Grant-Funded Activities

FY 2011 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program

1. Is my organization allowed to charge a fee for services?

Applicants are allowed to propose a fee for citizenship education services and/or naturalization application services. However, the fees must be nominal. The project narrative and budget narrative should include the amount proposed and explain why this fee is necessary within the program structure. The applicant must also show how the fees will be used to support the grant-funded program.

2. Can the grant funds be used to pay the costs associated with BIA recognition and accreditation?

Yes. However, applicants for the Direct Services – Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services Grant Program must, at the time of application, be BIA recognized and have a BIA accredited representative, or an attorney, either on or off-site, who provides or supervises the naturalization application services. Applicants for the Direct Services – Citizenship Instruction Only funding opportunity may include costs associated with BIA accreditation and recognition; however, they may not propose naturalization application services and may not include costs for the provision of naturalization application services.

3. Must individuals receiving grant-funded services be LPRs or can they have any legal immigration status?

Individuals receiving services must have the status of lawful permanent resident (LPR). The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010 states, “…none of the funds made available in this Act for grants for immigrant integration may be used to provide services to aliens who have not been lawfully admitted for permanent residence.” Applicants must demonstrate how they will verify and document that only LPRs will receive grant-funded services.

4. The funding announcement states that organizations must provide citizenship instruction to LPRs only. If an organization also serves non-LPRs, should organizations place LPRs in a class by themselves?

Organizations must adequately demonstrate that only LPRs will receive services funded by the grants. Applicants must demonstrate how they will ensure that they are using grant funds to serve only LPRs.

5. Can an applicant for the Direct Services – Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services Grant Program provide only naturalization application services?

No. The applicant must provide the citizenship instruction. If the applicant does not provide naturalization application services, the applicant may propose a partner (sub-awardee) to provide additional citizenship instruction, naturalization application services, or both.

6. Can we use volunteers to provide services? How would you like to see us using volunteers?

Yes, applicants are encouraged to use volunteers to provide services. It is up to the applicant to decide how to make the best use of volunteers.

7. Can organizations limit services to one ethnic, religious, or language group they currently serve?

No. Eligible participants targeted for these grant funds must be served regardless of their ethnic or religious backgrounds or the language they speak.

8. Are the grants a one-time opportunity, or will there be a chance for grantees to renew the funding?

The performance period is two years for all funding opportunities. All applicants will have to re-compete for funding after the end of the two-year performance period.

9. How does my organization acquire BIA accreditation?

Please see the following Department of Justice website: http://www.justice.gov/eoir/press/09/WhoCanRepresentAliensFactSheet10022009.pdf (PDF)

10. Are organizations with partnerships required to have an ongoing relationship with the partner extending beyond the grant period?

This is required for the relationship between the principal applicant and the sub-applicants under the National Capacity Building Grant Program. This is not required for partnerships proposed under the Direct Services Grant Program.