Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2015 ACF OCS EI 1005
Apply for HHS 2015 ACF OCS EI 1005
- The Administration for Children and Families OCS in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Assets for Independence Demonstration Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.602 Assets for Independence Demonstration Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 1, 2015 and posted on Apr 8, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2015 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $11,250,000.00 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 35 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Special district governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses State governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Independent school districts Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education.
- The Assets for Independence (AFI) program is authorized to award grants to the following entities all non profit entities with 501(c)(3) status state or local government agencies, or tribal governments, applying jointly with a non profit with 501(c)(3) status financial institutions that are federally certified as either a Low Income Credit Union or a Community Development Financial Institution and that demonstrate a collaborative relationship with a local community based organization whose activities address poverty in the community and the needs of community members for economic independence and stability and entities deemed eligible under Section 405(g) of the AFI Act. Governmental entities If a governmental entity applies jointly with an entity with 501(c)(3) status, either entity may be the official applicant that will be responsible for grant administration and AFI project implementation if an award is made. Regardless of which entity is the official applicant, documentation of 501(c)(3) status of the non governmental joint applicant is required to establish eligibility, and applications submitted by joint applicants must include a signed agreement between these entities. Other entities, including nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status and for profit entities, are only eligible for AFI funding if they satisfy the requirements for either a Low Income Credit Union or a Community Development Financial Institution. Faith based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity announcement. Faith based organizations are encouraged to review the ACF Policy on Grants to Faith Based Organizations at http //www.acf.hhs.gov/acf policy on grants to faith based organizations. Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from competitive review and from funding under this announcement.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Assets for Independence (AFI) Demonstration Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS), aimed at helping low-income individuals build long-term economic stability through savings and asset ownership. Funded projects are expected to operate Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), which are special matched-savings accounts that allow participants to deposit earned income and receive matching funds from the project. When participants reach their savings goals, the combined savings and match can be used only for specific, approved asset purchases: buying a first home, starting or expanding a small business, or paying for post-secondary education or job training. The overall purpose is not just to help people save, but to help them move toward economic self-sufficiency by pairing savings incentives with practical supports that make asset-building realistic and sustainable.
Beyond administering the IDA itself, AFI projects are expected to provide a range of services that help participants succeed financially and complete their asset goals. Grantees are encouraged to design their approach around local needs and opportunities, which means programs can look different depending on the community and the population served. Common allowable and encouraged support services include financial education classes, training tied to the specific asset goal (like homebuyer education, entrepreneurship training, or education planning), one-on-one financial coaching, credit-building strategies, credit and debt counseling, and assistance accessing tax benefits and tax preparation help. In practice, these wraparound services are meant to address the real barriers that prevent saving, such as poor credit, high-cost debt, lack of familiarity with lending systems, or difficulty navigating education and training costs.
A central requirement of the AFI program is cost sharing: every federal dollar awarded must be matched by at least one dollar in cash from non-federal sources. In other words, applicants must bring an equal amount of non-federal cash to the table, and they must document firm commitments for those funds in the application. This matching structure is a defining feature of AFI and affects program design, partnerships, and fundraising, because the match is not optional and must be cash (not just in-kind support). The funding announcement indicates that detailed rules for what counts and how commitments must be documented are specified in the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).
This specific opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2015-ACF-OCS-EI-1005; CFDA 93.602) was posted April 8, 2015, with applications due June 15, 2015 by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time via electronic submission. The estimated total funding amount was $11.25 million, with an expected 35 awards. Award sizes ranged from a floor of $10,000 to a ceiling of $1,000,000, meaning both relatively small and large-scale projects could compete depending on the proposed scope and capacity.
Eligibility is fairly broad but has important conditions. Eligible applicants include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, state or local government agencies, and tribal governments, with an option for governmental entities to apply jointly with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. When applying jointly, the application must include documentation of the nonprofit partner's 501(c)(3) status and a signed agreement between the partnering entities, and either partner may serve as the official applicant responsible for administration and implementation. Financial institutions can also be eligible if they are federally certified as a Low Income Credit Union (LICU) or a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and can show a collaborative relationship with a local community-based organization focused on addressing poverty and supporting economic independence. Other entities, including nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status and for-profit organizations, are generally only eligible if they meet the LICU or CDFI requirements. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible as long as they meet the program requirements, and the announcement points applicants to ACF policy guidance for faith-based organizations. Individuals, including sole proprietors, and foreign entities are not eligible and would be disqualified from review.
The announcement notes a modification related to Promise Zones: eight second-round Promise Zone designees were announced on April 28, 2015 and added to the appendix listing of Promise Zones. This reflects an update to the FOA materials rather than a change to the core purpose of AFI, but it matters for applicants looking for any place-based priorities or references contained in the appendix. For applicants needing assistance accessing the full announcement, the contact listed is the ACF Applications Help Desk (appsupport@acf.hhs.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Assets for Independence (AFI) Demonstration Program (HHS-2015-ACF-OCS-EI-1005)
What is the Assets for Independence (AFI) Demonstration Program?
The Assets for Independence (AFI) Demonstration Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS). It is designed to help low-income individuals build long-term economic stability through savings and asset ownership.
What is the main purpose of AFI-funded projects?
AFI-funded projects are intended to support economic self-sufficiency by helping participants save earned income and build assets, paired with practical services that make saving and asset-building realistic and sustainable.
What is an Individual Development Account (IDA) under AFI?
An Individual Development Account (IDA) is a special matched-savings account operated by an AFI project. Participants deposit earned income into the account, and the project provides matching funds. Once participants meet their savings goals, the combined participant savings and match can be used only for specific approved asset purchases.
What can participants use IDA savings and matching funds for?
AFI allows the combined savings and match to be used only for approved asset goals: buying a first home, starting or expanding a small business, or paying for post-secondary education or job training.
Are AFI projects only about providing matched savings?
No. In addition to administering IDAs, AFI projects are expected to provide services that help participants succeed financially and complete their asset goals.
What kinds of support services are encouraged or allowed under AFI?
Common allowable and encouraged support services include financial education classes, asset-goal-related training (such as homebuyer education, entrepreneurship training, or education planning), one-on-one financial coaching, credit-building strategies, credit and debt counseling, and assistance accessing tax benefits and tax preparation help.
Why does AFI emphasize services like credit counseling and coaching?
These wraparound services are meant to address barriers that often prevent saving and asset purchases, such as poor credit, high-cost debt, lack of familiarity with lending systems, or difficulty navigating education and training costs.
Does AFI require cost sharing or matching funds?
Yes. A central AFI requirement is cost sharing: every federal dollar awarded must be matched by at least one dollar in cash from non-federal sources.
Is the required match allowed to be in-kind contributions?
No. The requirement described is for cash from non-federal sources (not in-kind support). Applicants must document firm commitments for these funds in the application.
Where are the detailed rules about what counts as match and how to document it?
The announcement indicates that detailed rules on what counts toward match and how commitments must be documented are provided in the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for this AFI opportunity?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS-2015-ACF-OCS-EI-1005 and the CFDA number is 93.602.
When was this funding opportunity posted and when were applications due?
The opportunity was posted on April 8, 2015. Applications were due on June 15, 2015 by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time via electronic submission.
How much total funding was estimated to be available and how many awards were expected?
The estimated total funding amount was $11.25 million, with an expected 35 awards.
What were the minimum and maximum award amounts?
Award sizes ranged from a floor of $10,000 to a ceiling of $1,000,000, allowing both smaller and larger-scale project proposals depending on scope and capacity.
Who is eligible to apply for AFI funding?
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, state or local government agencies, and tribal governments. Government entities may also apply jointly with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under specified documentation requirements.
Can a government agency and a nonprofit apply together?
Yes. Governmental entities can apply jointly with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The application must include documentation of the nonprofit partner's 501(c)(3) status and a signed agreement between the partnering entities.
In a joint application, which partner is the official applicant?
Either partner may serve as the official applicant responsible for administration and implementation, as described in the opportunity information.
Are financial institutions eligible applicants?
Financial institutions can be eligible if they are federally certified as a Low Income Credit Union (LICU) or a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and can demonstrate a collaborative relationship with a local community-based organization focused on addressing poverty and supporting economic independence.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
For-profit organizations are generally only eligible if they meet the LICU or CDFI requirements described in the announcement.
Are nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status eligible to apply?
Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status are generally only eligible if they meet the LICU or CDFI requirements described in the announcement.
Are faith-based organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible as long as they meet AFI program requirements. The announcement references ACF policy guidance for faith-based organizations.
Are individuals eligible to apply for this grant?
No. Individuals, including sole proprietors, are not eligible and would be disqualified from review.
Are foreign entities eligible to apply?
No. Foreign entities are not eligible and would be disqualified from review.
Do AFI projects have to follow a single standardized program model?
No. Grantees are encouraged to design their approach around local needs and opportunities, so program designs can differ depending on the community and the population served.
What was the Promise Zones modification mentioned in the announcement?
The announcement notes that eight second-round Promise Zone designees were announced on April 28, 2015 and were added to the appendix listing of Promise Zones. This is described as an update to FOA materials and may matter for applicants referencing any place-based priorities or appendix materials.
Who can help if an applicant has trouble accessing the full announcement?
The contact listed for assistance is the ACF Applications Help Desk at appsupport@acf.hhs.gov.
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