Human Services Program

We support nonprofit organizations that deliver vital community programs and services. The program’s overarching goal is to achieve economic and social well-being and opportunities to thrive for all Chapel Hill residents, particularly those who are low-income or otherwise disenfranchised. Human Services funding supports programs that improve education, livelihood security, and health outcomes for Chapel Hill residents.

Our Human Services Program was established in the 1970s and has supported hundreds of community programs and services. Over the past 51 years, we've invested over $7 million in the Human Services Program. Last year alone, 40 plus agencies were funded, $573,825 deployed into the community, and over 32,000 individuals were served through funded programs and services.

Eligibility Criteria

In June of 2018, the Town Council adopted a new (PDF, 676KB)Results Framework(PDF, 676KB) (PDF, 676KB)for the Human Services Program. Adopting the Results Framework reflects the Town's interest in further focusing the Human Services Program on results and deepening the program's impact to address the community's greatest challenges.

Applications for funding must align with at least one of three strategic objectives:

Children improve their educational outcomes
Residents increase their livelihood security
Residents improve their health outcomes

The application process is now closed.

Funding Application Key Dates

DATE	ACTIVITY
December 12, 2025	Funding Application Posted on Website
December 12, 2025 (9:00am-12:00pm) Outside Agencies Funding Application Orientation: Orientation Presentation(PDF, 3MB)	Application Orientation Workshop Donna S, Baker Meeting Room Whitted Building, 2nd Floor 300 West Tryon Street Hillsborough, NC 27278
December 2025 - January 2026	Agency Prepares Application
January 9, 2026 (9:00am-10:00am)	Virtual Q&A Session
February - May 2026	Application Review & Agency Presentations *Agency Presentation will be required for new applicants requesting $10,000 or more.
June 2026	Agency Funding Approval by Council
July 2026	Contracts Executed & Program Begins

Program Updates

FY25-26 Updates

Staff will hold hearings only for applicants who are new and exceed $10,000 in total requests.
The minimum award will be $10,000 and the maximum award will be $75,000.
There is now only one general funding type and a higher maximum award, so the Community Impact Award is no longer an option.
Dedicate $50,000 for programs and services that serve Public Housing residents.
Town staff will review applications and make funding recommendations to the Town Council, using an equity driven scoring rubric.

Program Updates

The Town has gone electronic! Applications will be accepted electronically only. No paper and flash drive submission required going forward.
Applications for funding must align with at least one of the three strategic objectives of the Town's Human Services Results Framework.
The Town has streamlined the application!
The Town established a Community Impact Award, for larger requests in the amount of $30,000-50,000. Up to three awards of this kind may be made for the FY24 Funding Cycle.
No hearing is required for funding requests in the amount of $5,000 and below.
Proof of insurance is no longer required at the time of application submission. If agencies are approved for funding, documentation of insurance must be provided when the contract is awarded.

Racial Equity Assessment Lens

Consistent with the One Orange Countywide Racial Equity Framework, the Towns committed to re-assessing the Human Services Program to center racial equity. Chapel Hill Affordable Housing and Community Connections staff, in conjunction with colleagues from the Town of Carrboro, completed a racial equity assessment. Short-and long-term implementation steps have been identified to continue centering racial equity in the funding process and were provided to the Chapel Hill Town Council on December 7, 2022.

Racial Equity Assessment Summary(PDF, 2MB)