FY 2024 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Citizenship and Integration Training Academy | DHS 24 CIS 010 005

Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 24 CIS 010 005

The FY 2024 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Citizenship and Integration Training Academy (CITA) is a discretionary grant opportunity from USCIS focused on expanding access to high-quality citizenship preparation services for lawful permanent residents (LPRs). The program is rooted in USCISs broader civic integration mission, recognizing that naturalization is a major step in helping immigrants fully participate in American civic life. By supporting instruction in English and U.S. history and government, the grant is designed to strengthen the knowledge and practical skills immigrants need to meet the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship and to engage more fully in their communities.

CITA is structured differently from many direct-service grants because it is designed to build new organizational capacity, especially for organizations that have not previously received USCIS grant funding. The core idea is to develop a new cadre of citizenship instructors and help organizations launch or strengthen citizenship education programs. In the first year, grant recipients do not immediately move into full service delivery; instead, they participate in twelve months of rigorous, mandatory virtual training. This training is intended to equip staff with the technical skills, subject-matter knowledge, and program-development capacity needed to establish and run a high-quality citizenship education program.

In years two and three, the emphasis shifts to implementation and performance. Organizations begin delivering citizenship education programming for LPRs, while USCIS closely monitors progress and provides hands-on technical assistance. This design reflects an academy model: year one builds the foundation through intensive training, and years two and three focus on putting the training into practice with ongoing support to maintain quality and consistency.

A notable feature of this funding opportunity is an optional add-on component that allows funded organizations to develop naturalization application services alongside citizenship education. Organizations that choose this option can pursue recognition by the Department of Justice (DOJ) as a Recognized Organization and work toward staffing the program with two DOJ Accredited Representatives who are authorized to provide certain immigration legal services within the scope of DOJ accreditation. If an organization elects to pursue this pathway, the grant can reimburse costs associated with the training and designated staff time required during year one. Then, during years two and three, those participating organizations would begin offering naturalization application services in coordination with their citizenship education program, creating a more comprehensive pipeline that supports both learning and the application process.

Key grant details include the funding opportunity number DHS 24 CIS 010 005 and CFDA number 97.010, with the activity category listed as community development. The award ceiling is $400,000, and USCIS expects to make about seven awards. Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and nonprofit entities, including state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled colleges and universities; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education). The opportunity was posted May 15, 2024, with an original application closing date of July 12, 2024, and it is administered through the Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division.

In practical terms, this opportunity is best suited for immigrant-serving organizations that want to build a durable, standards-based citizenship education program but may not yet have deep internal expertise in citizenship instruction or program design. The CITA model provides a structured on-ramp: intensive training first, then supported implementation, with an optional track to add accredited naturalization application assistance that can make the services more complete and more useful to LPRs preparing for citizenship.

• The Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2024 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Citizenship and Integration Training Academy" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.010.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-05-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for DHS 24 CIS 010 005

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