The Virgin Islands Resource Center for the Disabled Inc. (VIRCD) has been awarded one of 43 National Compassion Capital Fund (CCF) Demonstration Grants at the maximum funding level of $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children and Families (ACF). The VIRCD will function as a bridge between the federal government and other faith-based and community-based organizations to fund capacity building activities in four critical areas: Leadership Development, Organizational Development, Program Development and Community Engagement. Capacity building activities are designed to increase an organization’s sustainability and effectiveness, enhance its ability to provide social services, and create collaboration to better serve low-income individuals and families.
The VIRCD will make available $250,000 to local grassroots organizations in sub-awards of up to $25,000 each through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) application process. Awarded funds will be used to help local non-profits to maximize their social impact as they provide services to those most in need including low-income individuals seeking to gain greater access to state and federal benefits, and tax credits; low-income individuals seeking to secure and retain employment, earn higher wages and obtain better-quality jobs; low-income individuals and families in need of financial education, credit counseling and access to individual development accounts and other asset building strategies; the homeless; elders in need; at-risk youth, including Native American youth; and families in transition from welfare to work.
For example, non-profits receiving a sub-award from the VIRCD could use the funds to purchase computers or set up a lab to provide free online information on state and federal benefits for low and moderate-income individuals. Funds could also be used for developing a resource directory to help increase access to the benefits (e.g., benefits available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 [ARRA]) for which individuals and families are eligible. An organization receiving a sub-award could use the funding to establish a one-stop center where individuals can obtain free, customized benefits information, tax information, information on ARRA, and/or apply for benefits and file tax returns. Organizations receiving a sub-award could also use the funding to build their capacity to provide such services as financial education, money management, credit repair and debt counseling, tax preparation assistance, assistance accessing Earned Income Tax Credit and other refundable credits, individual development accounts, and other asset building services for low-income families and communities. Furthermore, funds could be used to fund board, staff and volunteer training retreats and workshops as well as establish various systems including management, human resource, financial/accounting and informational technology.
According to Shirley Joseph, executive director and CCF project director, the VIRCD must also match the $500,000 award with $125,000 for a total project cost of $625,000. “The $125,000 non-federal match will be a real challenge, and we expect the V.I. Government and private sector will assist us to meet the match. The challenge is worth it because the funds will help all of the area non-profits,” she said.
Wayne Ramirez, the grant writer at V.I. Grant Writers and Consultants and CCF monitor/evaluator, said that even non-profits that do not receive funded sub-awards through the RFP process may still receive free training and technical assistance. “The CCF grant will have a significant positive impact for the V.I., and we plan to work in close collaboration with the V.I. Department of Human Services, as well as other partners,” he said. Ramirez will be scheduling RFP/CCF Grant orientation workshops the week of Jan. 11.
According to Patricia Samuel, CCF grant program coordinator, RFP grant applications will be available by Jan. 4, at the V.I. Resource Center for the Disabled Inc. and other locations. For further information contact her at 777-2253.