Refugee and Entrant Assistance Voluntary Agency Programs

Voluntary Agencies Matching Grant Program
CFDA 93.567 Active Grant
No open Grants.gov opportunities under this program right now. Browse all Department of Health and Human Services programs →

Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$32.5M FY2026
$341.8M
FY24
$44.7M
FY25
$32.5M
FY26*
* estimated

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2025 In FY 2025, the ten voluntary agency recipients received annual awards totaling $109,659,193 and served up to 28,482 individuals.
FY2026 In FY 2026, ORR estimates to issue $297,776 to $6,157,421 with an average award of $3,247,475.

Program Objective

The Voluntary Agencies Matching Grant Program was created in 1979 as an intensive case management program with the objective to fast-track new arrivals toward economic self-sufficiency within eight months (240 days) of program enrollment, without accessing public cash assistance.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Nonprofit Organization
  • Not-for-Profit Organization
  • For-Profit Organization
  • Local
  • State

Beneficiaries

  • Refugee

Refugees, certain Amerasian immigrants from Vietnam, Cuban/Haitian entrants, asylees, victims of a severe form of trafficking, Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrants and Afghan and Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees as outlined in ORR PL 22-10 and ORR PL 22-13 are eligible for services.

How to Apply

Award Procedure

Amounts are formula based dependent on the number of eligible individuals each recipient is likely to resettle, consideration of past performance and availability of funds. The Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement makes final funding decisions before awards are issued.

A deadline for the submission of a project plan is established in the invitation to each voluntary agency. The invitation also establishes the dates of the period of performance, and awards are issued accordingly.

Program details & compliance

Description

The Matching Grant Program assists refugees in becoming self-supporting and independent members of American society by providing funds to private nonprofit organizations to support case management, transitional assistance, and social services for new arrivals.

Mission Categories

Primary: Refugees, Alien Services

Other categories:
Public Assistance

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

Federal funding is calculated at a rate of $3,850 per anticipated enrollment. This includes $1,850 dedicated to case management and administrative costs and $2,000 per capita for actual client enrollments reserved for client direct assistance costs. Case management and administrative funding covers all allowable national and local service provider administrative costs associated with the program including indirect costs; these funds may also be used for client direct assistance. Client direct assistance funding is per capita based and limited to actual enrollments; these funds support required services including employment services, housing and utilities, food, transportation, cash allowance, health and medical, English language training, social adjustment, and other support services for six to eight months. Client direct assistance funding is subject to a matching requirement of $1 in private funds and in-kind contributions for every $2 of Federal Funds.

Matching Requirements

Established by the ORR Director in accordance with the Refugee Assistance Extension Act of 1986, the actual percentage is 33.33% (one-third of total client direct assistance program cost). Client direct assistance funding is awarded on a basis of $2 in Federal funds for each $1 of private funds up to a maximum of $2,000 per enrollment. The nonfederal share may be through in-kind donations or cash.

Reporting & Compliance

Audit Required
Yes — Determined at Time of Award
Records Retention
3 years

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

Yimeem Vu, Acting Division Director of Refugee Services
(202) 401-4825
Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-01-14. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-05-30 02:34:45.