Current Closing Date for Applications: Sep 28, 2020
Total Program Funding: $10,000,000
Award Ceiling: $3,250,000
Agency Name:
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Description:
Purpose: The Rural Capacity Building program enhances the capacity and ability of rural housing development organizations, Community Development Corporations (CDCs), Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), rural local governments, and Indian tribes (eligible beneficiaries) to carry out affordable housing and community development activities in rural areas for the benefit of low- and moderate-income families and persons. The Rural Capacity Building program achieves this by funding National Organizations with expertise in rural housing and rural community development who work directly to build the capacity of eligible beneficiaries.
Eligible Program Activities. RCB program funds are limited to activities that strengthen the organizational infrastructure, management, and governance capabilities of eligible beneficiaries serving rural areas to effectively increase the capacity of the eligible beneficiaries to carry out community development and affordable housing activities that benefit low-income or low- and moderate-income families and persons in rural areas.
Training, education, and support. This may include, but is not limited to, building the capacity of eligible beneficiaries to:
Conduct organizational assessments;
Engage in strategic planning and Board development;
Access and implement technological improvements;
Engage with rural community stakeholders;
Evaluate performance of current and planned rural community efforts;
Plan for the use of available rural resources in a comprehensive and holistic manner; Participate in HUD planning efforts to ensure rural participation and the assessment of rural area needs; and
Foster regional planning efforts by connecting local, rural community plans with neighboring communities.
Eligible Applicants:
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Additional Information on Eligibility:
Only National Organizations that are 501(c)(3) nonprofits, other than institutions of higher education, may apply for RCB funding. For the purpose of the RCB program, a National Organization must be a single non-profit organization that has ongoing experience conducting RCB eligible capacity building activities in rural areas with RCB eligible beneficiaries serving high need rural communities, as evidenced by work within the last ten years in at least seven of HUD’s Federal regions. Having relevant experience working in one state in a HUD region is sufficient for counting that region towards the seven-region minimum.