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Strengthening Communities Fund

Aid for Struggling Communities through Private and Public Partnerships

Image 1. Community gardeners working together; Image 2. Church surrounded by trees; Image 3. Safety officer helping girl; Image 4. State capitol building; Image 5. Community volunteers raising building.

The Strengthening Communities Fund will make $50 million in Recovery Act funding available to help communities severely affected by the economic downturn. Partnering with private and public organizations, HHS will provide one-time, two year grants. The focus of this program is to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations, whether secular or faith-based, to address the broad economic recovery issues present in their communities, including helping low-income individuals secure and retain employment, earn higher wages, obtain better-quality jobs, and gain greater access to state and Federal benefits and tax credits, including Recovery Act benefits. Non-Profits, Faith-Based, States, Cities, Counties and Tribal organizations may apply for grants through two components of the Fund:

  • Non-Profit Capacity-Building Program
  • State, Local, and Tribal Government Capacity-Building Program


Non-Profit Capacity-Building Program

The Non-Profit Capacity-Building Program provides grants to eligible non-profit and faith-based organizations whose mission is to assist families in communities experiencing economic distress. One-time, two-year awards of up to $1 million will be granted to experienced lead organizations which must provide a 20% match (cash or in-kind) to their projects. Lead organizations will assist project partner ability to assist communities through capacity-building training, technical assistance, and competitive financial assistance. A minimum of 55% of the Federal funds awarded must be provided to project partners through a competitive process.  The grant period for this award is 24 months.


State, Local, and Tribal Government Capacity-Building Program

The SCF State, Local, and Tribal Government Capacity Building program will make one-time awards up to $250,000 to State, city, county, and Indian/Native American Tribal government offices (e.g., offices responsible for outreach to faith-based and community organizations or those interested in initiating such an effort), or their designees, to build their own capacity, as well as the capacity of nonprofit faith-based and community organizations to better serve those in need and to increase nonprofit organizations' involvement in the economic recovery. Grantees will use program funds to provide free capacity building services to nonprofit organizations and to build their own capacity to provide such services to non-profits.  The grant period for this award is 24 months.


How to Apply

The Administration for Children and Families and its Office of Community Services administers this program. Potential applicant organizations interested in applying for funds should visit: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/scf/index.html to learn about this grant opportunity and to find resources for prospective grantees.

Learn More About Community Initiatives:


Recovery Act Implementation Plan