Run your program confidently with FORWARD
Your program administration dream team
Launch a program in weeks, not months! With FORWARD, you have a dedicated team to support every component of your program. Maximize your impact by streamlining program design, marketing and outreach, application intake and review, fraud prevention, payment processing, and reporting.
FORWARD experts work with you to understand your program goals, funding requirements, and challenges and finalize project timeline, scope, and design.
Design program
After listening to your challenges and goals, FORWARD works with you to finalize your project timeline, scope, and design.
Marketing, outreach, and
community engagement
We help you develop a marketing strategy and partner with local community organizations to drive awareness in hard-to-reach communities.
Launch program
The FORWARD application portal is available in 68 languages and our in-house support center provides multilingual application assistance via phone, chat, and email.
Application processing and review
We collect and provide an objective review of applications based on your designed eligibility criteria.
Payment processing and distribution
We securely distribute funds via ACH, paper check, or debit card and track payments in one place.
Fraud prevention
Our advanced fraud detection systems and fraud specialists identify and investigate cases of suspected fraud and recommend corrective actions.
Reporting and dashboards
We provide real-time custom reporting so you can present your program data to stakeholders and leverage future program opportunities.
Partners already moving FORWARD with us
CASE STUDY: Yakima Rental Assistance Program
FORWARD Impact in Yakima County, WA
- Distributing $22M in rent and utility assistance to more than 3,700 households
- Households received an average grant of $3,274
- Prevented 388 instances of fraud, resulting in significant savings of more than $6.3 million
- Managed a coalition of local community-based organizations that provided in-person application support
- Held three in-person rental assistance events to target underserved populations in Yakima County
- Increased application volume by 33%, ensuring the County fully obligated funds before Treasury deadlines
Case Study: Paramount Small Business Assistance Program
FORWARD Impact in Paramount City, CA
- Awarded $672,500 to 40 small businesses in Paramount City
- Businesses were awarded an average grant amount of $16,813
- Expanded program by $212,000 due to programmatic support from FORWARD and community enthusiasm for the program
- 98% of awardees were BIPOC-owned businesses
- 60% of awardees were women-owned businesses
Case Study: Spokane Rental Assistance Program
FORWARD Impact in Spokane, WA
- Awarded over $22M in rent relief
- More than 1,500 tenants and landlords supported
- Distributed 100% of ERA1 funding
Case Study: WSDA COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Grants
FORWARD Impact in Washington State
- Awarded over $14M in grants to 838 small businesses across Washington state
- Businesses were awarded an average grant amount of $16,955
- Four niche sectors supported – craft beverage, shellfish, agritourism, and farmers’ markets
- 36% of grant recipients were minority, women or LGBTQ+ owned businesses
Case Study: Long Beach Recovery Act Grant Program
FORWARD Impact in Long Beach, CA
- $10,352,600 awarded to Long Beach small businesses
- 894 local businesses supported
- $11,580 average award amount
Case Study: City of Milpitas Small Business Assistance Grant Program
FORWARD Impact in Milpitas, CA
- Distributed $1,498,800 in ARPA funding to 343 small businesses in the City of Milpitas
- Most Milpitas businesses were awarded a grant amount of $5,000