Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2009 ACF OCS SI 0091
Apply for HHS 2009 ACF OCS SI 0091
- The Administration for Children and Families in the recovery act sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 Strengthening Communities Fund Nonprofit Capacity Building Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.711 ARRA Strengthening Communities Fund.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 11, 2009 and posted on May 11, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 7, 2009 See link to full announcement for details. IMPORTANT NOTE Applications submitted electronically via Grants.gov must be submitted no later than 430 p.m., eastern time, on the due date referenced above.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $34,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 34 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education City or township governments Small businesses For profit organizations other than small businesses Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments County governments.
- Faith based and community organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign entities are not eligible under this announcement.
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Opportunity Summary:
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) Nonprofit Capacity Building Program was a federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Office of Community Services (OCS). Authorized under Section 1110 of the Social Security Act and Title VIII of ARRA (Public Law 111-5), the program was designed as part of the broader Recovery Act response to the economic crisis, with an emphasis on strengthening the local nonprofit infrastructure needed to help communities rebound.
At its core, the opportunity funded “lead organizations” through cooperative agreements to deliver structured capacity-building support to nonprofit “project partner” organizations operating in distressed communities. Rather than primarily paying for direct services, the program concentrated on improving how community-based nonprofits function so they could deliver stronger, more sustainable economic-recovery outcomes over time. Lead organizations were expected to provide a mix of capacity-building training, hands-on technical assistance, and competitive financial assistance to their nonprofit partners, essentially acting as intermediaries that could quickly raise the effectiveness and stability of smaller grassroots groups.
The overall policy goal was tied directly to economic recovery for low-income individuals and families. The program’s capacity-building focus was meant to help nonprofits contribute more effectively to outcomes such as helping people secure and retain employment, increase earnings, move into better-quality jobs, and improve access to state and federal benefits, including tax credits. In other words, the federal government was investing in nonprofit organizational strength as a pathway to improved employment and income outcomes for people hit hardest by the recession.
ACF/OCS identified five specific capacity-building domains that lead organizations were expected to address with their nonprofit partners. First was organizational development, which typically includes governance, financial management, systems, staffing structures, strategic planning, and operational controls that make an organization stable and compliant. Second was program development, focused on strengthening the design, delivery, and scalability of services and initiatives that support economic mobility and recovery. Third was collaboration and community engagement, aimed at building partnerships, referral networks, and community trust so nonprofits could coordinate more effectively and avoid duplicating efforts. Fourth was leadership development, intended to strengthen executive leadership, management capacity, and succession planning in grassroots organizations. Fifth was evaluation of effectiveness, emphasizing the ability to measure results, track performance, and use data to improve programs and demonstrate impact to funders and the community.
Because the awards were issued as cooperative agreements, recipients should have expected substantial federal involvement compared to a standard grant, such as closer oversight, defined deliverables, and more structured reporting expectations. Consistent with ARRA requirements, successful applicants were subject to Recovery Act standard terms and conditions, including heightened transparency and accountability expectations. In addition to those ARRA-related requirements, recipients had to submit quarterly performance progress reports using an SF-PPR format specifically tailored to Strengthening Communities Fund awards, reinforcing the program’s emphasis on measurable progress and documented outcomes.
From a funding and competition standpoint, the opportunity anticipated approximately 34 awards nationwide, backed by an estimated total funding level of $34,000,000. The stated award ceiling was $1,000,000, with an award floor of $0 (meaning the announcement did not guarantee a minimum award size). A cost-sharing or matching requirement applied, so applicants needed to plan for contributing non-federal resources in accordance with the full announcement’s rules. The funding instrument type was listed as a cooperative agreement, and the activity category was tied to Recovery Act funding.
Eligibility was broad and included many types of domestic entities, reflecting the Recovery Act’s urgency and the need for capable intermediaries across sectors. Eligible applicants included nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), faith-based and community organizations, state and local governments (including counties, cities/townships, and special districts), tribal governments and certain tribal organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, and some for-profit entities (including small businesses and other for-profit organizations as specified). Foreign entities were explicitly not eligible under this announcement. Because the program targeted experienced organizations to serve as lead organizations, the practical intent was to fund applicants with demonstrated capacity to manage partnerships, deliver technical assistance, and administer competitive sub-awards or financial assistance to partner nonprofits.
Key administrative dates reflect that this was a time-limited ARRA competition. The opportunity was posted May 11, 2009, with an application closing date of July 7, 2009. Applications submitted through Grants.gov had to be received by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. The archive date was August 6, 2009, indicating the opportunity’s formal closeout in the listings.
In summary, this SCF Nonprofit Capacity Building Program was a Recovery Act initiative meant to strengthen the “backbone” of community nonprofits in hard-hit areas by funding capable lead organizations to deliver training, technical assistance, and targeted financial support across organizational development, program design, collaboration, leadership, and evaluation. The intended payoff was not only stronger nonprofits, but better employment and economic outcomes for low-income residents through more effective, sustainable, and coordinated community-based services.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the ARRA Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) Nonprofit Capacity Building Program?
The Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) Nonprofit Capacity Building Program was a federal grant opportunity created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. It was run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Office of Community Services (OCS). The program was part of the broader Recovery Act response to the economic crisis and focused on strengthening local nonprofit infrastructure in distressed communities.
Who administered this opportunity at the federal level?
The opportunity was administered by HHS/ACF, specifically through ACF's Office of Community Services (OCS).
What legal authorities authorized the program?
The program was authorized under Section 1110 of the Social Security Act and Title VIII of ARRA (Public Law 111-5).
What was the main purpose of this funding?
The central purpose was to fund capacity-building support for community-based nonprofits operating in distressed communities. The program emphasized improving nonprofit organizational strength so nonprofits could deliver stronger, more sustainable economic-recovery outcomes over time.
Did the program primarily fund direct services to clients?
No. The program was designed to concentrate on improving how nonprofits function (capacity building) rather than primarily paying for direct services. The intent was that stronger nonprofit operations would lead to improved outcomes over time.
What is a "lead organization" in this program?
A lead organization was the primary award recipient funded through a cooperative agreement. Lead organizations were responsible for delivering structured capacity-building support to nonprofit "project partner" organizations in distressed communities, acting as intermediaries to strengthen smaller or grassroots groups.
What is a "project partner" organization?
Project partners were nonprofit organizations operating in distressed communities that would receive capacity-building support from the funded lead organization. This support could include training, technical assistance, and competitive financial assistance administered by the lead organization.
What types of support were lead organizations expected to provide to partners?
Lead organizations were expected to provide a mix of: (1) capacity-building training, (2) hands-on technical assistance, and (3) competitive financial assistance to nonprofit project partners.
What were the policy goals or intended community outcomes?
The policy goal was tied to economic recovery for low-income individuals and families. By strengthening nonprofits, the program aimed to help communities achieve outcomes such as helping people secure and retain employment, increase earnings, move into better-quality jobs, and improve access to state and federal benefits, including tax credits.
What capacity-building areas (domains) were emphasized?
ACF/OCS identified five capacity-building domains that lead organizations were expected to address with their nonprofit partners:
- Organizational development (for example: governance, financial management, systems, staffing structures, strategic planning, operational controls, stability and compliance)
- Program development (strengthening design, delivery, and scalability of services/initiatives supporting economic mobility and recovery)
- Collaboration and community engagement (partnerships, referral networks, community trust, coordination, reducing duplication)
- Leadership development (executive leadership, management capacity, succession planning in grassroots organizations)
- Evaluation of effectiveness (measuring results, tracking performance, using data for improvement, demonstrating impact)
What type of funding instrument was used?
The awards were issued as cooperative agreements.
What does it mean that this was a cooperative agreement?
Because the awards were cooperative agreements, recipients should have expected substantial federal involvement compared to a standard grant. This could include closer oversight, defined deliverables, and more structured reporting expectations.
Were there special Recovery Act (ARRA) requirements?
Yes. Consistent with ARRA, recipients were subject to standard Recovery Act terms and conditions, including heightened transparency and accountability expectations.
What reporting was required under this opportunity?
Recipients had to submit quarterly performance progress reports using an SF-PPR format specifically tailored to Strengthening Communities Fund awards. This reflected the program's emphasis on measurable progress and documented outcomes.
How many awards were anticipated and what was the total estimated funding?
The opportunity anticipated approximately 34 awards nationwide with an estimated total funding level of $34,000,000.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The stated award ceiling was $1,000,000.
Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor was listed as $0, meaning the announcement did not guarantee a minimum award size.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applied, so applicants needed to plan to contribute non-federal resources in accordance with the full announcement's rules.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility included a broad range of domestic entities, including:
- Nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits)
- Faith-based and community organizations
- State and local governments (including counties, cities/townships, and special districts)
- Tribal governments and certain tribal organizations
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Some for-profit entities (including small businesses and other for-profit organizations, as specified)
Are foreign entities eligible?
No. Foreign entities were explicitly not eligible under this announcement.
What kinds of applicants was the program practically trying to fund as lead organizations?
While eligibility was broad, the practical intent was to fund experienced organizations capable of serving as intermediaries, with demonstrated capacity to manage partnerships, deliver technical assistance, and administer competitive sub-awards or financial assistance to partner nonprofits.
When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?
The opportunity was posted on May 11, 2009. The application closing date was July 7, 2009.
What was the submission deadline time for Grants.gov applications?
Applications submitted through Grants.gov had to be received by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
What does the archive date mean for this opportunity?
The archive date was August 6, 2009, indicating the opportunity's formal closeout in listings and that it was a time-limited ARRA competition.
What was the activity category associated with this funding?
The activity category was tied to Recovery Act (ARRA) funding.
How was the program expected to help distressed communities recover?
The program invested in nonprofit organizational strength as a pathway to improved employment and income outcomes for low-income residents. By improving management systems, leadership, program design, partnerships, and evaluation, nonprofits were expected to deliver more effective and sustainable economic-recovery efforts in their communities.
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