STATUS: Decisions Pending

Please join our mailing list to be notified of future funding opportunities.

Community Foundation-Sponsored Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for Food Security 

Overview 

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) has partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to administer the CARES Act Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG-CV”) Food Security Program in Hampshire, Hampden and Franklin counties. 

This funding is enabling CFWM to direct vital resources to support low to moderate income households throughout our three-county area who are facing food insecurities as a result of COVID-19.  Our goal is to partner with nonprofits in our region who provide valuable services to individuals and households living below 80% of the applicable area median income. 

What We Seek to Fund 

Funds are intended to support public service food security programs demonstrably affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.  Activities must meet applicable CDBG-CV requirements, which includes that a public service must be either:  

Grant Range 

Most grants awarded will fall in the range of $25,000 to $200,000. Grants outside of that range may be considered, pending discussion. 

Program Timeline 

Contracts to commence on September 1, 2022. 

All funds must be expended by March 31, 2023, with final submission of all financial and reporting documentation no later than June 30, 2023. 

Funds may be used for: 

Public services to address food security needs related to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This could include food, labor, supplies, materials, and other costs required to run a food provision program such as rent, utilities, salaries, administrative costs, etc. 

Grantees will be able to utilize up to 10% of funding for administrative purposes so long as it is tied to the provision of the service provided. 

Funds may NOT be used for: 

If an applying organization has already received ARPA funds, they may also apply for CDBG funding as long as there is no “Duplication of Benefits.”  

HUD defines a Duplication of Benefits as occurring when a person, household, business, government, or other entity receives financial assistance from multiple sources for the same purpose, and the total assistance received for that purpose is more than the total need for assistance.  

The CDBG funds must be used to address a different need, or if the CBO can demonstrate that other funding sources were grossly insufficient funds to address the total need. 

Qualifications for Project Participation 

Organization Type: 

Nonprofit organization with current IRS designated 501(c)(3) status working in the food security space will be eligible to apply for these grants.   

**Organizations that are fiscally sponsored would need to be approved by the state.  Please contact Sheila Toto to discuss. 

Geography: This funding is to benefit services delivered in the cities and town in Hampshire, Hampden and Franklin counites. 

Funds to Benefit: 

Applying organizations must be able to demonstrate the following: 

Funding Conditions 

Funding is available monthly provided an invoice of projected or actual expenses is submitted.  In both circumstance documentation will be required to substantiate expenses. 

Reporting on the status of the program and demographics of program beneficiaries is required. 

Project Evaluation 

The pool of applications will be evaluated in the following areas: 

Application Timeline 

We are utilizing a two-stage application process.  An application may not move past the first stage, Letter of Inquiry. 

June 13 – July 1: Stage 1 – Letter of Inquiry.

July 15: Decisions on Letters of Inquiry applications. 

August 1 at Noon:    Stage 2 – Due date of additional application materials for those requests moving beyond Stage 1.  

August 19:  Notification of funding decisions. 

Forms 

Sample Management Services Contract 

Letter of Intent Questions

Duplicate of Benefits Form 

CDBG Self-Certification of Income Form 

Sample Monthly Report

Sample Monthly Invoice

Sheila Toto

Questions? Comments?

Please reach out to Sheila Toto, Senior Program Officer

email