Quality of Life Grants Program: Priority Impact Grants- Tier 4

The Quality of Life Grants Program, established by the Dana Reeve Foundation, aims to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities by funding non-profit organizations. The Tier 4 Priority Impact Grants provide up to $50,000 for projects that facilitate employment and nursing home transitions, crucial for improving independence and community engagement for those living with paralysis. These grants support initiatives that ensure sustainable pathways towards gainful employment and help individuals return to their homes from nursing facilities.

About the Quality of Life Grants Program
The Quality of Life Grants Program, created by the late Dana Reeve, strives to help individuals with disabilities and their families by providing grants to nonprofit organizations that improve quality of life through access, independence, opportunities for community engagement, and other life-enhancing endeavors.
The Priority Impact Grant Tiers offer three increasing levels of grant funding. 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.
Employment
Priority Impact grants are one of Reeve’s top priorities because employment is fundamental in achieving and maintaining independence, while being one of the most challenging obstacles to individuals living with paralysis. In addition, gainful employment allows people living with paralysis to achieve enhanced financial security, higher quality of life, and improved community connections.
Grant funds support programs and projects that:
Assist individuals living with paralysis to enter, re-enter, remain, and advance in the workplace;Create career pathways to meaningful, living wage jobs; andProvide job development services to people living with paralysis, including career education, adaptive technology and career training with the goal of finding gainful employment.Grants funds may not provide stipends and funds may not be given directly to workers or program participants as salaries or other incentives.
Nursing Home Transition
Funds support Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and other organizations that provide transition services across the country to transition people with paralysis living in nursing home back into their homes or a community-based setting of their choice. Funds also support projects focused on diversion (keeping people living with paralysis who are at-risk from entering a nursing).