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Presenter Renee Brooks explains organizational standards, eligible‑entity list changes and FY26 fund allocation rules
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Summary
Renee Brooks reviewed Sections 5–7: how to report eligible‑entity changes (designation, redesignation, de‑designation, mergers), options for organizational standards (COE, modified COE, or alternatives), and allocation rules requiring at least 90% of funds to eligible entities with up to 5% or $55,000 for administrative activities.
Renee Brooks (presenter) took over the webinar to walk participants through Section 5 (CSBG eligible entities) and Sections 6–7 (organizational standards and state use of funds). Brooks summarized how changes to the eligible‑entity list must be reported and the steps states should take to avoid service gaps when an entity is de‑designated or when entities merge.
Brooks launched an interactive poll asking whether grant recipients must implement the CSBG Organizational Standards developed by the Center of Excellence (COE). After participants voted she announced, "The correct answer is false," explaining: "The state can implement the COE CSBG organizational standards, a modified version of COE CSBG organizational standards, or an alternative set of standards." She recommended states establish robust assessment processes, including independent verification and corrective action procedures.
On funding and allocations, Brooks reiterated the CSBG Act requirement that states plan to allocate no less than 90% of CSBG funds to eligible entities. She noted grant recipients may use up to 5% or $55,000 of CSBG funds for administrative activities and that any discretionary remainder may be used for authorized activities (up to 10% if administrative funds are not used). Brooks also highlighted timing rules in the plan: states should ensure funds reach eligible entities promptly — item 7.4 references distribution within 30 calendar days following the federal award — and that allocation tables in the plan will prepopulate the state's annual report tables.
Brooks closed by reminding participants that at least two people in a state office typically need access to the Online Data Collection system (OLDC): the person completing the state plan and the authorized official who certifies it; she directed attendees to contact regional program specialists and the GrAMA Solutions help desk for OLDC issues and said regional contact information had been shared in the chat.
