---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 4960"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "4960"
heading: "Applications for assistance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/4960"
units:
  - "Chapter 66 — Domestic Volunteer Services"
  - "Subchapter I — National Volunteer Antipoverty Programs"
  - "Part A — Volunteers in Service to America"
---

# §4960. Applications for assistance


In reviewing an application for assistance under this part, the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) shall not deny such assistance to any [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) or program, or any public or private [nonprofit](/usc/42/5061.md?p=3) organization, solely on the basis of the duration of the assistance such [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), program, or organization has received under this part prior to the date of submission of the application. The [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) shall grant assistance under this part on the basis of merit and to accomplish the goals of the [VISTA](/usc/42/5061.md?p=18) program, and shall consider the needs and requirements of [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) in existence on such date as well as potential new [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 93–113, title I, § 109, formerly § 110, as added Pub. L. 101–204, title I, § 103, Dec. 7, 1989, 103 Stat. 1812; amended Pub. L. 103–82, title III, § 328, Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 902; renumbered § 109, Pub. L. 111–13, title II, § 2105, Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1583.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 109 of Pub. L. 93–113 was classified to section 4959 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 111–13, title II, § 2104, Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1583, effective Oct. 1, 2009.

### Amendments

1993—Pub. L. 103–82 amended section generally, substituting present provisions for provisions which related to: in subsec. (a), duration; in subsec. (b), consideration of application; in subsec. (c), new project or program; in subsec. (d), renewal of assistance; in subsec. (e), eligibility; and in subsec. (f), notice.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–82 effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 392 of Pub. L. 103–82, set out as a note under section 4951 of this title.