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Many low-income individuals and families who are eligible for AFI-funded IDA projects are also eligible to receive benefits from Federal refundable tax credits. These include the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, American Opportunity Credit, and the Making Work Pay Credit. This Guidance for AFI Grantees on Federal Tax Credits provides tips for AFI grantees on: 1) The effect of these credits on eligibility for participating in an AFI-funded IDA project; and 2) Depositing the credits as IDA savings.  

AFI was established by the Assets for Independence Act (AFI Act) in Title IV of the Community Opportunities, Accountability and Training and Educational Services Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998, P.L. 105-285. It was subsequently amended in December 2000.  

The Assets for Independence Program Summary includes information regarding the program's grant, including the type of grant, the appropriation amount, the legislative authority, the program's purpose, target population, and eligible applicants.

OCS and a group of AFI grantee leaders have collaborated closely to develop a set of performance measures for the AFI program, plus a series of performance indicators that OCS and grantees can use to manage their day-to-day work to ensure success of the AFI program as well as each AFI project. This section of the AFI web page provides background information on performance management strategies.

The Office of Community Services provides reports to Congress on the status of AFI Program implementation. The reports are based largely on data submitted annually by each grantee, as required by the program authorizing legislation.

AFI Grant Awards for FY 2013

Youth employment programs present a promising opportunity for helping disadvantaged youth acquire the financial knowledge, skills, and access to resources they need to effectively manage their finances through adulthood. In recognition of this, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) partnered to produce Building Financial Capability in Youth Employment Programs.  This report provides an overview of the valuable lessons drawn from a 2013 roundtable of national and local leaders from promising programs that CFPB convened in collaboration with other federal agencies on the Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC).

AFI Funding Awards FY 2014

Program Assets for Independence (AFI), a Federal program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), enables nonprofits and government agencies to implement and demonstrate an assets-based approach that improves the economic status of working individuals and families. To locate an AFI IDA program near you, please go to AFI Project Locator.

Assets for Independence (AFI), a Federal program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) enables nonprofits and government agencies to implement and demonstrate an assets-based approach that improves the economic status of working individuals and families.

Assets for Independence (AFI), a Federal program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) enables nonprofits and government agencies to implement and demonstrate an assets-based approach that improves the economic status of working individuals and families. Please go to AFI Project Locator to find an AFI IDA program  near you.

Assets for Independence (AFI), a Federal program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) enables nonprofits and government agencies to implement and demonstrate an assets-based approach that improves the economic status of working individuals and families. To locate an AFI IDA program near you, please go to: http://idaresources.acf.hhs.gov/afigrantees

Assets for Independence (AFI) Grant Awards

Building Financial Capability: A Planning Guide for Integrated Services (available for download below), is an interactive guide for community-based organizations interested in integrating financial capability services into existing programs (e.g. housing, job training, or Head Start). The interactive tools in the guide walk organizations step-by-step through the process of developing an integration plan, beginning with developing a deeper understanding of clients’ financial circumstances and which financial capability services can help them improve their situations. The guide also includes tools to help organizations determine how best to provide financial capability services—whether through referrals, partnerships, or in-house. The final step in the process is the creation of a logic model that serves as a comprehensive roadmap for implementing the integration plan. Building Financial Capability is a practical resource for organizations providing financial capability services for the first time as well as those that want to improve or expand existing efforts. Since this resource was published, the links to tools in the PDF no longer work. In order to access all the tools, go to https://prosperitynow.org/tools-building-financial-capability-plannin.... To learn more about the guide, view the associated training video series.

Assets for Independence (AFI) Program 2015 Grant Awards

On March 31, 2015, President Obama declared April National Financial Capability Month. In support of National Financial Capability Month, ACF issued notices to a broad range of ACF-supported programs to highlight the importance of financial capability, and to encourage programs to consider ways in which they can structure their services and activities to strengthen financial capability among the populations they serve. Link to these notices are provided below. Additionally, Acting Assistant Secretary Mark Greenberg sent a letter to State Human Services Commissioners and Secretaries on April 27, 2015 to highlight the importance of addressing financial capability in human services programs and to provide links to a set of resources that can be useful in developing state and local efforts.

Financial capability is defined as “the capacity, based on knowledge, skills, and access, to manage financial resources effectively.”1 Financial capability is a critical step towards financial security, and many people (regardless of socioeconomic background) may lack one or more factors of the financial capability equation. Some may lack the knowledge (e.g., understanding the terms of their credit card account) or the skills (e.g., calculating the total costs of using credit) needed to manage their financial lives effectively. Others may not have the access to resources necessary for managing their finances well (e.g., high quality but affordable financial services). Challenges in any of these areas will negatively affect financial capability.

Assets for Independence (AFI) Program 2016 Grant Awards

This brief shares lessons learned about integrating financial capability services into existing programs at four organizations serving rural communities. Financial capability is the capacity—based on knowledge, skills, and access—to manage financial resources effectively. This brief is organized into three sections: selecting financial capability services, deciding who will provide services, and identifying the right points in time to integrate financial capability services.

The following briefs are resources on financial capability topics for Head Start/Early Head Start programs. Assessing Head Start & Early Head Start Families’ Financial Capability This brief outlines strategies and tools Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) can use to gain a deeper understanding of how HS/EHS families are managing their finances to decide which services might help them build financial capability. Financial Coaching in Head Start Programs This brief discusses financial coaching in Head Start settings and presents methods for providing financial coaching as well as training resources for programs interested in building staff capacity to become financial coaches.

This brief shares lessons learned from three local intermediary organizations that have supported nonprofits in their efforts to integrate financial capability services into existing program. Financial capability is the capacity—based on knowledge, skills, and access—to manage financial resources effectively.

AFI Performance Progress Report (PPR) Overview

AFI Performance Progress Report (PPR) New Data Requirements