The deadline for this opportunity was August 13.
Review will take place in August and awards will be announced in September.

Funding available for Dane County nonprofits affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dane County has been allocated federal grant funds under the State and Local Government Assistance Program included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Among the program’s stated purposes is to allow state and local governments to help nonprofits affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many nonprofits have faced reduced revenue and increased client demand for services related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dane County Department of Human Services seeks to boost direct service delivery to clients and community members affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through a one-time, $5 million grant program for nonprofits that serve Dane County. To make a significant impact in the community, the minimum grant award is $50,000 with no set maximum.

This initiative assists human service non-profit efforts to bolster the delivery of direct service to clients and consumers. Allowable grant activities include the following:

• Expansion of, or needed adaptation to, any current operating expenses in order meet emerging client service needs or opportunities in relation to COVID-19 pandemic. Expansion of staffing or supports with grant funds would end following the grant period.
• Permanent housing costs NOT covered by Emergency Rental Assistance funds such as move-in costs and meeting household needs, including purchase of furniture.
• Resource linkage or navigation – Activities designed to connect individuals and families to services and/or resources.
• Food security activities – Activities designed to address food insecurity and support food pantries and other local food resources in low-income areas.
• Direct service materials and supplies – Purchase of agency supplies to meet direct service needs.
• Basic needs allocations for clients to help promote safety and wellbeing.

• Organizations must be human service agencies serving Dane County whose clients and service population were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Organizations must be federally designated 501(c)(3) or be applying with an identified fiscal agent that is a registered 501(c)(3)
• Have an office based (not headquartered) in Dane County and be serving Dane County residents.
• Eligible non-profits do not need to be current DCDHS purchase of service providers to qualify as one objective of this initiative is to support emerging organizations doing community-based work during the pandemic that have not been reimbursed by existing state and local funding.
• Agencies must be providing one or more of the allowable activities listed above.
• This funding opportunity is not open to non-profits that do not deliver human services, private or public schools, other units of state or local government, private sector business, or individuals.

The Department’s objective is to fund all grant applications meeting the stated eligibility criteria. Minimum grant awards will be $50,000 with no set maximum. If grant requests exceed available revenue, priority will be given to:

1) Agencies with a 2019 operating budget under $250,000;

2) Agencies serving low-income clients and neighborhoods;

3) Agencies that have not received Paycheck Protection Plan or previous financial grant COVID relief.

Grant recipients will be required to submit a final program summary per Federal Treasury guidelines after the conclusion of the grant period by February 1, 2023.  Program summaries will include a description of the completed grant activity including population served, a summary of program experience, dollars expended, outcomes or program impact on the community served by the activity, and what equity challenge or opportunity was addressed. 

Basic project expenses are requested in the on-line application. Costs to administer must not exceed 15%.

We held a question and answer session on August 2nd. Here is the recording if you were unable to attend or want to view it again.