Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Essentials for Improved Outcomes
🏛 Administration for Children and Families - OCS
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for Community Action Agencies (CAAs) and other eligible organizations serving low-income communities. Applicants must be organizations with demonstrated experience providing comprehensive services to low-income individuals and families. Geographic scope is national, with priority to organizations serving rural and underserved urban areas. Eligible activities include job training, education support, youth development, emergency assistance, housing support, and other services designed to address root causes of poverty. Preference is often given to organizations that have previously received CSBG funding and can demonstrate strong outcomes in helping participants achieve economic stability and self-sufficiency.
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Key dates
- Apr 27, 2026 Applications open
- Aug 3, 2026 Application deadline in 17 days
- Sep 15, 2026 Award announced
- Sep 30, 2026 Project start
Program description
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Essentials for Improved Outcomes will fund an organization to help states, territories, and CSBG-eligible entities: 1) strengthen their understanding of CSBG statutory and regulatory requirements; 2) enhance their implementation of critical program elements (e.g., community needs assessment, tripartite board, monitoring and reporting compliance etc.); and 3) support the coordination and development of additional anti-poverty resources that support the overall administration of CSBG. Strengthening capacity to navigate complex systems is critical to successful administration. By fostering collaboration and service models for navigating systems like foster care, behavioral health, housing and other public assistances, award recipients can better ensure children and families receive specialized support for building stable, permanent environments where families and communities thrive
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424 Supplement (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities)
- Needs assessment and target population data
- Detailed project narrative describing services and expected outcomes
- Budget and budget narrative
- Organizational chart and staff resumes
- Evidence of 501(c)(3) status
- Audit report or financial statements
- Program evaluation plan
- Letters of support from partners and target population representatives
Program contact
- 👤 Cheryl Zuni
- 📧 Cheryl.Zuni@acf.hhs.gov
- 📞 (202) 401-5020
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.569 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$88,585,904
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$82,652,419
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$68,817,004
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$68,785,179
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$68,379,005
-
$68,351,382
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$66,988,222
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$66,932,215
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$66,704,626
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$66,561,863
Top States by Funding
- CA 7 awards $495.9M
- NY 7 awards $476.7M
- TX 7 awards $265.1M
- IL 7 awards $256.3M
- PA 7 awards $234.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.569). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $764,084,255 | |
| 2025 | $764,084,255 | |
| 2026 est. | $764,084,255 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for CSBG funding?
Primarily Community Action Agencies and other community-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status that have experience serving low-income populations. Some states may also designate alternative organizations to receive CSBG funding.
What types of services does this grant support?
CSBG supports a wide range of services including employment and training, education, childcare, housing assistance, emergency aid, health services, youth programs, and other activities that help low-income individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency.
Are there matching fund requirements?
CSBG typically does not require matching funds, though organizations may strengthen applications by demonstrating additional resources and leveraging partnerships.
How competitive is this funding?
CSBG is moderately competitive. Success depends on demonstrated outcomes, organizational capacity, needs assessment data, and a clear plan to serve the target population effectively.
What is the typical funding range?
Award amounts vary significantly by state and organization size, typically ranging from $100,000 to over $1 million annually, depending on service area and population served.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Lead with outcome data: Document how your organization's services have measurably improved participants' economic stability, income, or access to employment and education.
- Use strong needs assessment: Present compelling data about poverty and service gaps in your target community, with demographic breakdowns that justify your approach.
- Clarify your service delivery model: Explain how you coordinate comprehensive services and avoid duplication; funders want to see integrated support systems.
- Build partnerships: Demonstrate relationships with local workforce, education, and health providers to show you're part of a coordinated ecosystem addressing poverty.
- Show organizational readiness: Include evidence of stable leadership, financial management, program evaluation capacity, and ability to meet federal compliance and reporting requirements.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because organizations lack strong outcome metrics showing participant progress toward self-sufficiency—funders want data on income gains, employment, education attainment, or housing stability. Another common weakness is insufficient needs assessment; submissions that merely describe poverty without connecting services to specific, documented local challenges tend to score poorly. Finally, weak organizational capacity documentation or failure to address past audit findings can disqualify otherwise strong program proposals.
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