Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2014 ACF OCS EI 0774
Apply for HHS 2014 ACF OCS EI 0774
- 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 Sep 26, 2014 and posted on Mar 7, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 27, 2014 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 $12,500,000.00 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: Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments County governments Private institutions of higher education City or township governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments Small businesses Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Independent school districts Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
- The Assets for Independence (AFI) program is authorized to award grants to the following entities non profit entities with 501(c)(3) status state, local, or tribal government agencies 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 are designed to 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. States, counties, cities, townships, special districts, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments, public or Indian housing authorities, and Native American tribal organizations. Per the AFI Act, governmental entities that are not deemed eligible under Section 405(g) are eligible to apply for an AFI grant only if they submit an application jointly with a non profit organization that has 501(c)(3) status. Applications submitted by joint applicants must include a signed agreement between the entities. If a governmental entity applies jointly with an entity with 501(c)(3) status, either entity may be the official applicant. An authorized representative of the entity that will be responsible for grant administration and AFI project implementation if an award is made must sign the grant application. 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. Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, for profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and other entities. These entities are only eligible for an AFI grant if they are federally certified as 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. Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship organizations are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Assets for Independence (AFI) Demonstration Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to support local projects that operate Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) for low-income individuals. The core idea is to help participants build assets by saving earned income in a dedicated matched savings account, paired with related services, so they can reach one of three allowable asset goals: buying a home, starting or expanding a small business, or paying for postsecondary education or job training. AFI projects are expected to combine the IDA savings component with supports that make saving and successful asset purchase more realistic for participants, such as financial education and structured program guidance.
A defining requirement of this program is the mandatory non-federal match. Any organization that receives an AFI award must contribute non-federal cash in an amount at least equal to the federal grant amount (a dollar-for-dollar match). ACF emphasized that it is specifically looking for projects with solid, verified non-federal cash commitments because those commitments are critical to implementing the match structure that makes IDAs work. In this modified announcement, ACF tightened and clarified the documentation rules for these non-federal cash commitments. Applications that do not include sufficient, acceptable documentation of the required non-federal cash commitments are disqualified and will not be reviewed. To reduce preventable mistakes, the announcement also added an appendix highlighting common unacceptable documentation errors so applicants understand what will and will not meet the standard.
This particular funding opportunity announcement (FOA) had several notable administrative and scoring updates. The agency clarified program rules in the Executive Summary and Program Description to better align with the AFI Act, including updates related to the Reserve Fund and the Limitation on Uses of Funds. It also increased the page limit for appendices to 150 pages and refined instructions for the project budget and budget justification so they line up more cleanly with other parts of the FOA. The evaluation criteria were updated so the standard scoring now totals 100 points, and the “Approach†sub-criterion was revised to explicitly include project partners (not just subrecipients). Bonus points were also adjusted: the community development bonus was reframed around Federal place-based initiatives (with added definitions in the Program Description), and the key collaborations bonus was revised to better spell out what ACF expects from meaningful partnerships.
In terms of funding scale and award structure, ACF anticipated making about 50 awards with an estimated total funding amount of $12.5 million. Individual awards could range from $10,000 to $1,000,000 (floor to ceiling). The program is listed under CFDA 93.602 (Assets for Independence Demonstration Program) and falls under the activity area of Income Security and Social Services. Grants are awarded as discretionary grants, and cost sharing/matching is required due to the statutory non-federal match obligation.
Eligibility is broad but conditional in important ways. Eligible applicants include nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status; state, local, or tribal government entities when applying jointly with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (unless the governmental entity is otherwise deemed eligible under Section 405(g) of the AFI Act); and federally certified financial institutions that are either Low Income Credit Unions or Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), as long as they demonstrate a collaborative relationship with a local community-based organization focused on poverty and economic stability. Many government-related entities are listed as potentially eligible (states, counties, cities/townships, special districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, tribal governments, and certain education institutions), but the key caveat is that governmental entities not deemed eligible under Section 405(g) must apply jointly with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and include a signed agreement between the partners. Faith-based and community organizations can apply if they meet the same eligibility rules. Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorships are not eligible.
The timeline for this announcement was also a major point of emphasis because it was formally set to end. The FOA was originally posted on March 7, 2014, with an original closing date of May 7, 2014, but it was modified so that the final application due date became October 27, 2014. Electronic applications were required to be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. ACF explicitly stated that October 27, 2014 would be the last due date for this FOA; after that date, the FOA would be canceled, with a new announcement expected in FY 2015. Applicants were directed to monitor the HHS Forecast website for updated expectations on the next publication.
Overall, this opportunity funds organizations that can run a compliant IDA program with strong community and financial institution partnerships and, most importantly, secure and properly document the required non-federal cash match. The agency’s modifications make it clear that technical compliance, especially around match documentation, is not a minor detail but a gatekeeping requirement that determines whether an application is even allowed to move forward to merit review.
Assets for Independence (AFI) Demonstration Program - FAQs
What is the Assets for Independence (AFI) Demonstration Program?
The AFI Demonstration Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). It supports local projects that operate Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) for low-income individuals to help them build assets through matched savings and related services.
What is an Individual Development Account (IDA) in this program?
An IDA is a dedicated matched savings account where participants save earned income. Those savings are matched, and the combined funds are used to reach an allowable asset goal under the program.
Who is the AFI program intended to serve?
The program is designed for low-income individuals participating in local projects that provide IDAs and related services to make saving and achieving an asset purchase more realistic.
What asset purchases are allowed under AFI IDAs?
AFI allows three asset goals: (1) buying a home, (2) starting or expanding a small business, or (3) paying for postsecondary education or job training.
Besides the savings match, what else are AFI projects expected to provide?
AFI projects are expected to combine the IDA savings component with supports that help participants save and complete their asset purchase successfully, such as financial education and structured program guidance.
Is cost sharing or matching required for this grant?
Yes. The AFI program has a mandatory non-federal match requirement. Any organization receiving an AFI award must contribute non-federal cash in an amount at least equal to the federal grant amount (a dollar-for-dollar match).
What kind of match is required (cash or in-kind)?
The requirement described is for non-federal cash commitments. The announcement emphasizes solid, verified non-federal cash commitments as critical to implementing the IDA match structure.
How important is match documentation in the AFI application?
It is a gatekeeping requirement. Applications that do not include sufficient, acceptable documentation of the required non-federal cash commitments are disqualified and will not be reviewed.
Did ACF change the match documentation rules in this announcement?
Yes. In the modified announcement, ACF tightened and clarified the documentation rules for non-federal cash commitments and added an appendix highlighting common unacceptable documentation errors to help applicants avoid preventable mistakes.
How many awards did ACF anticipate making, and what was the estimated total funding?
ACF anticipated making about 50 awards with an estimated total funding amount of $12.5 million.
What is the expected award size range?
Individual awards could range from $10,000 to $1,000,000.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 93.602 (Assets for Independence Demonstration Program).
What is the activity area for this funding opportunity?
The activity area is Income Security and Social Services.
What type of grant is this?
This is a discretionary grant.
Which organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include: nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status; state, local, or tribal government entities when applying jointly with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (unless the governmental entity is otherwise deemed eligible under Section 405(g) of the AFI Act); and federally certified financial institutions that are either Low Income Credit Unions or Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), as long as they demonstrate a collaborative relationship with a local community-based organization focused on poverty and economic stability.
Can government entities apply on their own?
Governmental entities not deemed eligible under Section 405(g) of the AFI Act must apply jointly with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and include a signed agreement between the partners. The FOA lists many government-related entities as potentially eligible, but this joint-application caveat is a key condition.
What kinds of government-related entities are mentioned as potentially eligible?
The FOA references states, counties, cities/townships, special districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, tribal governments, and certain education institutions as potentially eligible, subject to the eligibility conditions described.
Can a federally certified financial institution apply?
Yes, if it is a Low Income Credit Union or a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and it demonstrates a collaborative relationship with a local community-based organization focused on poverty and economic stability.
Are faith-based organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. Faith-based and community organizations can apply as long as they meet the same eligibility rules as other applicants.
Who is not eligible to apply?
Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorships are not eligible.
What is meant by applying "jointly" with a nonprofit?
Where required, a governmental entity must apply together with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and include a signed agreement between the partners as part of the application.
What were the key administrative updates in this modified FOA?
The modified announcement included: clarified program rules in the Executive Summary and Program Description to better align with the AFI Act (including updates related to the Reserve Fund and the Limitation on Uses of Funds); an increased appendix page limit to 150 pages; refined instructions for the project budget and budget justification; and revised evaluation and bonus point criteria.
What changed in the evaluation scoring criteria?
The evaluation criteria were updated so standard scoring totals 100 points, and the "Approach" sub-criterion was revised to explicitly include project partners (not just subrecipients).
Were there any updates to bonus points?
Yes. The community development bonus was reframed around Federal place-based initiatives (with added definitions in the Program Description), and the key collaborations bonus was revised to better explain what ACF expects for meaningful partnerships.
What was the original posting date and original closing date for this FOA?
The FOA was originally posted on March 7, 2014, with an original closing date of May 7, 2014.
What was the final application due date after the FOA modification?
The final application due date became October 27, 2014.
What time were electronic applications due on the closing date?
Electronic applications were required to be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
Was October 27, 2014 the final due date for this FOA?
Yes. ACF stated that October 27, 2014 would be the last due date for this FOA. After that date, the FOA would be canceled, with a new announcement expected in FY 2015.
Where were applicants told to look for updates on a future announcement?
Applicants were directed to monitor the HHS Forecast website for updated expectations on the next publication.
What does ACF appear to prioritize in competitive AFI applications based on this summary?
The emphasis is on running a compliant IDA program with strong community and financial institution partnerships and, most importantly, securing and properly documenting the required non-federal cash match, since insufficient match documentation results in disqualification before merit review.
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