Human Services Grant Program

The DeKalb County Human Services Grant Program is administered by the DeKalb County Office of Grants and Administration, a local government entity dedicated to strengthening community stability, enhancing public safety, and expanding access to essential human services for residents. The program operates as a partnership between the county and nonprofit organizations, leveraging public funding to support community-based initiatives that directly address pressing social challenges. Through this program, DeKalb County allocates funding to organizations that deliver critical services across a range of human service areas, emphasizing measurable impact and community benefit. The primary purpose of the Human Services Grant Program is to fund nonprofit organizations that provide services addressing urgent and ongoing needs among DeKalb County residents. These needs include, but are not limited to, food insecurity, homelessness, domestic violence, crisis response, and prevention services. The program also supports initiatives focused on youth development, child and family well-being, services for older adults, and assistance for individuals with disabilities. The scope of funding reflects a broad commitment to strengthening the social safety net and improving quality of life across diverse populations within the county. Funding provided through this program is intended to support direct service delivery in designated priority areas, including youth services, crisis intervention, disability services, elderly support, family services, food insecurity, homelessness, and public health. While specific allowable costs are not detailed in the provided materials, the program clearly emphasizes expenditures that directly benefit residents through programmatic services rather than administrative overhead. There is no explicit mention of matching fund requirements, suggesting that cost sharing may not be mandatory, though applicants should verify this during the application process. Eligibility for the program is restricted to nonprofit organizations that hold 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, have been in operation for at least two years, and provide services to residents of DeKalb County within one or more of the identified priority areas. This ensures that funded organizations have both the organizational capacity and local presence necessary to effectively deliver services. The program is therefore geographically limited to DeKalb County and prioritizes organizations with demonstrated experience serving the local community. The application process involves an initial step in which organizations must submit a Human Services Grant Reference Form to request access to the full application. This form requires organizations to identify up to two individuals responsible for submitting the application and supporting documents via the county’s SharePoint system. The reference form must be completed and emailed to the Grants and Administrative Manager at the Office of Grants and Administration. Once access is granted, applicants can proceed with completing and submitting the full application. Applications are accepted annually during the May to June timeframe, indicating a recurring funding cycle. Proposals are evaluated through a structured review process in which three reviewers are assigned to ensure fairness, balance, and consistency in scoring. To be considered for funding, applications must achieve a score between 80 and 100 or higher, demonstrating strong alignment with program priorities and effectiveness in addressing community needs. While specific award timelines and performance periods are not detailed, the recurring nature of the program suggests an annual funding cycle with subsequent implementation periods following award decisions. For additional information, applicants may contact the Office of Grants and Administration directly via phone at 470-543-0754 or by email at HSGrants@dekalbcountyga.gov. These contact points provide applicants with access to guidance throughout the application process and clarification on program requirements. Overall, the Human Services Grant Program represents a strategic investment by DeKalb County in community-based solutions that address critical human service needs and promote long-term stability for its residents.

Ensure strong alignment with priority areas and clearly demonstrate measurable community impact to achieve a score of 80 or higher