Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Communities of Practice (COP)

The Community Services Block Grant Communities of Practice funding opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services, Division of Community Assistance. Opportunity HHS-2026-ACF-OCS-ET-0029 will establish six Communities of Practice to provide training and technical assistance to the CSBG network, including CSBG-funded states, territories, and tribes, state community action associations, and CSBG-eligible entities. CSBG supports services and strategies intended to minimize the causes and conditions of poverty, revitalize communities, and help individuals and families with low incomes become self-sufficient. The Communities of Practice are intended to strengthen the network through scalable, evidence-informed interventions, coordinated service delivery, systems alignment, and capacity building. Each Community of Practice will tailor training and technical assistance to the needs of its assigned service area, use relevant qualitative and quantitative data, maintain continuous feedback with participating areas, and identify promising practices. Specialized assistance must account for regional, state, city, county, tribal, demographic, socioeconomic, and community characteristics. Projects are expected to advance community-level strategies related to economic mobility, education and workforce development, transportation, and access to safe and stable housing. Recipients must invest in partnerships supporting data-driven decision-making and infrastructure and provide assistance that fosters positive working relationships between states and tribes. Subject matter experts with proven relevant experience are expected to contribute knowledge and technical expertise. Recipients must establish performance measures and track measurable outcomes, including changes in service delivery and capacity building. ACF expects six cooperative agreements with total expected program funding of $4,350,000. The stated minimum and maximum award amounts for the first budget period are both $725,000. The planned project period is three years, consisting of three one-year budget periods, with continued support after the first budget period dependent on appropriations, satisfactory progress, and the government's determination that continued funding is in its best interest. The project begins with a three-to-six-month planning and preparation phase, followed by implementation and evaluation for the remainder of the project period. There is no required cost sharing. Prohibited costs include construction, purchase of real property, major renovation, and pre-award costs. The recipient must maintain a substantive role if subawards are used, and subrecipients must meet the same eligibility requirements. Applicable salary costs are also subject to the Executive Level II salary rate limitation. Eligible applicants are CSBG-eligible entities or statewide or local organizations or associations with demonstrated expertise in training individuals and organizations on methods for effectively addressing the needs of low-income families and communities. Subrecipients must meet these requirements. Individuals, including sole proprietorships, federal entities, and foreign entities are not eligible. Faith-based and community organizations may apply when they otherwise meet the eligibility requirements. Applications requesting more than the award ceiling, submitted after the deadline, submitted by an expressly ineligible entity, or submitted on paper without a previously approved exemption will not be considered. Applicants must have active SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and submit through Grants.gov unless ACF has approved an exemption for paper submission. The application consists of two files plus required standard forms. File one uses the Project Narrative Attachment form and contains a table of contents, one-page project summary, project narrative, and line-item budget and budget narrative. File two uses the Other Attachments form and may include the ACF Priorities Alignment Attestation, applicable indirect cost agreement, applicable legal status documentation, additional eligibility documentation, organizational capacity supporting information, and third-party agreements. Required standard forms include the Project Abstract Summary, SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, Key Contacts, Grants.gov Lobbying Form, SF-LLL when applicable, and SF-P/PSL. Files one and two have a combined 75-page limit. The narrative must address purpose and need, objectives, approach, project timeline and milestones, a logic model, performance evaluation, organizational capacity, federal award oversight, protection of sensitive information, and the budget. Applicants may also address integration of substance use disorder and addiction prevention, intervention, and recovery for up to five bonus points. Applications passing the initial responsiveness review undergo merit review. The standard scoring totals 110 points, with 5 points for Purpose, 40 for Response, 25 for Impact, 20 for Resources and Capabilities, 10 for Budget and Budget Narrative, and 10 for alignment with ACF Vision, Mission, Values, Priorities, and Guiding Principles. An additional 5 bonus points are available for addressing substance use disorder. Selection also considers factors including geographic distribution, service to emerging, unserved, or underserved populations, past performance, compliance requirements, and alignment with agency priorities. Applications are due August 24, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time for electronic submissions; approved paper submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The expected project start date is September 30, 2026. Program questions may be directed to Cheryl Zuni at CSBGNOFOS@acf.hhs.gov or 202-401-9333. Grants management questions may be directed to Janice Realeza at Janice.Realeza@acf.hhs.gov or 215-861-4007. No recurring application cycle is stated.

Prioritize the 40-point Response section with an innovative evidence-informed and data-driven TTA strategy, strong strategic partnerships, measurable impact, and a well-defined logic model. Clearly define measurable outcomes and continuous improvement and scalability strategies for the 25-point Impact section. Demonstrate relevant organizational experience, named oversight responsibilities, strong federal-funds controls, and safeguards for sensitive information. Provide a SMART and fully justified budget aligned to the two project phases. Explicitly connect project design, implementation, performance measures, and continuous improvement to the ACF priority of promoting work and self-sufficiency. Feasible integration of substance use disorder and addiction prevention, intervention, and recovery may earn 5 bonus points.