The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, also prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance through Title VI of the Act.
To that end, starting with the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Small Dollar Loan Program Funding Round, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) is requiring all award applicants complete a Title VI Compliance Worksheet once annually with their applications, as well as their prospective sub-recipients that are not direct beneficiaries of federal financial assistance (e.g., Depository Institutions Holding Company and their Subsidiary Depository Institutions). If an organization applies to multiple programs during the calendar year, they only need to submit one Worksheet annually. The CDFI Fund will utilize the Worksheet to determine whether award applicants to the CDFI Fund are compliant with federal civil rights requirements.
As a recipient or potential recipient of federal financial assistance, organizations are prohibited from discriminating against program participants because of their race, color, national origin, disability, and age. If the assistance provided by the CDFI Fund is to conduct an educational program, award recipients are also prohibited from discriminating against program participants because of their sex.
The Worksheet is an online form submitted through the CDFI Fund's Awards Management Information System (AMIS). Completion of the Worksheet is required for the Bank Enterprise Award Program, Capital Magnet Fund, CDFI Program, Native Initiatives, and the Small Dollar Loan Program. The Title VI Worksheet is not required for the New Markets Tax Credit Program or the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program. A User Guide for the Worksheet is available here.
Title VI Compliance Worksheet Webinar
A pre-recorded webinar providing organizations and potential program applicants with an overview of the Worksheet is available here.
About the U.S. Treasury Department and Title VI
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. The U.S. Treasury Department implements Title VI through regulations set forth in 31 C.F.R., Part 22 and conducts investigations of civil rights complaints filed against recipients of financial assistance under any of its programs and conducts pre- and post-award compliance reviews. Treasury can defer action on an application for federal financial assistance, issue a cautionary letter, or deny funding for applicants who are not in compliance with Title VI and other relevant civil rights laws.
More information about Title VI is available through Treasury Department's Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity. The Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity also has a poster available to download for display in your offices.
Related Information:
About the CDFI Fund
To learn more about the CDFI Fund and its programs, visit the CDFI Fund's website.
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