Foa_Content_of_OFH-2600-DC-021B.pdf

z

OFH-2600-DC-021B

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Fair Housing Initiatives Program - Fair Housing Organizations Initiative FY2025 and

FY2026

Table Of Contents OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 2 of 96

I. BASIC INFORMATION

A. Summary

B. Agency Contact(s)

II. ELIGIBILITY

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Eligible Applications

C. Cost Sharing or Matching

III. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. Purpose

B. Goals and Objectives

C. Authority

D. Unallowable Costs

E. Indirect Costs

G. Other Information

IV. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

A. Standard Forms, Assurances, and Certifications 40

B. Budget

C. Narratives and Other Attachments

D. Other Application Content

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Threshold Review

B. Merit Review

C. Risk Review

D. Selection Process

E. Award Notices

VI. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND

DEADLINES

A. Deadlines

B. Submission Methods

C. Other Submission Information

D. False Statements

VII. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND

ADMINISTRATION

A. Administrative, National and Departmental Policy

Requirements, and General Terms and Conditions

B. Environmental Requirements

C. Remedies for Noncompliance

D. Reporting

VIII. CONTACT AND SUPPORT

A. Agency Contact

B. Grants.gov

C. SAM.gov

D. Debriefing

E. Applicant Experience Survey

F. Other Online Resources

APPENDIX

Appendix I. Definitions

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Before You Begin OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 3 of 96

If you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, register in the required systems and review the application materials. If you are already registered, confirm that your information is current and active.

SAM.gov Registration You must have an active and up-to-date account with SAM.gov, at the time of application and throughout the life of any award.

To register, go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and click Get Started. From the same page, you can also click the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register.

It can take several weeks to register in SAM.gov, so get started now if you are planning to apply. SAM.gov also provides each organization with a unique entity identifier (UEI). A valid UEI is required to apply for funding.

Grants.gov Registration You must have an active Grants.gov registration. This requires a Login.gov registration as well. See step-by-step instructions at the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants. You must apply for funding using Grants.gov, unless HUD has approved your waiver request.

See Section VI.B. Submission Methods.

Find the Application Package Use the Grants Search at Grants.gov and search for opportunity number OFH-2600-DC- 021B . The application package has all the online forms you need to apply. You also need to access the Download Instructions link and review the content before you apply.

If you have other technical difficulties using Grants.gov, contact the Support Center on Grants.gov.

To get updates on changes to this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), click Subscribe from the View Grant Opportunity page on Grants.gov.

Application Deadline

HUD Listserv To get email alerts about current and future funding opportunities, subscribe to HUD's Funding Opportunities listserv.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

https://sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/ https://login.gov https://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://grants.gov/ https://grants.gov/ https://grants.gov/ https://grants.gov/ https://www.hud.gov/subscribe/signup?listname=HUD%20Funding%20Opportunities&list=HUD-FUNDING-OPPORTUNITIES-L https://www.hud.gov/subscribe/signup?listname=HUD%20Funding%20Opportunities&list=HUD-FUNDING-OPPORTUNITIES-L

I. Basic Information

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and Support

Appendix

I. BASIC INFORMATION

I. Basic Information

A. Summary

B. Agency Contact(s)

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

I. Basic Information OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 5 of 96

I. BASIC INFORMATION See Contact and Support section of this NOFO.

A. Summary Federal Agency Name:

United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HUD Program Office:

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Announcement Type:

Initial Program Type:

Discretionary Paperwork Reduction Act Information:

2501-0044, 2529-0033 Due Date for Intergovernmental Review:

See Section VI.C.1.

1. NOFO Summary The FHIP Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI) provides competitive awards to qualified fair housing enforcement organizations, other private nonprofit fair housing enforcement organizations, and nonprofit groups organizing to build their capacity to provide fair housing enforcement, for the purpose of supporting the continued development or

Key Facts Opportunity Name:

Fair Housing Initiatives Program - Fair Housing Organizations Initiative FY2025 and FY2026 Opportunity Number:

OFH-2600-DC-021B

Federal Assistance Listing(s):

14.417

Key Dates Application Due Date:

11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on:

08/06/2026 Anticipated Award Date:

09/30/2026 Estimated Performance Period Start Date:

02/01/2027 Estimated Performance Period End Date:

01/31/2029

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

I. Basic Information OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 6 of 96 implementation of initiatives which enforce the rights granted under the Fair Housing Act [42 USC 3616a(c)], and State or local laws with equivalent rights and remedies. FHOI strengthens fair housing nationally by assisting in the creation and growth of organizations that focus on fair housing enforcement and awareness. This NOFO makes available competitive funding under the:

• FHOI – General Component (FHOI-G) - $25,000,000

• FHOI – Sustainable Partnership for Accessibility (FHOI-SPA) - $10,025,000

• FHOI – National Testing Partnership Development (FHOI-NTPD) - $5,025,000

• FHOI – National Intake Support Partnership (FHOI-NISP) - $5,025,000

• FHOI – National Litigation Support Partnership (FHOI-NLSP) - $5,025,000 FHOI is one of several initiatives of the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP).

Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), HUD will award financial assistance under the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI) to support projects that strengthen the Nation's private fair housing infrastructure through organizational development, institutional modernization, technical specialization, and collaborative capacity-building.

The funding made available under this competition is intended to create durable organizational improvements that extend beyond the period of Federal financial assistance.

Applicants should therefore propose projects that result in sustainable organizational capability rather than solely the completion of discrete project activities.

Consistent with the statutory purposes of FHOI, HUD seeks to support projects that:

• strengthen organizational effectiveness;

• expand fair housing capability into underserved communities and sectors;

• cultivate specialized expertise relevant to fair housing enforcement;

• promote strategic collaboration among organizations with complementary capabilities; and

• improve the long-term capacity of the private fair housing community to advance the purposes of the Fair Housing Act.

FHEO will sponsor applicant training in furtherance of Executive Order 14332, to increase potential applicant understanding of the federal grant application process and of the Fair Housing Initiatives Program with the goal of expanding the applicant pool so that discretionary grants might be awarded to a broad range of eligible recipients.

2. Funding Details Type of Funding Instrument CA (Cooperative Agreement) All component (FHOI-G; FHOI-SPA; FHOI-NTPD; FHOI-NISP; FHOI-NLSP) awards will be in the form of cooperative agreements.

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

I. Basic Information OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 7 of 96

FHEO anticipates that approximately 5 awards will be made from available funding. The number of awards may vary based upon the quantity, quality and eligibility status of the applications received.

Under a cooperative agreement, HUD will exercise the right to approve, and have substantial involvement in, all proposed deliverables, as well as the Work Plan or Statement of Work

(SOW).

Where HUD determines that substantial Federal involvement is appropriate, awards may be administered as cooperative agreements. Substantial involvement may include: collaborative project planning; technical consultation; review of significant deliverables; coordination of national initiatives; dissemination of project deliverables; other activities identified in the cooperative agreement. The nature and extent of HUD Participation will be described in the award agreement.

FHEO anticipates that approximately 5 awards will be made from available funding. The number of awards may vary based upon the quantity, quality and eligibility status of the applications received.

Available Funds Funding of approximately $50,100,000 is available through this NOFO.

Additional funds may become available for award. Use of these funds is subject to statutory constraints. All awards are subject to the selection process contained in this NOFO.

The funds to support awards made from this Notice of Funding Opportunity are from FY2025 and FY2026 appropriations. The total funding of $50,100,000 includes $46,000,000 from FY2025 funds and $4,100,000 from FY2026 funds. Additional funds may become available to support additional awards.

Estimated Number of Awards 5 awards from available funding Project start dates will differ by organization; the actual start date of the project period of performance will be determined through negotiations with HUD.

Applicants will submit applications proposing a 24 month project consisting of two separate consecutive 12-month performance and budget periods.

HUD anticipates making awards sufficient to accomplish the objectives of each funding component while ensuring that funded projects possess the resources necessary to achieve meaningful organizational improvements.

The anticipated number of awards reflects the Department's objective of supporting projects with sufficient scope, scale, and duration to produce durable institutional capability. HUD may adjust the number or amount of awards based upon the quality of applications received, available appropriations, program priorities, and other considerations identified in this NOFO.

Nothing in this section obligates HUD to make a specific number of awards under any component.

FHOI – General Component (FHOI-G) - $25,000,000 Minimum Award: $5,000,000

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

I. Basic Information OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 8 of 96

Maximum Award: $25,000,000 The maximum award is $25,000,000 for a 24-month project period consisting of two consecutive 12-month performance and budget periods, with a maximum amount of $12,500,000 and a minimum amount of $5,000,000 per each 12-month consecutive performance and budget period. FHEO expects to make approximately 1 award under this component. These awards will be carried out in the form of cooperative agreements.

FHOI – Sustainable Partnership for Accessibility (FHOI-SPA) - $10,025,000 Minimum Award: $5,000,000 Maximum Award: $10,025,000 The maximum award is $10,025,000 for a 24-month project period consisting of two consecutive 12-month performance and budget periods, with a maximum amount of $5,012,500 and a minimum amount of $2,500,000 per each 12-month consecutive performance and budget period. FHEO expects to make approximately 1 award under this component. These awards will be carried out in the form of cooperative agreements.

FHOI – National Testing Partnership Development (FHOI-NTPD) - $5,025,000 Minimum Award: $2,000,000 Maximum Award: $5,025,000 The maximum award is $5,025,000 for a 24-month project period consisting of two consecutive 12-month performance and budget periods, with a maximum amount of $2,512,500 and a minimum amount of $1,000,000 per each 12-month consecutive performance and budget period. FHEO expects to make approximately 1 award under this component. These awards will be carried out in the form of cooperative agreements.

FHOI – National Intake Support Partnership (FHOI-NISP) - $5,025,000 Minimum Award: $2,000,000 Maximum Award: $5,025,000 The maximum award is $5,025,000 for a 24-month project period consisting of two consecutive 12-month performance and budget periods, with a maximum amount of $2,512,500 and a minimum amount of $1,000,000 per each 12-month consecutive performance and budget period. FHEO expects to make approximately 1 award under this component. These awards will be carried out in the form of cooperative agreements.

FHOI – National Litigation Support Partnership (FHOI-NLSP) - $5,025,000 Minimum Award: $2,000,000 Maximum Award: $5,025,000 The maximum award is $5,025,000 for a 24-month project period consisting of two consecutive 12-month performance and budget periods, with a maximum amount of $2,512,500 and a minimum amount of $1,000,000 per each 12-month consecutive performance and budget period. FHEO expects to make approximately 1 award under this component. These awards will be carried out in the form of cooperative agreements.

Funding made available through this NOFO reflects FY2025 and FY2026 for the Fair Housing

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

I. Basic Information OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 9 of 96

Organizations Initiative. HUD has structured this competition to implement applicable appropriations language while advancing the longstanding statutory purpose of FHOI.

NOTE: All recipients must expend funds within the specific time periods established and for the purposes approved in annual negotiations.

Length of Performance Period:

24-month project period and budget period Length of Periods Explanation:

24-month project period consisting of two separate consecutive 12-month performance and budget periods.

B. Agency Contact(s) See Contact and Support section of this NOFO.

II. ELIGIBILITY

II. Eligibility

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Eligible Applications

C. Cost Sharing or Matching

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

II. Eligibility OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 11 of 96

II. ELIGIBILITY

A. Eligible Applicants If your organization is not an eligible applicant, your application won't be reviewed or scored, and you won't receive funding from HUD.

1. Eligible Entity Types:

25 (Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)) Additional Information on Eligibility You cannot apply as an individual.

Faith-based organizations may apply just like any other organization. HUD does not have any policies or practices that unfairly target these institutions.

HUD will make awards from FY2026 and FY2025 FHEO appropriations through this Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Multiple FHIP Initiative Awards. Consistent with the Department's objective of broadening participation in the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), promoting effective stewardship of appropriated funds, and avoiding duplicative Federal funding, HUD generally intends to make no more than one new FHIP award to the same organization during the FY2025/FY2026 funding cycle. Applicants should apply only under the initiative that most closely aligns with the organization's mission, organizational capabilities, and proposed activities.

If an applicant submits applications under more than one FHIP initiative and is selected for funding under multiple initiatives, HUD generally will make only one award. In determining which award to make, HUD may consider the distinct purposes of the initiatives, the proposed statements of work, the potential for duplicative or substantially similar activities, organizational capacity to successfully perform multiple awards, the need to promote broad participation in the FHIP program, and the effective stewardship of Federal appropriations.

HUD reserves the discretion to determine whether an exception is appropriate where multiple awards would clearly advance the purposes of the Fair Housing Act and the FHIP statute without resulting in unnecessary duplication or concentration of funding.

In addition, recipients of continuing multi-year PEI awards are not eligible to receive an FY2025/FY2026 FHOI award if the periods of performance would overlap and the recipient elects to continue its existing PEI award.

a. Eligible entities include:

• Qualified fair housing enforcement organizations under 24 CFR 125.501(b)(1)(i);

• Fair housing enforcement organizations under 24 CFR 501(b)(1)(ii);

• nonprofit organizations organizing to build their capacity to provide fair housing enforcement or education and outreach for the purpose of supporting the continued development or implementation of initiatives which enforce the rights granted under the Fair Housing Act, and State or local laws with equivalent rights and remedies;

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/part-5/appendix-Appendix%20A%20to%20Subpart%20A%20of%20Part%205 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/12/2025-02611/eradicating-anti-christian-bias https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/12/2025-02611/eradicating-anti-christian-bias

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

II. Eligibility OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 12 of 96 and

• other public or private nonprofit entities that are formulating or carrying out programs to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices (which might include for example, universities, public interest law firms, religious liberty groups, trade associations, etc.) (42 USC 3616a(a)).

HUD encourages applications from eligible organizations that are capable of developing new fair housing institutional capacity, including organizations without an existing fair housing program, consistent with the historical purposes of FHOI.

Eligibility under this NOFO reflects Congress' intent that FHOI support organizations capable of developing or expanding fair housing expertise. An organization need not demonstrate that fair housing has historically been its primary mission; however, applicants should demonstrate that the proposed project will establish, strengthen, or significantly expand fair housing capability within the organization. Applicants proposing collaborative projects should demonstrate that each participating organization contributes expertise that materially advances the objectives of the proposed project.

b. Additional Eligibility Requirements for Nonprofit Organizations:

Nonprofit applicants must be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization or have a 501(c)(3) application pending prior to the application deadline date and must maintain 501(c)(3) status throughout the period of performance. Applications from nonprofits must include the IRS report showing 501(c)(3) status or pending application status. See Application Contents, IV.C.

If your organization has a pending 501(c)(3) application and is selected for an award, your 501(c)(3) application/renewal must be approved prior to release of funding. If the pending application is denied, HUD will rescind award selection.

c. Component Specific Eligibility:

FHOI – General Component (FHOI-G): For purposes of this component and to support the initiative to improve the development of capacity and efforts to expand experience in enforcing the Fair Housing Act, HUD strongly encourages Universities with ABA approved law schools to apply, and will award preference points to qualified applicants that are Universities with ABA approved law schools (See Section 5 regarding Application Review.)

FHOI – Sustainable Partnership for Accessibility (FHOI-SPA): For purposes of this component, and to support the initiative to improve development of expertise and experience for future efforts in light of the program objectives, HUD strongly encourages Universities with ABA approved law schools and architecture schools to apply, and will award preference points to qualified applicants that are Universities with both a law school and an architecture school (See Section 5 regarding Application Review.)

FHOI – National Testing Partnership Development (FHOI-NTPD): Applicants may include for example, universities, public interest law firms, religious liberty groups, trade associations, and other eligible entities pursuing efforts in enhancing the enforcement of laws and regulations related to discriminatory housing practices.

FHOI – National Intake Support Partnership (FHOI-NISP): Applicants should include entities that are formulating or carrying out programs to prevent or eliminate discriminatory

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

II. Eligibility OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 13 of 96 housing practices (which might include for example, universities, public interest law firms, religious liberty groups, trade associations, etc.).

FHOI – National Litigation Support Partnership (FHOI-NLSP): Applicants may include for example, public interest law firms, religious liberty groups, and other eligible entities pursuing efforts in enhancing the enforcement of laws and regulations related to discriminatory housing practices.

2. Restrictions

a. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements You must meet the current General Statutory and Regulatory Eligibility Requirements. If you do not meet these requirements, your application won't be scored, and you won't receive funding from HUD. This is a threshold requirement for all HUD funding.

HUD reviews each application to make sure it meets threshold requirements. If you meet all threshold requirements, your application will advance to a merit review. If you fail to meet one or more threshold requirements, your application is not eligible for HUD funding.

Please see NOFO Sections II. B., III. G., and V. A. 1 - 5, for additional information on restrictions and factors affecting the eligibility of applications for merit review.

b. Resolution of Civil Rights Matters If you have any outstanding or unresolved judgments for violating civil rights laws, you must settle them before you apply. If you don't, settle the civil rights law violations before you apply, your application won't be scored, and you won't receive funding from HUD. This is a threshold requirement for all HUD funding.

Applicants with outstanding, unresolved matters or judgments against them for violations of civil rights laws must resolve those judgments before the application submission deadline or the applicant will be deemed ineligible. (1) An applicant is ineligible for funding if the applicant has received notice of a judgment imposed against them for violations of: (a) the Fair Housing Act or a substantially equivalent state or local fair housing law for discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or familial status; or (b) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 109 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or the Violence Against Women Act or substantially equivalent state or local laws. (2) HUD will determine if actions to resolve the judgment taken before the application deadline date will resolve the matter. Examples of actions that may be sufficient to resolve the matter include, but are not limited to: (a) Current compliance with a voluntary compliance agreement signed by all the parties; (b) Current compliance with a HUD-approved conciliation agreement signed by all the parties; (c) Current compliance with a conciliation agreement signed by all the parties and approved by the state governmental or local administrative agency with jurisdiction over the matter; (d) Current compliance with a consent order or consent decree;

or (e) Current compliance with a final judicial ruling or administrative ruling or decision.

Applicants with unresolved civil rights matters at the application deadline are deemed ineligible.

B. Eligible Applications https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/Eligibility-Requirements-Addendum-FY2025.pdf

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

II. Eligibility OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 14 of 96

1. An application from an eligible entity is considered for funding if it meets basic threshold requirements and passes merit review.

2. Your application must support the goals of this NOFO.

3. Awards made under this NOFO will not be used to conduct activities that subsidize or facilitate illegal racial preferences or other forms of illegal discrimination, including activities where race or intentional proxies for race will be used as a selection criterion for employment or program participation.

Program Restrictions on Eligibility:

4. Applicants may not receive funding from both FY2025/FY2026 FHOI and FY2026 PEI or FY2026 EOI. Applicants may not receive funding from both FY2025/26 FHOI and FY2026 PEI or FY2026 EOI.

5. Separate Statement of Work (SOW) and Budget for each performance period.

You must submit a separate SOW and a separate Form HUD-424-CBW Budget with your application, for each consecutive 12-month performance and budget period that comprise the 24-month project period, or your application will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed.

6. HUD will not fund both a parent organization and its affiliate/subsidiary organization under this NOFO for the same component. HUD prohibits affiliate and parent organization staff sharing protocols whereby the parent organization shares key staff with an affiliate(s). All funded organizations must be fully independent functional fair housing enforcement organizations able to conduct business on an ongoing basis without support from a parent or its staff to complete proposed program activities and must be set apart from parent organization.

7. An applicant cannot have received a "poor (unsatisfactory)" rating on a performance assessment on any prior FHIP grant within the past five (5) years. If your organization received a "poor" rating on a performance assessment on any prior FHIP grant within the past five (5) years, the organization is ineligible for funding for a period of five (5) years from the date of the performance assessment. However, if the organization provides evidence that the rating was overturned by FHEO or that another resolution was accepted by FHEO to improve future performance, HUD may reconsider your eligibility.

Additionally, if your organization receives a "poor (unsatisfactory)" performance rating on another FHIP grant after being selected for an award or after receipt of funding under this NOFO, HUD will rescind all remaining grant funds awarded/received under this NOFO, and the organization will remain ineligible for funding for a period of five years, unless it provides evidence as stated above.

8. Your application must meet the following requirements:

a. Fair Housing Related Activities. All program activities and costs within the

SOW and budget must be fair housing related activities and must demonstrate an explicit connection to the non-discrimination provisions of the Fair Housing Act, and/or State or local laws with equivalent rights and remedies.

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

II. Eligibility OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 15 of 96

b. Fair Housing Act Protected Characteristics. All FHIP-funded projects must address housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin.

9. Funding Request Within the Award Limits. Applicants are ineligible for funding if the amount requested in the application is not within the minimum and maximum award limits, unless HUD determines that the error is a minor error (such as a typographical error) and that the application clearly requests a funding amount within the award limits.

10. Inconsistencies in the Requested Amount. If inconsistent amounts are requested in an application selected for an award, the amount on the SF-424 will be deemed the controlling amount for purposes of determining eligibility and the award amount.

11. Rating Factors. An application that does not include a narrative response to each of the four Rating Factors will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed.

12. Nonprofit Status. Nonprofit applicants must be a private nonprofit charitable 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization as determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). All nonprofit recipients must maintain 501(c)(3) status throughout the grant period.

Nonprofit applicants must verify 501(c)(3) status in accordance with 24 CFR 5.109(1).

See Eligible Entity Types (II.A.1.b.).

13. Operating Budget. In order to ensure funding supports sustainable fair housing partnerships, and consistent with the requirements of 42 USC 3616a(c)(1), FHIP funding may not provide more than 50% of the operating budget of the recipient organization for any one year.

C. Cost Sharing or Matching This Program does not require cost sharing or matching.

If your application project and budgets include cost sharing or matching, you will be required to provide those proposed funds if selected for an award, or the award will be rescinded.

In accordance with Section V. B. 1. Rating Factor 1, applicants that can demonstrate diversified funding resources will receive higher scores for this factor.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Cost%20sharing%20or%20matching)

III. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

III. Program Description

A. Purpose

B. Goals and Objectives

C. Authority

D. Unallowable Costs

E. Indirect Costs

F.

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

III. Program Description OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 17 of 96

III. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. Purpose Congress established the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) with a purpose of providing funding to entities to work alongside HUD to "prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices" 42 USC § 3616a(a). Congress determined in 1988, and affirmed each year since then through appropriations, that HUD can only achieve its fair housing mission and obligations by supporting a network of organizations helping to educate the public about and enforce fair housing rights. Initially a demonstration program, Congress made FHIP permanent through the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992. The program was expanded in 1992 to address building capacity in unserved areas, establish a national media campaign, and fund a National Fair Housing Month.

FHIP provides funds to eligible organizations through competitive grants under four initiatives:

the Fair Housing Organization Initiative (FHOI), the Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI), the Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI), and the Administrative Enforcement Initiative (AEI).

This NOFO funds the FHOI to provide cooperative agreements to eligible nonprofit organizations to build their capacity to provide fair housing enforcement, or education and outreach, for the purpose of supporting the continued development or implementation of initiatives which enforce the rights granted under the Fair Housing Act, and State or local laws with equivalent rights and remedies; and/or other public or private entities that are formulating or carrying out programs to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices.

Components:

HUD has made $50,100,000 available for the FHOI with FY2025 and FY2026 funds. The funding is divided among the following components:

• FHOI – General Component (FHOI-G) - $25,000,000. The purpose of FHOI-G is to build fair housing enforcement capacity to carry out special projects, including the development of prototypes to respond to new or sophisticated forms of discrimination.

The component includes two special focus areas: State and Local Housing Discrimination, and Religious Liberty Protection.

• FHOI – Sustainable Partnership for Accessibility (FHOI-SPA) - $10,025,000. The purpose of FHOI-SPA is to increase accessibility compliance capacity overall, including to develop technical accessibility expertise and interdisciplinary partnerships.

• FHOI – National Testing Partnership Development (FHOI-NTPD) - $5,025,000.

The purpose of FHOI-NTPD is to build investigative capacity by recruiting and supporting nonprofit organizations, universities, technical institutions, and other eligible entities possessing demonstrated investigative, analytical, scientific, technological, or methodological expertise that can be adapted to fair housing testing.

• FHOI – National Intake Support Partnership (FHOI-NISP) - $5,025,000. FHOI- NISP is to strengthen coordinated intake, referral, case-routing, and related organizational systems of fair housing organizations to improve public access to fair

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

III. Program Description OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 18 of 96 housing services.

• FHOI – National Litigation Support Partnership (FHOI-NLSP) - $5,025,000. The purpose of FHOI-NLSP is to develop fair housing litigation capacity within organizations possessing adjacent civil-rights expertise.

Please see Section III. G. for the full description of FHOI components.

Unused funds from one FHOI component can be redistributed to other FHOI components at the discretion of HUD.

If you qualify for multiple components, you may apply for more than one.

The Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI) is the organizational capacity-building component of the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). Congress established FHOI to strengthen the Nation's ability to prevent and eliminate discriminatory housing practices by supporting the development, expansion, diversification, and long-term sustainability of organizations capable of carrying out fair housing activities.

Since its enactment, FHOI has supported the creation of new fair housing organizations, the continued development of existing organizations, expansion into underserved communities, and development of specialized institutional expertise necessary to address evolving forms of housing discrimination.

Consistent with the Fair Housing Act and 24 CFR Part 125, HUD administers FHOI through Notices of Funding Opportunity identifying funding priorities that address contemporary fair housing challenges while remaining consistent with the program's longstanding organizational development mission.

Purpose of the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative The Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI) is HUD's strategic investment program for developing and sustaining the Nation's private fair housing infrastructure.

Congress established FHOI as the organizational development component of the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to strengthen the ability of private nonprofit organizations and their partners to advance the purposes of the Fair Housing Act. Through annual Notices of Funding Opportunity, HUD administers FHOI by making strategic investments that expand organizational capability, cultivate specialized expertise, encourage interdisciplinary partnerships, modernize operational capacity, and strengthen the long-term effectiveness of the private fair housing community.

Consistent with the statutory framework, implementing regulations, and the historical administration of FHIP, the Department structures each annual competition to address emerging needs while maintaining the enduring purpose of strengthening the Nation's private fair housing infrastructure. Accordingly, the FY2025/FY2026 FHOI competition is organized as a portfolio of complementary investments that collectively enhance organizational capability, technical expertise, collaboration, and sustainable institutional capacity.

Evolution of the Fair Housing Initiatives Program Since the inception of the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, HUD has administered FHIP through annual funding announcements that identify program priorities consistent with the

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

III. Program Description OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 19 of 96

Fair Housing Act, implementing regulations, and available appropriations. Over time, these annual competitions have introduced specialized funding components, expanded eligible activities, encouraged new organizational partnerships, supported emerging fair housing priorities, and refined administrative approaches in response to experience gained through program implementation.

Historical evaluations of FHIP document the Department's longstanding practice of adapting program components to strengthen fair housing education, enforcement, organizational development, and administrative effectiveness while maintaining consistency with the underlying statutory and regulatory framework. The Department views the FY2025/FY2026 competition as a continuation of this historical practice of administrative refinement and program improvement.

Evolution of the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative Unlike other initiatives that emphasize education and outreach, private enforcement, or administrative enforcement, FHOI is intended to build institutional capability. Since its establishment, the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI) has served as HUD's principal organizational development initiative within the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). While the statutory purpose of FHOI has remained consistent–to strengthen the Nation's private fair housing infrastructure–the Department has periodically refined the initiative through annual Notices of Funding Opportunity to address evolving organizational needs, emerging fair housing issues, and changing opportunities for capacity development.

Historically, HUD has implemented FHOI through a variety of funding strategies designed to strengthen organizational capability, expand technical expertise, encourage strategic partnerships, modernize operational systems, and cultivate new institutional participants capable of advancing the purposes of the Fair Housing Act. These refinements have included specialized funding components, partnership initiatives, demonstration projects, and other program innovations documented throughout the administrative history of FHIP.

The FY2025/FY2026 competition continues this historical practice. Rather than altering the statutory purpose of FHOI, this NOFO identifies funding priorities intended to strengthen different dimensions of the Nation's private fair housing infrastructure through complementary investments in organizational development, specialized capability, strategic collaboration, and sustainable institutional capacity.

Strategic Investment Framework HUD administers the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative as an integrated portfolio of complementary investments intended to strengthen the Nation's private fair housing infrastructure. Each funding component contributes to a distinct dimension of organizational capability while supporting the common objective of improving the long-term effectiveness of private organizations engaged in fair housing activities.

The Department recognizes that strengthening the Nation's fair housing infrastructure requires investment in multiple forms of organizational capability. Accordingly, the FY2025/FY2026 competition includes funding components that support organizational development, strategic partnerships, specialized technical expertise, national support functions, and other initiatives designed to expand the capacity, resilience, and effectiveness

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

III. Program Description OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 20 of 96 of the private fair housing community.

Funding allocations among components reflect the differing organizational strategies employed to accomplish these objectives and the level of investment reasonably necessary to achieve meaningful and sustainable organizational outcomes. Differences in funding levels should not be interpreted as reflecting the relative importance of one objective over another.

Rather, the allocations represent HUD's administrative judgment regarding the most effective distribution of available resources to achieve a balanced portfolio of investments supporting the Nation's private fair housing infrastructure.

Allocation of Available Funding HUD has allocated available funding among the Fair Housing Organizations Initiative funding components based upon the objectives of each component, the anticipated scope and complexity of funded projects, the level of investment necessary to achieve meaningful organizational outcomes, and the Department's objective of maintaining a balanced portfolio of investments that collectively strengthen the Nation's private fair housing infrastructure.

The funding available under each component reflects the differing organizational strategies employed to advance the purposes of FHOI. Some components are intended to support numerous projects that strengthen local and regional organizational capability, while others support a smaller number of projects requiring specialized expertise, national coordination, or development of shared resources benefiting the broader fair housing community.

Accordingly, differences in funding levels among components should not be interpreted as reflecting the relative importance of one program objective over another. Rather, the funding distribution reflects HUD's administrative judgment regarding the level of investment reasonably necessary to accomplish the distinct objectives of each component and to achieve an appropriate balance among complementary investments supporting the long-term development of the Nation's private fair housing infrastructure.

Strategic Partnership Development Since its establishment, the Fair Housing Initiatives Program has employed a variety of approaches to expand the Nation's private fair housing infrastructure and encourage participation by organizations possessing complementary expertise. These approaches have included targeted initiatives encouraging collaboration with institutions of higher education and other community-based organizations.

These initiatives reflected HUD's recognition that advancing the purposes of the Fair Housing Act often requires interdisciplinary expertise, broad community engagement, and the development of new institutional capacity. Building upon this history, the current Fair Housing Organizations Initiative competition encourages strategic partnerships that expand organizational capability, strengthen technical expertise, and cultivate new participants capable of contributing to the Nation's long-term fair housing infrastructure. Such partnerships are intended to advance the statutory purposes of FHOI by increasing the variety, resilience, and effectiveness of organizations engaged in fair housing activities.

Components:

HUD has organized the FY2025/FY2026 FHOI competition around five complementary funding components. Each component supports the development of a distinct form of

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

III. Program Description OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 21 of 96 organizational capability while contributing to the common objective of strengthening the Nation's private fair housing infrastructure.

Applicants should apply under the component(s) that most closely align(s) with the principal objective of the proposed project. Although each component has separate eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria, the components are intended to operate together as complementary investments supporting organizational development throughout the private fair housing community.

Projects that establish meaningful collaboration among organizations with complementary expertise are encouraged where such partnerships materially strengthen organizational capability and advance the objectives of the selected component.

The FHOI components are framed around institutional capacity development, for example:

• FHOI – General Component (FHOI-G) – Builds broad organizational capacity

• FHOI – Sustainable Partnership for Accessibility (FHOI-SPA) – Builds technical capacity

• FHOI – National Testing Partnership Development (FHOI-NTPD) – Builds investigative capacity

• FHOI – National Intake Support Partnership (FHOI-NISP) – Builds coordination capacity and technical capacity

• FHOI – National Litigation Support Partnership (FHOI-NLSP) – Builds legal capacity

Each funding contributes to a distinct aspect of institutional development. Applicants should select the component that most closely corresponds to the principal objective of the proposed project. Although each component has unique requirements, the components are intended to operate together as complementary investments in the nation's long-term fair housing capacity.

B. Goals and Objectives The FHOI goal is to increase and/or enhance fair housing enforcement related activities in communities throughout the nation to address, prevent and eliminate housing discrimination so that everyone has access to a quality, affordable home.

HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), and by extension, the FHIP program, is returning to the core of the Fair Housing Act's enforcement regime – protecting individuals from intentional discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status. FHEO rejects expansive interpretations of the Fair Housing Act that exceed the statutory text; will eliminate from the FHIP program ideologically driven enforcement priorities that do not serve Americans experiencing actual discrimination; and will ensure equal treatment under the law regardless of race – including through enforcement against illegal preferences and unlawful discrimination. Applicants are to apply for available FHIP awards which are involved in the education and development of expertise in the areas of Fair Housing, including enforcement, protections, investigations, as well as activities related to disabilities and reasonable accommodations. By restoring the FHIP program to its

II. Eligibility III. Program Description

IV. Application Contents and

Format

V. Application Review

Information

VI. Submission Requirements and

Deadlines

VII. Post-Award Requirements and

Administration

VIII. Contact and

III. Program Description OFH-2600-DC-021B Page 22 of 96 original goals, HUD will focus enforcement resources on cases of intentional discrimination that are causing real harm to real people and ensure that all American's rights to fair housing access are protected.

Implementation of activities that were unsupported by original FHIP program goals resulted in FHEO not fully meeting its intended goals, leading to waste of taxpayer dollars, and too often the production of low-quality, redundant deliverables. These uses of funds reflected and were guided by HUD's own priorities that deviated from the original statutory goals of the FHA and led HUD to promote misguided pirorities that led to its own backlog. This was evidenced by the conclusions in the Office of Inspector General report, dated September 24, 2024, that found that the prior administration left a backlog of unresolved cases and failed to comply with its statutory obligations. FHEO has found that in part this was due to a lack of prioritization for actual intentional cases of discrimination. This backlog reflected HUD's priorities that were passed on to the FHIPs programs and grant awards. (FHEO Faces Challenges in Completing Investigations Within 100 Days | Office of Inspector General, Department of Housing and Urban Development.)

In…