Government grants are often a great way for organizations and individuals to get funding for a variety of projects and contributions that can have an impact on US society. Grants do not need to be repaid but give organizations and individuals the financing needed to pursue important projects and work. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), for example, offers a number of grants related to immigration. In late March 2012, the USCIS has announced a new grant opportunity.
The competitive grant is designed to help prepare qualified candidates for citizenship and to help encourage civic integration of immigrants and newcomers. The 2012 grant program will offer $5 million in financing to communities and citizenship preparation groups who are actively working to promote these two aims. Groups and communities across the nation are qualified to compete for the grant funding.
The USCIS has announced that it hopes the grant will help provide more citizenship preparation options and solutions. It is estimated that about 31 recipients will get funding through the grant program by September 2012. To qualify, groups will need to offer naturalization application assistance and citizenship classes or courses.
The Citizenship and Integration Grant Program was established in 2009. Since then, the USCIS has handed out 111 grants and $18.3 million to organization and groups that help immigrants. Through this funding, more than 28,000 green card holders in 30 states have benefited by getting quality assistance and citizenship instruction.
Any group or community that is committed to helping green card holders become US citizens through citizenship classes and other services can apply for the 2012 competition. The competition closes May 7, 2012 and all applications must be completed by then. Organizations can apply and learn more about the grant program by visiting the USCIS grant page at www.grants.gov or www.uscis.gov/grants. Organizations will need to register to apply and the application process can be involved in a competition. Therefore, organizations who want to secure funding should visit the website and start forming a competitive application as soon as possible. More information about the grant program is also available through the USCIS Office of Citizenship or by email (citizenshipgrantprogram@dhs.gov).