ABC Initiative Implementation Grant Program

The ABC Initiative Implementation Grant Program is administered by Prosperity Now with financial support from the Citi Foundation. Prosperity Now is a national nonprofit organization focused on expanding economic opportunity and financial security, particularly for low and moderate income households. Through this initiative, the organization seeks to advance access to child savings opportunities, including emerging tools such as Section 530A Accounts, by leveraging existing trusted service delivery systems. The program is designed as a national effort to help families build financial assets for their children, recognizing that tax time presents a critical opportunity when families are already making important financial decisions. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support nonprofit organizations that operate IRS sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs in integrating child savings information and services into tax time interactions. These organizations will help families better understand available savings options, navigate enrollment processes, and take actionable steps toward building long term financial security for their children. The initiative emphasizes education, outreach, referrals, and guided support within the tax preparation process, ensuring that families can make informed decisions during high engagement moments. Funding under this program ranges from 25000 to 150000 dollars per award, with final amounts determined based on factors such as projected family reach, organizational capacity, scope of activities, and overall budget alignment. Grant funds may be used to support a wide range of implementation activities including staff and volunteer training, outreach campaigns, integration of child savings education into VITA workflows, partnership development with financial institutions and community organizations, and system improvements for tracking and reporting. Funds may also support tax season activation events and efforts to strengthen referral and navigation systems that connect families to savings opportunities. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that operate IRS sponsored VITA programs and serve as the lead applicant and fiscal agent. Applicants must demonstrate service to low and moderate income households, defined as those earning less than 80 percent of FFIEC Median Family Income, and must operate within specified geographic markets that include selected counties and regions across multiple states and territories. While prior experience with child savings initiatives is encouraged, it is not required. Organizations must also show readiness to implement program activities during the 2027 tax season and commit to participation in training, technical assistance, evaluation, and peer learning activities. The application process requires submission through Prosperity Now’s online portal by the stated deadline. Applicants are expected to provide detailed plans outlining their implementation approach, organizational capacity, partnerships, and anticipated outcomes. Evaluation criteria include the feasibility and clarity of the proposed approach, the organization’s ability to reach target populations, the strength of partnerships, and the capacity to collect and report data. Budget alignment and cost effectiveness are also key considerations in the review process. The timeline for this opportunity begins with the release of the Request for Proposals in July 2026, followed by an application deadline of August 7 2026. Conditional award notifications are expected in early September 2026, with final agreements completed later that month. Selected organizations will begin onboarding and training in fall 2026, leading into program implementation during the 2027 tax season from January through April. Throughout the grant period, awardees will participate in a national learning cohort and contribute to shared evaluation and reporting efforts designed to strengthen the broader field of child savings initiatives.

Align proposal with evaluation criteria including feasibility, partnerships, and measurable family reach outcomes