Community Development Revolving Loan Fund Technical Assistance Grant

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) administers the Community Development Revolving Loan Fund (CDRLF) Technical Assistance Grant program to support low-income-designated credit unions (LIDs) in providing affordable financial services and stimulating economic activities in underserved communities. This federally funded initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of eligible credit unions by supporting innovative projects across multiple grant categories. For the 2025 grant cycle, NCUA has allocated approximately $3.465 million to fund technical assistance initiatives. Eligible credit unions may apply for up to two initiatives but will only receive one award. Grant applications must be submitted through NCUA’s CyberGrants portal between October 15 and December 16, 2025. All projects must align with one of the six initiative categories: New Charter Capacity Building, Student Internships, Technology/Cybersecurity/Artificial Intelligence, Training, Underserved Outreach, or continuation funding under the Impact Through Innovation pilot program. Award ceilings vary by initiative, ranging from $25,000 to $100,000, with asset and operational age restrictions applied to certain categories. To qualify, applicants must maintain a current low-income designation under 12 CFR 701.34 or 741.204, be active in the SAM.gov registry, and hold a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN). Federally and non-federally insured credit unions are eligible, although the latter must consent to NCUA examination and provide additional documentation. Cost sharing is not required. Applicants are evaluated based on program priority scoring (asset size and past participation), the quality of their project narrative, clarity and feasibility of the proposed budget, and compliance history. Applications will be reviewed and scored by NCUA personnel. The review process evaluates how well the proposed project addresses identified community needs, implements actionable solutions, and defines measurable impact metrics such as asset growth, loan portfolio growth, or member outreach. Projects must include a detailed implementation timeline and risk mitigation strategy. The budget must clearly outline allowable costs that align with initiative goals, and marketing or travel expenses may not exceed 25% of total project costs. Certain expenses—such as rent, recurring operations, indirect costs, or employee-related conflicts of interest—are strictly prohibited. Grant awards will be finalized based on ranking within each initiative, subject to available funding. Awards above $15,000 are typically disbursed on a reimbursement basis, although advances may be available for small credit unions. Grantees are required to submit performance metrics and completion documentation via CyberGrants. Noncompliance, including misreporting or conflicts of interest, may result in penalties or termination of funding. NCUA reserves the right to deny funding or request repayment in cases of misconduct or failure to meet award conditions. The CDRLF grant program reflects NCUA’s commitment to promoting financial inclusion, building institutional capacity among LIDs, and addressing barriers to access for unbanked and underbanked communities. All grant-funded activities must comply with federal statutes, executive orders, and administrative regulations. Applicants are encouraged to review the full 2025 application guidelines and maintain open communication with NCUA throughout the application and post-award process.

Tailor project goals to specific initiative metrics; ensure project aligns with LID designation; justify budget with strong narrative; avoid ineligible expenses like giveaways or indirect costs.