Deadline: 28-Jul-23
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), External Affairs Directorate (EXA), Office of Citizenship, Partnership, and Engagement (OCPE) is currently accepting applications for the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program (CIGP) to expand the availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services for immigrants across the nation and to provide opportunities for immigrants to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate into the fabric of American society.
The Innovations in Citizenship Preparation (Innovations) funding opportunity is designed to support and amplify innovative approaches to preparing immigrants for naturalization and encouraging the civic, linguistic, economic, and cultural integration of immigrants into their communities. While USCIS’ other funding opportunities support specific citizenship preparation services, the Innovations program invests in initiatives that develop, test, and share creative solutions for overcoming barriers to naturalization and expanding access to citizenship education and preparation services. Through this funding opportunity, organizations develop, test, and share creative solutions for overcoming traditional barriers to naturalization. Because they want to provide this opportunity widely, Innovations is open to public, non-profit, and for-profit institutions of all sizes.
Objectives
- In fiscal year (FY) 2023, approximately $3.6 million in federal funding is available for eligible organizations to provide innovative approaches to citizenship preparation and address barriers to naturalization. USCIS anticipates awarding up to 14 grants of up to $250,000 each.
- According to the DHS Office of Immigration Statistics and as captured in the public facing USCIS Eligible to Naturalize Data Dashboard, there are an estimated 9.2 million LPRs potentially eligible to naturalize in the U.S. Granting citizenship to this population is vital to the nation’s security, economic prosperity, and future built on the guiding laws and principles. To help communities and organizations identify new ways to encourage and support those on the pathway to citizenship, USCIS will consider applications for all types of innovations that support citizenship preparation and address barriers to naturalization. Innovations that are designed primarily to support non-LPRs will not be considered under this funding opportunity.
- Citizenship preparation refers to activities that help LPRs prepare for the English and civics components of the naturalization test, navigate the legal process of naturalization, and understand the value and importance of U.S. citizenship. The Innovations program is not intended to fund traditional citizenship preparation services, but rather identify new ways to help LPRs overcome barriers to naturalization. The most successful applicants will propose innovations that address existing, and potential future, challenge(s) within the citizenship preparation field and will include program goals related to attaining U.S. citizenship.
Priorities
USCIS is particularly interested in funding innovations that engage hard-to-reach populations. Examples of such populations include, but are not limited to:
- LPRs residing in rural locations or other isolated areas where there is a lack of access to citizenship education services; or
- LPRs whose jobs require mobility (e.g., migrant workers, nurses, truck drivers, etc.), making it difficult for them to participate in in-person classes for a significant period of time;
- LPRs who are pre-literate and/or have limited literacy skills in their native language and therefore require substantial support to prepare for the naturalization process;
- LPRs who have been historically and traditionally marginalized (e.g., the elderly, women, victims of crime, etc.); and
- LPRs covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) who may need support to successfully navigate the naturalization process.
Funding Information
- Available Funding for the NOFO: $3,600,000
- Projected Number of Awards: 14
- Maximum Award Amount: $250,000
- Period of Performance: 24 months
- Projected Period of Performance Start Date: 10/01/2023
- Projected Period of Performance End Date: 09/30/2025
Eligibility Criteria
- The following entities are eligible to apply to this announcement:
- City or township governments
- County governments
- Independent school districts
- Indian/Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
- Indian/Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
- Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization
- Public/Indian Housing Authority
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) IRS status, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public & state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Special district governments
- State governments
- Small businesses
- For-profit organizations other than Small businesses
- Organizations that propose to incorporate citizenship instruction under this funding opportunity should be familiar with the Elements of Program Quality for Adult Citizenship Education and make every effort to follow these recommended program quality markers. USCIS developed the Elements with a panel of adult education experts and based them on state and federal standards for adult education. They provide a general framework for preparing immigrants for the civics and English components of the naturalization interview and test. Program administrators and teachers should use these Elements when designing, enhancing, or evaluating their adult citizenship education programs.
- Organizations that propose to incorporate naturalization applications services under this funding opportunity may only do so within the authorized practice of immigration law, using qualified staff attorneys or Department of Justice Accredited Representatives to provide legal counsel to LPRs.
- For-profit law firms and attorneys in private practice are not eligible to receive funding under this funding opportunity.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.