Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program administered by Cobb County’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Office is now accepting applications for its 2027 funding cycle. This grant is federally funded and aims to reduce poverty and promote economic self-sufficiency among low-income individuals and families throughout Cobb County, Georgia. The program allocates funding to nonprofit organizations capable of delivering vital, community-based services in several priority areas, including employment, education, housing, health, income stability, and other self-sufficiency initiatives. The CSBG program is structured to provide direct support to eligible clients. Applicants may propose services such as tutoring and GED support, emergency rental or utility assistance, health and dental programs, nutritional meal delivery, housing placement, income and credit recovery, and wraparound case management designed to help clients achieve long-term economic independence. Importantly, funds must go toward services for clients, not general operational support for the applying organization. All reimbursable costs must be documented and associated with client service delivery. To be eligible, applicants must be nonprofit entities in operation for at least one year, government entities in Cobb County, or subsidiaries of a nonprofit with at least two years of operation. Organizations must also be registered with Georgia’s Secretary of State and the federal System for Award Management (SAM.gov), possess audited financial statements (or comparable records if under $25,000 annual budget), maintain financial management procedures, and hold adequate insurance. Applicants are required to demonstrate at least twelve months of experience delivering services aligned with their proposal. Clients eligible for services funded by the grant must be U.S. citizens or legally admitted residents, live in Cobb County, and have household incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. Applications must be submitted electronically through the SurveyMonkey Apply portal, accessible at https://cobbcounty.smapply.org/prog/2027CSBG. The application window is open from February 16, 2026, through March 31, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to attend or review materials from the CSBG Application Workshop for guidance on program requirements, eligibility, and application procedures. The grant application includes sections addressing organizational capacity, target populations, service needs, client eligibility verification, reporting, and detailed budget narratives. Required attachments include IRS nonprofit designation letters, audit documentation, board approvals, resumes, insurance, and financial procedures—all uploaded as PDFs. Submitted applications are evaluated by a committee using a weighted scoring rubric across four categories: organizational capacity, project/service delivery, project procedures, and budget. Following this review, a 30-day public comment period is held, after which the Board of Commissioners finalizes funding decisions. Funding notifications are issued thereafter. It’s important to note that CSBG funds are disbursed as reimbursements, and applicants must be able to front program costs and wait up to 60 days for repayment. Applications must be fully submitted via the portal by the March 31, 2026 deadline.

Ensure budget aligns with narrative; clearly identify population served; detail income verification and reporting; proofread application before submission.