Projects of National Significance: Empowering Individuals

The Projects of National Significance: Empowering Individuals grant is administered by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The initiative operates under the authority of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act and is designed to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD), their families, and the communities where they live. The goal is to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities have opportunities to contribute fully to community life, and to promote state and national policies that uphold self-determination, independence, productivity, and social inclusion. This program will fund projects that address one or more specified performance measures. These measures include improving policies affecting individuals with ID/DD, expanding leadership roles for these individuals and their families, increasing knowledge about the supports they need to achieve their desired quality of life, and enhancing access to data resources. Projects are expected to focus on measurable outcomes such as the number of policies changed, the number of participants in policy advocacy, the number of leadership tools created or shared, and the percent of individuals reporting new skills or knowledge. The funding scope covers activities that foster leadership development, policy change, and dissemination of knowledge and resources. Award recipients will be expected to produce tangible outputs like training sessions, advocacy resources, leadership tools, and data dissemination activities. The anticipated impact includes both systemic policy improvements and direct empowerment of people with developmental disabilities to participate in decision-making processes affecting their lives. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations: state governments, local governments, public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, special district governments, public housing authorities, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, and both nonprofit organizations with or without IRS 501(c)(3) status. Foreign entities are not eligible. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply. The forecasted opportunity anticipates awarding approximately five grants, with individual award amounts ranging from $300,000 to $375,000. The total estimated program funding is $1,875,000. No cost sharing or matching is required. The estimated post date for the opportunity is May 30, 2025, with an application due date of July 30, 2025. Awards are expected to be announced by August 29, 2025, with projects starting September 1, 2025. Applications will be submitted through the federal grants system according to the detailed instructions provided by ACL at the time of posting. The grant contact is Larissa Crossen, who can be reached at (202) 795-7333 or via email at larissa.crossen@acl.hhs.gov. Additional information will be available at https://acl.gov/grants/open-opportunities when the official notice is posted.