About AFI Grant Funding
How to Apply

About AFI/Individual Development Account Grant Funding

Assets for Independence (AFI) provides five-year grants to organizations and agencies that enable low-income individuals and families to achieve economic self-sufficiency by accumulating economic assets. Grantees provide financial literacy training to participants and help them save earned income in special matched bank accounts called Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). IDAs enable low-income and low-wealth families to accumulate savings for long-term assets such as a home, a business, or higher education and training.

Eligible grantees include community-based nonprofits and State, local and Tribal government agencies and others, such as community development financial institutions and credit unions.

Please review the Assets for Independence/IDA Background section of this website for important information regarding program guidelines, project activities, clients served, size of project grants, and AFI legislation.

NOTE: AFI does NOT provide grants directly to individuals and their families. If you are interested in opening and IDA, please go to the Assets For Independence/IDA Project Locator to find an ongoing project near your community. Contact nearby projects directly to learn about enrollment processes.

The Office of Community Services is not accepting applications for the AFI Program at this time. Please check this website for updates on publication of a new program announcement that will include the application dues dates.

Tips for Applicants Assets for Independence/IDA Project Builder

The AFI Project Builder: A Guide to Planning an Assets for Independence/Individual Development Account Project is a primer written especially for organizations that are exploring the process for applying for a grant to support and AFI Individual Development Account project. The guide provides information about the AFI program and covers major topics on planning an AFI Project. It includes two sections: a narrative and an appendix.

Examples of Current Grantees

To learn more about previously-awarded applicants, please refer to the AFI Project Locator for a list of current AFI Projects. Click on highlighted grantee names to link to one-page summaries including the grant amount, highlights, target population, and grantee/collaborative description of their AFI Project. Find existing programs in your area to contact for tips and information. You might even explore whether the current grantee organizations are interested in forming a collaborative with your organization to improve asset building opportunities in your community.