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 Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation $100,000 under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant Program (CFDA 21.009) on October 1, 2025.

Nehemiah Gateway will deliver free tax return preparation services to low-to-moderate income individuals, persons with disabilities, non-native English speakers, Native Americans, rural residents, military members and their families, and elderly individuals. The organization will extend services to underserved populations in urban and non-urban areas, increase electronic filing capacity, enhance volunteer training, and improve tax return accuracy. Grant recipients must ensure that at least 90 percent of returns prepared serve individuals whose income falls at or below the earned income tax credit (EITC) threshold, file all eligible returns electronically, and achieve 100 percent of their return production goals.

The award period runs from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, with place of performance across the United States. Nehemiah Gateway may utilize sub-recipients to deliver key program elements, provided they adhere to grant program guidelines. The VITA program is a matching grant, requiring recipients to document matching funds and maintain record-keeping systems in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

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.