United Way looks to expand tax assistance program
PROVIDENCE – Following a year in which the local, United Way of Rhode Island (UWRI)-funded Volunteer Income Tax Assistance initiative, or VITA, returned more than $23 million to working families and individuals in the form of refunds they were due, UWRI is looking to expand the program for the 2017 tax year.
To reach even more Rhode Islanders who would benefit from the program, UWRI has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a oneyear Opportunity Grant.
The grant is specifically for agencies interested in starting and maintaining a VITA site for one income tax season beginning in January 2018. All VITA application materials must be submitted through an online application system by the close of business on Tuesday, September 5, 2017. Applicants will be notified of UWRI’s funding decisions by September 30, 2017.
The total amount to be awarded for the VITA program sites is $20,000 for one year, for up to 3 new VITA sites. Funding will begin in October 2017, and offered for one tax season. Grants will not be renewable, however, based on successful site performance and UWRI fund availability; it may be possible for agencies to apply for funding again for the 2018 tax season. Current individual UWRI VITA site grantees are not eligible to apply. Coalitions may apply on behalf of proposed new coalition member sites.
Applications for UWRI funding are requested through an online portal. All agencies interested in applying must request access, and all applicants will be asked to complete an online questionnaire. To request access, please contact Jennifer Chapman at Jennifer.Chapman@uwri.org. Questions about the VITApro- gram may be directed to Anne Quinterno at Anne. Quinterno@ uwri. org. Additional information may be found online.
Through VITA, working Rhode Islanders earning $56,000 or less annually who meet the program’s eligibility requirements may have their federal and state income tax returns completed and filed at any of our two dozen sites statewide. Each VITA site is IRS-certified and staffed by specially trained volunteers, with most locations offering assistance in both English and Spanish.