Community Project Funding: New Federal Funding to Help Prevent + End Youth Homelessness

Up to $1.4 trillion in discretionary spending annually

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 federal funding process has started with deadlines for schools and community-based organizations to submit Community Project Funding requests (the new “earmarks”) as early as April 13. Many youth homeless service agencies received funding in FY22, and we want to see that number grow for FY23! This webpage gives you the information you need to know to reach out to your U.S. House Representative and start the process to be considered for receiving Community Project Funding (CPF). CPF is legislator directed federal spending with over one trillion dollars available! 

Our Recommendations for Preparing Strong Community Project Funding Requests: 

This funding will favor projects from state and local governments and nonprofits. Members of Congress will be more eager to back (and highly rank) projects with:

  1. Strong local support.
  2. Well-documented potential benefits.
  3. Close to “ready to start” as possible.

There is no perfect project and reaching out to work closely with your representative is critical. Watch our 10-minute video to learn about things to consider when creating a funding request. 

April 2022 Deadlines

Every subcommittee has a different deadline, and Members of Congress have earlier deadlines than the subcommittee, so we encourage you to reach out to your U.S. House Representative right away, to learn about their deadlines. Most members of Congress have information about Community Project Funding on their website. Find your elected official’s website and contact information here.

What You Need to Know About the Community Project Funding Process: 

Read the complete guidelines for the FY23 Community Project Funding Member Request Process. Some highlights:

  • Every member of the House of Representatives can only make 15 (5 more than last year!) Community Project Funding (CPF) requests, though not all 15 are guaranteed. Also, not every Member of Congress is participating, so always check with your elected official’s website and reach out to have a meeting. Members of Congress must prioritize the community project requests they submit to the appropriations committee. 
  • Community engagement and support is considered when determining what projects will receive this Federal funding. You must demonstrate community support to be considered. 
  • Members of Congress are required to certify that their immediate family does not have a financial interest in the requested project. 
  • All the information you provide will be made public due to the required transparency. The information posted must include:
    • proposed recipient
    • address of the recipient
    • amount of the request,
    • explanation of the request, including purpose, and a justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds
    • Member’s signed certification letter stating there is no financial interest in the project.
  • Funding is only for one year for most projects. This may vary depending on the account the funding is from. 
  • Some CPF opportunities have match funding requirements that cannot be waived. 
  • For-profits are banned from receiving CPF. 
  • Nonprofits can be grantees and will need to provide evidence of their nonprofit status. 

Criteria Used to Evaluate Community Project Funding Requests:

Transparency:

  • Members are required to post every request online simultaneously with their submission to the Appropriations Committee. 
  • The Appropriations Committee will release the list of projects funded before the full committee votes on the legislation.
  • Members must certify that they, their spouses, and their immediate family have no financial interest in the projects they request.

Ban on For-Profit Recipients:

  • Members may not direct funding to for-profit grantees. Members may request funding for State or local governmental grantees and eligible non-profits.

Cap on Overall Funding:

  • “Community Project Funding” may constitute no more than 1 percent of discretionary spending.

Demonstrated community support: 

  • Members must prove that community support is a compelling factor in selecting the requested projects.

Request in Writing:

  • Members requesting Community Project Funding must do so in writing, including the name and location of the intended recipient and the purpose of the spending item.

Quick Links by Federal Agency: