The External Agency Funds (EAF) for Fiscal Year 2025 are offered by the Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS). The funds are intended to support nonprofit organizations that offer programs or services within Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky. These programs must align with the RCS’s mission and strategic goals, which focus on reducing homelessness, enhancing financial stability, and increasing access to resources for targeted populations. The fund prioritizes nonprofit organizations that have a measurable impact and effectively utilize taxpayer dollars. RCS encourages applications from organizations that can demonstrate success in achieving their goals and meeting outcomes.

The RCS employs a competitive granting strategy, meaning that not all applications will be funded. Historically, requests have ranged from $2,000 to $250,000, with the majority of successful programs receiving awards between $15,000 and $45,000. Grantees will be required to submit quarterly reports detailing their financial and programmatic progress.

Applications for EAF funding are available through SurveyMonkey from February 9, 2024, to March 1, 2024, with a submission deadline at 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. A WebEx office hour will be available for applicants to ask questions on February 12th and February 15th, 2024. Successful applicants will be notified of their awards by July 2024.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must be a nonprofit corporation that is registered with the Kentucky Secretary of State and hold or have applied for 501(c)(3) IRS tax-exempt status. They must also be registered with the Louisville Metro Revenue Commission and ensure that any contracted employees are in good standing. Programs must serve residents of Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky, and should not be directed towards religious activities, lobbying, or health-related organizations.

The grant does not accept applications from new agencies that have been in existence for less than six months prior to January 1, 2024. Religious activities and lobbying are prohibited. Agencies must submit detailed program information, including the program’s history, proposed outcomes, and budget. Additionally, they are required to demonstrate their capacity to manage and report on the grant’s financials and compliance.

The grant timeline follows a clear process: applications are reviewed in March 2024, with the Mayor’s budget approval in April 2024. Metro Council’s final budget approval is expected in June 2024. The awards are announced in July 2024, and grant agreements are signed between July 1, 2024, and August 30, 2024. Funds are disbursed quarterly, and the grant must be spent by June 30, 2025.