Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 20 CIS 010 002
The FY 2020 Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program; Citizenship and Instruction Application Services (Funding Opportunity Number DHS 20 CIS 010 002) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Department of Homeland Security, administered through USCIS and its Office of Citizenship (OoC). The program is built around the idea that naturalization is a major step in helping immigrants fully participate in civic life in the United States. USCIS frames naturalization not just as a legal change in status, but as a key milestone in civic assimilation because it requires applicants to build practical knowledge of English and to learn core content about U.S. history and government. In that sense, the program is meant to support lawful permanent residents (LPRs) as they prepare for citizenship and develop the tools and understanding needed to meet the rights and responsibilities that come with being a U.S. citizen.
At the service level, the program focuses on expanding the availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services nationwide. This includes instruction that helps LPRs meet naturalization-related requirements, such as English language learning and civics education, and also includes support and information on how to apply for naturalization in a manner consistent with the authorized practice of immigration law. The overall aim is to increase both access and quality, so more eligible residents can find reliable, effective programs that guide them through preparation and the application process, rather than relying on informal or potentially inaccurate sources of information.
The opportunity also encourages broader capacity-building activities that strengthen citizenship programs over time. Examples highlighted in the notice include developing and sharing best practices in citizenship preparation, increasing the use of technology and improving access to technology within citizenship programs, and partnering with community anchor institutions like local libraries and museums. Those institutions are recognized as important and trusted resources in many immigrant communities, and the grant envisions them as potential collaborators or service hubs. The program also points to strategies that foster welcoming communities, treating integration and civic participation as something that is shaped not only by classroom instruction but also by the local environment and community support systems around new Americans.
From a federal mission standpoint, DHS links the grant program to its broader responsibilities to enforce and administer immigration laws, referencing the 2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review. The connection DHS draws is that lawful permanent residents benefit from structured, accurate instruction about citizenship responsibilities and from legitimate, compliant assistance with the naturalization process. In other words, the grant is positioned as a way to promote orderly, informed naturalization by helping eligible residents understand requirements and complete the process properly while staying within legal and ethical boundaries for immigration services.
Administratively, this is a grant (not a contract) categorized under Community Development, associated with CFDA number 97.010. The opportunity was posted July 2, 2020, with an original application deadline of August 5, 2020. The expected number of awards was 40, and the listed award ceiling was $8,200,000. Eligible applicants span a wide range of public and nonprofit entities, including state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (other than institutions of higher education). This broad eligibility reflects an intent to fund organizations that already serve immigrant communities or can build local partnerships to deliver citizenship instruction and application-related services effectively.Apply for DHS 20 CIS 010 002
- The Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2020 Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program; Citizenship and Instruction Application Services" 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 Jul 02, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 05, 2020 No Explanation. (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 $8,200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 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), 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, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the FY 2020 Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program (Citizenship and Instruction Application Services)?
It is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) through its Office of Citizenship (OoC). The program is designed to support lawful permanent residents (LPRs) as they prepare for U.S. naturalization by expanding access to high-quality citizenship preparation services and reliable, compliant naturalization application support.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DHS 20 CIS 010 002.
Which federal agencies administer and manage this opportunity?
The opportunity is from DHS and is administered through USCIS, specifically USCIS's Office of Citizenship (OoC).
Is this opportunity a grant or a contract?
This opportunity is a grant, not a contract.
How does USCIS describe the purpose of the program?
USCIS frames naturalization as a major step toward full participation in civic life in the United States. The program treats naturalization as more than a legal status change, emphasizing that it requires practical English knowledge and learning core content about U.S. history and government. The grant is intended to help LPRs build the tools and understanding needed to meet the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship.
Who is the program meant to serve?
The program is meant to support lawful permanent residents (LPRs) preparing for U.S. citizenship (naturalization).
What types of services does the program focus on expanding?
The program focuses on expanding the availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services nationwide. This includes instruction aligned with naturalization-related requirements, such as English language learning and civics education, as well as support and information on how to apply for naturalization in a manner consistent with the authorized practice of immigration law.
Does the program include help with the naturalization application process?
Yes. The opportunity includes support and information on how to apply for naturalization, with an emphasis that any assistance must be consistent with the authorized practice of immigration law.
Why does the notice emphasize "authorized practice of immigration law"?
The grant positions naturalization assistance as something that must be accurate, legitimate, and compliant with legal and ethical boundaries for immigration services. The goal is to help eligible residents complete the process properly and avoid reliance on informal or inaccurate sources.
What does the program mean by improving access and quality?
The stated aim is to ensure that more eligible lawful permanent residents can find reliable, effective programs that guide them through citizenship preparation and the naturalization application process, rather than depending on informal channels that may provide incorrect information.
What kinds of capacity-building activities are encouraged?
The notice highlights capacity-building activities that strengthen citizenship programs over time, including developing and sharing best practices in citizenship preparation, increasing the use of technology, improving access to technology within citizenship programs, and partnering with community anchor institutions such as local libraries and museums.
Why are libraries and museums mentioned as potential partners?
The opportunity recognizes local libraries and museums as important and trusted resources in many immigrant communities and envisions them as potential collaborators or service hubs to support citizenship preparation and related services.
Does the program support "welcoming communities" strategies?
Yes. The opportunity points to strategies that foster welcoming communities, treating integration and civic participation as shaped not only by classroom instruction but also by the local environment and community support systems around new Americans.
How does DHS connect this grant to its broader mission?
DHS links the program to its responsibilities to enforce and administer immigration laws, referencing the 2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review. The grant is presented as supporting orderly, informed naturalization by helping lawful permanent residents understand requirements and receive structured, accurate instruction and compliant application assistance.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 97.010.
What category is this funding opportunity listed under?
It is categorized under Community Development.
When was the opportunity posted?
It was posted on July 2, 2020.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was August 5, 2020.
How many awards were expected?
The expected number of awards was 40.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $8,200,000.
Which types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include: state governments; county and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (other than institutions of higher education).
Why is eligibility so broad?
The notice suggests this broad eligibility reflects an intent to fund organizations that already serve immigrant communities or that can build local partnerships to deliver citizenship instruction and naturalization application-related services effectively.
Is this program limited to nonprofit organizations?
No. Eligibility includes a wide range of public entities (state, county, local, special district governments, independent school districts), higher education institutions (public and private), tribal governments and tribal organizations, and also 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education).
What is the primary educational content emphasized by USCIS for citizenship preparation?
USCIS emphasizes practical English language knowledge and learning core content about U.S. history and government, aligning with the requirements connected to the naturalization process.
Is the goal only classroom-based instruction?
No. While instruction (English and civics) is central, the opportunity also emphasizes broader capacity-building, technology use and access, partnerships with community anchor institutions, and community-level strategies that support integration and civic participation.
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