The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) announces the availability of funds to build the organizational capacity of self-advocacy organizations. Led by self-advocates with developmental disabilities (DD), organizations will become more established in their communities, create partnerships, conduct formal activities, and ultimately expand their role and impact statewide. Applicants will identify and achieve major activities to put self-advocate members in a position to network across communities. They will also expand their capacity to conduct additional activities and grant projects. Applications must be submitted by a group led by self-advocates.

TCDD has approved funding for one organization for up to three years. Funding is approved for up to $175,000 for year 1, up to $125,000 for year 2, and up to $75,000 for year 3. The deadline to apply is Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time (CT).

Key Dates & Deadlines

The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. Central Time (CT) on Friday Sept. 29, 2023. Applications submitted by this time may be reviewed at the November 2023 Council Meeting. Review dates are subject to change. Late applications will not be accepted.

Please submit questions to apply@tcdd.texas.gov. Questions will be received and answered by Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.  All questions will be posted on the Statewide Self-Advocacy Network Capacity Building page.

About the RFA

Through self-advocacy, people with DD have more impact on their own situations, the public policies that affect them, and the supports and services they receive. Self-advocates also provide important knowledge, experience, and skills that individuals, organizations, and government agencies need to effectively support the needs and enhance the lives of people with DD.

Through this grant, statewide self-advocacy groups will build their organizational capacity to become more established in their communities, create partnerships, and conduct formal activities. These activities may help organizations achieve short and long-term goals including, but not limited, to the following areas:

Governance: Improve board leadership and priority setting to make better and more aligned decisions, improve accountability and transparency, raise public awareness, and promote understanding and engagement.

Operations, Financial, and Communications: Expand administrative operations, staffing, workforce development, communications, and finances to ensure stability, sustainability, independence, and effectiveness over time.

State and Local Advocacy: Improve awareness and understanding of the DD community’s needs and perspectives and motivate them to make meaningful progress. Ensure that self-advocates are the faces and voices of the issues and serve as a resource to policymakers.

Local Outreach, Development, and Support: Build capacity and coverage statewide, diversify and expand participation rates, especially among young people, and promote sustainability and effectiveness in local policies, programs, services, and activities.

Education, Training, and Programming: Improve the knowledge, skills, and abilities of local groups or chapters and individuals with DD to be effective self-advocates. Equip them to participate fully in society and have a fulfilling life.

The scope and exact activities, deliverables, and timelines should be determined by the leadership of the statewide self-advocacy network. However, for planning and estimating purposes, this capacity-building grant may include the following activities:

• Develop curriculum for leadership and advocacy training specific to statewide board and local or chapter participants.
• Support governance and administrative activities to recruit and train new members and coordinate with local entities.
• Identify resources to support financial independence.
• Engage in capacity building activities associated with the development, maintenance, and contributions of community stakeholders.
• Collect data to measure progress on the goals and strategies identified.

The above list are examples only. There may be other activities an organization could consider. For this project, the applications must include a self-advocacy group as the lead entity. It is expected that the statewide self-advocacy organizations be DD focused. Priority will be given to organizations that conduct activities in rural or underserved areas of the state.

How to Apply

Proposals must be submitted through SM Apply. To learn more about TCDD’s RFAs, including the application process and what is required of grantees, visit the How to Apply webpage.