FY 2021 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Refugee and Asylee Integration Services (RAIS) | DHS 21 CIS 010 003

Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 21 CIS 010 003

The FY 2021 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Refugee and Asylee Integration Services (RAIS) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the Department of Homeland Security through USCIS, aimed at helping certain lawful permanent residents (LPRs) move from basic resettlement toward long-term civic integration and, ultimately, naturalization. The program is rooted in USCIS's responsibility to promote instruction on the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship. It recognizes that for many people who arrived through humanitarian pathways, becoming a citizen is not just a paperwork milestone, but the capstone of a longer integration journey that can be slowed by barriers such as limited English proficiency, unfamiliarity with U.S. civic systems, cultural adjustment challenges, and difficulty navigating institutions.

RAIS is designed specifically for LPRs who entered the United States as refugees through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), were granted asylum, entered as Cuban or Haitian entrants, or were admitted on a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV). Even though the title highlights refugees and asylees, the eligible service population explicitly includes Cuban and Haitian entrants and SIV recipients as well. The underlying premise is that the earlier these residents can successfully engage with their communities and understand how U.S. civic life works, the more likely they are to thrive personally and professionally, contribute to their communities, and reach their citizenship goals.

A central feature of RAIS is that it funds "extended integration services" that build on, but do not duplicate, the traditional resettlement supports funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Those other programs tend to prioritize early economic self-sufficiency soon after arrival. RAIS, by contrast, focuses on longer-term, individualized programming that helps eligible LPRs develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to integrate more fully into American society and to prepare for naturalization. The emphasis is on helping participants who have already identified naturalization as a goal but may need additional instruction and guidance to realistically achieve it, including building a sense of belonging and attachment to the United States.

The opportunity was posted under Funding Opportunity Number DHS 21 CIS 010 003 and falls under the Community Development funding activity category (CFDA 97.010). The grant instrument type is a standard grant, with an anticipated total of 10 awards and an award ceiling of $1,000,000 per award. The funding opportunity was created on May 17, 2021, and had an original application closing date of July 16, 2021.

Eligible applicants are broad and include a range of public and nonprofit entities capable of delivering integration and citizenship-oriented services. Eligible organizations include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). In practice, this mix of eligible applicants signals that USCIS intended RAIS to be implemented by organizations with direct community reach and the capacity to provide tailored, participant-centered integration services that support the long arc from humanitarian arrival to full civic participation and citizenship.

• The Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2021 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Refugee and Asylee Integration Services (RAIS)" 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 May 17, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 16, 2021 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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 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, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for DHS 21 CIS 010 003

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: