Income Security and Social Services Grants

The Dallas Foundation’s Summer Grant Cycle is a funding initiative designed to disburse funds from its Community Impact Fund and various Field of Interest Funds. The Community Impact Fund strategically aligns with the foundation's core priorities: "Strong & Healthy Start" and "Community & Economic Resilience." Field of Interest Funds are tailored to donor-specific causes, demonstrating the foundation's commitment to both broad community needs and individualized philanthropic interests. This approach reflects the foundation's mission to support a diverse range of impactful projects within Dallas County. The grant cycle targets nonprofit organizations operating in Dallas County, focusing on specific beneficiaries and impact goals. Key areas of support include initiatives that build a strong and healthy start for children, with a particular emphasis on prenatal to three care, family homelessness, and child and youth mental health. This focus aims to address foundational well-being and development during critical early life stages. Additionally, the cycle addresses critical needs by providing essential resources such as food, clothing, emergency shelter, and healthcare to low-income, indigent, homeless, or ill children and families, directly impacting their immediate survival and stability. A significant priority is Community & Economic Resilience, which encompasses education and workforce development, including Pre-K12, out-of-school time programs, and post-secondary access. This also extends to economic empowerment through entrepreneurship and employment initiatives, and housing and neighborhood infrastructure, covering affordable housing, property support, transportation, utility access, and access to parks and recreation. The foundation also prioritizes support for children with intellectual and physical disabilities, including disabled, blind, and deaf children, as well as educational programs for intellectually and developmentally disabled children to foster productive lives. Furthermore, older adults, particularly low-income older adults, are a target beneficiary, ensuring support for this vulnerable demographic. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed, the focus areas inherently suggest desired outcomes. For "Strong & Healthy Start," expected outcomes include improved health and developmental indicators for young children and reduced family homelessness. For "Critical Needs," the expected outcomes involve increased access to basic necessities and improved well-being for vulnerable populations. In "Community & Economic Resilience," anticipated results include enhanced educational attainment, increased employment and entrepreneurial success, and improved access to affordable housing and essential infrastructure. For children with disabilities and older adults, the goal is improved quality of life, greater independence, and enhanced support services. The foundation's theory of change appears to be rooted in a belief that investing in these key areas will lead to a more resilient, healthier, and equitable Dallas County.

The general purpose of the project is to strengthen and advance the recently developed National Respite Care Provider Training (NRCPT), first developed under the Lifespan Respite Care Program: Special Projects to Strengthen Program Development, Implementation and Sustainability (grant number: 90LRSP0001).The grantee will undertake activities intended to foster the following advancements to the NRCPT: 1. Promote and support the broader usage of this resource in new and emerging respite service delivery areas (e.g., states and local communities).2. Identify and leverage opportunities to make the training available in more states and local communities nationwide.3. Develop and test approaches for connecting newly trained providers to caregivers and other service recipients. (e.g., respite registries or similarly accessible modalities).4. Identify and develop for implementation and dissemination methods for retaining respite providers, including opportunities for career advancement and upward mobility.5. Adapt for use among limited English speaking populations, for whom career options are currently limited.6. Identify a pathway for establishing an evidence-base for the NRCPT.Through the above activities, the grantee will achieve the following key outcomes:1. Enhanced awareness and usage of the NRCPT.2. Improved retention of respite providers3. Streamlined access for caregivers to trained respite providers.

This grant provides funding for social science researchers to collaborate with state or local human services agencies to conduct studies that improve family economic self-sufficiency and stability, with a focus on equity and policy impact.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in American Samoa to establish a Center for Independent Living that assists individuals with significant disabilities in achieving greater independence and community participation.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Tribal Colleges and Universities to develop programs that train and qualify education staff for American Indian and Alaskan Native Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that improve legal assistance for older adults facing economic and social challenges, particularly in underserved communities.

The North Carolina IOLTA's Civil Legal Aid Grant Program aims to provide general support for a network of organizations that ensure basic access to the justice system for indigent individuals across all counties in North Carolina. This program aligns with the foundation's mission to support civil legal aid, encompassing direct representation, training, and technical assistance for eligible clients and groups. Organizations, whether staffed or utilizing pro bono lawyers, contribute to this mission by offering crucial legal services without charge to clients who meet the indigency criteria. The program primarily targets North Carolina residents who are indigent, defined as individuals at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines or eligible for public assistance. Impact goals center on expanding access to justice for these low-income clients, particularly those who are not currently being reached or who require services not otherwise available. The program also seeks to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and collaboration within the civil legal aid delivery system to ensure high-quality legal assistance for the poor. The program offers four main areas of funding, each with distinct priorities. General Civil Legal Aid Grants provide programmatic support to non-profit legal aid organizations whose primary purpose is to serve low-income clients. Project Support Grants focus on specific client subgroups or service types, addressing unmet needs. Pro Bono Support Grants are dedicated to developing and expanding efforts to engage lawyers in voluntary legal services, specifically for indigent clients. Finally, System Support Grants aim to improve the overall civil legal aid delivery system through initiatives like training, research, program innovations, and online tools. Funding criteria prioritize applicants providing direct representation to clients or client groups, including extended representation, brief advice, community legal education, and community economic development. Preference is given to staffed civil legal aid organizations, recognizing them as the most effective means of delivery, with pro bono efforts serving as a vital supplement. The program also favors current qualified providers and organizations with diverse funding sources, emphasizing a sustainable approach to providing legal services. The expected outcomes include increased access to legal services for indigent populations, improved program efficiency, enhanced collaboration among legal aid providers, and ultimately, a more equitable justice system for low-income North Carolinians. The grant period for these initiatives is January 1 to December 31, 2025.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various public and nonprofit organizations to develop projects that protect the rights and prevent abuse of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, promoting their inclusion and self-determination in community life.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various organizations and governments to promote economic mobility and independence for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through initiatives like employment access and transition programs.

The Merrimack County Social Services Grant Program aims to address the increased demand for social services within the county due to reductions in state and federal funding and current economic conditions affecting charitable giving. Merrimack County, located in New Hampshire, has established this grant to guide the allocation of its limited resources to social service agencies that provide critical services to its residents. The grant period is from January 1 to December 31, 2025, and applications are due by August 30, 2024. The program seeks to ensure that essential services continue to be available to the community, demonstrating a clear alignment with the county's mission to support the well-being of its residents and manage its welfare functions responsibly. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are Merrimack County residents who rely on social services. The program's impact goals are to support agencies that provide critical services that the County would otherwise be obligated to provide or pay for through its welfare function. By funding these agencies, the County aims to reduce its own expenditures and enhance the overall quality of life for its community members. The grant emphasizes a direct or indirect reduction in County expenditures and a clear demonstration of financial need by the requesting agencies, ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed and will have the greatest impact. The program prioritizes agencies that serve a core group of Merrimack County residents and offer services that significantly enhance the quality of life within the community. The focus is on critical services that address essential needs and, in turn, alleviate the burden on county resources. This strategic approach reflects a theory of change where targeted financial support to effective social service agencies leads to improved community well-being and more efficient use of county funds. The eligibility criteria are designed to ensure that funded initiatives are both impactful and aligned with the county's responsibility to its residents. Expected outcomes include a sustained or improved level of critical social services available to Merrimack County residents, a reduction in the county's direct and indirect expenditures related to welfare and social service provisions, and a demonstrable enhancement in the quality of life within the Merrimack County community. Measurable results will likely be tied to the number of Merrimack County residents served, the specific services provided that the county would otherwise be obligated to offer, and the financial impact on county expenditures. Agencies must clearly demonstrate financial need and how their services enhance the community's quality of life, allowing the county to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of its grant allocations.

The AARP Foundation is offering capacity building grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for a period of 2 years to organizations that aim to enhance their resources and services to better connect adults aged 50 and above to health essentials programs, with a preference for projects serving communities facing systemic barriers and economic instability.

This funding opportunity supports projects that promote sustainable pest management practices to protect human health and the environment, particularly in underserved communities and agricultural areas near schools.

The Korean American Community Foundation of San Francisco (KACF-SF) is accepting requests for proposals from community-based organizations serving Northern California. KACF-SF is dedicated to fostering a thriving Bay Area Korean American community through philanthropic efforts. The grant program directly aligns with this mission by supporting organizations that increase the cultural competency and language accessibility of vital programs for the Korean American community, thus strengthening the community's overall well-being. The grant program targets community-based organizations that are on the frontlines of service delivery to Korean Americans in Northern California. The primary impact goal is to enhance access to critical social services and support regional projects that align with KACF-SF's grantmaking objectives. This is achieved by ensuring that language barriers and cultural nuances do not prevent Korean Americans from receiving the support they need. KACF-SF focuses its investments on five key issue areas: Physical & Mental Health, Senior Care & Empowerment, Domestic & Family Safety, Civic Engagement, and Youth Empowerment. Within these areas, the Foundation is particularly interested in programs that deliver critical services to Korean Americans in need, provide greater access to social services through language assistance, and support regional projects that are consistent with the Foundation's grantmaking goals. This strategic focus ensures that funding addresses the most pressing needs within the community. The expected outcomes include increased access to culturally competent and language-accessible programs for the Korean American community in Northern California. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the "Grants up to $50,000" and "Grant Period Up to 3 years," the theory of change is implicit: by funding organizations that address cultural and linguistic barriers, KACF-SF believes it will empower the Korean American community, improve their quality of life, and strengthen the community's infrastructure.

This grant provides financial support for advanced graduate students conducting dissertation research that applies behavioral science to improve social services for low-income families in the United States.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Guam to establish a Center for Independent Living that assists individuals with significant disabilities in achieving independence and community integration.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various organizations working to improve health equity and community inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

This grant provides funding to university centers to develop training programs that address the critical needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, promoting their independence and inclusion in the community.

This grant provides funding to support the development of high-quality respite care programs for family caregivers across all age groups, ensuring access to essential resources and technical assistance nationwide.

This funding opportunity provides $350,000 annually to organizations that will establish a collaboration office to improve early childhood education and support services for American Indian and Alaska Native children and families.

The AARP Foundation is offering a grant opportunity to organizations seeking to increase their impact by piloting a scaling strategy. This aligns with the AARP Foundation's mission to materially improve the circumstances of people aged 50 and over with incomes at or below 250% of the poverty line, lift their income above this threshold, or prevent them from falling below it. The Foundation also prioritizes programs that consult older adults in their development and implementation or create volunteer opportunities for them. This funding opportunity aims to support organizations in expanding their reach and depth to engage a larger audience, thereby addressing urgent problems faced by this demographic. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are individuals aged 50 and over who are living with low income. The impact goals are to improve the financial well-being of this population through direct services or non-direct services such as capacity building, systems change, or implementation. The Foundation is particularly interested in projects serving older adults in 22 specific U.S. states and territories that exhibit high levels of senior poverty, including Alabama, Arizona, and Puerto Rico, among others. Organizations from anywhere in the U.S. are eligible, but those serving populations disproportionately affected by systemic barriers, racial and ethnic disparities, and other harmful biases will be prioritized. The AARP Foundation's strategic priorities for this grant focus on scaling existing work to achieve greater impact. This can involve leveraging partnerships to increase program reach, using collaborative or coalition models to enhance organizational capacity, engaging new partners for policy implementation (excluding legislative advocacy), expanding public-private partnerships, applying effective systems-level approaches to new areas, or incorporating innovative strategies into existing programs. These diverse approaches reflect the Foundation's theory of change, which posits that by supporting organizations in scaling their effective programs, a broader positive impact on the economic security of older adults can be achieved. Expected outcomes and measurable results include increasing the number of 50+ individuals whose circumstances are materially improved, whose income is lifted above 250% of the poverty line, or who are prevented from falling below it. The grant aims to foster expanded reach and depth of programs, engaging larger audiences and demonstrating the effectiveness of various scaling strategies. The total program funding for this opportunity is up to $2 million, supporting projects for up to three years, indicating a commitment to sustained impact and the development of robust, scalable solutions to senior poverty.