the State of South Carolina
  2. The capacity of faith-based and community organizations within the state to better compete for funding opportunities
  3. The collaboration among communities and organizations that are trying to meet the greatest needs of the Palmetto State
SCCNCS Additional Information:
  • AmeriCorpsSC.org [LINK]
  • 2025-27 South Carolina State Service Plan [LINK]
[SECTION 1] Application Progress Check

[Section 2] What is the role of an SCCNCS Commissioner?
Commissioners are the state's volunteer leadership of the South Carolina Commission on National and Community Service (SCCNCS).


Commissioners are generally responsible for:

  • Acting as a member of the executive body for SCCNCS. 
    • Attending quarterly SCCNCS meetings, both in-person (spring / fall) and virtual (winter / summer)
    • Participating in standing and/or ad hoc committees, such as Grant Review, Governor's Volunteer Awards, Public Policy, Nominations, etc.
    • Reviewing, deliberating and voting on issues of funding, policy, and focus.
    • Overseeing all activities of SCCNCS, similar to a 'board' role
    • Overseeing the work of the SCCNCS administrative staff (currently 5.7 FTE)
  • Serving as a public representative and champion for AmeriCorps national service, service and volunteerism at large.
    • Occasionally speaking, presenting, representing at a local, regional, and statewide level on the topics of AmeriCorps, service and volunteerism.
    • Occasionally being called on to liaise with local, state and/or federal elected representatives as an expert and champion for AmeriCorps, service and volunteerism.
Commissioners are expected to:
  • Serve without personal gain:
    • To serve as a volunteer (without pay or remuneration of any kind)
    • To Serve without personal interest (free from any conflicts of interest, real or apparent)
  • Sign a sworn Oath of Office
    • Upon start of service, sign an oath to be filed with the South Carolina Secretary of State to preserve, protect, defend and uphold the Constitution of the State of South Carolina and the Constitution of the United States of America
  • Regularly attend and actively participate in the efforts of SCCNCS 
    • Attend 75% or more commission quarterly meetings each year (3 of 4 , at minimum)
    • Participate actively in at least 1 committee of the commission
    • Participate ad hoc in responding to needs of the commission (informal and formal meetings, calls, emails)
Commissioners (recruited through this process) will serve for:
  • An initial 2 year term
    • Start: July 1, 2025
    • End: June 30, 2027
  • Potentially eligible for up to 2 additional 3-year term renewals
    [SECTION 2] Application Progress Check

    [SECTION 3] Application Timeline & Follow-up Contacts
    OVERALL APPLICATION TIMELINE:
    • (MONDAY MARCH 31, 2025) SUBMISSION DUE DATE FOR THIS APPLICATION 
    • (APRIL 2025) APPLICATIONS WILL BE REVIEWED BY SCCNCS NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
    • (APRIL 2025) APPLICANT INTERVIEWS MAY BE SCHEDULED (VIRTUALLY)
    • (MID MAY 2025) PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED 
    • (MID JUNE 2025) FINAL DECISIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED
    • (JULY 1 2025) NEW COMMISSIONERS WILL OFFICIALLY START TERMS
    • (AUGUST 2025) NEW COMMISSIONER ORIENTATION

    For leadership and governance questions, please contact:
    Missy Santorum
    Governor-appointed Chairperson
    South Carolina Commission on National and Community Service
    msantorum@palmetto.coop

    For application status and review questions, please contact:
    Candi Forester-Smith
    Vice Chair and Nominations Committee Chair
    South Carolina Commission on National and Community Service
    cforeste@tctc.edu

    For technical assistance questions, please contact:
    Mark Weller
    Executive Director - SC Service Commission
    United Way Association of South Carolina, Inc.
    (cell) 803-920-4868
    mark.weller@uwasc.org
    [SECTION 3] Application Progress Check

    Page 2 of 2 - Application to serve as an SCCNCS Commissioner

    UWASC Americorps SC combined Logo
    [SECTION 4] Applicant Contact Info
    In this section, please fill out your basic contact information.






    Applicant Residency and Constituency
    In this section, please fill out your 'home address' as the address where you are registered to vote. This will help us gather regional constituency information.




    [SECTION 5] Commission Composition Questions
    Federal guidelines on State Service Commission composition are outlined in 45 CFR 2550.50. The following questions seek to report out to the federal AmeriCorps agency on our commission's composition - this will (1) help to ensure our compliance with federal regulation, and (2) help to guide the Nominations Committee in commissioner recruitment efforts. 

    NOTE: "    A [Commissioner Applicant] may represent none, one, or more than one category".

    Please respond to the following, selecting 'yes' for any and all that apply to you as of today.


    Examples could be: You serve on a nonprofit, religious, or civic group board or advisory committee, and/or you are an employee of a nonprofit, religious, or civic group. 

    Examples could be: You are the SC Superintendent of Education or you are the SC Superintendent of Education's direct appointee / designee to the SC Service Commission.

    Examples could be: You are a locally elected official (school board, city, county, state) and/or you are a public service employee working for a municipal, county, regional, or state public agency.

    Examples could be: You are a labor union member-leader or labor union representative and/or you represent an artisan trade organization / guild. 

    Examples could be: You are a small business owner and/or you work in the private, for-profit sector. 

    Examples could be: I am an active AmeriCorps member. OR, I am a college student leading a school-based service program. OR, I am a high school senior leading service efforts.

    Examples could be: You are employed by or are in a volunteer leadership role with an organization that operates a national service program (an AmeriCorps program - through any branch including ASN, VISTA, NCCC and/or Seniors). Your role on the SC Commission itself does not count toward this. 

    Examples could be: You are an active or retired/former --> school teacher, counselor, therapist, youth camp director, foster parent, youth-focused social worker, childcare provider, afterschool/summer program leader, and/or other related roles. 

    Examples could be: You have led organized nonprofit / civic / faith-based efforts to specifically engage and recruit seniors in volunteerism. You may have been a volunteer administrator with a nonprofit/civic group recruiting retirees as volunteers, or as an AmeriCorps Seniors program operator, or as an employee or board member with an agency that relied heavily on seniors as a committed volunteer base. 

    Examples could be: You are either a board member, committed volunteer, or employee of an organization that is volunteer driven and/or volunteer-led. You may serve as a volunteer administrator or as a member of a volunteer-only civic group (such as Rotary or Kiwanis or Soroptimist International).  
    [SECTION 5] Attestation to accuracy of provided information

    [SECTION 6] Applicant Questions and Information

    Note - 50 word limit

    Note - 50 word limit

    Examples: Nonprofit board roles. Other commission roles. Community committee roles. School/City/County/Regional/State planning groups. Private company boards / trade group / business association leadership roles. (Note - 150 word limit)

    Examples: I served as an AmeriCorps member in XYZ program. I supervised AmeriCorps members at ABC host site. I ran an AmeriCorps program with MNO. I partnered with PQR agency that had AmeriCorps members involved in our collective efforts.(Note - 150 word limit)

    (Note - 150 word limit)

    (Note - 150 word limit)

    (Note - 100 word limit)

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    Applicant Reference
    Please (below) provide the name and contact information for 1 individual who may be able to provide SCCNCS with a relevant and objective reference for you with regard to your application as a Commissioner.



    (Note - 50 word limit)
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