Federal Grant Award Summary

Orange County's United Way received a $450,000 Project Grant from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant Program (CFDA 21.009), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. The grant supports the organization's delivery of free tax return preparation services to underserved populations in California, with a focus on low- to moderate-income taxpayers, persons with disabilities, limited English proficient individuals, elderly taxpayers, Native Americans, rural residents, and military members and their families.

Under this matching grant, Orange County's United Way will expand its VITA program capacity by increasing electronic return filing, enhancing volunteer training, implementing quality control measures, and improving overall return accuracy. The organization is required to ensure that at least 90 percent of returns prepared serve individuals whose earned income does not exceed Earned Income Tax Credit thresholds and must achieve 100 percent of its return production goals while demonstrating incremental increases in return preparation annually. All grant-funded activities must comply with existing VITA site operational guidance, and subrecipients may be utilized to deliver key program elements while adhering to grant requirements.