Grants for Dementia Care Programs 2026: ADPI and More
Quick Answer: If you're raising money for a dementia care program, such as an adult day center, a caregiver support group, a memory cafe or a respite service, the money comes from ACL's Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI), by partnerships with health departments that hold CDC BOLD awards…
Full answer and how we checked it
If you're raising money for a dementia care program, such as an adult day center, a caregiver support group, a memory cafe or a respite service, the money comes from ACL's Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI), by partnerships with health departments that hold CDC BOLD awards, and by private foundations that report grants on IRS Form 990-PF. According to Grants.gov (opens in a new tab), ACL's FY2027 ADPI States and Community Grants forecast estimates $15 million for awards of $850,000 to $1,000,000.
Data note: Foundation counts come from Grantsights analysis of IRS Form 990-PF grant records tagged to health, grouped by recipient state and pulled October 29, 2026, with filings mostly from tax years 2023 through 2025. The health cause covers 282,218 grants in 51 state groups. Federal totals are USAspending.gov obligations by fiscal year.
In this guide (10 sections)
- ADPI: ACL's Dementia Grant Program, and Who Can Apply
- BOLD: Real Money, but It Flows to Health Departments
- Which Foundations Fund Dementia Care: What 990-PF Filings Show
- 5 Dementia Program Types and Where Each Gets Funded
- What ACL Doesn't Tell You About Funding a Dementia Program
- Common Mistakes in Dementia Care Grant Requests
- A 12-Month Dementia Program Funding Calendar
- Related Guides for Aging and Dementia Programs
- FAQ: Common Questions
- Sources
Foundations near you already fund this work. See three in your state that take requests, with how to apply. Free, about a minute.
Foundations that fund this work
43,922 private foundations gave to hospitals, clinics, hospices and health charities
From their own IRS Form 990-PF filings (tax years 2019 to 2025). Pick your state to see who gave there, with one foundation in full. About the list
Across the US, these foundations gave 282,323 grants totaling $48,801,068,047.
Historical giving does not establish an open application or eligibility for your organization. For-profit operators should check each foundation's applicant rules before buying.
The full list names all 43,922, state by state: what each gave, to whom, for what, and a link to its filings. One payment, no subscription.
Dementia care sits between health care and social services, and funders treat it that way. Federal money mostly builds systems; foundation money often pays for the day program, the caregiver class and the building.
Dementia care source review, Grantsights, October 29, 2026: Grantsights checked ACL's dementia program page (opens in a new tab), its 2024 ADPI award announcement (opens in a new tab), the FY2027 ADPI forecasts on Grants.gov (opens in a new tab), CDC's BOLD page, USAspending figures and 990-PF records naming Alzheimer's and dementia groups. Where official sources stop: ACL explains which systems it wants built. It doesn't say how a single adult day program pays its staff between federal rounds.
ADPI: ACL's Dementia Grant Program, and Who Can Apply
According to ACL's program page (opens in a new tab), ADPI was formed in 2018 by merging two earlier programs, ADSSP and ADI-SSS, and has three parts: grants to states, communities and tribal entities for dementia-capable home and community-based services; funding for the National Alzheimer's Call Center; and a contract for the National Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center. ACL says eligible community-based organizations are those operating within an existing dementia-capable system and prepared to address identified service gaps by expanding work they already do.
The 2024 round shows the scale. ACL announced 13 grants, to 2 states and 11 communities, totaling nearly $12.3 million for September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2027. ACL said half of each grant must go to direct services. Community recipients included Alzheimer's Greater Los Angeles, Carelink in Rhode Island, Oakwood Creative Care and Pima Council on Aging in Arizona, Senior Services of Snohomish County in Washington, Southern Maine Agency on Aging and The Life Center of Davidson County in North Carolina.
| Federal dementia program | Assistance listing | FY2024 obligations | FY2025 obligations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's Disease Program Initiative (ADPI) | 93.470 | $16.8 million | $5.0 million |
Figures are USAspending.gov (opens in a new tab) obligations. ADPI is multi-year, so obligations swing between years with and without a new round.
The FY2027 forecasts
As of October 29, 2026, Grants.gov (opens in a new tab) lists the FY2027 ADPI notices as forecasted, not yet open:
| FY2027 forecast | Number | Estimated total | Award range | Who can apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| States and Community Grants | HHS-2027-ACL-AOA-ADPI-0008 | $15,000,000 | $850,000 to $1,000,000 | States, local governments, tribes, 501(c)(3) and other nonprofits, universities and more |
| Dementia-Capable Community Health Worker Programs | HHS-2027-ACL-AOA-ADPI-0006 | $1,750,000 | $200,000 to $250,000 | Area agencies on aging, or groups partnered with one |
| State Programs for Dementia Specific Respite | HHS-2027-ACL-AOA-ADPI-0009 | $23,000,000 | $500,000 to $4,000,000 | State governments |
| Dementia Capability in Indian Country | HHS-2027-ACL-AOA-ADPI-0010 | $1,700,000 | $200,000 to $300,000 | Tribal governments and tribal organizations |
The States and Community forecast describes two options in one notice, grants to states (Option A) and grants to communities (Option B). It says no entity can apply for both options or hold more than one ADPI state or community grant at a time. An award near $1 million is large for most local programs, so smaller groups usually take part as a partner or subrecipient of a larger lead. The respite forecast is for states only, so a local respite provider's route is its state's plan for that money.
Get grant deadline alerts by email
About once a week, we email a short list of open grant calls with real deadlines from different funders. It isn't limited to the programs in this guide.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
BOLD: Real Money, but It Flows to Health Departments
According to CDC's BOLD page (opens in a new tab), the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act (P.L. 115-406) directs CDC to strengthen public health infrastructure for dementia, establish Alzheimer's public health Centers of Excellence, fund public health departments and improve data. CDC lists two funding streams: BOLD Public Health Programs (CDC-RFA-DP23-0010) and BOLD Public Health Centers of Excellence (CDC-RFA-DP20-2005). Its focus areas are risk reduction, early detection and diagnosis, preventing avoidable hospitalizations and supporting caregivers.
A local dementia nonprofit shouldn't expect to apply to CDC. The practical step is to ask your state or county health department whether it holds a BOLD award and whether it needs community partners for caregiver support or early detection outreach. Partner roles can come with subcontracts.
Which Foundations Fund Dementia Care: What 990-PF Filings Show
According to IRS rules, private foundations report each grant on Form 990-PF (opens in a new tab) with a recipient and purpose, so Alzheimer's and dementia gifts can be traced by name. These tax year 2025 grants went to dementia groups:
| Foundation | Dementia group | State | Gift | Stated purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Leo and Anne Albert Charitable Trust | Alzheimer's Community Care | FL | $1,749,107 | Construction project, Albert Day Care Center |
| Fleming Foundation | Cure Alzheimer's Fund | MA | $1,480,000 | Specific research projects |
| The Ronda E Stryker and William D Johnston Foundation | Alzheimer's Association Michigan Chapter | MI | $150,000 | Wellness funding |
| Toni A Wisne Foundation | Alzheimer's Association of Michigan | MI | $125,000 | Use consistent with 501(c)(3) status |
| The David S Van Denburgh Family Foundation | Banner Alzheimer's Foundation | AZ | $100,000 | To help end Alzheimer's |
| The Rick's Family Foundation | Alzheimer's Association Greater Indiana | IN | $50,000 | Dementia care, education |
The largest gift paid for a building. One center in Florida, Alzheimer's Community Care in West Palm Beach, received $1,749,107 for an adult day center construction project. Capital requests of that size are rare, but the filing shows trusts will fund dementia care facilities. The Fleming gift is research money; care programs should skip research-only funders unless they also fund services.
State counts for the health cause:
| Program's state | Health grants | Foundations that gave | Say they take requests | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 34,563 | 9,879 | 2,025 | $5,000 |
| California | 27,604 | 6,824 | 1,451 | $10,000 |
| Florida | 17,263 | 5,938 | 1,244 | $5,000 |
| Massachusetts | 16,836 | 4,816 | 1,086 | $8,400 |
| Texas | 15,645 | 3,926 | 1,182 | $6,875 |
| Pennsylvania | 12,224 | 3,362 | 865 | $6,000 |
| Michigan | 5,723 | 1,429 | 431 | $5,000 |
| Minnesota | 5,813 | 1,957 | 517 | $5,500 |
| Indiana | 2,953 | 812 | 297 | $5,000 |
| Arizona | 2,885 | 1,014 | 280 | $7,000 |
Get the funder list for your state
Dementia programs can check the Grantsights health funder list for their state at no charge; funders that take requests come first, next to their recent health grants. Watch for gifts to Alzheimer's chapters, adult day centers, hospices and aging agencies near you. One $29 payment unlocks every state's full list, the $99 plan covers all cause lists for 12 months, and both carry a 30-day full refund.
5 Dementia Program Types and Where Each Gets Funded
Dementia work covers several distinct services, and funders sort requests by type. The table below matches each service to the sources this guide verified.
| Program type | What it pays for | Public source checked here | Private source in the 990-PF sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult day center | Staff, activities, transport, building | ADPI community grants that add direct services | The Albert trust's $1,749,107 day center construction gift in Florida |
| Caregiver education and support | Classes, support groups, care consultation | ADPI; BOLD partners working on caregiving | The Rick's Family Foundation's $50,000 for dementia care and education in Indiana |
| Respite | Paid breaks for family caregivers | FY2027 ADPI state respite forecast, for states only | Family foundations giving to aging groups |
| Early detection and outreach | Screening events, referral networks, community health workers | BOLD through health departments; ADPI community health worker forecast | Health system foundations |
| Wellness and engagement | Memory cafes, exercise, arts programs | Few federal options | The Stryker Johnston foundation's $150,000 wellness grant in Michigan |
Notice how unevenly public money is spread. Early detection and caregiver work have federal partners; memory cafes and engagement programs mostly don't. If your program is mostly engagement, plan on a foundation-led budget.
Building the area agency on aging relationship
ACL's programs run through the national aging network, and one FY2027 forecast says applicants must be an area agency on aging or show active partnership with one. Even when that rule doesn't apply, reviewers notice whether your local aging agency knows you. Three steps help:
- Ask the agency's planner which dementia service gaps appear in its current area plan.
- Offer referral data: how many families you served, where they came from and what they needed next.
- Request a letter of support well before a notice opens, not in the final week.
What to measure from the first month
Funders of dementia programs ask about two groups: the person living with dementia and the family caregiver. For participants, track attendance days, hours of care and any change in living situation. For caregivers, track hours of respite delivered, training sessions completed and a short stress or confidence survey at intake and six months later. ACL's 2024 announcement said half of each grant had to go to direct services, so be ready to show how many people your direct service dollars reached.
What ACL Doesn't Tell You About Funding a Dementia Program
These 5 points come from reading ACL, CDC and federal forecast records together.
- ADPI rewards existing systems. ACL looks for community groups already inside a dementia-capable network. If your program isn't connected to your area agency on aging, build that tie before the notice opens.
- Half the money must reach people. ACL said 50 percent of each 2024 grant goes to direct services. Plan staff and client numbers to match.
- Forecasts are early warnings. The FY2027 notices were forecasted in September and October 2026. Use the gap to line up partners and letters of support.
- Caregivers are a fundable audience. BOLD names caregiving as a focus, and the Indiana gift names dementia education. Caregiver training and respite are often easier to fund than clinical care.
- Chapters and local programs share funders. Michigan filings show two family foundations giving to Alzheimer's Association chapters. A local program can partner with a chapter rather than compete with it.
The honest view: ADPI is large, competitive and not open every year, and BOLD funds health departments. For most local dementia programs, foundation grants and donors carry the year, and a federal award is an occasional boost.
Common Mistakes in Dementia Care Grant Requests
Check every draft against these 5 points.
- Describing dementia, not your program. A common mistake is spending a page on prevalence statistics. Funders know. Describe who you serve and what changes.
- No caregiver outcomes. Requests that measure only participant attendance underestimate the value to families. Track caregiver stress or hours of respite too.
- Applying to research funders for services. That's a mismatch that fails quickly. Skip funders whose dementia grants are all research.
- Ignoring the aging network. A proposal with no area agency on aging letter is a red flag for ACL reviewers.
- Registration gaps. Federal awards need a Unique Entity ID. See the SAM.gov registration guide.
A 12-Month Dementia Program Funding Calendar
| Months | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Watch for the FY2027 ADPI notices to move from forecasted to posted |
| 2 | Meet your area agency on aging and health department about ADPI and BOLD partnerships |
| 3 to 4 | Decide whether to lead, partner or subcontract on ADPI |
| 5 to 7 | Send requests to 15 foundations that gave to Alzheimer's or aging groups nearby |
| 8 to 9 | Plan a capital or respite ask for a larger family foundation |
| 10 to 12 | Report participant and caregiver results to every funder |
Grantsights' how to write a grant letter of inquiry, how to read a 990-PF and CDC public health grants guide support this work. The Grantsights grant database lists open ACL and CDC notices.
Related Guides for Aging and Dementia Programs
These 5 pages cover overlapping funders. Dementia programs share funders with grants for senior centers, grants for senior services, grants for hospices and grants for home-delivered meal programs. Programs that train caregivers or outreach workers can also read grants for community health workers.
FAQ: Common Questions
What is the Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative? ACL's competitive dementia grant program for states, communities and tribes.
Is an ADPI grant open now? FY2027 notices are forecasted; States and Community awards are estimated at $850,000 to $1,000,000.
Can a local dementia nonprofit get BOLD Act money? Usually only as a partner of a health department.
Do private foundations fund dementia programs? Yes, from $50,000 to $1.75 million in the tax year 2025 examples above.
How big is a typical foundation grant to health causes? Medians of $5,000 to $10,000 in the states shown.
Sources
- ACL: Support for People with Dementia, including Alzheimer's Disease (opens in a new tab)
- ACL: ACL Awards Nearly $12.3 Million to Advance Dementia Capability Across the Nation (opens in a new tab)
- Grants.gov: HHS-2027-ACL-AOA-ADPI-0008 forecast (opens in a new tab)
- Grants.gov: HHS-2027-ACL-AOA-ADPI-0006 forecast (opens in a new tab)
- CDC: BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act (opens in a new tab)
- USAspending.gov award search (opens in a new tab)
- IRS: About Form 990-PF (opens in a new tab)
Last updated October 29, 2026. Published by Grantsights from public sources. See our editorial policy, how we build and check guides, corrections and how we make money.
Related Guides
Complete Guide
Federal Grants for Nonprofits 2026: Where to Apply
Federal grants for nonprofits 2026: nonprofits got $42.7B in direct federal grants in FY2025, $25.4B from HHS. How to register, apply, and win subgrants.
Grants for Child Care Centers: Federal & State Funds
15+ grants for child care centers, from CCDF subsidies ($8.8B CCDBG in FY2026) to Head Start, state Pre-K, CACFP, USDA facilities, and SBA microloans.
Grants for Foster Care Programs 2026: Real Funding Routes
Grants for foster care programs in 2026: Title IV-E goes to states, Chafee pays $143 million a year for older youth, and 990-PF funders back local groups.
Grants for Respite Care Programs 2026: Caregiver Relief
Grants for respite care programs in 2026: Congress gave ACL's Lifespan Respite program $10 million for FY2025, and one respite house drew $75,000.
Child Care Assistance 2026: Help Paying for Daycare
Child care assistance in 2026: state subsidies up to 85% of state median income, free Head Start, and a tax credit worth up to $3,000. How to apply.
Continuum of Care (CoC) Grants Guide 2026
HUD's CoC program awards $4B+ annually for homeless services. Learn the competition process, project types, HMIS, and coordinated entry rules.