Fact Sheet

Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF)

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

The objective of the Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) is to enable nonprofit  organizations  to contribute to the economic recovery and help Federal, State, local, and Indian/Native American Tribal governments ensure that the information and services described in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) reach disadvantaged and hard-to-serve populations. 

Program Focus: 

The focus of this program is to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations, whether secular or faith based, to address the broad economic recovery issues present in their communities, including helping low-income individuals secure and retain employment, earn higher wages, obtain better-quality jobs, and gain greater access to state and Federal benefits and tax credits, including ARRA benefits. 

Grant Programs:

SCF is made up of two separate grant programs.

• Nonprofit Capacity Building Program:  The SCF Nonprofit Capacity Building program will make one-time awards up to $1 million to experienced lead organizations to provide nonprofit organizations -- or project partners -- with capacity building training, technical assistance, and competitive financial assistance.  A minimum of 55% of the Federal funds awarded must be provided to project partners through a competitive process.  The grant period for this award is 24 months. 

 

• State, Local, and Tribal Government Capacity Building Program:  The SCF State, Local, and Tribal Government Capacity Building program will make one-time awards up to $250,000 to State, city, county, and Indian/Native American Tribal government offices (e.g., offices responsible for outreach to faith-based and community organizations or those interested in initiating such an effort), or their designees, to build the capacity of nonprofit faith-based and community organizations to better serve those in need and to increase nonprofit organizations' involvement in the economic recovery.  Grantees will use program funds to provide free capacity building services to nonprofit organizations and to build their own capacity to provide such services to nonprofits.  The grant period for this award is 24 months. 

Distribution of funds:

Grants/cooperative agreements will be awarded via a competitive process.

The Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) is authorized under Section 1110 of the Social Security Act governing Social Services Research and Demonstration activities; Title VIII of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law (P.L.) 111-5.