2025 CDRLF Grant Round - Frequently Asked Questions

Credit unions are allowed to submit up to two applications, but each application must be submitted for a different initiative. For example, a credit union can apply for the Training and the Underserved Outreach initiatives but not two Training initiative grants. Credit unions are not required to submit two applications.

If you submit two grant applications, you must clearly identify your priorities: one application should be marked as your first priority while the other is marked as your second priority. If you are unsure about which grant to designate as your first priority, identify which project would provide the greatest benefit to your credit union and mark that as “first priority”.

While credit unions may submit two applications, each credit union may only receive one award (provided the application merits an award).

Credit unions can only receive one award.

If the first priority application is selected for funding, the second priority application will not be funded.

If the first priority application is not selected for funding, the NCUA will consider the second priority application for funding.

If neither application is awarded, the credit union may convert the grant application into an application for a CDRLF loan.

If one of the applications is awarded grant funding, the credit union may convert the remaining grant application into a CDRLF loan application.

Credit unions must be low-income-designated and have an active registration in SAM.gov.

Please note that there are specific eligibility requirements for each grant initiative. For example, eligibility for the New Charter Capacity Building initiative is limited to credit unions chartered in the last 10 years and with assets less than $10 million.

Additional eligibility requirements are documented in the NOFO and 2025 CDRLF Grant Round Application Guidelines.

The 2025 CDRLF Grant Round is open for 60 days. You may submit your application at any point in the application window; this is a competitive—not first-come, first-serve—funding announcement.

All applications must be submitted by December 16, 2025, at 11:59pm Eastern.

Submit your application through CyberGrants. The NCUA will not accept applications submitted through other methods, such as email, certified mail, or courier service.

The application has been updated with drop-down menus to reduce the burden on applicants. Rather than enter a detailed narrative describing the needs of the credit union and the community they intend to serve, applicants will select from a pre-populated list of options to choose the applicable credit union need(s) and community characteristic(s).

Yes, we have new initiatives in this year’s grant round. We added the Student Internships and New Charter Capacity Building initiatives. The longstanding Digital Services and Cybersecurity initiative was expanded and is now the Technology, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence initiative.

The maximum award amounts vary for each initiative. There is no minimum grant award amount.

Eligible projects vary by initiative. Projects and expenses that are allowable in one initiative may not be allowable under another, so we recommend you review the 2025 CDRLF Grant Round Application Guidelines carefully.

CDRLF grant funds are limited, thus we are unable to fund many worthy applications.

However, you have access to financial support through the CDRLF low-interest loan program. Starting with the 2025 CDRLF grant round, the NCUA has established an option to participate in a Grant-to-Loan Application Conversion process. During the application process, you can indicate interest in having the data from your grant application converted into a loan application.

You can opt to have your project considered for a loan if your grant project meets the following criteria:

• The total project costs are $50,000 or more;
• Your grant application was rejected for a reason other than failure to meet program eligibility requirements; and
• The project meets the objective of the CDRLF Loan program.

No.

Indicating interest in having the project considered for a loan will not affect the outcome of your grant application.

To participate in the Grant-to-Loan application conversion process, you must indicate your interest as part of the application process.

If your grant application is denied, you will receive a notice. After you receive the notification, we will transfer the information from your unsuccessful grant application into a new loan application. That application will contain the same narrative and project data from your grant application. In the conversion process, you can revise the loan application to adjust your project budget to accommodate any expansion of the original project. Loans are available for up to $250,000.

Loans for more than $250,000 are available through the traditional CDRLF loan application process.

Additional information about loans available through the CDRLF is available on the NCUA website. Loans are available at an annual fixed rate of 1.5 percent. Interest-only payments are due every six months.

Balloon payments of the principal are due at maturity, which ranges from three to five years. Specific CDRLF loan terms may vary based on an individual credit union’s needs and circumstances.

Generally, CDRLF grants are reimbursable and the NCUA disburses funds at the completion of the project.

Awards above $15,000 can request partial reimbursement prior to project completion.

Small credit unions with less than $25 million in assets can request an advance payment for up to 25 percent of the total award amount. The credit union will have 90 days to spend the funds and report on the performance of the grant before requesting another payment.

Please visit our Loan website for additional information.

The CDRLF Grants and Loan Team can be reached at CUREApps@ncua.gov or by phone 703.518.6610.

Please allow for 72 hours for a response.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) has become a best practice for protecting personal information in the financial services world. We understand that adding an extra step to your login process might seem inconvenient, but it's for your protection. MFA significantly enhances the security of your accounts by requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access. This added layer of security makes it much harder for unauthorized users to gain access to your accounts, even if they have your password.

By using MFA, you are protecting your information from potential threats such as identity theft and fraud. MFA ensures that only you can access your accounts, providing peace of mind and safeguarding your sensitive data.

An authenticator app is a mobile application that generates a unique, time-sensitive code used to verify your identity when you log in to an account. This adds an extra layer of security beyond just your username and password. Examples of authenticator apps include Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator.

To scan a QR code with your authenticator app, follow these steps:

1. Open the authenticator app on your device.
2. Look for an option to add a new account or scan a QR code.
3. Use your device's camera to scan the QR code displayed on your computer screen.
4. The app will automatically add the account and start generating codes for you to use when logging in.

No one tracks personal information or activities on your device. The app you’ve downloaded only generates codes that you use to verify your identity when logging in to your accounts. Your privacy and security are important, and these apps are designed to protect your information.

No, the authenticator app you downloaded is not a Bonterra app. It is a third-party app that works with many different services, including Bonterra, to provide an extra layer of security for your accounts. Bonterra recommends using trusted authenticator apps like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator.

If you didn't receive the one-time email code when setting up MFA, try the following steps:

1. Check your spam or junk folder to see if the email was filtered there.
2. Make sure you are checking the correct email account that you used to sign up.
3. If you still can't find the email, contact our support team for assistance. They can help you verify your email address and resend the verification email if needed.

If you lost your device or it was stolen, follow these steps to regain access to your account:

1. Use the recovery codes you saved when you set up MFA. Each of the codes can be used once to log in without your device.
2. If you don't have your recovery codes, contact our support team for assistance. They can help you verify your identity and reset your MFA settings.
3. Once your MFA settings are reset, you can set up MFA again with a new device.

If you’ve already used a recovery code to get into your account, that code won’t work a second time. You can try using another of your recovery codes or contact Support for assistance with resetting your MFA devices.

If you still have access to your currently connected device, please use that to log in. From there, select "Edit Profile," then choose the "Multi-Factor Authentication: View Settings" link. After you've submitted your password, select "Add Device," then scan the QR code and complete setup.

Utilizing MFA is a security requirement for continued use of our platform. If you don’t have a smart device that allows you to download an authenticator app, please consider using a tablet, such as Microsoft Surface or Apple iPad.