closed

Student Loan Empowerment Project (SLE Project)

Department of Financial Protection and Innovation · 45953

Eligibility details

Nonprofit organizations in good standing with experience providing financial education and counseling. Organizations must be exempt from federal income taxes under the Internal Revenue Code, including: · Section 501(c)3 · Section 501(c)4 · Section 501(c)5 · Section 501(c)6 · Section 501(c)7 No part of the organization’s net earnings shall inure to the benefit of a private shareholder or individual.

Matching funds & resources

Source matching-funds field: Not Required. The availability of in-kind contributions or leveraged funding from other sources will be considered in the overall evaluation of the proposal and its potential impact.

Matching funds and leveraged resources are different requirements. Read the description and reviewed rules below before determining resource commitments.

About this opportunity

The SLE Project will promote and enhance the economic security of student loan borrowers by: • Designing, developing, or offering, free of charge to student loan borrowers, classroom- or web-based financial education and empowerment content intended to help borrowers manage their student loans, access federal repayment and forgiveness benefits, or lower their debt balance. • Providing individualized, free financial coaching or direct legal services to student loan borrowers. The SLE Project will operate as a coordinated network, using a supportive hub and spoke model of service provision. DFPI provides funding for organizations that will play specific roles within this Network. Organizations may apply for and receive funding for one or both streams of funding. Two grant streams are available: Stream 1: Network Coordination Grants Network Coordination Grants will provide critical coordination and support for the SLE Project Network. The maximum funding available in this category is $2 million to include the functions listed below. Eligible organizations may apply and receive to provide one or both of the following functions up to a maximum $2 million per organization for the two-year period: A: Service Coordination and Referral · Establish and manage a statewide toll-free phone number, website, and email for borrowers · Coordinate borrower intake and referral services · Aggregate service data and evaluate outcomes · Deliver marketing and outreach strategies · Coordinate other network activities as required B: Training and Quality Assurance · Develop and implement ongoing training program for service partner grantees · Identify and promote best practices and share updates on policies, regulations, etc. · Conduct technical assistance and training for partner organizations · Coordinate other network activities as required Stream 2: Service Partner Grants Service Partner grant funds are to be used to provide direct community-based, individualized education and counseling or legal services to help borrowers manage their student loans, access federal repayment and forgiveness benefits, or lower their debt balance. Services may include specialized support for complex cases. A total of $5.25 million of funding is available under this funding stream. The maximum award for each Service Partner grant is $600,000 for the two-year period, and each organization can receive only one grant. There are two types of direct support for borrowers that can be provided under this stream. Organizations may apply to provide one or both types of services. A. General Support for Borrowers · Provide free financial education and individual counseling to consumers with their higher education debt issues in-person, by phone or online as required. · Participate in training, data collection, outreach and other network activities. B. Specialized Case Support for Borrowers · Provide specialized support and guidance to direct service providers with complex cases. · Conduct General Case Review with direct service providers. · Participate in training, data collection, outreach and other network activities.

Funding geography: Funding is to provide services for residents of California only. Funding will be distributed to areas with areas with populations disproportionately impacted by student debt.

Funding instrument: Grant. Issuing jurisdiction: California. This is not a geographic eligibility determination.