Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2011 ACF OCS EI 0137
Apply for HHS 2011 ACF OCS EI 0137
- 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 Apr 12, 2013 and posted on Mar 28, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 7, 2013 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 $15,000,000.00 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 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments State governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities City or township governments Special district governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Independent school districts Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Non profit entities without 501(c)(3) status may only apply as a joint applicant with an entity that has the 501(c)(3) status. Governmental entities (such as a State, local, or Tribal governments or agencies) may only apply as a joint applicant with an entity that has the 501(c)(3) status. Low Income Credit Unions and Community Development Financial Institutions may apply only if they demonstrate a strong collaborative relationship with one or more local community based organization(s) that seek to address poverty and the economic needs of community residents. Faith based and community organizations that meet eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity announcement. Individuals and foreign entities are not eligible for awards made under this announcement.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Assets for Independence (AFI) Demonstration Program is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Office of Community Services (OCS), to support projects that help individuals and families with low incomes build long-term economic stability. The core idea is to pair structured savings with practical support so participants can move toward lasting self-sufficiency, not just short-term assistance. This funding opportunity was issued under Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2011-ACF-OCS-EI-0137 (CFDA 93.602) and is part of a national demonstration focused on the use and impact of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs).
At the center of every AFI-funded project is the Individual Development Account, which is a special matched savings account. Participants deposit earned income into an IDA on a regular basis, and those savings are matched to help them reach a specific asset-building goal. The program limits the intended uses of IDA savings to three major asset categories that are expected to improve long-term financial outcomes: buying a home, starting or expanding a small business for self-employment, or paying for postsecondary education, job training, or related higher education expenses. The emphasis is on acquiring assets that can appreciate over time or strengthen long-term earning potential.
AFI projects are not just about opening a savings account; grantees are expected to provide an array of services that help people successfully save and make informed financial decisions. A required component is financial literacy education and coaching, which commonly includes training in budgeting and money management, understanding credit and consumer issues, and broader financial capability skills. In practice, applicants are proposing a full program model that combines matched savings with education, guidance, and supportive infrastructure so that participants can actually reach their savings targets and use funds appropriately for qualifying asset purchases.
A major requirement of this opportunity is the cost-sharing structure. Grant recipients must finance their projects using both federal AFI dollars and non-federal cash, and the non-federal cash contribution must be at least equal to the federal award amount. In other words, this is a one-to-one match requirement at the project funding level, which means applicants need a clear and credible plan for raising or committing the required non-federal cash to run the program and provide matching funds. Applications are screened and evaluated using the criteria and requirements described in the full announcement, and organizations that are not selected are allowed to reapply in later cycles.
The announcement is described as a standing announcement, meaning it remains active until it is changed or cancelled by the OCS Director, and it includes multiple funding cycles across Federal Fiscal Years 2011, 2012, and 2013, each with its own application due date. The notice included a specific modification: the application due date listed in Section IV.3 (Submission Dates and Times) was changed to June 7, 2013. Electronic submissions were required by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the applicable due date. The opportunity was originally posted March 28, 2012, shows an updated creation date of April 12, 2013, and later carried an archive date of January 24, 2014.
In terms of funding scale, ACF anticipated making about 50 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $15,000,000. Individual awards ranged from a floor of $5,000 to a ceiling of $1,000,000. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity category is listed as Income Security and Social Services.
Eligibility is broad across nonprofit, public, tribal, educational, and some private-sector entities, but there are important conditions. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, county and municipal governments, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status under specific rules), as well as for-profit organizations (including small businesses). However, governmental entities may only apply as joint applicants with an organization that has 501(c)(3) status, and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status may also only apply jointly with a 501(c)(3) organization. Low Income Credit Unions and Community Development Financial Institutions may apply only if they can show a strong collaborative relationship with one or more local community-based organizations focused on poverty and local economic needs. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible as long as they meet the stated requirements. Individuals and foreign entities are explicitly not eligible.
For applicants needing help accessing the full announcement or dealing with submission issues, the listed support contact is the ACF Applications Help Desk at appsupport@acf.hhs.gov. The full opportunity details were available through an ACF grants link associated with the opportunity number and title.
Assets for Independence (AFI) Demonstration Program (HHS-2011-ACF-OCS-EI-0137) FAQs
What is the Assets for Independence (AFI) Demonstration Program?
The Assets for Independence (AFI) Demonstration Program is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) through the Office of Community Services (OCS). It supports projects that help individuals and families with low incomes build long-term economic stability by combining structured savings with practical support services.
What is the main purpose of AFI-funded projects?
The core purpose is to help participants move toward long-term self-sufficiency (not just short-term assistance) by building assets through matched savings and related financial capability supports.
What is an Individual Development Account (IDA) in this program?
An Individual Development Account (IDA) is a special matched savings account at the center of every AFI-funded project. Participants make regular deposits from earned income, and those savings are matched to help participants reach a specific asset-building goal.
What can IDA savings be used for under AFI?
AFI limits the allowable uses of IDA savings to three major asset categories:
- Buying a home
- Starting or expanding a small business for self-employment
- Paying for postsecondary education, job training, or related higher education expenses
Are AFI projects only about opening savings accounts?
No. AFI projects are expected to provide an array of services that support participants in saving successfully and making informed financial decisions. The program model combines matched savings with education, guidance, and supportive infrastructure so participants can meet savings goals and use funds appropriately for qualifying asset purchases.
Is financial literacy education required?
Yes. Financial literacy education and coaching are required components. The announcement notes that this commonly includes budgeting and money management, understanding credit and consumer issues, and broader financial capability skills.
What is the cost-sharing (match) requirement for grantees?
Grant recipients must finance their projects using both federal AFI funds and non-federal cash. The non-federal cash contribution must be at least equal to the federal award amount, meaning a one-to-one (1:1) match at the project funding level.
Does the non-federal contribution have to be cash?
Yes. The opportunity states that recipients must provide a non-federal cash contribution that is at least equal to the federal award amount.
What does the 1:1 match requirement mean for applicants?
It means applicants need a clear and credible plan to raise, commit, or otherwise secure enough non-federal cash to match the requested federal award dollar-for-dollar in order to operate the program and provide matching funds.
How many awards were expected and what was the total estimated funding?
ACF anticipated making about 50 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $15,000,000.
What is the minimum and maximum award size?
Individual awards ranged from a floor of $5,000 to a ceiling of $1,000,000.
What type of funding instrument is this opportunity?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What activity category is this opportunity listed under?
The activity category is listed as Income Security and Social Services.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) and CFDA number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS-2011-ACF-OCS-EI-0137, and the CFDA number is 93.602.
Is this a one-time competition or a standing announcement?
The announcement is described as a standing announcement, meaning it remains active until changed or cancelled by the OCS Director. It included multiple funding cycles across Federal Fiscal Years 2011, 2012, and 2013, each with its own application due date.
What was the modified application due date mentioned in the notice?
The notice included a modification stating that the application due date listed in Section IV.3 was changed to June 7, 2013.
When were electronic applications due (time of day and time zone)?
Electronic submissions were required by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the applicable due date.
When was the opportunity posted, updated, and archived?
The opportunity was originally posted March 28, 2012, shows an updated creation date of April 12, 2013, and later carried an archive date of January 24, 2014.
Who can apply for AFI grants?
Eligibility is broad and includes nonprofit, public, tribal, educational, and some private-sector entities. The eligible applicant types listed include:
- State governments
- Local governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status
- Certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (under specific rules)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
Can governmental entities apply on their own?
No. Governmental entities may only apply as joint applicants with an organization that has 501(c)(3) status.
Can nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status apply?
They may apply only as joint applicants with a 501(c)(3) organization, under the conditions described in the opportunity.
Can Low Income Credit Unions or Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) apply?
Yes, but only if they can show a strong collaborative relationship with one or more local community-based organizations focused on poverty and local economic needs.
Are faith-based organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible as long as they meet the stated requirements.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. Individuals are explicitly not eligible.
Are foreign entities eligible to apply?
No. Foreign entities are explicitly not eligible.
What happens if an organization applies and is not selected?
Organizations that are not selected are allowed to reapply in later cycles.
How are applications reviewed?
Applications are screened and evaluated using the criteria and requirements described in the full announcement.
Where can applicants get help with accessing the announcement or submission issues?
Applicants can contact the ACF Applications Help Desk at appsupport@acf.hhs.gov for assistance with accessing the full announcement or dealing with submission issues.
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| Early Head Start Grantee Bronx and New York Counties, New York Apply for HHS 2013 ACF OHS CH R02 0329 Funding Number: HHS 2013 ACF OHS CH R02 0329 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,841,948 |
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| Head Start Grantee Orleans and Genesee Counties, New York Apply for HHS 2013 ACF OHS CH R02 0332 Funding Number: HHS 2013 ACF OHS CH R02 0332 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,927,431 |
| Head Start Grantee Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, and Salem Counties, New Jersey Apply for HHS 2013 ACF OHS CH R02 0333 Funding Number: HHS 2013 ACF OHS CH R02 0333 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $10,338,849 |
| Head Start Grantee Village of Kiryas Joel in Monroe County, New York Apply for HHS 2013 ACF OHS CH R02 0335 Funding Number: HHS 2013 ACF OHS CH R02 0335 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,859,389 |
| Early Head Start Grantee Cities of Patterson and Prospect Park in Passaic County, New Jersey Apply for HHS 2013 ACF OHS CH R02 0355 Funding Number: HHS 2013 ACF OHS CH R02 0355 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $736,024 |
| Early Head Start Grantee Orleans and Genesee Counties, New York Apply for HHS 2013 ACF OHS CH R02 0358 Funding Number: HHS 2013 ACF OHS CH R02 0358 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $404,300 |
| Early Head Start Grantee Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties and the City of Sicklerville in Camden County, New Jersey Apply for HHS 2013 ACF OHS CH R02 0360 Funding Number: HHS 2013 ACF OHS CH R02 0360 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,674,141 |
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