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Financial independence is often a pathway out of an abusive relationship.  For those who wish to or who have left their abusers, many  survivors are faced with considerable debt, poor credit, no credit history, lack of savings, and other financial hardships—often directly due to economic abuse they have experienced.  Over the past several years domestic violence agencies and asset building organizations have begun exploring ways to boost the financial strength of domestic violence survivors.

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.

The number and variety of asset-building approaches, including Individual Development Accounts, is expanding at a rapid pace. Also expanding is the research in the field, leading to burgeoning development of information on effective practices. Following are a few sources for research, program models, and other strategies related to asset building. These lists are representative, not exhaustive. Many of these sites themselves have links to additional resources and continually add new information. Several also support ListServs and mailing lists to which you may subscribe to keep up with changes in the field. Note: Most of these sites set cookies, and a few require registration (free) to access information and documents.

The AFI Grantee Handbook is designed to help you keep track of all the key documents for managing your Assets for Independence (AFI) Project—from AFI requirements to reporting forms and other resources for running your program. This electronic version corresponds to the hard copy version available from the AFI Resource Center.

AFI grantees enter into special partnerships and assemble a diverse set of tools and resources to support their families’ financial progress. This Project Builder outlines the types and uses of these partnerships, tools, and resources to help you design a matched savings program that meets the criteria set forth in the AFI Funding Opportunity Announcement, which can be accessed at www.AFIFundingAnnouncement.com. The Project Builder is a practical, comprehensive reference. The advice and examples presented here come first‐hand from community organizations, key partners, and evaluators engaged in IDAs in recent years. With this information, AFI applicants benefit from the learning of early AFI IDA projects, thereby reducing the time and expense of  building and operating a project from scratch. 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.
 

This section of the Handbook offers a general explanation of the different roles and responsibilities of AFI Program staff in the Office of Community Services (OCS) and staff of the Office of Grants Management (OGM) who work with AFI grantees. Included as well are guidelines, primary documents, instructions and examples for reporting, and procedures for managing an AFI Project grant. 

All AFI grantees are required to provide updates on their financial progress by completing reports on the status of all Federal and non-Federal dollars in their Project Reserve Fund. Effective immediately, all AFI grantees must use the new Federal Financial Report form (SF 425) form instead of the SF 269 form.  SF 269s will no longer be accepted for financial  reports. Please see this Guidance for AFI Grantees on the New Financial Reporting Form for instructions on completing and submitting the SF 425 form.
 

The ASSET Initiative is a collaborative through which ACF offices and partner States, localities, community-based providers are highlighting the importance of financial education and other asset building services for individuals and families.