2025 California Earned Income Tax Credit Plus (CalEITC+) Education and Outreach Grant

The California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD), in partnership with the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), has released the 2025 California Earned Income Tax Credit Plus (CalEITC+) Education and Outreach Grant Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). CSD operates under the California Health and Human Services Agency and works with community-based partners to improve the economic security of vulnerable Californians. The CalEITC+ program aims to increase the number of eligible low-income Californians who file income tax returns and claim the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), Foster Youth Tax Credit (FYTC), and relevant federal tax credits, as well as provide awareness on Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) eligibility. The grant will fund education and outreach activities to promote awareness of available tax credits and free tax preparation services, particularly focusing on those filing with an ITIN or eligible to apply for one. Efforts must include culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach to diverse and hard-to-reach populations, with a required emphasis on English and Spanish, and other languages as needed. Activities may include web and social media campaigns, community canvassing, media outreach, collateral distribution, and participation in community events. Awardees are required to connect residents to free tax preparation assistance within the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program scope and may optionally provide ITIN application acceptance assistance. A total of $10 million is available, allocated across 15 target areas, including 13 specific regions, statewide coverage, and rural counties. Award amounts vary by target area, and applicants must apply for the full amount listed for the selected region. Contracts run from December 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, with a performance period ending June 30, 2026. Awardees may receive up to a 25% advance payment and must provide regular expenditure and program reports, participate in coordination calls, and adhere to fiscal and program compliance requirements. Eligible applicants include established nonprofit and community-based organizations registered in California, with at least three years of relevant outreach or tax preparation assistance experience, established community trust, and capacity to serve priority populations. Applicants must be existing VITA administrators or have partnerships with VITA providers, be in good standing with relevant agencies, and able to collect and report reliable program data. Entities ineligible for government funding per federal or state listings are not eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted electronically to CalEITCGrants@csd.ca.gov by 5:00 p.m. on September 5, 2025. Questions are due by 5:00 p.m. on August 15, 2025, and will be addressed in writing on the CSD website by August 29, 2025. A bidder’s conference will be held virtually on August 20, 2025. Awards will be announced on October 21, 2025. Required submission documents include an application cover sheet, narrative template, workplan, budget forms, subcontractor information, letters of reference (if applicable), payee data record, and contractor certification clauses. Applications will be evaluated on experience conducting outreach, organizational capacity, partnerships, free tax preparation assistance strategies, and ITIN awareness activities, with a maximum score of 100 points and a minimum of 70 points required for funding consideration. Scoring criteria vary for statewide, Los Angeles, and regional awards, with weight placed on demonstrated ability to meet program goals, track outcomes, and deliver effective, measurable results within the grant term.

Applicants should demonstrate culturally competent outreach methods, use FTB’s outreach materials, and show ability to meet reporting and performance requirements