Maryland: Underserved Communities Projects (UCP) Grant Program 2023

The Office of Grants Management is soliciting grant applications for the County’s 2023 Underserved Communities Projects (UCP) Grant Program from qualified nonprofit organizations providing direct services to or advocacy for underserved communities in the County.

Donor Name: Montgomery County Office of Grants Management

State: Maryland

County: Montgomery County (MD)

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 03/15/2023

Size of the Grant: 50,000 to $75,000

Grant Duration: 12 months

Details:

The goal of this program is to support a flexible range of new programs that address the needs of the County’s underserved communities that are designed and led by nonprofit organizations based in these communities. Priority in awarding funds will go to organizations based in the same underserved community that the projects target.

This program uses the same definition of underserved communities as the January 20, 2021 Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government. The term “underserved communities” refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as all as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

Grant Priority

Priority in awarding funding will be given to proposals that:

Are submitted by nonprofit organizations based in underserved communities within Montgomery County, have a mission focused on serving these communities, and are have limited or no 2023 funding from the County.
Demonstrate a strong understanding of their target community’s needs and an effective program strategy to effectively meets these needs.
Provide services, advocacy, or other support to the target community that is not already funded by other County resources.
Provide technically, culturally, and/or linguistically proficient services to the target community.
Demonstrate a broad base of impact through their proposal to their target community.

The Office of Grants Management will seek proposals from organizations that:

Exhibit cultural proficiency.
Are inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community members.
Use a racial equity lens in providing services.

Funding Information

UCP award amounts will vary with a minimum award of $50,000 and a maximum award amount of $75,000. At present, the County Council has made this funding available for one year so all funded activities must be implemented within a 12 month performance period.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet all of the following conditions:

The organization must be a Federal 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status organization or a collaboration between two or more organizations with this status.
The organization must be currently registered and in Good Standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT).
The organization’s principal place of business must be located in Montgomery County; if a national or regional organization, it must have a location in Montgomery County through which it provides related services.
All activities and expenditures under this grant program must be provided in Montgomery County.
Current Montgomery County contract or grant award winners must be current on all reporting obligations for other awards and those reports must reflect substantial progress towards the goals of their awards.

Eligible Expenses

Operating expenses cover on-going or non-fixed asset costs that are needed for the implementation of the program. Examples of potentially eligible operating expenses include, but are not limited to, the following: