Volunteer Maryland

What Volunteer Maryland does

The Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation (DSCI), also referenced as Volunteer Maryland, is a Maryland state government agency established by Governor Wes Moore in 2023 under the executive branch. The department operates two principal program streams: the Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program — a first-in-the-nation public service year initiative created by the SERVE Act — and AmeriCorps Maryland, which administers federal national-service funding at the state level. DSCI connects adult service members (18+) with host-site partners including nonprofits, educational institutions, government agencies, and for-profit organizations across all 24 Maryland jurisdictions.

DSCI supports a portfolio of more than 200 partner organizations spanning education (e.g., City Teaching Alliance, Teach For America Maryland, ASTAR at Frostburg State University, ShoreCorps at Salisbury University, Community Art Collaborative at MICA), workforce development and digital inclusion (Digital Harbor Foundation, Improve Your Tomorrow), community mediation, and community development (Civic Works). The Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program has launched three cohorts producing an alumni network exceeding 700. Technology infrastructure consists of the BuildWithin digital application platform used for member and host-site recruitment, and Zoom for virtual program delivery and commission meetings; there are no disclosed proprietary AI/ML systems.

DSCI's funding flows from state appropriations, federal AmeriCorps formula and competitive operational grants (which pass through to host-site organizations), AmeriCorps Maryland Workforce Development Planning Grants (up to $240,000 per 6-month planning period), and SERVE Act state allocations. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The department is staffed by approximately 16 employees, with leadership appointed by the Governor (Acting Secretary Jonny Dorsey as of 2025), and is governed in conjunction with the Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism and the Maryland Corps Advisory Board.

Name

Volunteer Maryland

Legal name

Department of Service and Civic Innovation

Website

https://volunteer.maryland.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Volunteer Maryland (DSCI) is a Maryland state agency that administers AmeriCorps Maryland and the SERVE Act Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program, connecting adult service members with 200+ nonprofit, government, and educational host-site partners across all 24 Maryland jurisdictions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Service Program Administration

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Volunteerism, Service-Learning & Community Service (EDALAHAG)

Keywords

• National service programs
• AmeriCorps state grants
• Service year program
• Civic innovation programs
• Volunteer placement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Annapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. AmeriCorps Formula Operational Grants: Federal AmeriCorps funding passed through to organizations that place AmeriCorps members in Maryland communities. Grant award amounts are based on the number of AmeriCorps Members serving with the organization. Programs must support equivalent of 20 full-time AmeriCorps Members in first year.
2. AmeriCorps Competitive Operational Grants: Competitive grants for organizations placing full- or part-time AmeriCorps members within Maryland to address critical local needs.
3. AmeriCorps Maryland Workforce Development Planning Grants: Planning grants providing up to $240,000 in funding for 6-month planning periods to develop new AmeriCorps programs with career pathways.
4. SERVE Act Program Funding: State-funded Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program created under the SERVE Act legislation, providing education and employment opportunities for Marylanders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Volunteer Maryland, operating through the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation (DSCI), administers statewide national service programs including the Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program and AmeriCorps Maryland. The department recruits adults 18+ to serve with nonprofit, government, and business host sites across all 24 Maryland jurisdictions, while awarding AmeriCorps formula and competitive operational grants plus planning grants (up to $240,000) to organizations that place members. Members receive living stipends, education awards, and career pathway development in exchange for full- or part-time service.

Product overview

The Department of Service and Civic Innovation (DSCI) operates two main program streams: the Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program (a first-in-the-nation public service year program created via the 2023 SERVE Act) and AmeriCorps Maryland (national service at the state level). DSCI also administers grant programs including AmeriCorps Maryland Planning Grants (up to $240,000 for program development) and AmeriCorps Maryland Formula Operational Grants for organizations placing AmeriCorps members. The organization supports a network of subgrantees across education, workforce development, community arts, mediation, and digital inclusion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program: A first-in-the-nation public service year program that creates education and employment opportunities for Marylanders, empowering residents 18+ to serve communities while building professional skills.
• AmeriCorps Maryland
• Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism (GCOSV)

Products and services

• Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program A first-in-the-nation public service year program for high school graduates, created through the SERVE Act in 2023. Empowers residents 18+ to serve their communities while building professional skills, connecting Members with Host Site Partners including nonprofits, government agencies, and businesses across all 24 Maryland jurisdictions.
• AmeriCorps Maryland State-level AmeriCorps programs that engage individuals in national service to strengthen communities. Members can choose between full- and part-time positions and receive a living stipend, education awards for tuition or loans, and professional development opportunities.
• AmeriCorps Maryland Planning Grants Provides up to $240,000 in funding for a 6-month planning period to develop new AmeriCorps programs with defined career pathways that embed workforce attributes into service terms. Does not fund AmeriCorps member positions during the planning year.
• AmeriCorps Maryland Formula Operational Grants Federal AmeriCorps funding passed through to organizations that place full- or part-time AmeriCorps members in Maryland communities to address critical local needs. Grant awards are based on the number of AmeriCorps Members serving with the organization; programs must support the equivalent of 20 full-time AmeriCorps Members in their first year.
• AmeriCorps Maryland Competitive Operational Grants Competitive grants for organizations placing full- or part-time AmeriCorps members within Maryland to address critical local needs, awarded alongside the formula operational grants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 classes launched with 700+ alumni network
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism (GCOSV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReviews and approves all AmeriCorps State funding in Maryland. Serves as ambassadors for service and volunteerism. Applies for federal and state funding to support service initiatives. Oversees Maryland's AmeriCorps programs in accordance with the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. Develops and updates a three-year strategic plan for service in Maryland.
• Maryland Corps Advisory BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides strategic direction and support to Maryland Corps/Service Year Option programs. Ensures programs foster civic engagement, expand service opportunities for young adults, and contribute to meaningful community development. Advises DSCI on program goals, structure, outreach, and funding strategies.
• Frostburg State University (ASTAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASTAR (Appalachian Service Through Action and Resources) focuses on providing direct, substantive services to meet community needs through AmeriCorps members supporting educational programming, health and wellness, senior programming, food pantries, and community gardens.
• Civic WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrengthens Baltimore's communities through education, skills development, and community service. AmeriCorps members tutor students, grow healthy food, create outdoor community spaces, and help older adults age in place.
• City Teaching AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIdentifies, prepares, and retains exceptional career educators. In Maryland, prepares long-term teachers in Baltimore City, improving academic and social-emotional skills for nearly 4,000 students.
• Community Art Collaborative (MICA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngages over 600 K-12 youth in community-based arts programming by partnering with nonprofit organizations, schools, museums, and community centers across Baltimore City.
• Community Mediation MarylandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmeriCorps program that engages the community to actualize social change, remove barriers to community mediation, and increase the number of mediations for those who live, work, or attend school in Maryland.
• Digital Harbor FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarbor Navigators Program leverages AmeriCorps members to help Baltimore City residents access city services, telemedicine, online education, and remote work opportunities through technology.
• Improve Your TomorrowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIYT Mentors lead student development workshops including college advising, civic engagement, character education, and life skills. Fellows become part of the greater AmeriCorps Volunteer Network.
• ShoreCorps (Salisbury University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with over 25 agencies on Maryland's Eastern Shore to expand reach and capacity through service. Members gain experience serving with nonprofits, government agencies, or schools.
• Teach For America MarylandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlaces educators in Baltimore City schools to increase academic achievement. Full-time, paid, two-year leadership role teaching in under-resourced K-12 schools.
• The Choice Program at UMBCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides mentoring, enrichment, education, and workforce development services to youth and families in Baltimore City and surrounding counties.
• AmeriCorps (Federal)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational service program administered at the state level through DSCI. AmeriCorps is the largest funder of national service in the United States, connecting organizations with individuals dedicated to addressing critical needs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Serve Washington: Washington State's service commission administering AmeriCorps Washington grants and volunteer initiatives—directly analogous as a state-level service commission with similar mission and operating model.
• CaliforniaVolunteers: California's state commission on service and volunteerism, administering AmeriCorps programs and state-level service initiatives—directly analogous to DSCI as a sister state service commission with similar grant administration and member placement functions.
• Minnesota Commission on National and Community Service: Minnesota's state service commission administering AmeriCorps Minnesota grants—directly analogous to DSCI as a sister state commission with similar statutory authority and grantmaking functions.
• Volunteer Florida: Florida's state commission on volunteerism and national service, administering AmeriCorps Florida grants and statewide volunteer initiatives—comparable in mission, structure, and grantmaking role to DSCI.
• Volunteer Maine: Maine's state service commission administering AmeriCorps programs and volunteer initiatives—comparable in scale and function as a smaller state commission with similar grant and member placement responsibilities.

Broad incumbents

• AmeriCorps (federal agency): The federal agency that funds and oversees state service commissions including DSCI; comparable as the parent framework and largest funder of national service, providing the regulatory and financial architecture within which DSCI operates.
• City Year: National nonprofit deploying AmeriCorps members to schools for tutoring and student support—comparable as a downstream user of AmeriCorps funding that DSCI helps channel through subgrantees such as City Teaching Alliance.
• Teach For America: National service organization placing recent graduates in K-12 teaching roles; operates in Maryland as a DSCI subgrantee and is comparable as a national-service intermediary with similar workforce-development mission.
• Public Allies: National nonprofit operating AmeriCorps-supported service-year fellowships for young adults in nonprofit and public-sector careers—comparable as a fellow national-service intermediary with similar member placement model.

Emerging players

• Civic Works: Baltimore-based AmeriCorps subgrantee of DSCI that places members in community service roles—comparable as a host-site partner organization that delivers the service programming DSCI administers and funds.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MarylandServes/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/marylandserves
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/volunteermaryland
• Instagraminstagram.com/marylandserves

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Volunteer Maryland