Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2012 ACF ORR ZI 0288
Apply for HHS 2012 ACF ORR ZI 0288
- The Administration for Children and Families in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Discretionary Grant Funds for Projects to Establish Individual Development Account (IDA) Programs for Refugees" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.576 Refugee and Entrant AssistanceDiscretionary Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 17, 2012 and posted on Apr 17, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 18, 2012 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 $2,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Independent school districts City or township governments Private institutions of higher education County governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments.
- Applicants must also provide documentation of participation of a qualified financial institution(s) in the project. This documentation must be in writing, on letterhead of the financial institution, and signed by a person authorized to make the commitment on behalf of the financial institution. The documentation must include a commitment by the financial institution to establish Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) for the refugee participants, to establish a parallel account (or accounts) for the matching funds, and to provide the grantee with account activity data on the IDAs and the parallel account(s) in a timely manner. Public or private nonprofit agencies are eligibile for awards under this announcement. 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 Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), offered a discretionary grant opportunity to help organizations set up and run Individual Development Account (IDA) programs specifically for low-income refugees. The core purpose of the program is asset building: participating refugees open IDA savings accounts, make regular deposits over time, and receive matching funds to help them reach approved savings goals that can improve long-term stability. Those approved goals include purchasing a home, starting or expanding a small business (business capitalization), buying a vehicle needed for work or education, and paying for postsecondary education. In practical terms, the grant supports a structured savings-and-match model where refugees build personal savings while the program boosts those savings with match dollars tied to clearly defined outcomes.
Under this opportunity, grantees can use ORR funds to provide matching contributions up to $2,000 per individual refugee participant and up to $4,000 per refugee household. The grants are intended to fund the establishment and administration of these IDA projects, including the systems needed to enroll participants, monitor savings behavior, verify eligible uses of funds, and manage the match process alongside a financial institution. ORR emphasizes that successful applicants should be prepared to operate in coordination with ORR guidance and within the existing refugee IDA network, aligning local policies and procedures with broader program standards so programs are consistent and can share best practices across sites.
A key eligibility and implementation requirement is the involvement of a qualified financial institution. Applicants must submit written documentation, on the financial institution's letterhead and signed by an authorized representative, committing the institution to: (1) open IDAs for refugee participants, (2) establish a parallel account or accounts to hold the matching funds, and (3) provide timely account activity data for both the participant IDAs and the match accounts. This requirement signals that ORR expects strong program accountability and reliable data access for tracking deposits, withdrawals, and match disbursements, which is essential for compliance and for evaluating whether participants are progressing toward their goals.
Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and nonprofit entities, such as state, county, and city or township governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; and nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, excluding most higher-education-related exceptions). Faith-based and community organizations are eligible as long as they meet the stated requirements. Individuals and foreign entities are explicitly not eligible. The opportunity falls under CFDA 93.576 (Refugee and Entrant Assistance - Discretionary Grants) and is categorized within Income Security and Social Services, reflecting its focus on economic self-sufficiency and long-term financial outcomes.
From a funding standpoint, ORR anticipated making about nine awards, with an estimated total funding pool of $2,000,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $100,000 (floor) to $300,000 (ceiling). There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement for applicants, meaning applicants were not required to contribute their own matching funds as a condition of receiving the grant, although the program itself is built around matching participant savings using ORR grant funds. Applications were subject to screening and competitive evaluation as described in the funding opportunity announcement, and final awards depended on the competition results, federal review outcomes, and the availability of appropriated funds.
Operationally, ORR encouraged grantees to participate in up to two ORR training meetings per year during their involvement in the program area, with grant funds allowed to cover travel and per diem for these trainings. This reflects ORR's intent to create ongoing coordination across sites, strengthen implementation quality through shared training and technical assistance, and maintain consistent program approaches across the refugee IDA network. Grantees were also encouraged to evaluate how IDA participation affected clients' lives, and they could be asked to take part in an ORR-initiated program evaluation, reinforcing that ORR values measurable outcomes and evidence about what the IDA model achieves for refugee households.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted on April 17, 2012, with an application deadline of June 18, 2012, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time for electronic submissions, and it was archived on June 19, 2012. The funding opportunity number is HHS-2012-ACF-ORR-ZI-0288, and applicants needing technical help accessing the announcement were directed to the ACF Applications Help Desk (appsupport@acf.hhs.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to help organizations establish and operate Individual Development Account (IDA) programs for low-income refugees.
What is the main purpose of the ORR refugee IDA program?
The core purpose is asset building. Refugee participants save money in IDA savings accounts through regular deposits over time, and the program provides matching funds tied to approved savings goals intended to support long-term stability and economic self-sufficiency.
How does an IDA program work under this opportunity?
The model described is a structured savings-and-match approach where refugee participants open IDA accounts, make ongoing deposits, and receive match dollars administered by the program. Grantees are expected to have systems to enroll participants, monitor savings behavior, verify eligible uses of funds, and manage the match process in coordination with a financial institution.
What savings goals are considered approved uses of IDA funds?
Approved goals include purchasing a home, starting or expanding a small business (business capitalization), buying a vehicle needed for work or education, and paying for postsecondary education.
How much can ORR funds provide in matching contributions per participant?
Grantees can use ORR funds to provide matching contributions up to $2,000 per individual refugee participant.
How much can ORR funds provide in matching contributions per household?
Grantees can use ORR funds to provide matching contributions up to $4,000 per refugee household.
What types of activities can grant funds support?
The grant is intended to support establishing and administering refugee IDA projects, including the administrative and operational systems needed to enroll participants, track savings activity, verify eligible uses of funds, and manage match funds alongside a financial institution.
Is partnering with a financial institution required?
Yes. A key eligibility and implementation requirement is the involvement of a qualified financial institution.
What documentation must applicants provide from the financial institution?
Applicants must submit written documentation on the financial institution's letterhead, signed by an authorized representative, committing the institution to: (1) open IDAs for refugee participants, (2) establish a parallel account or accounts to hold the matching funds, and (3) provide timely account activity data for both the participant IDAs and the match accounts.
Why does ORR require account activity data from the financial institution?
The requirement supports program accountability and data access for tracking deposits, withdrawals, and match disbursements. This helps with compliance and with evaluating whether participants are progressing toward approved savings goals.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and nonprofit entities such as state, county, and city or township governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; and nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, excluding most higher-education-related exceptions). Faith-based and community organizations are also eligible if they meet the stated requirements.
Who is not eligible to apply?
Individuals and foreign entities are explicitly not eligible.
What is the CFDA number and program category for this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under CFDA 93.576 (Refugee and Entrant Assistance - Discretionary Grants) and is categorized within Income Security and Social Services.
How many awards were expected to be made?
ORR anticipated making about nine awards.
What was the estimated total funding available?
The estimated total funding pool was $2,000,000.
What was the expected award size?
Individual awards were expected to range from $100,000 (floor) to $300,000 (ceiling).
Was cost sharing or a non-federal match required from applicants?
No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement for applicants as a condition of receiving the grant.
If there is no applicant cost share, why does the program talk about "matching funds"?
The "matching funds" refer to the program design in which ORR grant funds are used to match participant savings up to the limits described. This is separate from any requirement for the applicant organization to contribute its own funds.
How were applications reviewed and selected?
Applications were subject to screening and competitive evaluation as described in the funding opportunity announcement. Final awards depended on competition results, federal review outcomes, and the availability of appropriated funds.
What does ORR expect regarding coordination with other IDA programs?
ORR emphasized that grantees should be prepared to operate in coordination with ORR guidance and within the existing refugee IDA network, aligning local policies and procedures with broader program standards to support consistency and sharing of best practices across sites.
Are trainings part of the program expectations?
Yes. ORR encouraged grantees to participate in up to two ORR training meetings per year during their involvement in the program area.
Can grant funds pay for travel to ORR trainings?
Yes. Grant funds were allowed to cover travel and per diem for the encouraged ORR trainings.
Is evaluation part of the program?
Grantees were encouraged to evaluate how IDA participation affected clients' lives, and they could be asked to take part in an ORR-initiated program evaluation.
When was the opportunity posted and when was the application deadline?
The opportunity was posted on April 17, 2012. The application deadline was June 18, 2012, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time for electronic submissions.
When was the opportunity archived?
It was archived on June 19, 2012.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is HHS-2012-ACF-ORR-ZI-0288.
Where could applicants get technical help accessing the announcement?
Applicants needing technical help accessing the announcement were directed to the ACF Applications Help Desk at appsupport@acf.hhs.gov.
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