Iowa Fatherhood Initiative

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS), through its Division of Family Well Being and Protection, has issued a Request for Proposal to implement the Iowa Fatherhood Initiative. This opportunity is funded through federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds and is designed to strengthen families, promote child well-being, and improve economic self-sufficiency among fathers across Iowa. The agency has a history of supporting fatherhood-related programming, including access and visitation services and employment-focused initiatives, but continues to identify persistent gaps in engagement, especially among noncustodial, low-income, and formerly incarcerated fathers. This funding opportunity seeks to expand and enhance these services through community-based programming. The primary purpose of this funding is to support comprehensive fatherhood services that include parenting education, co-parenting support, financial literacy, employment readiness, and family economic advancement. Programs are expected to address barriers to father engagement, promote stable family relationships, and improve outcomes for children. Applicants must implement evidence-based curricula and design services that foster peer support, mentorship, and meaningful father-child interaction. Additional emphasis is placed on connecting fathers to broader support systems, including workforce development, childcare resources, and health or behavioral services. Funding is distributed across seven Iowa HHS districts, with approximately 100000 dollars available annually per district and a total anticipated annual funding pool of about 700000 dollars. Contracts are structured with a base year and up to two optional one-year extensions, resulting in a potential three-year performance period from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2029. Funds may be used to establish new programs or expand existing services, but cannot be used for equipment purchases. Administrative costs are capped at 15 percent unless the applicant has an approved indirect cost rate agreement. Eligible applicants include both nonprofit and for-profit organizations capable of delivering the required services. Applicants must demonstrate organizational capacity, qualified staffing, and the ability to meet reporting and performance requirements. Required roles include a program lead, data and reporting personnel, and financial administration staff. Applicants must also demonstrate partnerships with at least three community organizations and submit a detailed work plan outlining service delivery strategies, benchmarks, and evaluation measures. Applications must be submitted electronically through the IowaGrants system. The application includes multiple required forms such as organizational information, personnel details, work plans, subcontract plans, and a detailed budget. Applicants must adhere strictly to submission requirements, as incomplete applications or those submitted outside the system will not be accepted. The agency provides a structured question-and-answer process during the application period, and all communications must be submitted through the official portal. Applications are evaluated through a multi-phase review process including technical review, committee scoring, and final agency decision. Evaluation criteria focus on clarity, responsiveness, organizational capacity, staffing, and the feasibility of the proposed work plan. A maximum of 100 points may be awarded, with the largest weight placed on the project work plan and budget. The agency retains discretion in final award decisions and may consider geographic distribution and other factors beyond scoring. The application deadline is July 10, 2026 at 4:00 PM local Iowa time, with awards expected to be announced around August 31, 2026. Selected applicants must finalize contracts within ten working days of receipt. Program implementation begins October 1, 2026. This is a non-recurring opportunity, and applicants are responsible for monitoring updates, amendments, and posted responses through the IowaGrants system. Program inquiries may be directed to the designated program officer via email or phone.

Focus on a strong, detailed work plan with measurable benchmarks and partnerships; demonstrate capacity to deliver evidence based programming and meet reporting requirements; align proposal clearly with evaluation criteria emphasizing clarity and feasibility