Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 12 CIS 010 002
Apply for DHS 12 CIS 010 002
- The Office of Procurement Operations Grants Division in the education law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2012 Citizenship and Integration Direct Services Grant Program Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.010 Citizenship Education and Training.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 22, 2012 and posted on Mar 20, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 7, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $160,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 31 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Independent school districts City or township governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education County governments Special district governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2012 Citizenship and Integration Direct Services Grant Program, focused on Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services (Funding Opportunity Number DHS 12 CIS 010 002), was a discretionary grant opportunity administered through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It was run under the Office of Citizenship (OoC), whose mission is to promote the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship. The central idea behind the program is that naturalization is more than a final legal step; it is also a powerful driver of immigrant integration that can expand civic participation, improve economic mobility, and strengthen local communities. By helping lawful permanent residents prepare for naturalization, the program aimed to equip future citizens with practical knowledge and confidence to participate fully in American civic life.
The overarching goal of the grant program was to expand the availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services for permanent residents across the United States. The opportunity emphasized direct, community-based services, particularly for people who often face the biggest obstacles in accessing citizenship support. That included low-income permanent residents and other underserved populations who might struggle with cost barriers, limited access to reliable legal assistance, language or literacy challenges, transportation issues, or lack of familiarity with the naturalization process. In addition to expanding access, the program encouraged applicants to strengthen the overall field of citizenship preparation by developing, identifying, and sharing promising practices that improve service quality and outcomes.
The funded activities were intended to cover two closely linked service areas: citizenship instruction (such as English and civics education aligned with naturalization requirements) and naturalization application services (helping eligible permanent residents navigate and complete the naturalization application process). The announcement highlighted several priority directions for how grantees could build effective programs: making services accessible to underserved communities; creating innovative and practical solutions to common barriers to naturalization; increasing the use of and access to technology in citizenship preparation programs; and engaging receiving communities in the broader citizenship and civic integration process. In other words, the grant was not just about delivering classes or completing forms, but also about improving how services are delivered, reaching people who are typically left out, and strengthening community support systems that help new citizens succeed.
Financially, the opportunity projected up to 31 awards with an estimated total funding amount of $5,000,000. Individual awards were capped at $160,000 (the award ceiling). There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, which typically makes a program more accessible to nonprofits and local entities that may not have large reserves of unrestricted funds. The program was associated with CFDA number 97.010, Citizenship Education and Training, and was categorized under Education and Law/Justice and Legal Services, reflecting the combined instructional and application-support nature of citizenship preparation work.
A broad range of organizations and government entities were eligible to apply. Eligible applicants included nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, and multiple levels of government such as city or township governments, county governments, special district governments, and state governments. It also included Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and other Native American tribal organizations. This wide eligibility pool suggests the program was designed to reach communities through many different types of local infrastructure, from community-based nonprofits and adult education providers to public agencies and educational institutions.
In terms of timing, the opportunity was posted on March 20, 2012, with a closing date of May 7, 2012, and it was later archived on June 6, 2012. The announcement repeatedly noted that applicants needed to use the application link to download the full announcement and application packet, and that the full announcement was not attached directly in the way applicants might expect, which was flagged as a practical access issue. For assistance accessing the full announcement electronically, the listed point of contact was Stephanie Dawkins in the Grants Office, with a phone number provided (202-447-0495) and an email field referenced in the notice.
FAQs: FY 2012 Citizenship and Integration Direct Services Grant Program (DHS 12 CIS 010 002)
What is this grant opportunity?
The FY 2012 Citizenship and Integration Direct Services Grant Program was a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the USCIS Office of Citizenship (OoC). It focused on expanding direct, community-based services that help lawful permanent residents prepare for U.S. naturalization.
What was the official focus area of the program?
The program focused on two connected service areas: Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services. The intent was to support organizations delivering both education and practical application support to eligible permanent residents.
What was the main goal of the program?
The overarching goal was to expand the availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services for permanent residents across the United States, with an emphasis on reaching people who face significant barriers to accessing citizenship support.
How does the program define the importance of naturalization?
The program framed naturalization as more than a final legal step. It emphasized naturalization as a driver of immigrant integration that can expand civic participation, improve economic mobility, and strengthen local communities by helping future citizens gain knowledge and confidence to participate in American civic life.
Who was the program designed to serve?
The program emphasized services for lawful permanent residents, particularly low-income permanent residents and other underserved populations who may experience barriers such as cost, limited access to reliable legal assistance, language or literacy challenges, transportation difficulties, or unfamiliarity with the naturalization process.
What types of activities were intended to be funded?
Funded activities were intended to cover: (1) citizenship instruction (including English and civics education aligned with naturalization requirements) and (2) naturalization application services (helping eligible permanent residents navigate and complete the naturalization application process).
What are examples of "citizenship instruction" under this program?
The opportunity described citizenship instruction as English and civics education aligned with naturalization requirements. The emphasis was on preparation that supports successful naturalization outcomes.
What are "naturalization application services" in this program?
Naturalization application services referred to helping eligible lawful permanent residents navigate and complete the naturalization application process, with an emphasis on practical assistance and reducing barriers.
What priorities did the grant emphasize for strong programs?
The announcement highlighted priority directions for program design, including: making services accessible to underserved communities; developing innovative and practical solutions to common barriers to naturalization; increasing the use of and access to technology in citizenship preparation programs; and engaging receiving communities in the citizenship and civic integration process.
Was the grant only about classes or only about applications?
No. The program emphasized that it was not just about delivering classes or completing forms. It encouraged improving service delivery, reaching people who are typically left out, using technology to strengthen programs, and building community support systems that help new citizens succeed.
How many awards were projected, and what was the estimated total funding?
The opportunity projected up to 31 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $5,000,000.
What was the maximum award amount per recipient?
Individual awards were capped at $160,000 (the award ceiling).
Was there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
No. The announcement stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What CFDA number was associated with this program?
The program was associated with CFDA number 97.010, Citizenship Education and Training.
How was this opportunity categorized?
It was categorized under Education and Law/Justice and Legal Services, reflecting the combined instructional and application-support nature of citizenship preparation work.
Which federal office administered the program?
The program was administered through USCIS, under DHS, and run under the USCIS Office of Citizenship (OoC).
What is the mission of the USCIS Office of Citizenship (OoC) as described in the notice?
The notice described OoC's mission as promoting the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, city or township governments, county governments, special district governments, state governments, Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), and other Native American tribal organizations.
Are 501(c)(3) nonprofits eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status were eligible, with the note that this eligibility category excluded institutions of higher education.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Public and private institutions of higher education were listed as eligible applicants.
Are K-12 school districts eligible?
Yes. Independent school districts were listed as eligible applicants.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Multiple levels of government were listed as eligible, including city or township, county, special district, and state governments. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments were also included.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on March 20, 2012, and had a closing date of May 7, 2012.
What does it mean that the opportunity was archived?
The notice stated that it was archived on June 6, 2012, indicating the posting was no longer an active open opportunity at that point.
How were applicants supposed to access the full announcement and application materials?
The announcement noted that applicants needed to use the application link to download the full announcement and application packet, and that the full announcement was not attached directly in the way applicants might expect.
Was there any support available if someone had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically?
Yes. The notice listed a point of contact for assistance accessing the full announcement electronically: Stephanie Dawkins in the Grants Office, with phone number 202-447-0495, and it referenced an email field in the notice.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number was DHS 12 CIS 010 002.
How did the program encourage improving the broader field of citizenship preparation?
Beyond expanding access, the program encouraged applicants to strengthen the field by developing, identifying, and sharing promising practices that improve service quality and outcomes.
What kinds of barriers to naturalization did the opportunity call out?
The notice highlighted barriers such as cost barriers, limited access to reliable legal assistance, language or literacy challenges, transportation issues, and lack of familiarity with the naturalization process.
What role did technology play in the program's priorities?
The opportunity encouraged increasing the use of and access to technology in citizenship preparation programs, as part of improving service delivery and addressing barriers.
What does "engaging receiving communities" mean in the context of this program?
The notice emphasized engaging receiving communities in the broader citizenship and civic integration process, reflecting an interest in community-level support for integration in addition to individual-level services.
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