Refugee and Entrant Assistance Discretionary Grants

The goal of this listing is to provide assistance to refugees by: 1. Assisting refugees in obtaining the skills which are necessary for economic self-sufficiency, including projects for job training, employment services, day care, professional ref

The objectives of the funding opportunities are: (1) build capacity for refugees in locations with good opportunities and providing specialized case management for vulnerable individuals; (2) assist low-income refugees through financial literacy education and with matching funds for individual development accounts ; (3) provide micro-credit to refugees interested in starting new businesses but unable to access commercial capital; (4) provide agricultural training and opportunities to improve local food systems for refugee farmers; (5) promote integration; (6) assist refugees with career advancement; (7) assist refugees to open family based child care businesses; (8) provide technical assistance to refugee service providers; (9) provide employer based educational and language acquisition opportunities; (10) support the mental health needs of refugees affected by trauma; and (11) build refugee leadership through sharing lived experience.

Public and private nonprofit agencies may apply for these awards. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible.

Refugees, certain Amerasian immigrants from Vietnam, Cuban/Haitian entrants, asylees, victims of a severe form of trafficking, Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrants and Afghan and Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees as outlined in ORR PL 22-10 and ORR PL 22-13 are eligible for services and assistance through funded projects in a community. Detailed information on eligibility of ORR-funded projects is available at 45 § CFR 400.43 and ORR Policy Letter 16-01, which can be found on the ORR website at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/resource/policy-letter-16-01.

Income Security/Social Service/Welfare Funds are used for the administration of programs and to provide services as outlined in each Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Funds may be used only for purposes set forth in the NOFO and in the notice of award. Services provided must not supplant services that may be available through existing federal, state, or local programs.

This program is funded using available discretionary funding. Costs of organized fund raising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred to raise capital or obtain contributions are unallowable. Fund raising costs for the purposes of meeting the Federal program objectives are allowable with prior written approval from the Federal awarding agency. (45 CFR §75.442; effective on or after 10/1/2025: 2 CFR §200.442) Proposal costs are the costs of preparing bids, proposals, or applications on potential Federal and non-Federal awards or projects, including the development of data necessary to support the non-Federal entity's bids or proposals. Proposal costs of the current accounting period of both successful and unsuccessful bids and proposals normally should be treated as indirect (F & A) costs and allocated currently to all activities of the non-Federal entity. No proposal costs of past accounting periods will be allocable to the current period. (45 CFR §75.460; effective on or after 10/1/2025: 2 CFR §200.460) Awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs. Construction is not an allowable activity or expenditure under this award. Purchase of real property is not an allowable activity or expenditure under this award. Federal funds awarded under this NOFO may not be used to acquire (i.e., purchase), construct, and/or make major renovations to real property, including land improvements. Any costs associated with these types of activities or expenditures, such as interest payments, financing payments, and capital payments, are unallowable, and therefore any Uniform Administrative Requirement (45 CFR Part 75; effective on or after 10/1/2025: 2 CFR Parts 200 and 300) reference allowing such costs would not apply to awards made under this listing. Employer Engagement Program funds may not be paid directly to any employer partner except as payment for specific goods or services required for program implementation. If training sessions will include individuals not eligible for ORR services, the percentage of the cost of the training funded through the Employer Engagement Program must not exceed the percentage of ORR-eligible participants attending. The RCP program limits direct financial assistance to $12,000 to any individual participant across the duration of the program period. Prior approval must be obtained from ORR to exceed this limit. RFCCMED program funds may not be used for the sole purpose of preparing a participant for employment in a childcare facility not operated by members of the participant's household, though participants' temporary employment, internship, or volunteering in such a facility for the purpose of obtaining childcare experience is allowable. All program-related expenditures (i.e., participant stipends and licensing-related fees) must be paid directly to the vendor. Participants may be reimbursed only if the purchase was approved in writing by the implementing organization prior to the sale and the participant presents documentation that the cost was incurred. Participant stipends range from a minimum of $750 ($500 for projects ending Sept 2025) to a maximum of $3,000 per participant for the entire project period. Program funds may not be used to pay for housing costs, such as mortgages, rent, or security deposits. The Refugee IDA program limits the amount of funding that can be used to administer the program. Depending on which NOFO the program was funded under, this limit can be 25%, 35%, or 50% of the total annual budget. The remaining funds must be used to match the savings of refugee program participants. Furthermore, again dependent on the NOFO the program was funded under, the program limits the amount of funding that can be used to match the IDA savings. Individuals are limited to no more than $2,000 or $3,000 and households are limited to no more than $4,000 or $6,000 for all eligible assets other than rental assistance.

Funds made available under this program are for project periods ranging from 1 to 5 years. Funds are awarded annually during the project. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Post award, the Division of Payment Management will establish an account from which a recipient may draw down award funds. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Post award, the Division of Payment Management will establish an account from which a recipient may draw down award funds.

Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for this listing are posted on Grants.gov.

Each application is reviewed against four factors: eligibility, the application deadline, required electronic submission or waiver requested and approved, and the Award Ceiling. If the application does not meet all of these factors, then it is disqualified from the merit review process After the initial review, applications are reviewed and evaluated by merit review panels using only the criteria described in the Application Review section of the NOFO. Each panel is composed of experts with knowledge and experience in the area under review. Generally, review panels include three reviewers and one chairperson. While merit review scores and their ranking are not binding, ACF does consider them when selecting projects for funding. Scores and rankings are only one element used in the award decision-making process. Other criteria are explained in the Program Description and in the Application Review section of the NOFO. For example, ACF may reserve the right to evaluate applications in the larger context of the overall portfolio by considering geographic distribution of federal funds (e.g., ensuring coverage of states, counties, or service areas) in its pre-award decisions. ACF will complete a review of risk posed by applicants as described in 45 CFR §75.205 (effective on or after 10/1/2025: 2 CFR §200.206). ACF may elect not to fund applicants with management or financial problems that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the proposed project. In addition, ACF may elect to not allow a prime recipient to subaward if there is any indication that they are unable to properly monitor and manage subrecipients. Applications may be funded in whole or in part. Successful applicants may be funded at an amount lower than requested.

Non-competing continuations will be issued based on availability of funds, satisfactory progress, compliance with terms and conditions and a determination that continuation funding is in the best interest of the federal government.

There is no appeal process for unsuccessful applicants. For existing recipients, appeals regarding disputes may take place in accordance with 45 CFR Part 16, subject to the limitations of the Appendix A.