Description of Finding: A payment made for food for an event was submitted for
reimbursement under the VOCA program, and VOCA specifically prohibits the use of federal
funds for food and beverages for conferences.
Planned Corrective Action:
The organization has ceased offering the services related to the VOCA grant. That being said, the
organization will implement a policy that will prevent unallowed costs under the VOCA program
or a similar program by implementing the following:
1. Policy Update: Revise the Grant Compliance Policy to include a clear list of unallowed
costs under VOCA and other federal programs, with specific reference to food and
beverage restrictions.
2. Pre-Approval Process: Require all VOCA-related expenses to be pre-approved by the
Grant Manager, who will verify compliance with VOCA guidelines.
3. Training: Conduct training for all staff involved in VOCA program spending on
allowable and unallowed costs by June 30, 2025.
4. Repayment: Reimburse the VOCA program for the unallowed food expense from nonfederal
funds by June 15, 2025, and document the transaction.
5. Monitoring: The Grant Manager will perform quarterly reviews of VOCA expenditures
to ensure compliance, with results reported to the Executive Director.
Responsible Party: Grant Manager, overseen by Caroline Catlender, Executive Director
Anticipated Completion Date: July 15, 2025