Family Advocate Program NOFO Questions and Answers
1) Q: So, the total award for the whole program is $500,000.00?
A: Yes, the total award for up to 3 grantees is $500,000.
2) Q: Can the awardee subcontract others to assist them within he programs?
A: Yes, this will be allowed but must be included in the grant budget with explicit narrative.
3) Q: Are ISC agencies eligible to apply for this NOFO??
A: All agencies are able to apply to each grant Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Being awarded the grant funding, is based on successfully completing the Merit Review Process and meeting the criteria of the application and NOFO requirements.
4) Q: If we already have grant funded programs that required certain document, which are now on the CRV, do we have to redo the questionnaires?
A: You will be required to complete all required documentation for the NOFO application.
5) Q: are there any geographic requirements or limitations?
A: Regional limitations - we are required to provide state coverage, we don't provide points for statewide coverage if you cannot. Please only apply for areas you can cover.
6) Q: Are there any requirements or suggestions in terms of the number of people reached by each session? Can sessions be held virtually?
A: sessions can be allowed for virtual, however we are looking for a mix of sessions and outreach.
7) Q: Everything in the Pre-Qualification states "Your organization is currently in good standing with all pre-qualification requirements." Does this mean we are good to go for Family NOFO?
A: We will review all Pre-qualification requirements after the closure of the application process. If you have previously been a grantee, please review your SAM.gov information is current and not expiring in the fiscal year. Your ICQ should be completed for fiscal year of 2026. Please refer to the II-Eligibility Section of the NOFO and IDHS: Pre-Qualification Instructions and Resources for further instructions
8) Q: Does it help for us to get letters of support from agencies we have worked with in the past regarding serving individuals with Intellectual / Developmental Disabilities or even local Legislators? If so, would these letters be counted as pages in our application?
A: Please refer to the NOFO for any required documentation. If documentation is not required, but added to the application for review, these items would be included in the narrative portion of the application packet and would be considered part of the 25-page maximum.
9) Q: I see that there is a 25-page limit for the complete application for both opportunities and the statement that "the narrative portion must follow the page maximums where prescribed." Are there suggested page limits for each component of the application?
A: There is a page limit for the narrative section of the application, including the application and narrative. Please reference the link for more application assistance. IDHS: IDHS Grants Administration.
10) Q: We are interested in applying for the DVPI funding (26-444-80-0652-01) and Family Advocate funding (26-444-24-1506) and would like to confirm our eligibility. Based on the information available on your website, XX appears to meet the stated requirements. However, as our organization was founded in 2024, we want to ensure that our founding date does not impact our eligibility.
Additionally, we would appreciate any guidance on grant opportunities available to new applicants like XX. Many of the grants listed on your website are competitive, and we are unsure whether this means they are primarily intended for previously approved grantees or if new applicants are also encouraged to apply.
We would appreciate your clarification and any recommendations you can provide. Thank you for your time and assistance.
A: Below are links to some resources such as the IDHS application requirements and grant application trainings that we offer to our grantee.
IDHS: IDHS Grants AdministrationIDHS: Application Requirements and Resources (state.il.us)
Here is another link and enrollment key for additional training.
Continuing and Professional Education Illinois Springfield
Recipe for Grant Success - Learning Management System
Go To Your Recipe For Grant Success
IDHS-RECIPE23
Available grants can be found at the below link.
IDHS Grant Funded Programs
Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance
