Opportunity Information: Apply for CI CET 23 002

The FY 2023 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services (CINAS) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), focused on strengthening access to high-quality citizenship preparation and naturalization application support for lawful permanent residents (LPRs) across the United States. The program is rooted in USCIS work to promote education on the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship and reflects the view that naturalization is one of the most important milestones in an immigrant's long-term civic integration. By helping immigrants build English proficiency and learn U.S. history and government, citizenship preparation services aim to equip future citizens with practical tools for participation in civic life and for meeting the responsibilities that come with citizenship.

CINAS specifically funds organizations that deliver citizenship instruction and offer naturalization application services, meaning both the educational side (preparing people for the civics and English components of the naturalization process) and the hands-on assistance side (helping eligible LPRs navigate and complete the naturalization process in a compliant way, within the authorized practice of immigration law). In addition to these core services, the opportunity encourages activities that improve and modernize citizenship preparation programs, such as identifying and sharing best practices, expanding the use of technology to reach and serve clients more effectively, and partnering with community anchors like libraries and museums that are often trusted and accessible resources for immigrant communities. The opportunity also emphasizes strategies that help build welcoming communities, framing citizenship preparation as part of a broader integration process rather than a standalone class or application clinic.

The broader Citizenship and Integration Grant Program has been operating since 2009 and has a substantial track record, having awarded more than $132 million through 579 competitive grants to immigrant-serving organizations in 39 states and Washington, DC. According to the program description, it has supported more than 300,000 LPRs in preparing for citizenship over its first 15 years. This history signals that the CINAS opportunity is part of an established funding stream with defined goals, prior grantee experience, and an emphasis on measurable service expansion and quality improvement in citizenship programming.

From a policy alignment standpoint, the CINAS opportunity is positioned as supporting Executive Order 14012 (Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans) and DHS strategic priorities for FY 2020-2024 by promoting integration, inclusion, and citizenship. It also aligns with DHS and USCIS mission priorities by supporting lawful pathways and helping immigrants understand civic rights and responsibilities while providing accurate guidance on how to apply for naturalization. In practical terms, this framing highlights that the grant is not only about service delivery volume, but also about building trustworthy, accessible community-based capacity that strengthens confidence in legal immigration processes.

Key funding details include an opportunity number of CI CET 23 002, a grant instrument type (as opposed to a contract), and an activity category tied to community development under CFDA 97.010. The award ceiling listed is $300,000 per award, with an expectation of 55 awards. The opportunity was created on June 9, 2023, and the original application closing date was July 28, 2023, with no closing-date extension noted in the provided data. Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and nonprofit entities: state, county, and city/township governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). This broad eligibility reflects the program's intent to reach LPRs through many types of community-facing institutions, especially those already embedded in local service networks.

Overall, CINAS is designed to expand and improve community-based citizenship preparation services nationwide by funding organizations that can combine instruction, application assistance, and program improvements that increase accessibility and effectiveness. The emphasis on technology, partnerships with libraries and museums, and welcoming-community strategies suggests USCIS is looking for programs that not only deliver classes and forms support, but also reduce barriers to participation and strengthen long-term integration outcomes for future U.S. citizens.

  • The Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2023 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services (CINAS)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.010.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jun 09, 2023.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 28, 2023 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 55 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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