OpportunityTitle: Assets for Independence Demonstration Program
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: 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.
Description: This announcement has been modified as follows: In the Overview, Executive Summary and in Section IV.3. Submission Dates and Times, the Due Date for Applications field reflects that the 10/27/2014 due date will be the final due date for this announcement. After the 10/27/2014 due date, this FOA will be cancelled. A new announcement is expected in FY 2015. ACF seeks to fund AFI projects with solid non-federal cash commitments that will support successful project implementation. Requirements for the documentation of non-federal cash commitments have been updated in Section IV.2, Content and Form of Application Submission, The Project Description, Additional Eligibility Documentation. Applications without sufficient acceptable documentation of non-federal cash commitments will be disqualified from review, as detailed in Section III.3, Other, Application Disqualification Factors, Requirements for Acceptable Documentation of Non-Federal Cash Commitment. Additional information related to this requirement can also be found in Sections I, The Program Description; III.1, Eligibility Information; and III.2, Cost Sharing or Matching; and an Appendix has been added with common unacceptable errors in non-federal cash commitment documentation for AFI applications. Updates and clarifications have been made in the Executive Summary and in Section I, The Program Description, including changes to the description of the Reserve Fund and the Limitation on Uses of Funds. These changes were primarily made to better align the announcement language with the AFI Act. The page limitation for the Appendices has been increased to 150 in Section IV.2, Content and Form of Application Submission, Page Limitations and Content for All Submission Formats. Language in Section IV.2, Content and Form of Application Submission, The Project Budget and Budget Justification has been updated to provide clarification for applicants and to better align with other sections of the announcement. Section V.1, Criteria, has been updated. The available standard points now total 100 and the Approach sub-criterion on subrecipient activities has been updated to include project partners. The Bonus Points criterion for Community Development has been changed to Federal Place-based Initiatives, and additional definitions have been added to Section I, The Program Description related to this change. The Bonus Points criterion for Key Collaborations has also been revised to clarify ACF expectations in this area. The AFI program resources in Section VIII, Other Information have been updated. An Appendix has been added with common unacceptable errors in non-federal cash commitment documentation for AFI applications. The Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announces that competing applications will be accepted for grants to administer projects for the national Assets for Independence (AFI) demonstration of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). The projects will provide IDAs and related services to low-income individuals. A primary feature of each AFI project is that participants save earned income in an IDA to purchase a home, capitalize or expand a business, or fund postsecondary education or training. As a condition of their federal AFI grant, grantees must provide non-federal funds to support their AFI project in an amount at least equal to the Federal AFI grant amount. The 10/27/2014 application due date for FY 2015 funding will be the last application due date for this FOA. After the 10/27/2014 due date, this FOA will be cancelled. Please check the HHS Forecast website for more information on when the new AFI FOA will be estimated to be published in FY 2015: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/hhsgrantsforecast/.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: ACF Applications Help Desk
GrantorContactText: ACF Applications Help Desk&lt;br/&gt;app_support@acf.hhs.gov&lt;br/&gt;
CloseDateExplanation: Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.