Refugee and Entrant Assistance Discretionary Grants

Income Security/Social Service/Welfare Funds are used for the administration of programs and to provide services as outlined in each Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Funds may be used only for purposes set forth in the NOFO and in the notice of award. Services provided must not supplant services that may be available through existing federal, state, or local programs.

This program is funded using available discretionary funding. Costs of organized fund raising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred to raise capital or obtain contributions are unallowable. Fund raising costs for the purposes of meeting the Federal program objectives are allowable with prior written approval from the Federal awarding agency. (45 CFR §75.442; effective on or after 10/1/2025: 2 CFR §200.442) Proposal costs are the costs of preparing bids, proposals, or applications on potential Federal and non-Federal awards or projects, including the development of data necessary to support the non-Federal entity's bids or proposals. Proposal costs of the current accounting period of both successful and unsuccessful bids and proposals normally should be treated as indirect (F&A) costs and allocated currently to all activities of the non-Federal entity. No proposal costs of past accounting periods will be allocable to the current period. (45 CFR §75.460; effective on or after 10/1/2025: 2 CFR §200.460) Awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs. Construction is not an allowable activity or expenditure under this award. Purchase of real property is not an allowable activity or expenditure under this award. Federal funds awarded under this NOFO may not be used to acquire (i.e., purchase), construct, and/or make major renovations to real property, including land improvements. Any costs associated with these types of activities or expenditures, such as interest payments, financing payments, and capital payments, are unallowable, and therefore any Uniform Administrative Requirement (45 CFR Part 75; effective on or after 10/1/2025: 2 CFR Parts 200 and 300) reference allowing such costs would not apply to awards made under this listing. Employer Engagement Program funds may not be paid directly to any employer partner except as payment for specific goods or services required for program implementation. If training sessions will include individuals not eligible for ORR services, the percentage of the cost of the training funded through the Employer Engagement Program must not exceed the percentage of ORR-eligible participants attending. The RCP program limits direct financial assistance to $12,000 to any individual participant across the duration of the program period. Prior approval must be obtained from ORR to exceed this limit. RFCCMED program funds may not be used for the sole purpose of preparing a participant for employment in a childcare facility not operated by members of the participant’s household, though participants' temporary employment, internship, or volunteering in such a facility for the purpose of obtaining childcare experience is allowable. All program-related expenditures (i.e., participant stipends and licensing-related fees) must be paid directly to the vendor. Participants may be reimbursed only if the purchase was approved in writing by the implementing organization prior to the sale and the participant presents documentation that the cost was incurred. Participant stipends range from a minimum of $750 ($500 for projects ending Sept 2025) to a maximum of $3,000 per participant for the entire project period. Program funds may not be used to pay for housing costs, such as mortgages, rent, or security deposits. The Refugee IDA program limits the amount of funding that can be used to administer the program. Depending on which NOFO the program was funded under, this limit can be 25%, 35%, or 50% of the total annual budget. The remaining funds must be used to match the savings of refugee program participants. Furthermore, again dependent on the NOFO the program was funded under, the program limits the amount of funding that can be used to match the IDA savings. Individuals are limited to no more than $2,000 or $3,000 and households are limited to no more than $4,000 or $6,000 for all eligible assets other than rental assistance.