Strengthening Communities Fund: July 7 Deadline

The grant application deadline is fast approaching for the Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF), which will award $50 million in grants to nonprofit organizations as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 — the Obama administration's bailout legislation.

Program funding is intended to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations, whether secular or faith based, to address the broad economic recovery issues present in their communities, including helping low-income individuals secure and retain employment, earn higher wages, obtain better-quality jobs, and gain greater access to state and Federal benefits and tax credits.

SCF funding will include grants of up to $1 million to organizations that provide capacity-building training, technical assistance, and competitive financial assistance to nonprofits. For more information, see the SCF Nonprofit Capacity Building program online.

The SCF State, Local, and Tribal Government Capacity Building program will make one-time awards up to $250,000 to government entities to build the capacity of nonprofit faith-based and community organizations to better serve those in need and to increase nonprofit organizations' involvement in the economic recovery.

For more details, see the program website. The deadline for submitting applications is July 7.