National Information and Referral Support Center

The National Information and Referral Support Center grant is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Administration for Community Living, specifically the Administration on Aging and the Office of Supportive and Caregiver Services. This funding opportunity is designed to strengthen the national infrastructure that connects older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers to essential services and supports. The initiative aligns with federal priorities focused on improving access to care, enhancing independence, and supporting community-based living through coordinated information systems. The primary purpose of this grant is to establish and operate a national support center that advances the quality, consistency, and professionalism of information and referral services across the aging and disability network. The funded entity will play a central role in supporting the Eldercare Locator, a nationwide entry point for individuals seeking assistance. In addition to maintaining and improving this system, the center will deliver training, technical assistance, and resource development to ensure that service providers can effectively connect individuals to appropriate supports. Funding for this opportunity is provided through a cooperative agreement structure, indicating substantial federal involvement in project implementation. The total expected funding is 675000 dollars distributed over a three year performance period, with 225000 dollars allocated annually. Only one award is expected. The program requires a cost sharing contribution of 25 percent of total project costs, meaning applicants must provide non federal resources equivalent to at least one third of the federal share. Funds may be used for training, technical assistance, workforce development, and system coordination, but cannot be used for construction, basic research, or prohibited policy related activities. Eligible applicants include a broad range of domestic nonprofit and public entities such as state and local governments, tribal organizations, institutions of higher education, hospitals, faith based organizations, and community based organizations. Individuals and foreign entities are not eligible. Projects must be national in scope and demonstrate the ability to deliver services and impact across the United States. Applicants must also show expertise in aging and disability systems, experience with national technical assistance, and the capacity to manage large scale coordination efforts. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes a project narrative, budget narrative, and multiple federal forms such as SF 424 and SF 424A. The project narrative is limited to 20 pages and must address problem statements, goals, intervention strategies, management plans, and evaluation methods. Applicants must also provide a work plan with measurable outcomes, demonstrate organizational capability, and outline dissemination strategies. Applications are evaluated based on criteria including need, approach, impact, and organizational capacity, with a structured scoring system used during merit review. The application deadline is July 22 2026 at 1159 PM Eastern Time, with expected awards issued by September 30 2026 and projects beginning on the same date. The performance period spans three years through September 2029. This opportunity does not indicate recurring funding cycles and appears to be a single competition. Program contacts are provided for eligibility, budget, and application questions, including a central program email and phone support.

Align proposal with ACL priorities; emphasize measurable outcomes; demonstrate national impact capacity