Basic Field Allocation Process

Descriptions, links, and interactive visualizations related to the process by which LSC allocates Basic Field grants.

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How each grant amount is determined

This page outlines the process LSC uses to determine the award amount for each Basic Field grant. Approximately 2.8% of LSC's Basic Field Grant appropriation are awarded to Native American service areas. The remaining funds are awarded to Agricultural Worker and Basic Field General service areas based on their share of the U.S. poverty population.

Click on a step below to read more information about the process, to download related resources, and (for desktop web browsers) to see interactive visualizations. This information reflects the allocations based on the FY2022 Appropriation.

Download a written summary

Appropriations

LSC receives an annual appropriation to be allocated based on Congressional requirements.

Each year, Congress appropriates funds for LSC operations and programs. Nearly all of LSC's funding goes to "basic field programs", which are grants to three types of service areas: Basic Field - General, Native American, and Agricultural Worker. Congress set a minimum funding level for Native American communities and requires LSC to allocate other field funding based on the geographic distribution of the poverty population. Read More...

The Congressional requirements for the allocation of field funding were set forth in the 1996 and 2013 LSC Appropriations. The 1996 Appropriation set the minimum funding level for total Native American funding; required LSC to allocate funding for other areas based on the Decennial Census; required LSC to reallocate funding among geographic areas every ten years based on updated data from the Decennial Census; and specified that poverty estimates for the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Alaska, Hawaii, and the United States Virgin Island were to be based on the "adjusted population counts historically used as the basis for such determinations."

The 2013 Appropriation modified the 1996 requirements by requiring LSC to reallocate field funding (other than Native American funding) triennially based on the distribution of the poverty population "as determined by the Census Bureau."

Appropriation line items

Native American Grants

Native American service area allocations are calculated as a fixed percentage of the appropriation.

A fixed percentage (2.802%) of LSC’s Basic Field appropriation is allocated to Native American service areas each year. These funds are then distributed based on the proportion of funding that each Native American service area received in 2001. Read More...

Allocations for Native American service areas

Not all Native American service areas have rigid geographic boundaries, so circles are positioned at the main office. Actual areas served are described in this file. Each circle is sized relative to the fixed percent of funds awarded. Hover over a circle for more information.

Poverty Estimates

LSC receives poverty population estimates for Agricultural Worker and Basic Field-General service areas.

Allocations for Agricultural Worker and Basic Field Service areas are based on each service area’s respective share of the total poverty population, defined as individuals with income below 100% of the federal poverty level. Read More...

The total poverty population is the sum of the poverty populations in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands and the jurisdictions in the Micronesia service area. Note: total poverty population estimates for the 50 states, D.C .and Puerto Rico are based on data from the American Community Survey (ACS); Agricultural Worker population estimates are a subset of the ACS estimates.

The U.S. Census Bureau provides poverty population estimates for Basic Field-General service areas, based on the American Community Survey. Although LSC receives poverty estimates each year, the estimates used for allocations only change every three years. Read More...

Since 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau has provided LSC with annual poverty population estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS) for Basic Field General service areas in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Estimates for American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands are based on the Decennial Census. Estimates for the Micronesia service area are based on data from the Decennial Census, as well as from the independent states of the Federal States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

The U.S. Department of Labor provides estimates of the number of agricultural workers in each state with incomes below 100% poverty and that meet LSC eligibility for services to persons who are not U.S. citizens. These estimates are not updated on the same schedule as poverty estimates from the Census Bureau. Estimates were provided in 2016 and 2021, and updated estimates are expected to be provided in 2024. Read More...

The Census Bureau does not collect and report population estimates for the LSC Agricultural Worker Poverty Population. These estimates are provided by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA), the federal agency with the greatest expertise in the characteristics and geographic distribution of agricultural worker populations in the U.S. Estimates from 2016 were used for 2017-2020 grant allocations; 2021 estimates will be used for 2022-2024; updated estimates are expected to be provided in 2024.

For the purposes of the allocation of basic field funding among geographic areas, the "LSC Agricultural Worker Poverty Population" is the estimated number of current agricultural workers, workers temporarily out of the agricultural workforce, and retired agricultural workers, and dependents of these workers, with incomes less than 100% of poverty and eligible for LSC-funded assistance pursuant to the provisions of Sec. 1626 of the LSC regulations on LSC grantees’ services to individuals who are not citizens.

Map of Agricultural Worker service areas

Hover over a service area for poverty population estimates.

Show Basic Field-General service areas ⇢

Map of Basic Field-General service areas

Hover over a service area for poverty population estimates. Double click or use the buttons to zoom; click and drag to pan.

⇠ Show Agricultural Worker service areas

Agricultural Worker Grants

Allocations are calculated for Agricultural Worker service areas.

An Agricultural Worker service area’s grant allocation is based on its poverty population percentage share of the total poverty population. Read More...

Poverty and allocations for Agricultural Worker service areas

Each rectangle below represents an Agricultural Worker service area whose allocation is calculated in this step. The service area's percentage share of the U.S. poverty population is identical to the share it receives of all poverty-based allocations (Agricultural Worker and Basic Field-General funds). Click "Show all service areas" to see the service areas awarded in this step in proportion to ALL poverty-based allocations (total funding net of Native American funding). Hover over the graph for more information.

Highlight a service area

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Basic Field-General Grants

Allocations are calculated for Basic Field-General service areas in states without an Agricultural Worker grant.

Poverty population adjustments are made in the next step for Basic Field-General service areas in states with an Agricultural Worker service area. However, no adjustments are needed for Basic Field-General service areas in states without an Agricultural Worker service area. As with Agricultural Worker service areas, the allocation is based on the service area's poverty population percentage share of the total poverty population. Read More...

Poverty and allocations for Basic Field General service areas in states without an Agricultural Worker grant

Each rectangle below represents a Basic Field-General service area whose allocation is calculated in this step. The service area's percentage share of the U.S. poverty population is identical to the share it receives of all poverty-based allocations (Agricultural Worker and Basic Field-General funds). Click "Show all service areas" to see the service areas awarded in this step in proportion to ALL poverty-based allocations (total funding net of Native American funding). Hover over the graph for more information.

Highlight a service area

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Poverty populations are adjusted for Basic Field-General service areas in states with an Agricultural Worker grant.

Example of adjustment to Basic Field General poverty populations

This video provides a visual example of the process described above. There is no audio. The data are from FY2020, but the concept is applicable to any state and year.

Allocations are calculated for Basic Field-General service areas in states with an Agricultural Worker grant.

In the previous step, each Basic Field-General service area in a state with an Agricultural Worker grant had its poverty population estimate adjusted to reflect only the “non-agricultural worker” poverty population. Now, as in steps 4 and 5, the allocation is based on the service area's (non-agricultural worker) poverty population as a share of the total poverty population. Read More...

For example, if the service area’s non-agricultural worker poverty population is 3.5% of the total poverty population, its grant allocation will be 3.5% of the Basic Field appropriation (net of Native American funding). Likewise, if the service area's non-agricultural worker poverty population is 21% of the state’s poverty population, its grant allocation will be 21% of the state's Basic Field funding (again, net of Native American funding).

Poverty and allocations for Basic Field General service areas after adjustments

Each rectangle below represents a Basic Field-General service area whose allocation is calculated in this step. The service area's "non-agricultural worker" poverty population percentage share of the U.S. poverty population is identical to its percentage share of all poverty-based allocations (Agricultural Worker and Basic Field-General funds). Click "Show all service areas" to see the service areas awarded in this step in proportion to ALL poverty-based allocations. Hover over the graph for more information.

Highlight a service area

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Questions?

For questions about the process, data files, or code used in calculating Basic Field allocations, please email GrantAllocations@lsc.gov.

Basic Field Grant