Opportunity Information: Apply for CPD 2600 DC 0008
The FY 2025 Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants (RCB) is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designed to strengthen rural organizations that deliver affordable housing and community development work. The core goal is to increase the effectiveness of rural housing development organizations, Community Development Corporations (CDCs), Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), rural local governments, and Indian tribes by improving their capacity to plan, manage, and implement activities that benefit low- and moderate-income people in rural communities. Instead of funding these local entities directly, HUD funds qualified National Organizations that then provide hands-on capacity building support to those local and tribal beneficiaries.
The funding is narrowly focused on capacity building rather than bricks-and-mortar development. Eligible activities must strengthen organizational infrastructure, management systems, and governance, with the intent of making rural beneficiary organizations better positioned to carry out affordable housing and community development efforts over time. In practice, this includes training, education, technical assistance, and related support aimed at improving how an organization functions, makes decisions, plans for the future, measures results, and coordinates with partners. HUD emphasizes that the funded work should increase the ability of rural beneficiaries to deliver outcomes for low-income or low- and moderate-income households, meaning the capacity building is expected to translate into stronger housing and community development pipelines and better execution.
Examples of the types of capacity-building activities HUD highlights include conducting organizational assessments to identify strengths and gaps; strategic planning and board development to improve leadership and long-term direction; adopting or upgrading technology to modernize operations; and deeper engagement with rural community stakeholders to align projects with local needs. The notice also points to performance evaluation for current and planned community efforts, more comprehensive and holistic planning for the use of rural resources, and participation in HUD planning processes to ensure rural needs are represented. Another emphasized area is regional planning support, such as linking local rural plans with neighboring communities to encourage coordination across jurisdictions. The program can also include financial assistance and other related activities, as determined by the grantee in consultation with HUD leadership, as long as they fit within the capacity-building purpose and the program rules.
Only certain applicants can apply to HUD for this funding. Eligible applicants must be National Organizations that are 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities, and institutions of higher education are explicitly excluded from applying. HUD defines a National Organization as a single nonprofit with ongoing experience delivering the kinds of eligible rural capacity-building activities described in the program, and that experience must be demonstrated within the last ten years across at least eight of HUD's Federal regions. Experience in just one state within a HUD region is enough to count that region toward the eight-region threshold, but the organization still needs to meet the overall multi-region requirement. Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorships are not eligible to compete for or receive awards under this announcement.
From a funding and timing standpoint, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number CPD 2600 DC 0008 and CFDA (Assistance Listing) 14.265, categorized under Community Development. HUD expects to make about five awards, with an award ceiling of $3,500,000 per award. The original application closing date is July 6, 2026, and the opportunity record indicates it was created on May 6, 2026. In short, this competition is aimed at a small number of experienced, nationwide nonprofits that can demonstrate reach across much of the country and can directly strengthen rural and tribal organizations so they can more effectively produce and sustain affordable housing and community development benefits for low- and moderate-income residents in rural areas.Apply for CPD 2600 DC 0008
- The Department of Housing and Urban Development in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2025 Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants (RCB)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 14.265.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-06.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-06. (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 $3,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FY 2025 Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants (RCB) - FAQs
What is the FY 2025 Rural Capacity Building (RCB) grant program?
The FY 2025 Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants (RCB) is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It is designed to strengthen the capacity of organizations working on affordable housing and community development in rural communities, especially in ways that benefit low- and moderate-income people.
What is the main purpose of this funding?
The core goal is to improve the effectiveness of rural housing development organizations, Community Development Corporations (CDCs), Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), rural local governments, and Indian tribes by building their capacity to plan, manage, and implement affordable housing and community development activities over time.
Does HUD fund rural organizations directly under this program?
No. HUD awards funds to qualified National Organizations, and those National Organizations then provide hands-on capacity building support to rural and tribal beneficiary organizations.
Who benefits from the program (the intended beneficiaries)?
The intended beneficiaries are rural housing development organizations, CDCs, CHDOs, rural local governments, and Indian tribes that serve low- and moderate-income people in rural communities.
Who can apply to HUD as an applicant?
Only National Organizations that are 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities may apply to HUD for this funding.
Are institutions of higher education eligible to apply?
No. Institutions of higher education are explicitly excluded from applying for this opportunity.
Are individuals, foreign entities, or sole proprietorships eligible?
No. Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorships are not eligible to compete for or receive awards under this announcement.
What does HUD mean by a "National Organization" for this competition?
HUD defines a National Organization as a single nonprofit with ongoing experience delivering eligible rural capacity-building activities. The organization must be able to demonstrate that experience occurred within the last ten years and that it spans at least eight of HUD's Federal regions.
How is the "eight HUD Federal regions" requirement measured?
Experience in just one state within a HUD region is enough to count that region toward the eight-region threshold. However, the applicant must still meet the overall requirement of experience across at least eight HUD Federal regions.
What kinds of activities does the RCB program fund?
The program is focused on capacity building rather than construction or development. Eligible activities are those that strengthen organizational infrastructure, management systems, and governance so rural beneficiaries are better positioned to carry out affordable housing and community development efforts.
Is this grant meant to fund "bricks-and-mortar" affordable housing development?
No. The funding is described as narrowly focused on capacity building, not on bricks-and-mortar development.
What are examples of capacity-building activities mentioned for this program?
Examples HUD highlights include organizational assessments to identify strengths and gaps; strategic planning; board development; adopting or upgrading technology to modernize operations; and deeper engagement with rural community stakeholders to better align work with local needs.
Does the program support performance evaluation or measurement?
Yes. The notice points to performance evaluation for current and planned community efforts as an emphasized area.
Does the program include planning support?
Yes. HUD emphasizes more comprehensive and holistic planning for the use of rural resources, as well as participation in HUD planning processes to ensure rural needs are represented.
Is regional planning support included as an eligible focus?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes regional planning support, such as linking local rural plans with neighboring communities to encourage coordination across jurisdictions.
Can the program include financial assistance?
Yes. The program can include financial assistance and other related activities, as determined by the grantee in consultation with HUD leadership, as long as the activities fit the capacity-building purpose and comply with program rules.
What population must the supported work ultimately benefit?
HUD emphasizes that funded work should increase the ability of rural beneficiaries to deliver outcomes for low-income or low- and moderate-income households in rural communities.
How many awards does HUD expect to make?
HUD expects to make about five awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $3,500,000 per award.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is CPD 2600 DC 0008.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number?
The CFDA (Assistance Listing) number is 14.265.
What category is this opportunity listed under?
The opportunity is categorized under Community Development.
What is the application closing date?
The original application closing date is July 6, 2026.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record indicates it was created on May 6, 2026.
What is the overall approach HUD is taking through this competition?
This competition is aimed at a small number of experienced, nationwide nonprofits that can demonstrate multi-region reach and can directly strengthen rural and tribal organizations so they are better able to produce and sustain affordable housing and community development benefits for low- and moderate-income residents in rural areas.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Community Development
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