Special Projects

Maricopa County continues to deal with the health, social, and economic impacts from the COVID-19 Pandemic. With assistance from the American Rescue Plan Act the County is continuing to support those impacted by the community.

On August 4th, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved a total of $18 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds for agencies serving the residents of Maricopa County with, $15 million for domestic violence survivor services and $3 million for food bank assistance. These programs were developed to address the growing needs of domestic violence service providers and food banks responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The County understands the urgency and uncertainty many families face given the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the need for the services these organizations provide.

In an effort to enhance recovery efforts, on September 6^th, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors allocated an additional $5 million to support non-profits serving County residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic. These organizations provide critical supportive services to many populations across Maricopa County.

The Maricopa County Human Services Department will be working directly with non-profit agencies and working with the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence and the Arizona Food Bank Network to administer these programs in response to COVID-19.  Each agency has the necessary experience and expertise to quickly deliver funding to support critical services for Maricopa County families in need.

Maricopa County Non-Profit Support Program

The purpose of the Maricopa County Non-Profit Support Program is to increase the direct services provided by non-profit social service agencies (Agencies) to Maricopa County residents. Specifically, Maricopa County will award grants to non-profit agencies that provide new or expanded programs serving those who were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic including the vulnerable and at-risk individuals and families. direct and essential services to vulnerable and at-risk individuals and families in Maricopa County. Grant awards and funding will be based on the scope of services, qualifications of the agency, and size of the agency:

Small Agencies: Agencies with less than 50 employees are eligible to receive up to $50,000.

Medium Agencies: Agencies with 51-100 employees are eligible to receive up to $100,000.

Large agencies: Agencies with 101 or more employees are eligible to receive up to $200,000.

Note: Eligible applicants should carefully review the Request for Proposal to understand the requirements of grantees. 

The application period is expected to be from Friday, September 24, 2021 through Tuesday, October 26, 2021.  

Applications will begin to be accepted on Friday, September 24^th.  

Application Link: (Non-Profit Assistance Program Bid Link)

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant Agency is required to:

• Be a federally designated 501(c)(3) organization;
• Serve residents of Maricopa County;
• Provide human services- or social services-related programs
• Provide and be on the list of eligible organization types (NTEE code); 
• Certify they were in operation prior to March 1, 2019;
• Show COVID-19 impact to service delivery, which may include but not limited to: increased demand, decreased revenue, increased expenses; 
• Certifies information provided in the application, including unique client numbers, revenue, and expenses, are accurate; and 
• Certifies they are in good standing with the Arizona Corporation Commission and other required regulatory agencies.

Program Provisions

• Grantees will deliver services specified in their grant proposal and provide Maricopa County performance data as required in the grant.
• Grantees will be reimbursed monthly for costs of delivering services until the program end date of June 30, 2023 or until the grantees expenditures reach their specified grant limit, whichever comes first. 
• No grant funds can be spent on the personal protective equipment and the purchase of land and/or buildings.
• Any grant funds spent on capital equipment and/or asset purchases of $5,000 or more must have documentation of receiving three quotes prior to purchase.  Capital purchases require written justification as to how it is needed due to COVID-19.
• Funds cannot be used to pay any taxes or utility costs issued by a government entity.
• Awarded agencies must provide Maricopa County a final report and attest that all funds were expended.

Maricopa County Food Bank Assistance Program

The purpose of the Maricopa County Food Bank Assistance Program is to support food banks serving Maricopa County residents responding to increased demand due to the impact of COVID-19. The Arizona Food Bank Network will administer this program by:

1. Providing grants to member agencies to provide operational and capital grants to distribute shelf stable food and fresh food to meet the increased demand resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; and,
2. Providing grants to regional member food banks for distribution of federal commodities, grocery donations, and fresh produce to both food insecure populations and agencies critical to serving food insecure populations.

The Arizona Food Bank Network (AFBN) will provide grants based on need.

The application period is now open, and applications will be accepted until all grant funds are awarded.  Inquiries about agency qualifications or how to apply can be emailed to grants@azfoodbanks.org.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant Agency is required to:

• Be in good standing with one of AFBN member food bank in Maricopa County, which includes St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, United Food Bank, and Honor Health/Desert Mission Food Bank.
• Serve residents of Maricopa County.
• Certify from receipt to storage to distribution all food will be handling safely and at the required temperatures at all times as required by all federal, state or local regulations
• Certify agency staff have received food safety training before working under this Agreement.
• Certify they will not sell food or exchange food for goods or services.
• Certify they will not engage in discrimination and will distribute food equitably.
• Certify civil rights training will be conducted and not to proselytize to clients in order to receive food.

Program Provisions

• Any grant funds spent on capital equipment and/or asset purchases of $5,000 or more must have documentation of receiving three quotes prior to purchase.  Capital purchases require written justification as to how it is needed due to COVID-19.
• Funds cannot be used to pay any taxes or utility costs issued by a government entity.
• Awarded agencies must provide Arizona Food Bank Network (AzFBN) with monthly reports with the performance data as listed below for the time period of their funding.
  • Actual or estimated (if actual is not feasible) pounds of food provided to distribute to food insecure persons; and
  • Actual or estimate (if actual is not feasible) number of food insecure persons and households served.
• Awarded agencies must provide AzFBN with a final report and attestation that all funds were expended.
• No funds can be used for an agency’s activities prior to the date of AzFBN’s grant to an awarded agency.

All funds not disbursed and/or expended by grantees must be returned to administrator, and then returned to the County by June 15, 2023.

Maricopa County Domestic Violence Reduction Program

The purpose of the Maricopa County Domestic Violence Assistance Program is to support domestic and sexual violence service providers in Maricopa County as they address service gaps caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic and support sexual and domestic violence survivors. The Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence will administer this program by:

• Providing grants to member agencies to address funding gaps caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic that impacted the agency’s ability to provide domestic violence services. 
•  Providing grants to qualified agencies to administer legal and counseling services, community-based services, and financial assistance for survivors.

The application period is now open, and applications will be accepted until all grant funds are awarded.  Inquiries about agency qualifications or how to apply can be emailed to info@acesdv.org.