Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2016 ACF ORR ZI 1113
Apply for HHS 2016 ACF ORR ZI 1113
- The HHS-ACF-ORR in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Refugee Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.576.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 21, 2016 and posted on Apr 21, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 21, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 13 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Refugee Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Program is a competitive federal grant opportunity offered by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program funds projects that set up and operate Individual Development Accounts for low-income refugees, helping participants build assets by saving regularly toward specific, approved goals. Funded organizations are expected to create the systems and supports needed to enroll eligible refugees, manage the IDA accounts, and oversee the rules that govern deposits, withdrawals, and verification of approved uses.
At the center of the program is a structured savings model: participating refugees open an IDA and make consistent contributions over time toward a defined Savings Goal. Approved goals include home ownership, business capitalization, and vehicles when the vehicle is tied to education or employment needs. The program also supports career and education advancement through savings goals such as professional certification and education-related expenses, with education defined narrowly to postsecondary and/or continuing education and certain testing and preparation costs. Specifically named allowable education expenses include college entrance exam fees, TOEFL testing, and GED preparation and test fees. The intent is to promote long-term self-sufficiency by helping refugees accumulate assets that can improve stability, employment prospects, and earning potential.
A key feature of this opportunity is the use of federal grant funds to provide matching contributions to participants savings. Grantees can use ORR funds to match participant deposits up to $2,000 per individual refugee and up to $4,000 per refugee household, depending on how the project defines and administers household participation. Importantly, the term match in this announcement does not mean the applicant must bring non-federal dollars to match the federal award. Instead, it refers to the portion of the awarded federal funds that the grantee sets aside to match the refugees own savings in their IDAs, consistent with program rules.
Funding is provided as a discretionary grant. The opportunity listed an award ceiling of $250,000, with an expected 13 awards, and it falls under the Income Security and Social Services activity category (CFDA 93.576). Eligible applicants are broad and include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement). Applications are reviewed and scored through a competitive process as described in the published funding opportunity announcement, and final awards depend on both the competition results and the availability of funds.
Finally, recipients are expected to align their IDA project policies and operational procedures with ORR guidance and to coordinate with the existing refugee IDA network. This coordination expectation signals that ORR is looking for consistency in how projects are administered, as well as collaboration and information-sharing with established IDA partners, so that refugee participants receive a well-managed program with clear rules, reliable account administration, and verified use of funds for approved asset-building purposes.
Refugee Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Program - FAQs
1) What is the Refugee Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Program?
The Refugee IDA Program is a competitive federal grant opportunity funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It supports projects that establish and operate Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) for eligible, low-income refugees to help them save toward approved, asset-building goals.
2) What is an Individual Development Account (IDA) in this program?
An IDA is a structured savings account used by participating refugees to make regular deposits over time toward a defined Savings Goal. The program includes rules and oversight for deposits, withdrawals, and verification that funds are used only for approved purposes.
3) What is the purpose of the program?
The program is designed to promote long-term self-sufficiency by helping low-income refugees build assets. It does this by supporting consistent saving toward goals that can improve stability, employment prospects, and earning potential, such as education and career advancement, home ownership, business development, or certain work/education-related transportation needs.
4) What are the approved Savings Goals participants may save toward?
Approved savings goals described in the opportunity include:
- Home ownership
- Business capitalization
- Vehicles, when the vehicle is tied to education or employment needs
- Professional certification and certain education-related expenses
5) How is "education" defined for allowable IDA savings goals?
In this opportunity, education is defined narrowly as postsecondary and/or continuing education, plus certain testing and preparation costs that support advancement.
6) What education-related expenses are specifically named as allowable?
The opportunity specifically names the following allowable education expenses:
- College entrance exam fees
- TOEFL testing
- GED preparation fees
- GED test fees
7) How does the savings match work?
Federal grant funds awarded under this opportunity may be used by the grantee to provide matching contributions to participants' savings. This match is part of the awarded federal funds that the organization sets aside to match refugee participants' deposits, under the program's rules.
8) What is the maximum match amount per participant?
Grantees may use ORR funds to match participant deposits up to $2,000 per individual refugee.
9) What is the maximum match amount per household?
Grantees may use ORR funds to match participant deposits up to $4,000 per refugee household. The exact application of the household cap depends on how the project defines and administers household participation.
10) Does "match" mean the applicant must provide non-federal matching funds?
No. In this announcement, the term "match" does not mean the applicant must bring non-federal dollars to match the federal award. It refers to how the grantee uses a portion of the awarded federal funds to match the refugees' own savings deposits in their IDAs.
11) What are funded organizations expected to do?
Funded organizations are expected to set up and operate the full IDA project structure, including systems and supports to:
- Enroll eligible refugees
- Manage IDA accounts
- Administer and enforce program rules for deposits and withdrawals
- Verify that withdrawals are used for approved asset-building purposes
12) What does "competitive" mean for this grant opportunity?
Applications are reviewed and scored through a competitive process described in the published funding opportunity announcement. Final awards depend on competition results and the availability of funds.
13) What type of federal funding is this?
This opportunity provides funding as a discretionary grant.
14) What is the award ceiling?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $250,000.
15) How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of 13 awards.
16) What is the CFDA number and activity category for this program?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.576 and falls under the Income Security and Social Services activity category.
17) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are described broadly and include:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments
- Native American tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement)
18) Are nonprofits required to have 501(c)(3) status to apply?
No. The eligibility list includes nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status, though the opportunity notes that additional eligibility details are referenced in the full announcement.
19) What coordination is expected of grant recipients?
Recipients are expected to align IDA project policies and operational procedures with ORR guidance and to coordinate with the existing refugee IDA network. This indicates ORR expects consistent administration practices and collaboration or information-sharing with established IDA partners.
20) Why does ORR emphasize coordination with the refugee IDA network?
The opportunity signals that ORR is looking for consistency and reliable program administration across projects, including clear rules, dependable account administration, and verified use of funds for approved purposes, supported by collaboration with established IDA partners.
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Apply for HHS 2016 ACF ORR ZI 1113
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| Family Violence Prevention and Services Discretionary Grant: National Capacity Building Center to Expand Services for Children, Youth, and Abused Parents Impacted by Domestic Violence Apply for HHS 2016 ACF ACYF EV 1157 Funding Number: HHS 2016 ACF ACYF EV 1157 Agency: HHS-ACF Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Personal Responsibility Education Program Innovative Strategies Apply for HHS 2016 ACF ACYF AP 1153 Funding Number: HHS 2016 ACF ACYF AP 1153 Agency: HHS-ACF Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $975,000 |
| Standing Announcement for Tribal Title IV-E Plan Development Grants Apply for HHS 2016 ACF ACYF CS 1176 Funding Number: HHS 2016 ACF ACYF CS 1176 Agency: HHS-ACF Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) Program: Regional Performance and Innovation Consortium (RPIC) Apply for HHS 2016 ACF OCS ET 1128 Funding Number: HHS 2016 ACF OCS ET 1128 Agency: HHS-ACF-OCS Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $400,000 |
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| Affordable Care Act Tribal Personal Responsibility Education Program for Teen Pregnancy Prevention Apply for HHS 2016 ACF ACYF AT 1130 Funding Number: HHS 2016 ACF ACYF AT 1130 Agency: HHS-ACF Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $700,000 |
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