Alzheimer’s Association: Center for Dementia Respite Innovation Grant (CDRI)

Alzheimer’s Association: Center for Dementia Respite Innovation Grant (CDRI)

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Alzheimer's Association
Amount: US $50,000 - US $100,000
Last Updated: February 03, 2026

Summary

The Alzheimer’s Association's Center for Dementia Respite Innovation Grant (CDRI) supports innovative respite care projects, aiming to improve person-centered dementia care across the U.S. With up to $20 million available over five years, the grant encourages local respite care providers to enhance their services through collaboration and innovative solutions. Recipients will receive training and assistance to ensure their programs are effective and sustainable, addressing the growing need for quality dementia care.

Overview

Center for Dementia Respite Innovation Grant (CDRI) The Alzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation funds new respite care innovation projects across the country. Over the course of five years, the CDRI will award up to $20 million in competitive grants to local respite care providers to improve and increase the delivery of person-centered dementia care, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, outcomes, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability. Progam Objective The Alzheimer’s Association has been awarded a $25 million grant from the Administration for Community Living, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services division, to enhance respite services for dementia caregivers. This funding established the CDRI to fund new respite innovation projects nationwide. The CDRI will award approximately $20 million in competitive grants to respite care providers that propose to improve the quality of their services. Grant recipients will be supported with online training and ongoing technical assistance to ensure that respite services are dementia-capable. The CDRI will collect data and study the outcomes of these improvement projects to inform public policy. Funding Start-Up Awards: $100,000 total ($50,000 per year for two years)Start-up awards allow an organization or provider not already providing dementia-specific respite services to plan and launch a respite program and implement a small innovative program.Pilot Awards: $100,000 Pilot awards allow an existing community-based organization/respite provider to enhance their program by adding innovative components. Awarded providers or organizations must contribute a match of 25%, including 2.5% in indirect costs. These costs can include time and effort, volunteer hours, supplies and materials.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Local respite providers and organizations prepared to expand their existing programs with an innovative component or those prepared to launch a new respite program. Organizations providing services to communities at higher risk for Alzheimer's or other dementia are encouraged to apply.Domestic public or private for-profit or non-profit entities, including state and local governments, faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, and higher education institutions. Other organization types will be considered on a case-by-case basis.Currently providing with the bandwidth to expand, or prepared to provide, dementia-related respite services.Dedicate a staff member to lead the project, engaged in all required aspects of the initiative, including participation in all learning and support opportunities.Commitment to abiding by all terms and conditions set out in the program award.Establish and maintain collaborative partnerships with relevant community stakeholders.Organizations must be able to demonstrate that there is a pre-existing need within the community for the proposed programs.Organizations must be able to demonstrate the ability to launch their proposed program and begin serving clients within 2 months of grant award. Two-year start-up awards will be given 6 months to begin serving clients.For CDRI funded respite program purposes, a caregiver cannot be required to participate in additional organizational programming as a condition of benefiting from funded respite services.Multiple locations or sites of a national organization can apply for an award as long as each site has its own EIN number.However, no more than three entities of the same franchise or license are eligible to receive awards.Applicants are required to identify a Lead Staff Member to fully participate in all aspects of this initiative.This position will serve as the point person for the Center.A competitive application will designate a professional who:Is knowledgeable about dementia respite services (business, practice, needs of people living with dementia and their caregivers).Is knowledgeable about state licensure and local requirements that would inform the implementation of the proposed innovative program.Has demonstrated leadership experience.Is an innovative thinker.At least 50% of time is allocated to this project.Recommendation: For start-up awards, it is suggested that the lead staff member be full-time on this project.Has demonstrated ability to develop programming that is responsive to community needs and includes collaboration with community partnerships.Skilled in the development and implementation of program plans.Understands the importance of program evaluation data for continued improvement and sustainability.