Human Services Agency Funding

Raleigh's Human Relations Commission reviews requests from human services agencies seeking funding from the City and makes recommendations to the City Council. The grants are awarded annually to nonprofits that provide direct services to  Raleigh residents with low incomes who identify with one of the targeted groups: elderly, youth, individuals with a disability, individuals who use substances, and are homeless.

2023-2024 Human Services Agency Funding Application

The submission deadline for the FY24 Raleigh Human Services Agency Funding was Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 3 p.m. 

FY24 Human Services Grant Guidelines
FY24 Human Services Grant Application
Grant Application Workshop Presentation 

General Eligibility Requirements

The following criteria are minimum qualifications for an application to be considered. All funding recommendations will be based on available funds. 

2. Raleigh Headquarters: The organization’s headquarters must be located within the corporate limits of the City of Raleigh. Agency headquarter address is verified through N.C. Secretary of State records. 
3. Not-for-Profit & 501c3 Status: Human services grant funds may be awarded only to not-for-profit organizations with 501c3 status, that have federal and state tax- exempt status. To ensure tax-exempt status, the organization’s IRS Form 990 from the most recently completed fiscal year will be reviewed. 
4. Population Served: Proposed programs and projects must benefit low-income persons and households residing in Raleigh. (Example of financial eligibility)
5. Agency Experience: Qualified applicants must have at least one year of recent experience in the delivery of services to the specified target group(s) and demonstrate sensitivity to the special needs of their clientele. 
6. One Year Program Service Delivery: Only projects or programs that have been established and providing services for at least one year will be considered. 
7. Request Amounts: Request must not exceed 25 percent of the agency’s total actual operating expenses for the last completed fiscal year. Additionally, requests must not exceed 50 percent of the total project budget. 
8. Fiscal Responsibility: Must have an adequate financial management system in place to maintain effective control and accountability over all funds, property, and other assets covered by this proposal. Must be able to produce sufficient backup documentation for costs of the project and files for review and audit. 
9. Agency Audits (update): With the application, the external agency must submit annual financial statements audited within 120 days of fiscal year-end by a certified public accountant licensed in North Carolina.  If an external agency was awarded City grant funding for the fiscal year audited, that funding must be disclosed in the audit report submitted. The audit report must be accompanied by any management letter, if one is prepared by the auditor, or a letter signed by the external agency’s executive director or board president attesting that no management letter was issued.  

   Adhering to the guidelines above, external agencies shall remit the most recent audit report completed before the grant application deadline. If an external agency’s fiscal year-end is towards the end of the calendar the year (September through December), the City will accept the previous year’s audit report. See example illustration below: 

Failure to comply with this requirement will preclude the agency from requesting $25,000 or more in City grant funding in the grant application. Any questions regarding audit requirements by the agency or the agency's auditors can be directed first to the appropriate grant manager for initial triage and then forwarded on to the City's Accounting and Reporting division if need be.  

Audit Requirements – grant requests of less than $25,000: An audit is recommended but not required by the City.  If an external agency does receive an audit, however, the agency should follow the process above for submitting the audit report and additional documentation to the City with its grant application.  Any questions regarding audit requirements by the agency or the agency's auditors can be directed first to the appropriate grant manager for initial triage and then forwarded on to the City's Accounting and Reporting division if need be. If you have additional questions, please direct them to grants.equity@raleighnc.gov  

9.  Raleigh Grant Programs: Organizations may apply for funding in up to two City grant programs per year. More information on other Raleigh grant opportunities in available online.

Ineligible Expenses

The following expenses will not be covered by the grant.

• Administrative/ Operational Expenses- These costs include administrative staff, rent/ mortgage, utilities, insurance, furnishings/ equipment, depreciation, audit, communications (telephone, internet, IT support), that are not directly related to program/ project delivery.
• Individuals- Individuals are not eligible to apply directly for funding.
• Housing Construction
• Organizations Receiving Arts Program Support - Organizations receiving multi-year funding from Raleigh’s Arts Commission Grant Program are ineligible for funding. 

Application Process

Based on recommendations by the Raleigh Human Relations Commission, the City of Raleigh awards Human Services Agency Funding annually to non-profit organizations headquartered in Raleigh. 

Timeline
The annual grant cycle is similar each year and generally follows the below sequence:

How to Apply

Agencies must submit: 

• One (1) electronic version of the application (submitted via email) with an original signature included on the signed Application Checklist Form.
• One (1) printed application with original signature included on the signed Application Checklist Form. 

Electronic Application Submission:

• The electronic version of the application must be emailed directly to the Raleigh Department of Equity and Inclusion.  
• The electronic version of the application must be a viewable and printable Adobe PDF document.
• Once your application is received, Raleigh's Department of Equity and Inclusion staff will provide an email confirmation. 

Printed Application Submission:

• Printed applications must be clipped together, enclosed in an envelope or;
• Packaged and clearly marked with the name of the submitting agency.
• Complete all sections of the application and number the pages sequentially, except for the attached documents.
• Handwritten applications will not be accepted.
• Submit all required supporting documentation (e.g. financials report, articles of incorporation, etc.) and a signed copy of the Application Checklist Form.

Submission Guidelines:

All applications, both the electronic and printed copy, must be received by the Raleigh Department of Equity and Inclusion on or before the due date and time. Applications received after the due date will not be accepted or considered. All applications are final after the initial submission and will be reviewed as originally submitted. 

Sign Up! MyRaleigh Subscriptions

If you are interested being notified when the next Human Services Agency Grant is made public, please subscribe to Human Relations Commission News on MyRaleigh Subscriptions. Sign Up Now