First Nations Announces New Grant for Innovative VITA Sites

First Nations Announces New Grant for Innovative VITA Sites

Applications Due: November 9, 2012, at 5 p.m. MST

First Nations Development Institute is offering a new grant program: Innovative Native VITA Sites. First Nations will provide grant support to three organizations for building or expanding Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in Native American communities. First Nations wishes to support innovative VITA programs that offer asset-building models, links to benefits programs, and/or connections to savings programs. This grant program is designed to support innovations such as the tax time savings bond, low- or no-fee debit cards for unbanked clients, alternative RALs, or anything else that enables tax filers to save money. In addition, linking VITA to asset-building programs such as Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), savings programs, helping unbanked clients open bank accounts, or other programs is encouraged. Native VITA sites that conduct benefits screening to link their clients to social service programs also are encouraged to apply for funding.

The purpose of this project is twofold: 1) this grant will be used to aid Native organizations in the development of effective and innovative VITA sites for the benefit of their community, and 2) grantee organizations will document and share best practices with other sites in order to develop a framework for other Native communities interested in launching a VITA site or strengthening sites already in existence.

First Nations will offer three grants of $15,000 each to support innovative VITA work. The grant term will be 11 months from January 15 to December 15, 2013. These grants will be awarded to organizations meeting the following criteria:

• Has a VITA site already in operation or committed to opening a VITA site for the 2013 tax season;

• Presents a convincing plan to offer innovative VITA programs; and

• Demonstrates a commitment to documenting the process of preparing, maintaining and running an innovative VITA site.

To begin an application or to just learn more about the grant program please visit this page.

Please contact Sarah Dewees at sdewees@firstnations.org or 540-371-5615 with any questions. We look forward to reading your submissions!