Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2026 ACF OCS ET 0030
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Essentials for Improved Outcomes is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS), offered as a cooperative agreement. The purpose is to fund one organization to provide targeted training, support, and capacity-building to states, territories, and CSBG-eligible entities so they can run CSBG programs more consistently, compliantly, and effectively. The notice is marked as modified because the program office email address and phone number were updated in the Contacts and Support section.
At its core, the project is designed to improve CSBG outcomes by strengthening three things: first, a clear understanding of CSBG statutory and regulatory requirements; second, stronger implementation of key program operations that often drive performance and compliance; and third, better coordination and development of additional anti-poverty resources that complement and strengthen CSBG administration. The NOFO highlights "critical program elements" that recipients are expected to reinforce across the CSBG network, such as conducting community needs assessments, ensuring effective tripartite board governance, and meeting monitoring, reporting, and compliance expectations. In practice, this means the funded organization will likely serve as a technical assistance and training hub, helping grantees interpret requirements, standardize good practices, address gaps found through oversight or audits, and improve day-to-day program management.
A major emphasis of the opportunity is systems navigation capacity. The NOFO frames successful CSBG administration as increasingly dependent on the ability of agencies and partners to work across complex public systems and service environments. It specifically points to collaboration and service models that help people navigate foster care, behavioral health, housing, and other public assistance systems. The underlying idea is that when CSBG agencies are better at coordinating across these systems, families can access specialized supports faster and more effectively, which in turn helps build stable, permanent living situations and strengthens community well-being. This systems-oriented focus signals that applicants should be prepared to help grantees not only comply with CSBG rules, but also operate in a coordinated, cross-sector way that improves real-world outcomes for children and families experiencing poverty.
Eligibility is grounded in the CSBG Act, Section 678A(c)(2) (42 U.S.C. 9913(c)(2)). Eligible applicants include CSBG-eligible entities as well as statewide or local organizations or associations that can show strong expertise in providing training on methods that effectively address the needs of low-income families and communities. The opportunity also makes clear who is not eligible: individuals (including sole proprietors) and foreign entities will be disqualified from merit review and funding. Faith-based and community organizations may apply as long as they meet the stated eligibility requirements. The official eligible applicant types listed are broad and include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding IHEs), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and other entities as defined in the NOFO.
Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number HHS-2026-ACF-OCS-ET-0030, CFDA 93.569, and activity category Income Security and Social Services. The application closing date is August 24, 2026. The award ceiling is $600,000, and ACF expects to make one award, meaning this will be a single national or multi-jurisdictional provider role rather than multiple regional awards. Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, applicants should expect substantial federal involvement during performance, such as coordinated planning, federal input on deliverables, and ongoing collaboration with ACF/OCS to align training and technical assistance with federal priorities and CSBG requirements.Apply for HHS 2026 ACF OCS ET 0030
- The Administration for Children and Families - OCS in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Essentials for Improved Outcomes" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.569.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Essentials for Improved Outcomes" opportunity?
CSBG Essentials for Improved Outcomes is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS). It is offered as a cooperative agreement to support targeted training, support, and capacity-building across the CSBG network.
What is the main purpose of this funding?
The purpose is to fund one organization to deliver training and technical assistance that helps states, territories, and CSBG-eligible entities administer CSBG more consistently, compliantly, and effectively, with a focus on improving outcomes.
How many awards does ACF expect to make?
ACF expects to make one award. This indicates a single provider will serve in a national or multi-jurisdictional role rather than multiple regional awardees.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $600,000.
What type of funding instrument is this?
This opportunity is a cooperative agreement, which generally means there will be substantial federal involvement during the project period (for example, coordinated planning, federal input on deliverables, and ongoing collaboration to align training and technical assistance with CSBG requirements and federal priorities).
Who is the federal agency offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS).
What are the key focus areas the project is intended to strengthen?
The project is designed to improve CSBG outcomes by strengthening: (1) understanding of CSBG statutory and regulatory requirements; (2) implementation of key program operations that drive performance and compliance; and (3) coordination and development of additional anti-poverty resources that complement and strengthen CSBG administration.
What does the NOFO mean by "critical program elements"?
The NOFO highlights critical program elements that recipients are expected to reinforce across the CSBG network. Examples specifically mentioned include conducting community needs assessments, ensuring effective tripartite board governance, and meeting monitoring, reporting, and compliance expectations.
What kinds of activities is the funded organization expected to provide?
Based on the NOFO description, the funded organization is expected to function as a training and technical assistance hub. This includes helping CSBG grantees interpret requirements, standardize effective practices, address gaps found through oversight or audits, and improve day-to-day program management.
What is meant by "systems navigation capacity" in this opportunity?
The NOFO emphasizes that strong CSBG administration increasingly depends on the ability to work across complex public systems and service environments. Systems navigation capacity refers to collaboration and service models that help people navigate systems such as foster care, behavioral health, housing, and other public assistance systems.
Why does the NOFO emphasize cross-system collaboration?
The NOFO frames cross-system coordination as a way to help families access specialized supports faster and more effectively, which can support stable, permanent living situations and strengthen community well-being. The expectation is that stronger coordination can improve real-world outcomes for children and families experiencing poverty.
Does this opportunity focus only on compliance, or also on outcomes?
It focuses on both. The project is explicitly tied to improving outcomes while also strengthening understanding of CSBG requirements and improving consistent, compliant program operations.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is grounded in the CSBG Act, Section 678A(c)(2) (42 U.S.C. 9913(c)(2)). Eligible applicants include CSBG-eligible entities and statewide or local organizations or associations that can demonstrate strong expertise in providing training on methods that effectively address the needs of low-income families and communities.
Are faith-based or community organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based and community organizations may apply as long as they meet the stated eligibility requirements.
Who is not eligible to apply?
Individuals (including sole proprietors) and foreign entities are not eligible. They will be disqualified from merit review and funding.
What types of organizations are listed as eligible applicant types?
The NOFO lists broad eligible applicant types, including various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and other entities as defined in the NOFO.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is HHS-2026-ACF-OCS-ET-0030.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 93.569.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Income Security and Social Services.
When is the application deadline?
The application closing date is August 24, 2026.
Why is the notice marked as "modified"?
The notice is marked as modified because the program office email address and phone number were updated in the Contacts and Support section.
What is the intended role of the awardee across the CSBG network?
The awardee is expected to provide targeted training, support, and capacity-building to states, territories, and CSBG-eligible entities to promote consistent administration, stronger compliance, and more effective program operations, while supporting systems-oriented coordination that improves outcomes.
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