Frequently Asked Questions
Eligible entities include any domestic or international nonprofit organization (faith-based or community-based) that, since 2001 has received Federal funding to aid in the provision of social services and any nonprofit organization that has entered a formal partnership with a Federal, state or local program that receives Federal funding to provide social services. Federal funding includes all of the following: direct grants and other direct Federal awards that are awarded on a competitive basis; sub-grants and other sub-awards received from a recipient of a direct Federal award; and indirect funding such as voucher payments funded through a Federal program.
Any not for profit grassroots organization engaged in the provision of social services, whether in the United States or abroad. FBCOs includes both faith-based AND other community organizations. This includes organizations both with and without a religious affiliation. If an organization which received funding is a national organization which has local affiliates, the local affiliate of the national organization which is located in the local service area should apply, rather than the national organization. For organizations engaged in service outside the United States, entities defined for the purposes of this contest as FBCOs include American and indigenous organizations that meet the description above, as well as U.S.-based organizations that have or could have met the eligibility requirements for the New Partners Initiative of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (i.e. no more than $5 million in U.S. Government funding during the preceding five years, excluding disaster and emergency assistance or funding as a subcontractor.)
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A grant, cooperative agreement, contract, or other award won directly from the Federal government via a competitive process.
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A sub-award, or subcontract refers to funding received by an FBCO from an intermediary organization that received direct Federal funding. Examples include sub-awards made to grassroots nonprofits under programs such as Communities Empowering Youth, the Compassion Capital Fund Demonstration Program, and the Department of Labor's Workforce Investment Board Intermediary Grants (2004 and 2005). In all of these cases, an intermediary or lead organization (whether a nonprofit agency, state or local government, or other entity) received a competitive Federal award and provided sub-awards to FBCOs.
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Organizations that have received payments provided through a voucher mechanism that was wholly or partially funded by the Federal government are eligible to apply. For example the Department of Health and Human Services’ Access to Recovery (ATR) program provides direct grants to states to operate voucher-based substance abuse recovery programs. Any FBCO receiving voucher payments through ATR or a similar program is eligible to apply. Other examples include the Department of Labor’s Beneficiary Choice Contracting Pilot program, and the Supplemental Education Services program which is funded through the Department of Education and administered at the state and local level.
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Formal partnerships include any contract, memorandum of understanding (MOU), grant agreement, or other written agreement that commits the parties involved (such as an FBCO, State or local government) to working together to enhance one or both parties’ services to the needy. Partners could include any Federal, state or local government programs that received Federal funds. Examples of state and locally funded programs include Federal block grants such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) or Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funds. Eligible partnerships range from funded contracts provided by state and or local governments to FBCOs using Federal funds, to formal but nonfinancial MOUs for the purposes of a referral for services.
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Any video recording device that records in either the .AVI or .MPG formats and can be uploaded to the video internet service of your choosing. For example, You Tube supports anything recorded in .AVI or .MPG., which covers most recordings made by video digital cameras, camcorders, even webcams. Those who have produced their own home videos recommend using tripods because a tripod can hold a digital camera or camcorder steady and create a level shot.
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Most video sharing sites accept the following file formats: .AVI, .MPEG, .MOV, .WMV. Some services will allow a broader variety of file formats. Typically, online video sites provide detailed instructions of how to film and upload your video. Please consult the service you plan to use for more information. Most video sharing services have a size limit of 100MB for video files. A 3 minute video is likely to be well under the 100MB size limit imposed by most video sharing services. Some of the services will allow larger files, but that is generally for videos longer than 10 minutes. Please consult the service you plan to use for more information. You can edit and compress videos using movie editors, like Windows MovieMaker or Apple iMovie, which are often standard programs with Windows and Apple operating systems. Programs like these allow you to edit your videos, add soundtracks, and compress file sizes. Some video sharing services will allow you to edit the videos online after you have uploaded the video file. Please consult the service you plan to use for more information.
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If your video is chosen as a winner, it will be necessary to provide a written transcript of your video so that closed captioning for the hearing impaired can be included with your video. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that Federal departments and agencies that develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology to ensure that Federal employees and members of the public with disabilities have access to and use of information and data, comparable to that of the employees and members of the public without disabilities–unless it is an undue burden to do so. Therefore, when the winning Portraits of Compassion videos are shown during the White House Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Conference in June or posted on a website sponsored by the Federal government, the videos must have closed captioning so that the hearing impaired will be able to read along. If your video is a finalist, you will be required to provide a written transcript of your narrative to ensure that your video includes accurate subtitles.
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Transcripts show in writing what is being spoken throughout the video. A transcript should first give the name of the person speaking followed by a colon and the words the person is saying. For example, Sally: I was homeless and alone. It came as a surprise that people were willing to help me. If you are chosen as a winner, you will be asked to provide a transcript for the entire video.
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A waiver acts as a release signed by each person in the video and applies equally to descriptions of individual experiences and other information and materials they provide as part of the Portraits of Compassion. It releases the United States Government from any and all claims including copyright and claims relating to rights of privacy or libel, in any and all editions, versions, and media usage.
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The winning videos will be shown on a big screen during the White House Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Conference, taking place on June 26 and 27. To ensure optimal viewing quality, it is necessary to have a high quality DVD of your video submission. If your video is a winning video, you will be requested to provide a high quality DVD of the submission you posted online. Failure to do so would disqualify your organization’s video from consideration.
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By entering the contest, entrants grant the Federal Government the right to reproduce, translate, broadcast, and dispose of the material and otherwise use it for Federal purposes.
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Your video submission is a nonexclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license to the Federal government to reproduce, translate, broadcast, and dispose of the material and to authorize others to use the work for government purposes.
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Yes, nothing prevents you from using the video for your own purposes if you are the original author of everything in your video or have permission to use copyright protected material.
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The underlying criterion is described in the Guidelines and includes the following components: Compelling underlying narrative – 40 points; Compelling Presentation – 30 Points; Evidence of impact beyond a single anecdote – 15 points; and Demonstration of a meaningful public-private partnership – 15 points.
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Please see the list below of Federal programs that fall into these three categories outlined above. First look for the Federal agency where your organization’s funding originated and then look to identify the specific program. U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Direct: - Agriculture Programs
- American Schools and Hospitals Abroad
- Conflict Management and Mitigation Programs
- Democracy and Governance Programs
- Economic Growth Programs
- Education Programs
- Environment and Science Policy Programs
- Excess Property Donations
- Food For Peace
- Foreign Disaster Assistance Programs
- Global Development Alliance Secretariat
- Health, Infectious Disease and Nutrition Programs
- HIV-AIDS Programs
- Population and Reproductive Health Programs
- Poverty Reduction
- Private and Voluntary Cooperation Programs
- Program Development
- Programs in Africa
- Programs in Asia and Near East
- Programs in Europe and Eurasia
- Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean
- Sustainable Development Programs
- Transition Initiatives
- Women in Development Programs
Indirect - Agriculture Programs
- American Schools and Hospitals Abroad
- Conflict Management and Mitigation Programs
- Democracy and Governance Programs
- Economic Growth Programs
- Education Programs
- Environment and Science Policy Programs
- Excess Property Donations
- Food For Peace
- Foreign Disaster Assistance Programs
- Global Development Alliance Secretariat
- Health, Infectious Disease and Nutrition Programs
- HIV-AIDS Programs
- Population and Reproductive Health Programs
- Poverty Reduction
- Private and Voluntary Cooperation Programs
- Program Development
- Programs in Africa
- Programs in Asia and Near East
- Programs in Europe and Eurasia
- Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean
- Sustainable Development Programs
- Transition Initiatives
- Women in Development Programs
*FBCO participation first reported at USAID in 2003
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U.S. Department of Agriculture Direct - Food Stamp Outreach Grant Program
- Food Stamp Participation Grant Program
- Community Facilities Grant Program
- Community Facilities Direct Loan Program
- Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program
- Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)
- Rural Rental Housing Loans (direct)
- Rural Rental Housing Guaranteed Loan Program
- Farm Labor Housing Loan Program
- Farm Labor Housing Grant Program
- Rural Rental Assistance Grants
- Rural Housing Preservation Grant program
- Technical and Supervisory Assistance Grants
- Self-Help Housing Grants
- Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program
- Rural Business Enterprise Grant program
- Farmers Market Promotion Program
- Food for Progress Program
- McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program
- Section 416(b) of the Agriculture Act of 1949
- Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program
State and Local Partnerships - Child and Adult Care Food Program (USDA Food and Nutrition Service)
- School Breakfast Program
- National School Lunch Program
- Summer Food Service program
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
- WIC Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
- Emergency Food Assistance Program
- Food Stamp Program
U.S. Department of Commerce Direct - Technology Opportunities Program (TOP)
- Public Works and Economic Development Program
- Economic Adjustment Assistance Program
- Economic Development: Support for Planning Organizations
- Research and National/Local Technical Assistance
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Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Direct - Learn & Serve America
- AmeriCorps National
State and Local Partnerships - Learn & Serve America
- AmeriCorps State & National
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U.S. Department of Education Direct - Carol M. White Physical Education Program (“PEP”)
- Safe and Drug Free Schools - Mentoring Program (“Mentoring”)
- Parental Information and Resource Centers (“PIRC”)
- Migrant Education - High School Equivalency Program (“HEP”)
- Migrant Education - College Assistance Migrant Program (“CAMP”)
Indirect - Adult Education and Family Literacy Act State Grants (“AEFLA State Grants”)
- Supplemental Educational Services Program (“SES”)
- 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program (“21st CCLC”)
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Direct - Abandoned Infants Assistance Program
- Adoption Opportunities Grants
- Access to Recovery
- Assertive Adolescent and Family Treatment
- Assets for Independence Demonstration Program
- Assistance for Victims of Trafficking
- Assistance to Torture Victims
- Child Abuse and Neglect Discretionary Activities
- CMHS Grant for Programmatic Directives
- Community Food & Nutrition Program Community Health Centers (Health Center Cluster)
- Community-Based Abstinence Education Program
- Communities Empowering Youth Program
- Compassion Capital Fund Demonstration Program
- Compassion Capital Fund Targeted Capacity Building
- CSAP Grants for Programmatic Directives
- CSAT Grants for Programmatic Directives
- Cuban/Haitian Initiative Program
- Drug Free Communities Support Program Grants
- Early Head Start
- Employment Subsidy Program for Refugees
- Ethnic Community Self-Help Organizations
- Evidence-Based Disease Prevention
- Family Violence Prevention Program
- Global AIDS Program
- Grants to Assist Elderly Refugees
- Head Start
- Head Start Grants to Help Children of Migrant Families
- Healthy Communities Access Program
- Healthy Marriage Demonstration Grants
- Healthy Start HIV and Substance Abuse Prevention for Minority Populations
- HIV/AIDS Special Projects of National Significance Grants
- HIV/STD/TB Prevention (NCHSTP) Grants
- Individual Development Account Program for Refugees
- Infant Adoption Awareness Training Program
- Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals Match Grant Program
- Mentoring Children of Prisoners
- Minority HIV/AIDS
- Mental Health Services
- National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative
- Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities
- Older Adult Mental Health Services Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Treatment & Services Centers Preferred Communities Program
- Pregnant and Postpartum Women Expansion Program
- Preventive Health Services Programs Focusing on Aging
- Promoting Responsible Fatherhood
- Public Health Practice Program (PHPPO) Grants and Cooperative Agreements
- Rapid Expansion of Antiretroviral Therapy Programs for HIV-Infected Persons
- Recovery Community Services Program
- Refugee and Entrant Assistance Discretionary Programs
- Refugee Family Enrichment
- Refugee Microenterprise Development Projects
- Runaway and Homeless Youth Basic Centers
- Runaway and Homeless Youth Street Outreach
- Runaway and Homeless Youth Transitional Living Program
- Ryan White Part C: (Title III) - Early Intervention
- Ryan White Part D: (Title IV) - Women, Infants, Children and Youth
- Senior Medicare Fraud Patrol Program Services for Elderly Refugees
- Services for Unanticipated Arrivals
- Special Improvements Projects
- Strengthening Treatment Access & Retention
- Targeted Assistance to Refugee Service Providers
- Targeted Capacity Expansion of Methamphetamine/Inhalant Prevention
- Targeted Capacity Expansion-HIV Technical Assistance (Office of Refugee Resettlement) Training, Technical Assistance & Capacity Building Treatment and Re-entry Services to Young Adult Offenders
- Treatment for Homelessness
- Treatment for Torture Victims/Survivors Program
- Treatment Services for Drug Courts Unaccompanied Alien Children
- Urban and Rural Community Economic Development Program
- Wilson/Fish Alternative Program
- Youth Violence Prevention
Indirect - Communities Empowering Youth Program
- Compassion Capital Fund Demonstration Program
State and Local Partnerships - CSBG Rural Community Development Activities
- CSBG Training, Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Programs
- Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)
- Community Services Block Grant
- Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness
- State Abstinence Education Program
- Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
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U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Direct - Assisted Living Conversion Program (ALCP)
- Continuum of Care (CoC)
- Housing Counseling Program
- **Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
- Mainstream Program
- Resident Opportunities Self-Sufficiency Program (ROSS)
- Rural Housing and Economic Development
- Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly
- Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities
- Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP)
- Service Coordinators
- ***Youthbuild
Indirect - Continuum of Care (CoC)
- Housing Counseling Program
- **Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
- Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities
- Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly
State and Local Partnerships - Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
- HOME - An affordable housing program (block grant)
- **Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
- Emergency Shelter Grants
**Note: Please note that many of the grant programs fall under multiple categories, as they have portions that are direct discretionary funding and the recipients may also have co-sponsors or sponsors who work with and receive sub-awards from direct grantees. In addition, HOPWA falls under all three categories. HOPWA has both a discretionary portion and a formula portion of its funding and grantees may have sub-grantee project sponsors. ***Note: Youthbuild has been transferred to the Department of Labor, but was competed at HUD during the time period covered in this request.
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U.S. Department of Justice Direct - Preventing Crime and Drug Abuse Grant Program (BJA)
- Project Safe Neighborhoods Anti Gang Training Grant Program (BJA)
- Civil Legal Assistance to Victims Grant Program (Office on Violence Against Women—OVW))
- Rural Domestic and Child Victimization Enforcement Grant Program (OVW)
- Training Grants to Stop Abuse and Sexual Assault Against Older Individuals or Individuals with Disabilities (OVW)
- Transitional Housing for Domestic Violence Victims Grant Program (OVW)
- Violence Against Women Training and Technical Assistance Grant Program (OVW)
- Enhanced Training and Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women Later in Life (OVW)
- Technical Assistance Program Call for Concept Papers (OVW)
- Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grant Program (OVW)
- Education, Training, and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities (OVW)
- Community Corrections Contracting (Bureau of Prisons--BOP)
- Life Connections Program (BOP)
- Gang Prevention Coordination Assistance Grant Program (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention—OJJDP)
- Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
- National Juvenile Justice Grant Program (OJJDP)
- Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Grant Program (OJJDP)
- Project Safe Childhood Grant Program (OJJDP)
- Prevention and Intervention Grant Program (OJJDP)
- High-Risk Youth Offender Reentry and Family Strengthening Initiatives Grant Program (OJJDP)
- Juvenile Sex Offender Treatment Program Development and Capacity Building Grant Program (OJJDP)
- Support for Mentoring Initiatives Grant Program (OJJDP)
- Immigration Related Employment Discrimination Public Education Grant Program (Civil Rights Division—Office of Special Counsel)
- Trafficking Victims Protection Act Grant Program (Office for Victims of Crime--OVC)
- Faith-Based or Community Organizations and Victim Services Discretionary Mini-Grant Program (OVC)
- Helping Outreach Programs Expand I (OVC)
- Multi-Disciplinary Responses to Crime Victims with Disabilities (OVC)
- National Crime Victim Assistance Grant Program (OVC)
- Victims of Crime Act Conference Grant (OVC)
- Tribal Victim Assistance Discretionary Grant Program (OVC)
- Tribal Victim Assistance T and TA Grant Program (OVC)
- Teen Victim Technical Assistance Grant Program (OVC)
- T and TA Counseling and Faith-Based Services for Crime Victims in Indian Country (OVC)
- State Victim Assistance Academy Initiative Grant Program (OVC)
- Public Awareness in Underserved Communities Grant Program (OVC)
- National Program to Directly Assist Victims of Identity Theft and Financial Fraud (OVC)
- HALOS Replication Demonstration Project Grant Program (OVC)
- Crime Victim Resource Center Grant Program (OVC)
- Action Partnerships Grant Program (OVC)
- Children’s Justice Act T and TA Grant Program (OVC)
- Training and Technical Assistance for Children’s Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities Discretionary Grant Program (OVC)
- Crime Victims' Rights Enforcement Project Grant Program (OVC)
- National Training Conference on Responding to Crime Victims with Disabilities Grant Program (OVC)
- National Crime Victims Rights Week Resource Guide Grant Program (OVC)
- Weed and Seed Grant Program (Community Capacity Development Office--CCDO)
- Weed and Seed Program Guide and Application Kit Grant Program (CCDO)
- Weed and Seed Program Support Grant Program (CCDO)
- Community Oriented Policing Services Office Grant Program (COPS)
Indirect - Helping Outreach Programs Expand II (OVC)
- Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Grant Program Special Initiative: Faith-Based and Community Organization Pilot Program (OVW)
- NCVRW Community Awareness Project Grant Program (OVC)
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U.S. Department of Labor Direct - Small Grassroots Faith-Based and Community Organizations Connecting with the One-Stop Delivery System: New
- Small Grassroots Faith-Based and Community Organizations Connecting with the One-Stop Delivery System: Renewal
- Prisoner Reentry Initiative
- Preparing Youth Offenders to Enter High-Growth and High-Demand Industries
- Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program: New
- Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program: Renewal
- Home Modification Grant
- Grants to Community and Faith-Based Organization
Indirect: - Ready4Work
- Preparing Ex-Offenders for the Workplace through Beneficiary-Choice Contracting
- Grants for Workforce Boards Partnering with FBCOs
- Grants for Intermediary Non-Profits
- Grants for States
- Combating Exploitive Child Labor through Education
- Improving Transition Outcomes for Youth with Disabilities Through the Use of Intermediaries
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Small Business Administration - SCORE (www.score.org)
- The Women’s Business Center Program (WBC)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Direct - Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem program.
For additional questions, please review the Guidelines, Instructions, and Additional Information, and if you still have additional questions, please call (202) 401-5023.
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