hhs-2026-acl-aoa-adpi-0036_v27226.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due Monday, August 3, 2026

Office of Supportive and Caregiver Services

State and Territory Programs for Dementia Specific Respite Opportunity number: HHS-2026-ACL-AOA-ADPI-0036

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Program description 9

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 17

Find the application package 18

Get registered 18

Join the informational conference call 19

Step 3: Build Your Application 20

Application checklist 21

Application contents and format 22

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 36

Application review 37

Award notices 39

Step 5: Submit Your Application 40

Application submission and deadlines 41

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 42

Post-award requirements and administration 43

Contacts and Support 45

Before you begin 3

Contents 2

Before you begin If you believe you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, secure your

SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations now. If you are already registered, make sure your registrations are active and up to date.

SAM.gov registration (this can take several weeks)

You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity

Identifier (UEI).

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Grants.gov registration (this can take several days)

You must have an active Grants.gov registration. Doing so requires a Login.gov registration as well.

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Apply by the application due date

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, August 3, 2026.

To help you find what you need, this NOFO uses internal links. In Adobe Reader, you can go back to where you were by pressing Alt + Left Arrow (Windows) or Command

+ Left Arrow (Mac) on your keyboard.

Before you begin 3 https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Program description 9

Basic information Administration for Community Living (ACL)

Office of Supportive and Caregiver Services

The State and Territory Programs for Dementia-Specific Respite for caregivers of individuals living with dementia of any age.

Have questions?

See Contacts and

Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name: State and Territory Programs for

Dementia Specific Respite

Opportunity number:

HHS-2026-ACL-AOA-

ADPI-0036

Federal assistance listing:

93.470

Cost sharing: 25%

NOFO version: Original

Key dates

Application submission deadline:

August 3, 2026

Informational

Conference Call:

July 8, 2026

4:30-5:30 p.m. ET

Expected award date:

September 30, 2026

Expected project start date: September 30, 2026

See intergovernmental review for other submission processes that may apply to this NOFO.

Summary The Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) advances the Administration for

Community Living’s strategic priority: supporting family caregivers of older adults and people with disabilities so they can live well at home and in the community. ADPI scales evidence-based dementia services and supports for people living with dementia and their family caregivers. It also furthers the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda for chronic disease prevention by emphasizing risk reduction through personal empowerment, community-based health promotion, and preventive healthcare.

The goal of this initiative is to provide relief to unpaid caregivers of individuals with probable ADRD that achieve the following outcomes:

• Increased use of dementia-specific respite by family caregivers;

• Family caregiver self-reported ability to maintain their caregiving role while maintaining their own health; and.

• Increased quality of life of people with probable dementia.

New cooperative agreements under ADPI, the State and Territory Programs for

Dementia-Specific Respite, supports states to expand on the Older Americans Act -

National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP – Title IIIE) to provide dementia-specific respite services to caregivers of people living with dementia of any age.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

Funding details Type: Cooperative agreement

Expected total program funding over the performance period: $54,155,869

Expected total program funding per budget period: $54,155,869

The program will be fully funded at the time of award, with three 12-month budget periods within the single grant budget period of performance.

Total expected awards: 30

Funding range per applicant per budget period: $300,000 to $2,000,000

These grants will be fully funded at the time of award, for a 36-month (three 12-month budget periods) period of performance from 2026 to 2029.

The maximum funding amount applicants may request under this fully funded three-year

(36-month) grant program is determined according to four population-based funding tiers. These tiers are based on the state’s population age 60 and older, as determined by the 2024 United States Census. State applicants must align their funding requests with the applicable funding tier identified below. You can verify your state-based population tier by visiting the Census Bureau’s website and looking up your state.

Tier State Population Age 60+ Funding Ceiling Amount

Tier 1 Less than 500,000 people $300,000

Tier 2 500,000 to 1,000,000 people $750,000

Tier 3 1,000,000 to 4,000,000 people $1,250,000

Tier 4 4,000,000 or more people $2,000,000

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.census.gov%2Fdata%2Ftables%2Ftime-series%2Fdemo%2Fpopest%2F2020s-state-detail.html&data=05%7C02%7CAlice.Kelsey%40acl.hhs.gov%7C033573a7c38e406c154908debda3d120%7Cd58addea50534a808499ba4d944910df%7C0%7C0%7C639156708468072317%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2FNweU0YmQWopTVd61lx9PRLiTQjVVkjb0IPhszbQuzA%3D&reserved=0

Eligibility Eligible applicants Only these types of organizations may apply:

• Designated State or Territorial Unit on Aging that is, in part, responsible for administering Title IIIE of the Older Americans Act.

Disqualifying factors We will review your application to make sure it meets these responsiveness requirements.

We won’t consider an application that:

• Is submitted after the deadline.

• Is from an individual, including a sole proprietorship, or a foreign entity.

• Is received in paper format that didn’t have a previously approved exemption from ACL.

• Is received from an entity that is not the State Unit on Aging.

• The Project Narrative exceeds 20 pages.

• Does not include the required 25% match in the application budget.

• All applications will go through an initial programmatic screening to verify that the applicant meets the notice of funding opportunity criteria.

• Those applicants that do not meet the minimum responsiveness criteria outlined above will be “screened out” and will not be forwarded for panel review.

Application limits If you submit the same application more than once under this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), we will only acknowledge the last on-time submission.

Cost sharing

25% cost sharing (match) requirement

This program requires you to contribute 25% of the project’s total cost. You can calculate this cost-sharing (match) requirement in the following way:

• Start with the Federal share.

• Multiply the Federal share by 25.

• Divide that product by 75 = to arrive at 25% cost share required amount.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7

Example: $1,000,000 (federal share) X 25 (required cost sharing (match) percentage) =

$25,000,000 divide that by 75 to arrive at cost share amount of $333,333.

Types of cost sharing

You can meet your cost sharing/match requirement through any combination of:

• Cash contributed by your organization, partners, or other third parties.

• In-kind (non-cash) contributions from partners or other third parties.

• All cost share (match) contributions must be directly tied to the funded grant activities.

• Program income can NOT be applied as cost sharing (match).

Cost-sharing commitments

If awarded, you must provide the amount of cost-sharing funds you promised, even if you promised more than the required minimum. We put these commitments in the Notice of

Award.

If you don’t provide your promised amount, we may decrease the amount of funding we give you or use other enforcement actions.

You’ll have to include your cost-sharing funds when you fill out your federal financial reports.

We discourage applicants proposing cost sharing (match) amounts that exceed the minimum requirement.

Post-award requirements

Before you apply, make sure you understand the requirements that come with an award.

See Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award for information on regulations that apply, reporting, and more.

Statutory authority Title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8

Program description Background An estimated 13 million Americans provide unpaid care to more than 7 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), contributing more than 19 billion hours of care valued at nearly $446 billion annually.[1] As the number of people living with ADRD continues to grow, so does the need for person-centered, strengths-based caregiver supports, including respite care and related services authorized under

Title IIIE of the Older Americans Act.

Through Title IIIE and the National Family Caregiver Support Program, state and local aging systems—including State Units on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging, Home and

Community-Based Services (HCBS) providers, and community-based organizations—support family caregivers through respite, caregiver education, counseling, support coordination, and supplemental services. Title IIIE funding provides an important foundation for caregiver assistance nationwide; however, the availability, type, and intensity of respite services can vary significantly across states and communities due to workforce shortages, limited provider capacity, funding constraints, and geographic disparities. As a result, many caregivers continue to experience difficulty locating affordable, dementia-capable respite options that meet their needs.

Given the growing need for high-quality caregiver supports, ACL seeks to advance innovative dementia-specific respite models that align with the National Strategy to

Support Family Caregivers and strengthen state and local delivery systems under Title IIIE of the Older Americans Act.[6]

Program Goals Informed by the priorities of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) Advisory

Council on Research, Care and Services and the RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council, the ADPI program supports state, tribal and community scaling of dementia capable services. The overarching goal of the ADPI State and Community Grant Program is to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia and their caregivers by strengthening dementia-capable systems, closing service gaps, and sustaining effective supports across states, tribes, and communities.

Through this NOFO, ACL aims to scale dementia-specific respite programs delivered through Title IIIE of the Older Americans Act - the National Family Caregiver Support

Program (NFCSP). While Title IIIE provides a key framework for caregiver assistance, access to dementia-specific respite services remains inconsistent across states and communities. This initiative will build on existing state and local aging network strategies

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9 https://aspe.hhs.gov/national-alzheimers-project-act https://aspe.hhs.gov/national-alzheimers-project-act https://acl.gov/programs/support-caregivers/raise-family-caregiving-advisory-council to enhance caregiver support infrastructure, improve service coordination, and increase access to affordable and flexible dementia-specific respite options.

Program activities may include the development of eligibility criteria; caregiver navigation and referral systems; flexible respite delivery models, including in-home, adult day, evening, weekend, and emergency respite; and dementia-specific respite workforce and volunteer training. Additional areas of focus may include community-specific outreach, rural service delivery strategies, caregiver wellness supports, quality and dementia-capable service standards, and evidence supported practices that engage both caregivers and people living with dementia.

State recipients under this opportunity are intended to strengthen dementia-capable respite and caregiver support systems that help individuals living with ADRD remain safely in the community while reducing caregiver stress, fatigue, and crisis-driven placement in institutional care settings. The programs should build on existing Aging

Network infrastructure, including Title IIIE of the Older Americans Act, to deliver flexible, person-centered respite services.

All services should be delivered by a workforce trained in dementia care, behavioral support, and person-centered engagement, ensuring safe and appropriate support for

PLWD. Programs should also strengthen caregiver assessment, care planning, training, counseling, support groups, and navigation to improve access to respite and related supports.

General program requirements General program requirements are applicable to all applicants. You should address these requirements in your application narrative, work plan, and evaluation plan.

Phased implementation

You must propose a phased approach for implementation of your project. Explain how you will execute both a planning phase and an implementation phase, as detailed in the following subsections.

Planning Phase

The Planning Phase is the first stage of the project during which applicants will refine and strengthen the work and evaluation plans proposed in the original application. These finalized plans will become the ACL/AoA approved roadmap for carrying out the project’s goals, objective and core components of the funded program.

Applicants must propose a planning phase of not less than six months from the date of the grant award. During this time, grantees may access no more than 15% of total grant funding to support planning, coordination, and refinement of the work and evaluation

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10 plans submitted with the application. ACL/AoA will work closely with grantees throughout the planning phase to ensure all program objectives outlined in the NOFO are addressed.

Implementation phase

The Implementation Phase is the stage of the project during which grantees carry out the goals, objectives and core components activities and services described in the finalized work and evaluation plans.

Data collection

Recipients must collect information on services provided under the authority of existing or future approved data collections.

Evaluation

Applicants must include a robust third-party evaluation (summative/outcome) plan designed to assess the impact and effectiveness of the direct services, supports, education, and training activities funded through the program.

Evaluation activities conducted under the cooperative agreement must result in a comprehensive program evaluation report demonstrating the impact and effectiveness of program-supported direct services.

Applicants must identify measurable outcomes related to the impact of services and supports on persons living with dementia, family caregivers, and individuals participating in education and training activities supported by the project. Applications that do not include measurable outcomes will not be funded.

Grantees will work with their chosen evaluator throughout the grant period. At the onset of the program, they will expand on the evaluation plan submitted with the application resulting in a comprehensive plan to evaluate program supported services.

Technical assistance

Recipients are required to utilize the expertise of ACL/AoA program staff and agency-supported resources to support the development, implementation, and sustainability of project work plans.

All recipients must participate in technical assistance activities related to program planning, management, implementation, and systems integration. Required technical assistance activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Conference calls

• Webinars

• Learning collaboratives

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11

• Individualized technical assistance sessions initiated by ACL/AoA staff, resource center staff, or recipients

Cooperative agreement terms Cooperative agreements require substantial ACL project involvement after an award is made. There are specific roles for both you and ACL.

Your responsibilities

• Fulfill all the requirements of the grant initiative as outlined in this NOFO and carry out project activities as reviewed, approved, and awarded.

• Communicate with the AoA project officer or the assigned technical assistance liaison regularly to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this agreement.

• Conduct a baseline assessment of project dementia capability (grantee and all relevant Partners) and annually through the duration of the project.

• Conduct required evaluation activities as outlined in this NOFO.

• At the end of the project, produce and submit to the AoA project officer a program report/manual and an independent evaluation report covering the duration of the project describing how the project was conducted, what program outcomes were achieved, ways in which barriers to goals were addressed, and how program components have been sustained beyond the funding period.

• Submit all deliverables funded through this grant. No materials developed with program funding will be proprietary and all program deliverables (tools, resources, manuals, etc.) will remain in the public domain. Promising practices, resource materials, and tools will be posted on the website of ACL’s National Alzheimer’s and

Dementia Resource Center (NADRC), for the benefit and utilization of the broader dementia community.

• Cooperate with any federal evaluation efforts and comply with the timeline, content, and format of all required data collection and reporting requirements.

Submit to the ACL or AoA project officer a final, clean copy of all data developed or supported with these grant funds in the format in which it was developed or produced, as provided for in the HHS Grants Policy Statement and referenced in the

Notice of Award.

• Participate in collaborative activities as organized by the ACL or AoA project officer and the technical assistance team. Collaborative program activity participants will mentor each other in their efforts to fulfill the ADPl program’s aims.

• lnclude the following disclaimer language (see callout box) when issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other ACL supported

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12 https://nadrc.acl.gov/home https://nadrc.acl.gov/home publications and forums describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with ACL funding.

◦ “This [project/publication/program/website, etc.] [is/was] supported by the

Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $XX with

XX percentage funded by ACL/HHS and* $XX amount and XX percentage funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by

ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.”

Our responsibilities

• Perform the day-to-day federal responsibilities of managing a grant initiative and work with you to ensure that the minimum requirements for the grant are met.

• Work cooperatively with you to clarify the programmatic and budgetary issues to be addressed by your project, and, as necessary, negotiate with you to achieve a mutually agreed upon solution to any identified needs.

• Assist your project leadership in understanding the strategic goals and objectives, policy perspectives, and priorities of ACL/AoA, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

• Help you learn about other federally sponsored projects and activities relevant to your project.

• Provide you with technical support and associated tasks related to the fulfillment of the goals and objectives of this grant.

• Attend and participate in major project events as appropriate.

• Communicate with your project director regularly to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this agreement.

Managing disagreements

The grantee and the Federal Program Officers/Project officer will maintain a collaborative working relationship throughout the period of performance. The parties will make good-faith efforts to resolve disagreements related to programmatic direction, implementation activities, timelines, deliverables, performance expectations, or interpretation of cooperative agreement responsibilities at the lowest appropriate organizational level.

If a disagreement cannot be resolved through routine programmatic communication, the matter may be elevated through established organizational channels for review by recipient leadership and the authorized federal official(s). Escalation should occur in a timely manner and include documentation of the issue, relevant background, efforts undertaken to resolve the matter, and any proposed resolution options.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13

Funding policies and limitations

Changes in HHS regulations

As of October 1, 2025, HHS adopted 2 CFR 200, with some exceptions included in 2 CFR

300. These regulations replace those in 45 CFR 75.

Policies

All activities proposed in your application and budget narrative must align with applicable law, including but not limited to statutes, executive orders, federal regulations, and applicable judicial holdings. Accordingly, discretionary awards shall not be used to fund, promote, encourage, subsidize, or facilitate: racial preferences or other forms of racial discrimination by the recipient, including activities where race or intentional proxies for race will be used as a selection criterion for employment or program participation; denial by the recipient of the sex binary in humans, or the belief that sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic; illegal immigration; or any other initiatives that compromise public safety.

If an application does not align, the application will not receive funding to the extent permitted by law and applicable court orders.

• We will only make awards if this program receives funding. If Congress appropriates funds for this purpose, we will move forward with the review and award process.

• Support beyond the first budget period will depend on:

◦ Appropriation of funds.

◦ Satisfactory progress in meeting your project’s objectives.

◦ A decision that continued funding is in the government’s best interest.

• If we receive more funding for this program, we will consider:

◦ Funding more applicants.

◦ Extending the period of performance.

◦ Awarding supplemental funding.

• You may not use funds from this NOFO for any diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI and DEIA) activities. This includes:

◦ DEI- or DEIA-related research.

◦ Activities that discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or other protected traits.

• Under this NOFO, you can’t continue existing projects without expansion or new and innovative approaches.

• Meals are allowed only in limited circumstances linked to program activities, like during travel or when approved in advance by ACL. See Allowable Costs and

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300

Activities, Exhibit 4: Selected Items of Cost, Meals in the HHS Grants Policy

Statement.

• There are restrictions on certain telecommunications and video surveillance equipment. See 2 CFR 200.216 to make sure this does not apply to any proposed equipment in your application.

Unallowable costs

• Construction or major rehabilitation of buildings.

• Basic research, such as scientific or medical experiments.

• For guidance on other types of costs that we restrict or do not allow, see General

Provisions for Selected Items of Costs of the Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR 200.420.

Indirect costs

Indirect costs are those shared across multiple projects and not easily separated.

To charge indirect costs you can select one of two methods:

Method 1 — Approved rate. If you currently have an indirect cost rate approved by your cognizant federal agency, you may use that rate.

Method 2 — De minimis rate. If you do not have a negotiated indirect cost rate, you may elect to charge a de minimis rate (see 2 CFR 200.414(f)). This rate may be up to 15% of modified total direct costs (MTDC). See the definition of MTDC (2 CFR 200.1). You can use this rate indefinitely.

You may not charge costs included in your indirect cost pool as direct costs.

Subawards

As the prime recipient, you must maintain a substantive role in the project. This means that you conduct funded activities and provide services necessary and integral to completing the project.

Monitoring your subrecipient’s activities alone as described in 2 CFR 200.332 is not a substantive role.

We do not fund awards where your role is primarily a conduit for passing funds to other organizations unless that arrangement is authorized by statute.

All subrecipients must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through the System for Award

Management (SAM.gov).

Subrecipients must meet the eligibility requirements of this NOFO and are subject to all of the terms and conditions outlined in the Notice of Award.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15 https://www.hhs.gov/grants-contracts/grants/grants-policies-regulations/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/grants-contracts/grants/grants-policies-regulations/index.html https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.216 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.414#p-200.414(f) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.332

Salary rate limitation

The salary rate limitation in the current appropriations act applies to this program. You may not use awarded funds to pay a salary at a higher rate than the rate for Executive

Level II.

For the Executive Level II salary, please see the Office of Personnel Management information on executive and senior level employee pay.

The salary limitation reflects a person’s base salary (including any portion of the salary that is paid with indirect costs). It does not include fringe benefits or any income the person is allowed to earn outside of the duties of the applicant organization.

This salary limitation also applies to subawards, contracts, and subcontracts under an ACL grant or cooperative agreement.

Applicant budget must comply with salary limitations with no hourly rates exceeding an annual salary rate of $225,700 or $108.51 an hour exclusive of fringe.

Program income

If you earn any money from your award-supported project activities (known as program income), you must use it for the purposes and under the conditions of the award. Find more about program income at 2 CFR 200.307.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/ https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.307

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Find the application package 18

Get registered 18

Join the informational conference call 19

Find the application package The application package has all the forms you need to apply. You can search for it at

Grants.gov using opportunity number HHS-2026-ACL-AOA-ADPI-0036. Then select the

Package tab.

We recommend that you select the Subscribe button from the View Grant Opportunity page for this NOFO to get updates.

You can also find materials at Applying for Grants on ACL’s website.

If you can’t use Grants.gov to download application materials or have other technical difficulties, including issues with application submission, contact Grants.gov for assistance.

Get registered SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov to apply. SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

To register:

• Go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and select Get Started. From the same page, you can also select the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register.

• You must agree to the financial assistance general certifications and representations

[PDF] specifically. Those for contracts are different.

When you register, you will also receive your required Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

Once you register:

• You will have to maintain your registration throughout the life of any award.

• If your organization has multiple UEIs, use the one associated with your physical location.

Grants.gov You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by-step instructions at the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 18 https://grants.gov/search-grants https://acl.gov/grants/applying-grants https://www.grants.gov/support https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration http://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants

Need help? See Contacts and Support.

Join the informational conference call Date: Thursday, July 8, 2026

Time: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. E.T.

Conference Line Number: 888-889-5009

Passcode: 604249

If you are unable to attend, you can access a recording of the call at 800-814-6745 which will be available immediately after the session.

Joining and participating is voluntary.

Opting not to participate in the session will not affect eligibility, application scoring, or the award selection process. The call will be the only opportunity to ask questions about the NOFO.

If there is a discrepancy between the presentation or materials and the NOFO, the NOFO takes precedence.

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 19

Step 3:

Build Your Application

In this step

Application checklist 21

Application contents and format 22

Application checklist Make sure that you have everything you need to apply. You will find the forms in

Grants.gov.

Narratives

Item { .w-15 } Grants.gov form Page limit

Project narrative Use the Project Narrative Attachment form. 20 pages

Budget narrative Use the Budget Narrative Attachment form. None

Attachments Insert each in a single Other Attachments form.

Item Page limit

Indirect cost agreement None

Commitment letters from partners None

Proof of nonprofit status None

Resumes and job descriptions None

Work plan None

Evaluation plan None

Other required forms Use each required form in Grants.gov.

Item Page limit

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) None

Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) None

Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B) None

Key Contacts form None

Grants.gov Lobbying form (Certification Regarding Lobbying) None

Project/Performance Site Location form None

Step 3: Build Your Application 21

Application contents and format This section includes guidance on each component found in the application checklist.

Application page limit: 20 pages

Submit your information in English and express whole number budget figures using

U.S. dollars.

Required format Required format for project and budget narratives.

Font: Times New Roman or Arial

Format: PDF

Size: 11-point font

Footnotes and text in graphics may be 10-point.

Spacing for project narrative main content: Double-spaced

Spacing for budget narrative: As needed

Spacing for project summary, tables, footnotes: Single-spaced

Margins: 1-inch

Include page numbers.

Project narrative Page limit: 20

The project narrative is the most important part of the application. We use it as the primary basis to decide whether your project meets the statutory requirements and to review its merit. The project narrative should give a clear and concise description of your project.

Be sure to cite all your sources. Merit reviewers may lower your score if you do not.

Also study the merit review criteria under each section to make sure you answer all questions and cover all topics reviewers will look at.

Step 3: Build Your Application 22

Project summary

Provide a brief project summary of no more than 265 words. Write it for the general public. You will need to include:

• Goals. Broad overall purpose, like a mission statement that says what you want to do and where you want to be.

• Objectives. Narrow, specific, and clear steps toward the goals. These are the “hows” to achieve the goals.

• Overall approach. General overview of what you will do.

• Outcomes. These are the measurable results of a project. Include expected changes among those served, such as clients, systems, organizations, and communities.

These should tie directly to your goals and those of this funding.

• Products. The materials and other deliverables you expect to generate through the project.

• Duration. The anticipated start and end dates of the period of performance.

Project relevance and current need (20 Points)

Problem statement (7)

Applicants should describe the dementia landscape statewide, demonstrating an understanding of the need for expanded dementia-specific respite services within the

State Aging Network.

• Describe how Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) impact individuals, families, and the broader home and community-based services (HCBS) and long-term services and supports (LTSS) systems in the state.

• Describe the number of individuals in the state living with ADRD and the family caregivers supporting them.

• Describe the current landscape of dementia-specific respite services in the state, including types of services available (e.g., in-home respite, adult day services, facility-based respite).

• Identify where the major service gaps exist, including rural, urban, or underserved communities with limited or no access to dementia-specific respite services.

• Explain current capacity limitations in delivering dementia-specific respite services, including workforce shortages, funding constraints, eligibility barriers, and service duration limits.

• Describe the overall need for respite services among dementia caregivers in the state, including key drivers of demand.

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• Explain the proportion of caregivers who currently lack access to adequate, timely, or appropriate respite support, including how it is distributed geographically across the state.

Goals and objectives (13 points)

Applicants should describe how their proposed project will advance the following goals and address the identified statewide need for expanded dementia-specific respite services within the Aging Network.

Applicants should describe how they will expand access to dementia-specific respite services, including how they will:

• Increase access to and uptake of Title III-E funded respite services for caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD).

• Improve availability of respite options for dementia caregivers in the state, including addressing gaps in access for rural, underserved, and high-need populations.

• Propose strategies to expand service availability and expected increases in reach and services delivered.

Applicants should describe how they will identify and address gaps in respite service availability across geographic regions (rural, urban, frontier, and underserved areas) expanding access to dementia-specific respite services.

Applicants should describe how they will strengthen dementia-capable workforce and service quality including providing dementia-specific training for respite workers to support providers ability to serve individuals with ADRD safely and effectively.

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Table: Scoring criteria

Reviewers will evaluate the extent to which the applicant provides: Point value

Problem Statement 7 points

1. Does the applicant clearly describe how Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) impact individuals, families, and the broader home and community-based services (HCBS) and long-term services and supports (LTSS) systems, including caregiver burden and system-level pressures?

2. Does the applicant identify the number of individuals living with ADRD and the family caregivers supporting them, and demonstrate an understanding of the size and characteristics of the population in need?

3. Does the applicant describe the current landscape of dementia-specific respite services and how these services are delivered within existing systems?

4. Does the applicant identify key gaps in respite service availability, including geographic (rural/ urban/underserved) and population-level needs?

5. Does the applicant describe current capacity limitations affecting respite services, including workforce shortages, funding constraints, eligibility barriers, and service duration or intensity limits, and explain how these limitations affect access?

6. Does the applicant clearly explain the level and drivers of unmet need for respite services among dementia caregivers, including the proportion of caregivers lacking adequate, timely, or appropriate support across the state or service area?

Goals and Objectives 13

1. Does the applicant describe how their proposed project will increase access to Title III-E funded respite services for caregivers of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD)?

2. Does the applicant describe how they will improve the availability of respite options for dementia caregivers, including strategies to address gaps for rural, underserved, and high-need populations?

3. Does the applicant describe how their project will respond to the increasing number of individuals living with ADRD and the growing demand from family caregivers?

4. Does the applicant identify strategies to address workforce shortages and other service delivery limitations that currently restrict access to respite services?

5. Does the applicant describe how they will build overall system capacity to increase the volume and consistency of respite service delivery?

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Approach (25 Points)

Proposed intervention (13 Points)

Applicants must provide a detailed description of the proposed approach to address identified statewide gaps and unmet needs in dementia-specific respite services for family caregivers of people living with ADRD. Proposed approaches must align with the purposes of Title III-E of the Older Americans Act (OAA) National Family Caregiver

Support Program (NFCSP) and demonstrate how project activities will strengthen caregiver supports and expand access to dementia-capable respite services within the

State Aging Network.

The proposed approach should describe how the applicant will use Title III-E infrastructure and partnerships to expand, enhance, and sustain dementia-specific respite services, improve caregiver access and service navigation, strengthen provider and workforce capacity, and address geographic and population-based differences in respite availability. Proposed activities should supplement and expand existing respite systems by developing new or enhanced dementia-capable respite options rather than supplanting existing resources.

Project management (4 Points)

This section should include a clear delineation of the roles and responsibilities of project staff, consultants, and partner organizations, and how they will contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and outcomes. Applicants should specify the expertise of those designated for leadership roles, as well as who will have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks including monitoring the project’s ongoing progress, preparing of reports, and communicating with other partners and ACL. The application should also describe the approach that will be used to monitor and track the progress of the project’s tasks and objectives.

Work plan (8 Points)

You must provide a work plan for your project. The work plan connects your period of performance outcomes, strategies and activities, and measures. It provides more detail on how you will measure outcomes and processes.

To create your work plan:

• Use the Project Work Plan Sample Template on our website.

• Include the project’s overall goal, expected outcomes, key objectives, and the major action steps needed to achieve them.

• For each major action step, include start and end dates and the lead responsible person.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Build Your Application 26 https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Facl.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fgrants%2Fwork%2520plan%2520template.doc&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK

Approach 13 points

1. Does the application clearly describe the dementia-specific respite service models, supports, or activities that will be introduced, expanded, or enhanced?

2. Does the proposed approach align with the goals and purposes of Title III-E of the Older

Americans Act National Family Caregiver Support Program?

3. Does the application describe strategies to expand or strengthen provider capacity and dementia-capable respite infrastructure within the State Aging Network?

4. Does the application describe a feasible approach to increasing access to and utilization of dementia-capable respite services for family caregivers of people living with ADRD?

5. Does the application include strategies to improve caregiver outreach, referral, navigation and utilization of available respite services and supports?

6. Does the application address gaps in respite access for rural, tribal, frontier, underserved, and other high-need populations and geographic areas?

7. Does the application demonstrate coordination and collaboration among Aging Network entities, respite providers, community-based organizations, healthcare systems, or other relevant partners?

8. Does the application include dementia-specific workforce development, training, or support activities designed to improve provider competency and service quality?

9. Does the application describe strategies to address dementia-capable workforce shortages, service delivery barriers, or other limitations affecting dementia-specific respite availability?

10. Does the application include measurable and achievable outcomes related to respite access, caregivers served, provider capacity, geographic reach, service utilization, or service quality?

Project Management/Work Plan 12 Points

1. Does the application include a detailed project work plan?

Does the application include a management plan that demonstrates the applicant’s capacity to implement and oversee the proposed activities?

2. Does the management plan describe administration, collaboration, and coordination among

Aging Network entities, respite providers, community-based organizations, healthcare systems, and other relevant partners?

3. Do the work and management plans clearly define the roles and responsibilities of project staff, consultants, subcontractors, and partner organizations?

4. Do the work and management plans include strategies to improve outreach, referral, caregiver awareness, and navigation of dementia-specific respite services?

5. Do the work and management plans include activities that demonstrate rebust evaluation activities?

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6. Does the work plan clearly describe all proposed project activities, timelines, milestones, and responsible entities for each project year?

7. Does the work plan include activities to expand, enhance, or sustain dementia-capable respite services for family caregivers of people living with ADRD?

8. Does the work plan include strategies to develop, train, or strengthen the dementia-capable respite workforce, including workforce readiness to serve people living with ADRD and their caregivers?

Project impact (25 Points)

Outcomes (9 Points)

This section of the project narrative must clearly identify the measurable outcomes that will demonstrate the impact of the proposed project on family caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), people living with ADRD, and the dementia-capable respite system and workforce.

Projects funded under this program are expected to improve access to and quality of dementia-specific respite services delivered through Title III-E of the Older Americans Act

(OAA) National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). Applicants must describe how proposed outcomes will demonstrate meaningful improvements in caregiver support, respite service availability and utilization, workforce capacity, and statewide dementia-capable service infrastructure.

Evaluation (12 Points)

This section should describe the methods, tools, and processes that will be used by an independent third-party evaluator to assess the effectiveness and impact of the proposed project. The evaluation plan should describe how the evaluator will:

1. Determine whether the proposed intervention achieved its anticipated outcomes related to expanding access to dementia-specific respite services, strengthening caregiver supports, increasing dementia-capable workforce and provider capacity, and improving statewide dementia-capable respite infrastructure; and

2. Document lessons learned, including successful strategies, implementation challenges, barriers, and promising practices that may inform replication or sustainability of dementia-capable respite services within the Aging Network.

The third-party evaluator must develop and submit an evaluation report to the grantee for submission to ACL as a required project deliverable.

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Dissemination/Sustainability (4 Points)

This section should describe the method that will be used to disseminate the project’s results and findings in a timely manner and in easily understandable formats to parties who might be interested in using the results of the project to inform practice, service delivery, program development, sustainability planning, and/or policy-making.

Applications should present a clear and actionable sustainability plan that demonstrates how project activities, partnerships, and service models will continue beyond the grant period. Strong applications will identify specific strategies for integrating successful project components into ongoing Aging Network operations, existing funding streams, and organizational policies or practices. This may include plans to institutionalize dementia-capable respite approaches within routine service delivery, workforce development efforts, caregiver supports, or care coordination systems, including embedding project activities within programs and services supported through Title III-E of the Older Americans Act (OAA), where appropriate. Applications are encouraged to describe how successful dementia-capable respite activities would be sustained through integration into National Family Caregiver Support Program operations and other Title III-

E-funded caregiver support initiatives.

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Outcomes 9 points

1. Do the outcomes include measurable outcomes demonstrating the impact of dementia-specific respite for caregivers and people living with ADRD?

2. Do the outcomes include measurable changes in availability, accessibility, or utilization of dementia-capable respite services?

3. Do the outcomes include measurable changes in workforce competency or provider readiness to serve people living with ADRD?

4. Do the outcomes include measurable changes in geographic reach or access to respite services in underserved, rural, tribal, frontier, or high-need communities?

Evaluation 12 points

1. Does the application include a third-party evaluation plan developed by an independent third-party evaluator?

2. Does the evaluation plan clearly describe methods for assessing whether the project achieved its intended outcomes related to dementia-specific respite services, caregiver support, workforce capacity, and system infrastructure?

3. Does the evaluation plan include methods for documenting lessons learned, including successes, challenges, barriers, and promising practices?

4. Does the evaluation plan identify measurable outcomes and performance indicators aligned with project goals?

Dissemination/Sustainability 4 points

1. Does the application include a dissemination plan for sharing project results, findings, and lessons learned in a timely manner?

2. Does the dissemination plan describe how information will be shared in accessible, clear, and user-friendly formats for multiple audiences (e.g., providers, Aging Network partners, caregivers, policymakers, and replication sites)?

3. Does the application describe methods for disseminating tools, resources, training materials, or other products developed through the project?

4. Does the application include a sustainability plan describing how successful project activities or components will be maintained beyond the federal funding period?

5. Does the application describe how partnerships, infrastructure, or service models developed through the project will be sustained after grant funding ends?

6. Does the application demonstrate how dissemination and sustainability activities are aligned with strengthening long-term access to dementia-capable respite services?

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Capability and…