Small Grant Opportunity

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the Washington State Dementia Action Collaborative (DAC), is offering a Small Grant Opportunity specifically for community and faith-based organizations located in Washington. This funding initiative responds to the rising prevalence of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, which affects over 126,000 people in Washington and ranks as the fourth leading cause of death in the state. The program is aimed at addressing gaps in awareness, education, and community action related to brain health, especially in disproportionately impacted communities such as Black and African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Hispanic, and rural populations. The grant program provides flexible funding of up to $7,500 per organization to support activities that promote brain health, disseminate information about dementia, and foster community partnerships. The base grant of $5,000 supports a core set of deliverables including participation in an initial awardee conference call, identification and training of one or two community-trusted messengers, facilitation of at least two community educational sessions using the BDAC curriculum, distribution of awareness materials through various communication platforms, submission of a final narrative report, and participation in a project evaluation survey. Trusted messengers are required to attend a one-day, in-person training session and deliver educational sessions, after which organizations will collect participant feedback and attendance data for submission. An additional $2,500 may be awarded for the completion of one optional activity selected by the grantee. These activities may include organizing a brain health event with community health screenings, hosting additional educational sessions, collaborating with local agencies to build a dementia-focused resource library, conducting community-based cognitive screening events, hosting Dementia Friends sessions, implementing dementia-friendly worship programs, or launching community support programs such as Memory Cafés or caregiver training initiatives. All optional activities require submission of a final report summarizing the activity and its outcomes. Eligibility for the grant is limited to organizations physically located in Washington State. Applicants must possess a Federal Tax ID, a Washington UBI number, a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and must be registered in the Statewide Payee Registration System to receive funding. Successful applicants will enter into a formal contract with DOH. Contracts are expected to be finalized by March 2026, and all funded activities must be completed by September 29, 2026, aligning with the federal grant period. The funding originates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act Grant. Therefore, grantees must comply with all federal funding regulations. Grant funds are reimbursed upon completion of contract deliverables and submission of invoices. Allowable expenses include personnel costs, local travel, subcontracts, supplies, and other direct costs. However, funds cannot be used for equipment, construction, lobbying, unrelated travel, food, or incentives, and must not replace previously allocated resources. To support applicants, DOH will host two virtual office hour sessions on December 30, 2025, and January 12, 2026. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on January 16, 2026, and award announcements are expected by January 30, 2026. Trusted messenger training sessions are anticipated to occur in March or April 2026. Throughout the grant term, DOH will provide guidance and resources to assist awardees in meeting deliverables and fostering meaningful community impact related to brain health and dementia awareness.