Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Northwest Indiana Community Action Corp received a $128,389 Project Grant award from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant Program (CFDA 21.009). The organization delivers free tax return preparation services to underserved populations across northwest Indiana, including low-to-moderate income individuals, persons with disabilities, non-English speakers, Native Americans, rural residents, military families, and elderly taxpayers. The grant supports the expansion and enhancement of VITA site operations through increased electronic filing capacity, improved volunteer training, strengthened quality control measures, and enhanced return preparation accuracy.

As a matching grant program, the funding supports Northwest Indiana Community Action Corp's capacity-building efforts to serve populations whose earned income does not exceed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) threshold. The organization is required to ensure that at least 90 percent of returns prepared meet these income thresholds, achieve 100 percent of annual return production goals, file all eligible returns electronically, and demonstrate incremental increases in return preparation annually. The organization may utilize subrecipients to deliver key program elements while maintaining adherence to grant program guidelines and federal requirements, including comprehensive record-keeping in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).