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We are accepting applications for funding new AFI projects now! All applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov as paper applications are no longer being accepted.

Applicants may submit materials at any time throughout the year. OCS will review and fund new grants in two cycles in calendar year 2013. The application receipt dates are as follows. 

Spring Cycle -- March 25, 2013 Summer Cycle -- June 7, 2013

AFI Information Memorandums (IM) details official policy on various topics. 

The Office of Community Services provides reports to Congress on the status of AFI Program implementation. The reports are based largely on data submitted annually by each grantee, as required by the program authorizing legislation.

AFI is a demonstration program established to investigate new strategies for helping low-income families become economically self-sufficient. To better evaluate effective projects, the Office of Community Services is financing a long-term national process and impact evaluation of the program. Each AFI Project provides annual information for the study, and the program evaluation team conducts intensive data collection and interviews at a small but representative number of projects. The evaluation also includes information about the impact of the program on a group of approximately 600 individual project participants.

OCS and a group of AFI grantee leaders have collaborated closely to develop a set of performance measures for the AFI program, plus a series of performance indicators that OCS and grantees can use to manage their day-to-day work to ensure success of the AFI program as well as each AFI project.This section of the AFI web page provides background information on performance management strategies.

Many low-income individuals and families who are eligible for AFI-funded IDA projects are also eligible to receive benefits from Federal refundable tax credits. These include the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, American Opportunity Credit, and the Making Work Pay Credit.

The Project Builder serves both those  new to IDAs who want to prepare a  proposal to request an AFI award and  those current AFI project staff who are  planning a new request for AFI funding. The Project Builder is a practical, comprehensive reference.