Quality of Life Grants Program: Priority Impact Grants- Tier 2

The Quality of Life Grants Program, established by the Dana Reeve Foundation, aims to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families by funding nonprofit organizations. Priority Impact Grants - Tier 2 provide support for critical issues affecting those with paralysis, with grants ranging from $25,000 to $30,000. These grants focus on improving access, independence, and community engagement through innovative programs, including assistive technology, disaster preparedness, and respite services.

NOTE:  Deadline for emailed questions is Ongoing, represented by Letter of Inquiry above.
See separate grant page for Direct Effect Quality of Life grants which are currently offered twice yearly, in the 1st and 2nd grant cycles.See separate grant page for Expanded Impact Tier Quality of Life grants which are currently being offered once per year, in the 1st grant cycle.
Background
The Quality of Life Grants Program, created by the late Dana Reeve, strives to empower individuals with disabilities and their families by providing grants to nonprofit organizations that improve quality of life through inclusion, access, independence, opportunities for community engagement, and other life-enhancing endeavors.
As a pillar of the National Paralysis Resource Center, the Quality of Life Grants Program, pioneered by the late Dana Reeve, impacts and empowers people living with paralysis, their families and caregivers by providing grants to nonprofit organizations whose projects and initiatives foster inclusion, involvement and community engagement, while promoting health and wellness for those affected by paralysis in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Priority Impact grants fund priority issues for individuals living with paralysis. Grantee organizations will demonstrate capacity to implement the grant without intensive technical assistance and capacity building, as well as demonstrate capacity for program development, evaluation and sustainability.
Tier 2 – Grants must be completed within 12 months
Assistive Technology – Assistive Technology grants are a new priority area that differs from the previous High Impact Innovative Assistive Technology (HIIAT) grants program (2015-2020) and the Direct Effect assistive technology project type grants. This new tier is open to all organizations with the continued emphasis on increasing the independence of people living with paralysis, to assist them to participate fully in the communities of which they are a part, and enhance their social, employment, education or finance-related quality of life through the use of assistive technology.
Disaster Preparedness – Grant funds support nonprofit organizations and programs that address the needs of emergency preparedness and the needs of people with paralysis in a natural disaster environment.
Respite/Caregiving – This grant area recognizes family caregivers and the vital role they play in caring for those with paralysis. Funds support nonprofits that offer exemplary and innovative respite care services that are evidence-based, appear promising, or are trying new service models.
Forms of respite supported through this grant area are:Emergency RespiteHome-Based ServicesSitter-Companion ServicesConsumer-Directed RespiteOut-of-Home RespiteFamily Care Homes or Host FamilyRespite Center-basedAdult Day Healthcare CentersParent/Family CooperativeGrant funds cannot be used to support respite in the following environments:Corporate Foster Home Settings for Children and TeensResidential FacilitiesRespitality ModelHospital-BasedHospiceCamps

Eligibility

Quality of Life grant applications are accepted from 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, municipal and state governments, school districts, recognized tribal entities, and other institutions such as community or veterans hospitals.An organization must have its own 501(c)(3) tax status (or be a part of or chapter of a national organization that is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization).

Ineligibility

Fiscal Sponsors CANNOT apply on behalf of non-501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.501(c)(4) organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) status are ineligible.Please read full Funding Restrictions in the attached Quality of Life (QOL) Grant Application and Program Guidelines – Fall 2025.