Closed
California state funding opportunity
Student Loan Empowerment Project (SLE Project)
Department of Financial Protection and Innovation
- Portal ID45953
- StatusClosed
Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.
Program summary
Synopsis
The SLE Project will award $7.25 million to nonprofit organizations to support the development and execution of at least one of two grant streams: Network Coordination grants will fund organizations providing coordination and support for the SLE Project network, and Service Partner grants will fund community-based, individualized education and counseling or legal services to help borrowers manage their student loans.
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.
Timeline
Key dates
-
September 7, 2023
Opportunity posted to California Grants Portal -
November 3, 2023
Applications close -
January 2024
Expected award date
Who may apply
Eligibility
Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:
- Nonprofit
- Additional info on eligibility
- 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.
- 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.
Awarding agency
Additional information
- Agency name
- Department of Financial Protection and Innovation
- Full announcement
- View the full announcement ↗
- Grantor contact
-
1-916-579-8622
grants@dfpi.ca.gov
Funding
Funding source
- Source
- State
- Funding method
- Advances & Reimbursement(s)
- Notes
- The 2022-2023 California Budget provided for $7.25 million in one-time funding from the General Fund for Student Loan Borrower Assistance (SB 154) allocated for targeted grants that connect borrowers to community-based organizations and legal aid groups that provide free and individualized education, case management, and assistance with student loan issues. (Budget Act of 2022, Chapter 43, Statute 1701-102-0001).
Government Grants Consulting
Federal, state, and local grant funding is highly competitive, and the gap between a complete application and a winning one usually comes down to strategy, compliance, and execution. GTC 360° Advisors supports organizations across the entire grant lifecycle — from identifying the right opportunities to managing the award long after it is won. The questions below cover how our grant consulting practice works and the organizations we serve.
What is government grant consulting, and how does GTC 360° Advisors help?
Government grant consulting means guiding an organization through the full grant lifecycle — research, eligibility review, strategy, writing, submission, and post-award compliance. GTC 360° Advisors manages this end to end, pairing grant writers, project managers, financial analysts, and compliance analysts to maximize the odds of an award and keep it in good standing afterward.What types of organizations can GTC 360° Advisors help win grants?
GTC 360° Advisors supports municipalities, state agencies, nonprofits, school districts, tribal governments, higher education institutions, and private companies pursuing grant funding. Clients have included the City of Los Angeles, Texas A&M University, the Montana State University System, Virginia Commonwealth University, and nonprofit partners such as the Walton Family Foundation and Blue Meridian Partners.What federal agencies has GTC 360° Advisors secured funding from?
GTC 360° Advisors has secured funding from agencies including the Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Commerce (EDA and NIST), Education, and State, as well as FEMA, EPA, NSF, NIH, HRSA, SAMHSA, and the CDC. The firm has won over $860 million and counting in federal and state contracts and grants for its clients.Does GTC 360° Advisors handle state and local grants, or only federal?
GTC 360° Advisors pursues grant funding at the local, state, federal, and international levels. The firm’s advisor network is positioned in every state to help clients identify and compete for regional and state-level funding in addition to federal opportunities.What is GrantSignal AI, and how does it help find grant opportunities?
GrantSignal AI is GTC 360° Advisors’ AI-powered funding intelligence platform. It aggregates federal, foundation, and other public funding sources into a single dashboard, then uses AI to match opportunities to an organization’s mission, eligibility, and capacity — rather than relying on simple keyword search — and sends alerts as new, winnable opportunities appear.Does GTC 360° Advisors provide grant compliance and post-award management?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors manages grants through close-out, including compliance with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), Davis-Bacon labor standards, Section 3, environmental review requirements, and funder reporting obligations. The firm builds compliance systems and reporting frameworks so clients stay in good standing with federal and state grantors.What is GTC 360° Advisors’ track record on grant applications?
GTC 360° Advisors has historically maintained an 88%-plus win rate on the grant applications it has submitted, including a 100% win rate in 2024 across several highly competitive programs. Recent wins include $180 million in EDA Tech Hubs funding for three consortia and $20 million in EDA Recompete funding for the City of Birmingham, Alabama.Can nonprofits and higher education institutions work with GTC 360° Advisors on grants?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors regularly supports nonprofits and universities with grant strategy, writing, and administration, including current work with the Walton Family Foundation, Blue Meridian Partners, Texas A&M University, the Montana State University System, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Working With GTC 360° Advisors
Every engagement is scoped around the organization in front of us — its goals, its deadline, and the internal capacity it already has. Pricing, team assignments, and project milestones are agreed before any work begins, so there are no surprises mid-project. Below are the questions prospective clients and partners ask us most often.
How much does it cost to work with GTC 360° Advisors?
Pricing is customized to the scope, timeline, and budget of each engagement, with both hourly and fixed-fee options available depending on the deliverable. GTC 360° Advisors prices transparently, with no hidden fees for administrative or incidental work, and structures fees so clients gain a full team of senior professionals for less than the cost of a single in-house hire.What is the process for getting started with GTC 360° Advisors?
Engagements typically start with a conversation about your organization’s goals, funding needs, or growth targets, followed by a scoped proposal outlining services, team, and pricing. From there, GTC 360° Advisors assigns team members matched to the work and begins with research, strategy, or capture planning, depending on the engagement.How long does it take to see results from a grant or contract engagement?
Timelines vary by opportunity: some grant or contract cycles run a few months from research to submission, while others (large infrastructure or multi-year programs) take longer and continue through post-award management. GTC 360° Advisors sets clear project timelines and milestones at the start of every engagement so clients know what to expect.Does GTC 360° Advisors work with organizations outside the United States?
GTC 360° Advisors primarily supports U.S.-based government contracts, grants, and business development, but its public affairs and business development services extend internationally through its global partner network for clients running cross-border campaigns.Can I join the GTC 360° Advisors Network as a consultant or subject matter expert?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors welcomes applications from experienced firms and freelancers who align with its mission and values to join the GTC 360° Advisors Network, giving members access to mutual marketing, referrals, and new client opportunities.How do I contact GTC 360° Advisors to discuss a project?
You can reach GTC 360° Advisors at info@gtc360.com or through the contact form at gtc360.com/join-our-network. The firm typically responds to discuss goals, funding needs, or growth targets and outline next steps for an engagement.
Planning for the next cycle?
Tell us the opportunity and we will come back with an honest read on fit, the partners you would need, and what a compliant submission takes.