Grants for Autism Programs

Last updated October 24, 2026

Grantable tracks 96 active grants for autism programs in its free grants database, drawn from federal, state and foundation sources and updated daily. 3 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 49 list an award amount, with a median of $25K.

Grants tracked: 96; from 51 funders
Median award: $25K; middle half $4,000–$100K
Total listed funding: $5.6M; across 49 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 7; 6 with a published date

On this page: Federal State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Joseph H. Stahlberg Foundation Grant Stahlberg Joseph H Foundation · Foundation Not published · $15K – $30K The Joseph H. Stahlberg Foundation, honoring its founder's legacy, offers grants to 501(c)(3) organizations engaged in medical, psychiatric, or psychological research, particularly focusing on dementia, autism, and Alzheimer’s disease.	Not published	$15K – $30K
Undergraduate Research Grant Autism Science Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies ASF offers annual summer research fellowships to promising undergraduate students conducting scientifically driven autism research.	Not published	Varies
Autism Centers of Excellence P50 National Institutes of Health · Federal Forecast · $10,000,000 total The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), with the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders ( NIDCD ), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences ( NIEHS…	Forecast	$10,000,000 total
General Grants Program - Quarterly Cycle Langley for Families - the Foundation of LFCU · Foundation Not published · Varies The foundation operates on quarterly grant cycles (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4). Specific deadlines for upcoming cycles not provided in materials.	Not published	Varies
Spokane City Credit Union Charitable Giving Program Spokane City Credit Union · Foundation Rolling · Up to $500 SCCU commits to giving one percent (1%) of their annual profits to charitable organizations and causes that benefit the Spokane community. Must meet ALL of the following criteria: 1930 N. Monroe St.	Rolling	Up to $500
SynGAP Research Fund General Research Grants SynGAP Research Fund Incorporated · Foundation Rolling · Varies SYNGAP1-related intellectual disability (ICD-10 F78.A1) is a rare genetic disorder caused by variants on the SYNGAP1 gene (Chromosome 6).	Rolling	Varies
Innovating Worthy Projects Foundation Grant Innovating Worthy Projects Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Innovating Worthy Projects Foundation Grant supports nonprofit organizations that develop innovative programs and provide services for children with special needs, chronic disabilities, or acute illnesses.	Not published	Varies
Hill Family Scholarship Grant The Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $3K The Hill Family Scholarship, established by The Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, supports post-secondary education for high school graduates in the Richmond area diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum.	Not published	$3K
Cara Becker ROAR for Autism Youth Fundraising Award Karma for Cara Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies An annual award recognizing youth who demonstrate exceptional fundraising dedication for the ROAR for Autism event.	Not published	Varies
SFARI Explorer Awards National Tuberous Sclerosis Association · Foundation Rolling · Up to $80K SFARI is considering applications on a rolling basis for their Explorer Awards. These awards support "high-risk/high-impact, exploratory experiments" relevant to autism.	Rolling	Up to $80K
Baby Siblings Research Consortium (BSRC) Database Grants Autism Science Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Funding for research using the BSRC database, a collaborative network studying younger siblings of people with autism to understand developmental origins and earliest signs of ASD.	Not published	Varies
Daniel Jordan Fiddle Scholarship Fund for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center · Foundation Not published · Varies A scholarship program established through collaboration between The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation and SARRC to provide funding for vocational and life skills training for adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).	Not published	Varies
Nancy Lurie Marks Prize for Autism Research Center for Human Appearance Research and Education Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · $100K The Lurie Autism Institute's highest honor recognizing transformative contributions to autism research.	Not published	$100K
Community Grants Mt Pleasant Area Community Fnd · Foundation Not published · Up to $18K	Not published	Up to $18K
GPOA Foundation Grant The Gpoa Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The GPOA Foundation is a grant-making, independent foundation which supports programs that serve children in Orleans Parish, Louisiana.	Not published	Varies
Fellowship Program- Postdoctoral Associate Grant State of New Jersey Department of Health · State Not published · $195K The Fellowship Program for the Postdoctoral Associate Grant aims to support research that enhances inclusivity in the autism workforce.	Not published	$195K
SFARI Pilot Progression Award The Simons Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The mission of the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) is to improve the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) by funding innovative research of the highest quality and relevance.	Not published	Varies
Next for Autism Scholarship Program Grant Next for Autism Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Next for Autism Scholarship Program is a unique initiative designed for health and human services students.	Not published	Varies
Brown Center for Autism: Benjamin M. Liske Scholarship Fund Grant The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Brown Center for Autism: Benjamin M. Liske Scholarship Fund, established by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, supports graduating seniors from Middle Tennessee diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.	Not published	Varies
COVID-19 Research Grants Autism Science Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Multiple rounds of grants launched in early 2020 to support autism research impacted by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, evolving to fund research on pandemic's unique effects on people with autism and permanent service improvements.	Not published	Varies
ASF Undergraduate Summer Research Grant Autism Science Foundation · Foundation Not published · $4K The Autism Science Foundation offers the ASF Undergraduate Summer Research Grant to support undergraduates conducting research related to autism spectrum disorders.	Not published	$4K
Kathleen Brenneman Grants for Autism Rochester Area Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: Applications are currently closed._ Everyone can take action to make our world a more equitable and vital place.	Not published	Varies
Mercyhealth Autism Support Fund Grant Mercyhealth · Foundation Not published · Up to $1K The Mercyhealth Autism Support Fund provides crucial financial assistance to Wisconsin families in Rock and Walworth counties with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.	Not published	Up to $1K
OAR Graduate Research Grant Competition Organization for Autism Research · Foundation Not published · Up to $2K The OAR Graduate Research Grant Competition supports innovative research that addresses the challenges faced by autistic individuals.	Not published	Up to $2K

Showing 49–72 of 95

About grants for autism programs

Autism grants fund research, services, and community programs that support autistic people and their families across the lifespan. Autism Speaks funds both scientific research and service programs, and the Organization for Autism Research supports applied, family-focused research, alongside federal funding through NIH. Grants range from fellowships and research awards to community grants for educational, social, and transition-support programs.

A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow grants for autism programs down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do grants for autism programs award?

Of the 96 grants for autism programs Grantable lists as of October 24, 2026, 49 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $25K, and the middle half fall between $4,000 and $100K. The largest is $1.2M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most grants for autism programs?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are State of New Jersey Department of Health (9), Autism Science Foundation (8), The Simons Foundation Inc (7), Autism Strong Foundation (6), and National Institutes of Health (4). In all, 51 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are grants for autism programs due?

Of 96 grants listed, 7 accept applications on a rolling basis, 6 have a published upcoming deadline, 19 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 64 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site.

What grants are available for autism programs?

Funding supports scientific research, fellowships, and service programs that provide autistic people with educational, social, and transition support. Autism Speaks funds research breakthroughs as well as service providers running social and educational programs, and offers targeted grant opportunities focused on areas like adult transition and near-term clinical solutions. Federal autism research is funded primarily through NIH.

Who funds autism research and services?

Autism Speaks is a leading nonprofit funder of both autism research and service programs, having provided thousands of grants to organizations, individuals, and families across the U.S. The Organization for Autism Research funds applied research that benefits families, and NIH is the dominant federal funder. Autism Speaks has also partnered with the American Heart Association on fellowships at the intersection of autism and brain health.

How can my organization find autism grants it qualifies for?

First determine whether you are seeking research funding or program funding, since funders treat them differently. Research grants and fellowships typically require academic or clinical affiliation, while service and community grants support nonprofits running direct programs. Watch for targeted requests for proposals from funders like Autism Speaks, which periodically focus on specific needs such as adult transition or clinical trials.

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