Federal Grant Funding Disclosure: Stevens Amendment

What is the Stevens Amendment?

The Stevens Amendment is a rule that requires a funding disclosure statement for all state and local projects using federal money. This rule helps ensure transparency and accountability.

The Stevens Amendment requires organizations that receive federal funds from the:

  • U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
  • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • Department of Education (ED)

to include a federal grant funding disclosure statement when sharing information about federally funded projects or programs, whether funded fully or partially.

How do I know if I must follow the Stevens Amendment?

All organizations, including those that distribute funds to others, must follow the rule if they receive money from the DOL, HHS, or ED. The requirement is part of the grant agreement and contracts.

What does the Stevens Amendment require?

When sharing information about a federally funded project or program, the disclosure statement must clearly state:

  • The percentage of total costs paid by federal funds.
  • The dollar amount of federal funding.
  • The percentage and dollar amount of costs covered by non-federal sources (if any).

This statement must be included in:

  • Public announcements and press releases.
  • Requests for proposals and bid solicitations.
  • Websites and social media posts.
  • Flyers, brochures, and presentations.
  • Toolkits and resource guides.

The rule does not apply to internal documents, invoices, or program applications.

How should the federal grant funding disclosure be written?

The general format should follow this structure:

This [project/publication name] [is/was] funded by [a grant award/grant awards] totaling [$amount and percentage] from [federal agency name], with [$amount and percentage] financed from non-federal sources.

Examples of Federal Grant Funding Disclosure Statements

Example #1: Fully Federally Funded:

  • This Equity and Special Populations Grant Program is funded by a grant award totaling $11.5 million (100%) from the U.S. Department of Labor, with $0.00 (0%) financed from non-federal sources.

Alternative format:

  • This Equity and Special Populations Grant Program is fully funded by a grant award totaling $361,633 (100%) from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Example #2: Partially Federally Funded:

  • This Equity and Special Populations Grant Program is funded by grant awards totaling $1,000,000 (85%) from the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, with $176,470 (15%) financed from state and local sources.

Example #3: Multiple Federal Sources, No Non-Federal Funding:

The Equity and Special Populations Grant Program is fully funded by grant awards totaling $1 million (100%) from the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, with $0.00 (0%) financed from non-federal sources.

What if a Local Workforce Development Area (Local Area) receives multiple rounds of the same grant, and the grant covers several years?

  • If a grant covers multiple years, the disclosure must show the total award amount.
  • If a grant is awarded in multiple rounds, the disclosure must show the amount for each round separately.

Example – Single Award (RETAIN):

  • A Local Area gets a RETAIN grant for $225,000 over three years.
  • The federal grant funding disclosure must show the total award of $225,000.

Example – Multiple Awards (Workforce Accelerator Fund):

  • A Local Area gets a Workforce Accelerator Fund (WAF) 8.0 award for $150,000 and a WAF 9.0 award for $175,000.
  • The Local Area must give separate disclosures for WAF 8.0 and WAF 9.0.
  • These two totals cannot be combined into one disclosure statement.

What amount should be included in the federal grant funding disclosure statement?

  • The statement must include the total grant award for the program or project.
  • The statement should not include the cost of developing materials, like presentations.

Example – Presentation:

  • The EDD awards a $275,000 English Language Learner grant.
  • A presentation is made to announce the project at a public meeting.
  • The presentation must include:
    This English Language Learner grant program is fully funded by a grant award totaling $275,000 (100%) from the Department of Labor.

What types of press releases must include the Stevens Amendment statement?

  • Any press release about a project or program funded fully or partially by federal money must include the disclosure statement.

Does the Stevens Amendment statement need to be on the Local Area’s website?

  • Yes. The disclosure must be posted on the Local Area or America’s Job Center of CaliforniaSM website.
  • Local Areas can comply by linking to a webpage with the full statement.
  • There is no rule about where the disclosure must be placed, as long as it is easy to find.

Do social media posts need to include the Stevens Amendment statement?

  • Yes. Posts about a federally funded grant project must include the disclosure statement.
  • The statement can be:
    • Included directly in the post, or
    • Linked to a webpage or press release with the statement.
  • The statement does not need to be in a specific part of the post but must be clearly stated.

Can the statement say, “Local Area [XXXXX] is fully funded by federal funds through direct awards and subawards”?

  • No. This does not meet the Stevens Amendment requirements.
  • The statement must include:
    • The percentage and dollar amount covered by federal funds.
    • The percentage and dollar amount covered by non-federal sources (if any).

Examples of Stevens Amendment Statements

Requests for Proposals / Bid Solicitations

Federal Funding Disclosure: This solicitation is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor as part of an award totaling $5,288,283.60 (100%), with $0 (0%) financed from state, local, or non-federal sources.

Contracts / Award Agreements

Federal Funding Disclosure: This contract is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor as part of an award totaling $5,288,283.60 (100%), with $0 (0%) financed from state, local, or non-federal sources.

Statements, Press Releases, Flyers, and Related Documents

The Pathways program is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor as part of an award totaling $4 million (100%), with $0 (0%) financed from state, local, or non-federal sources.

OR

For federal funding disclosure information, visit (insert hyperlink).

Webpages

The Community Service Employment Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor as part of an award totaling $350,000 (90%), with $40,000 (10%) financed from state, local, or non-federal sources.

Social Media

Job seekers! The Pathways program offers free job training and career counseling. For more information, visit edd.ca.gov. The Pathways program is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor as part of an award totaling $4 million (100%), with $0 (0%) financed from state, local, or non-federal sources.