Opportunity Information: Apply for CNCS 08 09 2016

  • The Corporation for National and Community Service in the health, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Round 2: FY 2016 Social Innovation Fund Pay for Success Cooperative Agreement" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 94.024.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Aug 09, 2016.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 20, 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 $7,300,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having 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).
Apply for CNCS 08 09 2016

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Opportunity Summary:

Round 2: FY 2016 Social Innovation Fund Pay for Success Cooperative Agreement is a discretionary federal grant opportunity released by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) under CFDA 94.024. The program focuses on the Pay for Success (PFS) model, a results-based financing approach where funding is linked to measurable, verified outcomes in the community rather than simply paying for activities or services delivered. In practical terms, PFS is designed to shift public spending toward interventions that can demonstrate impact, while also drawing in philanthropic and private-sector capital to help launch or scale programs that have a strong evidence base.

At the center of this opportunity is the idea of paying only for outcomes achieved. Instead of a traditional grant or contract where funds are paid upfront based on planned services, PFS structures can allow a government entity or other payer (such as a school district or hospital system) to reimburse costs or make payments only when agreed-upon performance targets are met. This approach is often used to encourage rigorous evaluation, strengthen accountability, and reduce the risk that public dollars will be spent on strategies that do not actually improve people’s lives. The underlying policy goal is to increase investment in effective social interventions by changing how government allocates resources, moving from paying for inputs to paying for proven results.

The opportunity was created on August 9, 2016, with an original application deadline of September 20, 2016. CNCS anticipated making about four awards under this round. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed for a single award was $7,300,000, signaling that this was intended to support relatively large, high-impact projects or the infrastructure needed to structure and execute PFS initiatives, which can involve complex partnerships, outcome measurement frameworks, and formal agreements among multiple parties.

Eligible applicants were broad and included many types of public and nonprofit institutions. Applicants could include state, county, and city or township governments, as well as federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The competition was also open to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status were eligible as well (excluding institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category). The listing also indicated that additional eligible applicants could be included under an “Others” category, with further clarification referenced in an eligibility explanation field.

In terms of program area, the funding activity category was identified as Health, along with “Other,” which suggests the program was intended to support cross-sector outcomes that may include health-related endpoints or broader social determinants where improvements can be measured and validated. Overall, this grant opportunity fits into a larger federal push during that period to expand evidence-based policymaking and outcomes-based financing, using Pay for Success structures to bring more discipline to program funding decisions while encouraging collaboration between government, service providers, evaluators, and private or philanthropic investors.

FAQs: Round 2: FY 2016 Social Innovation Fund Pay for Success Cooperative Agreement (CNCS, CFDA 94.024)

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary federal grant opportunity titled "Round 2: FY 2016 Social Innovation Fund Pay for Success Cooperative Agreement." It was released by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) under CFDA 94.024.

2) What is the main purpose of this opportunity?

The opportunity focuses on the Pay for Success (PFS) model, a results-based financing approach where funding is linked to measurable, verified community outcomes rather than paying primarily for activities or services delivered.

3) What does "Pay for Success" mean in practical terms?

In a Pay for Success structure, a government entity or other payer (for example, a school district or hospital system) can make payments only when agreed-upon performance targets are met, rather than paying upfront solely based on planned services.

4) How is Pay for Success different from a traditional grant or contract?

Traditional funding often pays upfront based on inputs and planned service delivery. Pay for Success emphasizes paying for outcomes achieved, tying payments to measurable results that are verified.

5) Why does the federal government support Pay for Success approaches?

The policy goal described is to shift public spending toward interventions that can demonstrate impact, strengthen accountability, encourage rigorous evaluation, reduce the risk of spending on ineffective strategies, and increase investment in effective social interventions by moving from paying for inputs to paying for proven results.

6) What kinds of outcomes are emphasized?

The opportunity emphasizes outcomes that are measurable and verified. It is framed around achieving agreed-upon performance targets in the community rather than simply completing activities.

7) What types of projects is this funding intended to support?

Based on the description, the funding is intended to support relatively large, high-impact projects and/or the infrastructure needed to structure and execute Pay for Success initiatives. This can include complex partnerships, outcome measurement frameworks, and formal agreements among multiple parties.

8) How many awards did CNCS expect to make?

CNCS anticipated making about four awards under this round.

9) What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling listed for a single award was $7,300,000.

10) When was this opportunity created and what was the application deadline?

The opportunity was created on August 9, 2016. The original application deadline was September 20, 2016.

11) Which federal agency administered this opportunity?

The administering agency listed is the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

12) What does it mean that this is a "discretionary" federal grant opportunity?

It is identified as a discretionary federal grant opportunity, meaning it was offered through a competitive grant process rather than automatically distributed by formula.

13) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as broad. Eligible applicants included:

  • State governments
  • County governments
  • City or township governments
  • Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
  • Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category)
  • Additional entities potentially included under an "Others" category (with further clarification referenced in an eligibility explanation field)

14) Are nonprofit organizations eligible?

Yes. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status were eligible, with the note that institutions of higher education were excluded from the nonprofit category as described.

15) Are colleges and universities eligible?

Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education were listed as eligible applicants.

16) Are tribal governments eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments were listed as eligible applicants.

17) Are local governments eligible?

Yes. County governments and city or township governments were listed as eligible applicants, along with state governments.

18) What is the CFDA number and why does it matter?

The CFDA number is 94.024. It identifies the federal assistance program under which this opportunity was offered.

19) What is the funding activity category or program area?

The funding activity category was identified as Health, along with "Other," indicating the program could support cross-sector outcomes that may include health-related endpoints or broader social determinants where improvements can be measured and validated.

20) Does the opportunity require partnerships?

The description indicates that Pay for Success initiatives can involve complex partnerships and formal agreements among multiple parties (such as government, service providers, evaluators, and private or philanthropic investors), suggesting collaboration is a common and important feature.

21) What role do private or philanthropic investors play in Pay for Success?

The opportunity describes Pay for Success as a way to draw in philanthropic and private-sector capital to help launch or scale programs that have a strong evidence base, alongside a structure that links payments to verified outcomes.

22) What role does evaluation play in this model?

The Pay for Success approach is described as encouraging rigorous evaluation and outcome verification, since payments are tied to measurable, verified results.

23) What is the underlying policy rationale described for paying only for outcomes?

The rationale described is to improve accountability, ensure public dollars support strategies that actually improve lives, and move government funding decisions from paying for inputs to paying for proven results.

24) Is this opportunity aimed at small pilot projects or larger efforts?

The award ceiling of $7,300,000 and the expectation of about four awards indicate it was designed for relatively large efforts, including the infrastructure required to structure and execute Pay for Success initiatives.

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