The volunteer income tax assistance (vita) grant was established as a matching grant program to provide funding for organizations who support community volunteer income tax assistance

The Internal Revenue Service awarded The Village For Families & Children, Inc. $150,000 under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant Program (CFDA 21.009) on October 1, 2025.

The recipient will extend free tax return preparation services to low- and moderate-income individuals, persons with disabilities, individuals with limited English proficiency, Native Americans, rural residents, Armed Forces members and their families, and elderly taxpayers in Connecticut. The grant supports enhanced volunteer training, increased electronic filing capacity, heightened quality control, and improved return preparation accuracy at VITA sites. The recipient must ensure at least 90 percent of returns prepared serve individuals at or below EITC thresholds, file all eligible returns electronically, and achieve 100 percent of return production goals.

The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The Village For Families & Children, Inc., a Hartford-based nonprofit tax-exempt organization, serves as the grant recipient. Sub-recipients may assist in delivering key program elements and must adhere to VITA program guidelines.

Activities

The vita grant program provides financial support to organizations who 1) extend services to underserved populations in hardest to reach areas both urban and non-urban; 2) increase the capacity to file returns electronically; 3) heighten quality control; 4) enhance training of volunteers; and 5) significantly improve the accuracy rate of returns prepared at vita sites. End goal/expected outcomes: vita grant recipients are expected to 1) follow existing guidance governing vita site operations; 2) ensure at least 90% of returns prepared are for individuals whose income is equal to or less than the maximum earned income tax credit (eitc) thresholds; 2) file all eligible returns electronically; 3) achieve 100% of their return production goals; 4) become more efficient with grant funds; and 5) show incremental increases in return preparation each year.

Intended beneficiaries

Taxpayers who are low to moderate income individuals, persons with disabilities, those for whom english is a second language, native americans, individuals living in rural areas, members of the armed forces and their families, and the elderly.

Subrecipient activities

Subrecipients may be utilized by grant recipients to help deliver key elements of the program and must adhere to grant program guidelines. Broadband: specific activities relating to broadband usage are not known at the time of award.