Cybersecurity Workforce Development and Training for Underserved Communities | DHS 23 CISA 127 CWDT 0001

Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 23 CISA 127 CWDT 0001

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and its Cyber Defense Education and Training (CDET) team, offered a discretionary grant opportunity called Cybersecurity Workforce Development and Training for Underserved Communities (Funding Opportunity Number: DHS 23 CISA 127 CWDT 0001; CFDA 97.127). The central goal is to help close the national cybersecurity talent gap by expanding high-quality, entry-level training and clear career pathways for people from underserved communities, while also improving retention from enrollment through job placement. The program is framed as a direct response to the growing cyber threat environment and the large number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the United States (citing more than 755,000 openings nationwide in 2022), which DHS views as a national security and economic competitiveness risk.

This opportunity is built around the idea that improving cybersecurity readiness is not only about technology, but also about people. CISA emphasizes that the country needs a larger, more diverse, and better-prepared cybersecurity workforce to protect government systems, private-sector networks, and critical infrastructure. A major theme is equity of access: the grant is intended to make cybersecurity training and professional development more reachable for communities that have historically been denied or excluded from cyber education and career opportunities. By widening the pipeline, CISA aims to strengthen preparedness and resilience across the broader cyber ecosystem, aligning with DHS strategic priorities and CISA strategic planning for 2023 to 2024.

Funding is designed to support non-traditional technical training providers (NTTPs), meaning organizations that deliver practical cybersecurity preparation outside the traditional degree pathway, often using accelerated training models, internships, apprenticeships, and other work-based learning approaches. Applicants are expected to either create or enhance entry-level cybersecurity training and apprenticeship-style programs that are responsive to real workforce demand. The grant stresses scalability, meaning the funded program should be capable of growing or being replicated to meet evolving needs across regions and employers, rather than remaining a small pilot with limited reach.

A core requirement is that training content and competency outcomes align with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity. In other words, funded programs should map what they teach to recognized cybersecurity work roles and related knowledge, skills, and tasks. The intent is to standardize training-to-job alignment so that graduates are prepared for real entry-level roles and employers can more readily understand what program completers can do. Beyond training delivery, the grant also prioritizes hands-on pathway supports such as helping participants secure internships, apprenticeships, and ultimately full-time employment in entry-level skilled cybersecurity positions.

Retention and participant follow-through are highlighted as a major focus, not just recruitment. Applicants are expected to develop and implement a comprehensive cybersecurity pathways retention strategy that supports learners from enrollment to placement, maintaining engagement and reducing drop-off. The opportunity also anticipates collaboration: funded providers should work with partners to align resources with workforce demand and to deliver innovative job training solutions that produce measurable outcomes, particularly in placements and successful transitions into the cybersecurity workforce.

Eligibility to apply is limited to nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education) and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (also other than institutions of higher education). To be competitive and eligible, nonprofits must demonstrate experience developing and implementing a cybersecurity curriculum aligned to NICE Framework work roles. On the participant side, eligible trainees must be at least 17 years old, and programs must be directed primarily toward members of underserved communities. The opportunity explicitly names groups such as Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American individuals, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other people of color, members of religious minorities, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, people living in rural areas, and people adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality who have been denied access to cyber-related education and are seeking full-time entry-level cybersecurity employment.

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency compared to a standard grant, often through collaboration, guidance, or shared project oversight. DHS anticipated making 2 awards, with an award ceiling of $3,000,000. The opportunity was posted May 5, 2023, and the original application deadline was July 6, 2023. Overall, the program is meant to expand the entry-level cybersecurity pipeline by investing in nonprofit-led, job-aligned training and placement models that intentionally reach underserved communities and produce real employment outcomes, strengthening national cybersecurity capacity in the process.

• The Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division in the community development, education, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cybersecurity Workforce Development and Training for Underserved Communities" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.127.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 05, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 06, 2023 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for DHS 23 CISA 127 CWDT 0001

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