The National Service Trust is a fund established by the National and Community Service Act of 1993. It is used to pay for AmeriCorps Education Awards and interest that accrues on qualified student loans for those who have successfully completed approved terms of national service. The money is kept in an account in the U.S. Treasury and is invested in Treasury securities.
The Office of the National Service Trust (frequently referred to as the Trust) is the office within the Corporation for National and Community Service that manages all of the various functions related to the AmeriCorps Education Award. These functions include:
providing information to AmeriCorps members and alumni, institutions, programs, and others regarding the National Service Trust;
enrolling AmeriCorps members in the Trust and documenting their service;
providing the Awards to alumni who successfully complete their service;
helping alumni use their earned AmeriCorps Education Awards and making appropriate payments to schools and loan holders as directed by alumni;
helping members obtain forbearances on the repayment of their qualified student loans and making appropriate payments for interest that accrued while they were serving;
and managing the investments of the Trust.